VA leaves Passengers stranded on Christmas Island

[Must...Fly!]

I'm not surprised that they didn't go.

Thank you JB, I was sure you would jump in before too long with your wise words (and more authoritative translation of the TAF).

I'm sure for those who fly it, it's an interesting and unique place. For others though it was the least favourite. The margins are thin (esp back in the E190 days) so the smallest change in circumstance can cause big problems.

I hope you get back to the mainland soon, CPMaveick.

 

[jb747]

AF AMD YPXM 202238Z 2100/2124
19006KT 9999 -SHRA SCT020
INTER 2100/2102 3000 SHRA BKN010
RMK T 24 26 26 25 Q 1012 1012 1011 1010

Today is better, with only an inter period affecting things.

 

[CPMaverick]

AF AMD YPXM 202238Z 2100/2124
19006KT 9999 -SHRA SCT020
INTER 2100/2102 3000 SHRA BKN010
RMK T 24 26 26 25 Q 1012 1012 1011 1010

Today is better, with only an inter period affecting things.

Indeed, the QQ flight is en route. VA is looking into putting me on that flight, but it doesn't sound likely.

 

[henrus]

Indeed, the QQ flight is en route. VA is looking into putting me on that flight, but it doesn't sound likely.

Did you end up getting on?

 

[CPMaverick]

Did you end up getting on?

Unfortunately not. VA said QQ had already closed the flight and they wouldn't reopen it. I wonder if I knew about that flight sooner they could have worked something out. But it was a closed charter flight, so I think the chances were slim regardless.

One item of interest, I emailed my request to be rebooked on the QQ flight last night, so it got to the office first thing this morning. When I talked to the agent, she said they were aware of the flight already. Then she said 'since you requested rebooking on this flight, we have to investigate the possibility.' In other words, they could have done this proactively (but for obvious financial reasons, they didn't). My request though, appeared to have some serious weight. Something I will keep in mind in the future, don't be afraid to ask for what you really want.

 

[Scr77]

We were stranded by this service last year and are going to Christmas Island this Boxing Day. The flights need to be taken as ‘part of the adventure’

Over half of the pax on the flight would have been leaving Perth for Christmas Island (not Cocos) and would have ended up back at Perth at the end of the day. Also, there would have been people booked to fly from Christmas Island to Cocos.

Usually, a cancelled Tuesday service is replaced with Thursday service. Last year, a service was dirvirted to Jakarta, IIRC, the pax spent over 24hrs in the plane on the tarmac. Then the plane returned to Perth without even stopping at Christmas Island. What a hoot!

 

[flydoc]

the pax spent over 24hrs in the plane on the tarmac!

24 hrs ?!

 

[kpc]

24 hrs ?!

Can't be true....

 

[Virgin Bart]

IIRC, the pax spent over 24hrs in the plane on the tarmac. Then the plane returned to Perth without even stopping at Christmas Island. What a hoot!

Please tell me that 24 hours is inaccurate

 

[shuuy]

Ooh, should I post the same thing on both threads? ;-)

 

[straitman]

Ooh, should I post the same thing on both threads? ;-)

No thanks!


A friend of mine was the Airport Manager at Cocos until recently. He had several medical issues and needed to be the patient of a medevac on several occasions. One of the medevacs took well over 48hrs to come to fruition due the the complexities of flight operations in the area.

 

[Scr77]

Please tell me that 24 hours is inaccurate

Ok, so I was prepared to bet money in on my memory being correct and google confirms diversions to Jakarta. However, I couldn’t confirm the length spent on the tarmac.

I’m on the island now and locals confirm that 4hrs on tarmac in Jakarta does occur. Apparently, the aircraft is not able to start refueling until funding/payment has been confirmed.

 

[CPMaverick]

Final update, VA corporate did reimburse my travel expenses on XCH for the three stranded days (via a travel bank credit). I'm satisfied with VA's customer service as a result, and I think they really did try to help me. VARA operations however, I still think were financially driven and that is a shame especially with VA's name on the aircraft. I wouldn't fly them to XCH in the future, seems much safer (logistically) and reliable to transit through Indonesia.

Thanks to all who provided input and suggestions.

 

[Bagpuss]

I still think were financially driven and that is a shame especially with VA's name on the aircraft.

VARA is Virgin Australia.

 

[CPMaverick]

VARA is owned Virgin Australia, yes, but there seem to be some operational differences. I don't believe it is correct to say they are one and the same.

Skywest (renamed VARA) will become part of the Virgin Australia brand, but would continue to operate under its current Air Operator’s Certificate and its own management team.

Virgin Australia completes Skywest Airlines acquisition

Given that they operate under a separate management team and certification, my guess is that complicates irregular operations. Essentially you aren't flying Australia's second biggest carrier as you might have expected. You are flying a renamed Skywest.

 

[Bagpuss]

VARA is owned Virgin Australia, yes, but there seem to be some operational differences.

VARA:
Fly F100's and a320's
All aircraft are owned
They have a dedicated crews which are all based in Perth.
They have their own "operations" team. (IE fleet scheduling etc.)

That's about it. (Though, I'd add that I think they have much better crews than VA)

You can't phone VARA, you phone Virgin Australia.

 

[CPMaverick]

Yep, owned and marketed by VA. But not VA.

 

[Bagpuss]

Yep, owned and marketed by VA. But not VA.

I differ on that view, but each to their own.

 

[CPMaverick]

I would have thought the same thing before this experience. However (and maybe others can explain the details better) it is clear from my experience that the VARA exclusive routes won't or can't be supported by VA.

So after the cancelation, the VARA operations team (not the same as VA) has 2 aircraft in their entire fleet capable of this route, and a small crew experienced on that aircraft, to draw from. They can't tap into VA's 737 fleet or huge pilot/crew base. This makes recovery on VARA a very different experience.

 

[Bagpuss]

I would have thought the same thing before this experience. However (and maybe others can explain the details better) it is clear from my experience that the VARA exclusive routes won't or can't be supported by VA.

So after the cancelation, the VARA operations team (not the same as VA) has 2 aircraft in their entire fleet capable of this route, and a small crew experienced on that aircraft, to draw from. They can't tap into VA's 737 fleet or huge pilot/crew base. This makes recovery on VARA a very different experience.

What makes you think they can't utilize a B737? (though true or untrue there's a belief not all B737's can fly internationally) The issue would be subject to aircraft availability and it being commercially viable.
The E190's used to do this route and I'm unsure of when this was changed.
(I can't find the article but I'm 100% sure this route was originally given to Virgin Blue ... Not SkyWest. Hence it used to be flown with E190's and think it was originally B737's. I believe they receive guaranteed income on this route from the government hence the price of tickets as they make money on it regardless)

There's many examples of where there's routes which use a mix of resources (IE F100's, A320's and B737's) ... IE Perth - Broome, Perth - Darwin, Perth - Adelaide, Perth - Kalgoorlie

I've heard they are getting 5 more a320's this year for the VARA operations.

I'm simply stressing that VARA are VA. I'm not disputing there are our differences. If you wanted compensation from a flight operated by VARA you would be talking to the same call center as you would for the rest of VA. For example you don't call VARA find yourself unhappy with the response and then call VA.