VA Cancellations, Delays growing?

[AustraliaPoochie]

I have a third last flight back MEL - ADL on 26/12/23.
Betcha that it will get cancelled.

 

[Saab34]

With how busy airports are about to get and with current dismal performance across all airlines, this strike is going to bust a lot of people's holidays

The real issue becomes re accomodation on other flights in these peak periods, generally same day transfer just isn’t possible, it’s a day wait and even then, getting your rescheduled flight cancelled is high also so it can drag on and on. Especially places like DPS with seat caps and full flights, you could be waiting many days for a seat.

I’ve got one more flight this week then I’ve put myself on a blackout period nothing now until early Feb! Should see out the worst over the next 8 weeks.

I don’t think the next 8 weeks will be too crash hot across all players.

 

[antycbr]

The real issue becomes re accomodation on other flights in these peak periods, generally same day transfer just isn’t possible, it’s a day wait and even then, getting your rescheduled flight cancelled is high also so it can drag on and on. Especially places like DPS with seat caps and full flights, you could be waiting many days for a seat.

Assuming that everyone had checked bags, only six people made it to HBA on the day of travel when my direct SYD-HBA was cancelled at 6pm as all of us had delayed baggage.

There must have been 100 pax who had to be reaccommodated on Saturday, with the early direct SYD-HBA cancelled meaning most pax would arrive at lunchtime Saturday or would have had to go through MEL.

According to the VA staff they do rebook based on cabin and also status. I also think your surname helps as my partner is also plat on a separate identical itinerary but he got punted back to Y, I was reaccommodated in J for both sectors, my surname is significantly earlier in the alphabet

 

[PERLHR]

Seriously though, just what is Virgin Management doing to manage this reputational nightmare for them? It actually seems (although I'm sure it's not) that they have ruined holiday plans and essential trips for thousands of people over the past few weeks without any way of being held accountable. The staff shortages one is of major concern and a staff member told.me that people , be it pilots, cabin staff, ground handling, simply phone up just before log in duty time sick. Is there a follow up on sickness? The why, how when factor and what can be done to make it better? (Normal HR work with other companies). The issue is not just weather. It's within the company makeup presently.. They are going to be like QF and lose pax and FF for ever. I feel so sorry for lost connections, other bookings and knock on effects. And VA or for that matter any other airline in Australia are not being held accountable. It really needs to stop. Makes the country a laughing stock.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Seriously though, just what is Virgin Management doing to manage this reputational nightmare for them? It actually seems (although I'm sure it's not) that they have ruined holiday plans and essential trips for thousands of people over the past few weeks without any way of being held accountable. The staff shortages one is of major concern and a staff member told.me that people , be it pilots, cabin staff, ground handling, simply phone.up just before log in duty time sick. The issue is not just weather. It's within the company. They are going to be like QF and loose pax and FF for ever. Infeel.so.soery for list connections, other bookings and knock on effects without VA or for that matter any other airline in Australia being held accountable. It really needs to stop. Makes.the country a laughing stock.

I think VA cabin crew need to be careful on this. If they were delivering an exceptional product to start with passengers might be with them.

But given some of the flights I’ve had they aren’t all delivering that service… cutting corners, more concerned about their own situation than pax. Sure, it might be the odd crew letting down the rest… but still.

Given those experiences, I’m not necessarily with the crew on this one.

 

[TheInsider]

I think VA cabin crew need to be careful on this. If they were delivering an exceptional product to start with passengers might be with them.

But given some of the flights I’ve had they aren’t all delivering that service… cutting corners, more concerned about their own situation than pax. Sure, it might be the odd crew letting down the rest… but still.

Given those experiences, I’m not necessarily with the crew on this one.

Tbh I don't think it makes any difference if the passengers are on side with the cabin crew or not. The idea is to get less people to book with VA and scare them off, therefore hurting VA's bottom line.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Tbh I don't think it makes any difference if the passengers are on side with the cabin crew or not. The idea is to get less people to book with VA and scare them off, therefore hurting VA's bottom line.

But it might embolden management.

 

[PERLHR]

Tbh I don't think it makes any difference if the passengers are on side with the cabin crew or not. The idea is to get less people to book with VA and scare them off, therefore hurting VA's bottom line.

And what a stupid idea that is. Do they think that without the pax they have a job at all? It's actually laughable if they are trying deliberately to inconvenience pax. sure I don't know the plans of management but they are there to manage. Perhaps they should start and in a way the first act should.be to.ensure the welfare of their pax!!

 

[TheInsider]

And what a stupid idea that is. Do they think that without the pax they have a job at all? It's actually laughable if they are trying deliberately to inconvenience pax. sure I don't know the plans of management but they are there to manage. Perhaps they should start and in a way the first act should.be to.ensure the welfare of their pax!!

What do you think industrial action is then?
I mean this currently isn't industrial action, but staff are more than entitled to take/use their 'personal leave' under their conditions/award/eba/policy.
If management can't do a good enough job of managing their staff and keeping a happy or content workforce, then that's on them.

