VA Cancellations, Delays growing?

[Saab34]

Is it just me or does this company have major operational issues at the moment? Delays all over the place, cancellations everywhere. With ground, crew and pilots threatening strikes soon, seems like it might be best to avoid this carrier in the near term.

Rex have claimed they have a 0% cancellation rate on MEL-SYD. Virgin is well above 10.

 

[N0mad]

got cancelled this morning, put on later flight which was then delayed an hour. Missed my meeting, hoping the return this evening isn't late/cancelled but the recent record shows late pretty much every day.

 

[Luke B]

11/26 days in the last month VA807 the 0630 MEL-SYD has been cancelled.

 

[Saab34]

11/26 days in the last month VA807 the 0630 MEL-SYD has been cancelled.

They then come out and play the weather, staff, etc and so on card. Bonza is asking for only two morning and two evening slots. It’s a no brainer, pull them off the current two players and hand them over.

 

[Zanzaid]

Definitely doesn't seem like in a great state lately. Partner was flying BNE-MEL last Wednesday morning. Cancelled the night before, the new flight was then cancelled in the morning and directed to go through Canberra. This was then compounded by the Optus network issue and none of her family could call to find an alternative. Lot of stress that day!.
I looked online and a few of that route was cancelled that day in the end, early morning was fine though.

 

[MarkD]

Pretty sure they cancel light loads and just plonk people wherever. Getting a little frustrating. Ive been bumped off 4 of my last ten flights due to cancellations and on one leg they threw me in row 29 from row 2 after an overnight connection in Mel. Flew DPS-MEL-BNE booked through with overnight stay. DPS-MEL all good and then treated like cough from then on. Still waiting two months late for original routing sc and refund of fare difference. Bloke on the phone said straight up “ our conditions of carriage do not guarentee any seat on a flight, nor any flight. We will get you to your destination in any seat on any flight. Great way to treat loyal customers. No compensation no notification. Checked one bag, went to check the other and it wouldnt allow it. They told me to wait for a text message. Clowns, seriously. I really want to still feel the love for virgin but im afraid its not the same carrier it was even 12 months ago.
Fyi i have flown rex more than virgin in last six months on my core route being BNE-SYD. In 11 rex flights, no cancellations and early 10 times and 5 mins late once
Plus their J fares are very reasonably priced.

 

[antycbr]

There’s been several days worth of coverage on Sunrise with people flying to concerts in Sydney and Perth affected: Sunrise this morning was going to cross to someone doing the 28 hour drive ADL-PER thanks to VA cancellations. Due to the high demand there is no recovery option available for passengers into PER before Monday after the concert.

Also reported here:

Coldplay: Fans devastated after flight cancellation leaves them unable to fly in time for concert

 

[pgsdiver]

MY SYD-ADL-SYD journey was completed mucked p.
Missed a meeting in ADL yesterday after being re-routed through MEL with a 4 hour layover. FInally arrived in ADL at 3:25 after more delays.
Flight this evening cancelled, so now have to leave a lunch early to get ADL-HBA then HBA-SYD, finally getting home at, I reckon, about 11:30.
I thought they were trying to make flying Wonderful.......or Fabulous, or something other than frustrating.
And what's more, the disclaimer they now play to you when waiting for a service agent on the phone reads like a QF press release, telling you how little they have to do for your money.
On a positive note- the service agents have been really great and helpful......

 

[knagelli]

Cancellation is pretty common these days with many VA flights taking off after 6 PM. It is either technical issues or delays of incoming flights but overall it has been a cough show wrt to delays/cancellations.

 

[elanshin]

Feels extra bad for the people that literally cant make it to Coldplay due to cancellations as all flights to Perth across all airlines were booked out.

 

[Bagpuss]

Cancellation is pretty common these days with many VA flights taking off after 6 PM. It is either technical issues or delays of incoming flights but overall it has been a cough show wrt to delays/cancellations.

6PM they seem to send any stand-by cabin crew home which is why after 6PM danger, danger.

 

[mannej]

There are going to be a few disappointed Coldplay ticket holders seeing that some have been told no flights to PER until Monday…

 

[BRIS_VA_HAWK]

Currently in a full-ish BNE Lounge and the departure board has pretty much every mainline departure delayed by 30+, and VA332 & VA336 (BNE-MEL) both cancelled for today. VA334 is scheduled to depart 3 hours late as well
3/4 of the Alliance flights (ROK, EMD, NTL) are ontime...just not mine today though (MKY)

 

[Saab34]

Going IPOing with the worst OTP in the market certainly won’t be helpful.

Questions will need to be asked. As 12 months ago they cited in the IPO roadshow they are fixing the performance issues. Also with strike action ahead, wouldn’t get me buying shares in any new market listing, seems to be many alarm bells doing off at the moment.

 

[Scarlett]

Is the CEO not positioning the company in the A1 spot? Maybe going for A2 quality… and failing.

 

[clifford]

I have a VA flight next week from OOL to SYD (3:20 pm) to connect with an overseas flight. Currently allowing 4 hours to make the connection, according to schedules.

Sounds like I could possibly miss the Intl flight with the current shenanigans, so I might just book an alternative from OOL to have a better chance of making it. Missing the flight in Sydney would have dire repercussions.

Edit: Looks like there have been a couple of cancellations since 1 October with this particular flight, but half a dozen or so have landed around an hour late. Do I roll the dice....

 

[Saab34]

I have cancelled my VA flight next week which is last of the day, went with JQ which has a buffer of one flight after. MEL-SYD I’ll move to Rex for the time being also, the 0% cancellation rate ticks the box for me.

 

[pgsdiver]

Good call!
I haven't been to Hobart for 43 years but am currently sitting in the VA lounge here (aka the Jetstar baggage weighing area - quietest spot on the airport).
I'm still only giving myself 50:50 of getting home to Sydney tonight.

 

[flyingfan]

MEL-SYD on Sunday - was bumped, and then bumped a second time. Ended up arriving two hours later than originally.

SYD-MEL this afternoon - bumped, then replacement flight was an hour late. Ended up arriving half an hour earlier than originally.

So IME, it’s all over the place and doesn’t engender confidence with on-time performance.

EDIT: My mate travelling with me SYD-MEL was bumped to a flight tomorrow morning! Ended up ditching VA for a QF flight that could get him home tonight

 

[im.daniel]

I have a VA flight next week from OOL to SYD (3:20 pm) to connect with an overseas flight. Currently allowing 4 hours to make the connection, according to schedules.

Sounds like I could possibly miss the Intl flight with the current shenanigans, so I might just book an alternative from OOL to have a better chance of making it. Missing the flight in Sydney would have dire repercussions.

Edit: Looks like there have been a couple of cancellations since 1 October with this particular flight, but half a dozen or so have landed around an hour late. Do I roll the dice....

You could fly ahead on the day (as VA Plat) ...