 

[SheikYerbouti]

3.11pm

Disruption planned for Virgin as cabin crew votes for industrial action​

By Amelia McGuire​

Almost all of Virgin Australia’s unionised cabin crew have voted in favour of protected 24-hour work stoppages in the latest escalation of stalled enterprise negotiations.
The airline business is in a meeting with the Transport Workers Union this afternoon to discuss the requests for improved pay and conditions.

Virgin cabin crew vote to take industrial action.CREDIT:JAMES ALCOCK

Ninety-nine per cent of the unionised workforce voted in favour of the stoppages, but the disruption will not go ahead if the parties come to an agreement this afternoon.
Without an agreement, the cabin crew will begin planning the protected industrial action and provide three days notice to the airline business to minimise disruption for passengers.
Virgin recently came to an agreement with its ground services division, which had also threatened to strike if certain conditions were not improved.
TWU national secretary Michael Kaine said Virgin’s three years of wage freezes and “punishing” rosters had driven its return to profit.
“It’s time for owners Bain Capital to show workers their concerns are understood and fix key issues driving high turnover and chronically low morale,” Kaine said.
“No one wants to see exhausted cabin crew servicing planes. Workers need reasonable rosters, decent working hours, better work-life balance, and crucial job security guarantees.”

 

[justinbrett]

And what a stupid idea that is. Do they think that without the pax they have a job at all? It's actually laughable if they are trying deliberately to inconvenience pax. sure I don't know the plans of management but they are there to manage. Perhaps they should start and in a way the first act should.be to.ensure the welfare of their pax!!

I thought the Sydney trains "strike" of shutting down the opal gates but otherwise running the trains to schedule was a good idea.

Unfortunately that didn't seem too effective in the long run, but I think there were other political forces at play within the union.

 

[bcworld]

I'm reminded again of the loose cannon cabin crew member I encountered on a flight a few weeks ago.

They are a brand new hire but complained to us for about 10 minutes about their pay and conditions (in great and exact detail) while standing at the front of the cabin for the first few rows to hear.

Given their previous employment (a member of parliament no less!) and colourful history I'm sure they'll be chomping at the bit to get into the strike!

 

[PERLHR]

What do you think industrial action is then?
I mean this currently isn't industrial action, but staff are more than entitled to take/use their 'personal leave' under their conditions/award/eba/policy.
If management can't do a good enough job of managing their staff and keeping a happy or content workforce, then that's on them.

Strike all they want....close down the whole company. That will.do them a world of good. Good luck in finding other employment in the same business in Australia. I'm sure there are plenty of other jobs they can do that will pay well for customer facing employment. Screw me and others over more than once then that's it....certainly wouldn't fly VA again. Others will do the same. Industrial action comes in many ways now: viable support can be generated if warrented. It does not need to revert to 1970s and 80s style but alas a lot of Australia is stuck in these decades anyhow. Is there any independent mediation organisations in Australia?

 

[kyle]

What do you think industrial action is then?
I mean this currently isn't industrial action, but staff are more than entitled to take/use their 'personal leave' under their conditions/award/eba/policy.
If management can't do a good enough job of managing their staff and keeping a happy or content workforce, then that's on them.

If the staff are really calling in sick just before clock on time and not really sick, then there's something wrong with the ethics of the staff they employ.

 

[TheInsider]

If the staff are really calling in sick just before clock on time and not really sick, then there's something wrong with the ethics of the staff they employ.

They can easily have standby crew, but don't want to pay for that.

 

[PERLHR]

They can easily have standby crew, but don't want to pay for that.

They probably phone in sick to . They do have standby crew.(and pay for them) .although I am not totally up to date on exactly what locations the majority are at these days. Even so..that does not take away the lack of ethics from rostered crew.

 

[TheInsider]

They probably phone in sick to . They do have standby crew.(and pay for them) .although I am not totally up to date on exactly what locations the majority are at these days. Even so..that does not take away the lack of ethics from rostered crew.

How about the ethics from management? And their 3 year wage freeze that was imposed on the cabin crew.
Either way, it's both parties that need to come to the table.

 

[Stone]

I do feel sorry for the crew. Rostering must be horrendous, multiple aircraft across the day. I was delayed returning home from Melbourne last night. First Officer was on board 30 min before departure, then 3 flight attendants including CM arrived, then the captain, then the last flight attendant. They were on different incoming flights, with delays due to ATC (who are also short staffed).

Some passengers expressed their displeasure, but the crew are the ones working hard within the confines of badly structured and resources rosters. I feel sorry for them, and have sympathy for their pay dispute.

 

[jakeseven7]

How about the ethics from management? And their 3 year wage freeze that was imposed on the cabin crew.
Either way, it's both parties that need to come to the table.

To be fair to VA2 management they didn’t expect to still be owning VA2/3 at this point

 

[MooTime]

Anybody know exactly how much the Cabin crew are asking for??

10% pay increase etc etc
I mean salary freeze for 3 years is pretty stiff (pun intended).

I sure hope Bain/VA management come to the party.