VA pushing me to different flights well after booking

[Warks]

I don't fly a lot these days but two of my bookings this month have been changed on me. Was flying SYD-TSV on the direct flight at 0955 and got an email saying they'd shoved me on a SYD-BNE-TSV that leaves three hours later and arrives four hours later. I'm supposed to click on the link to acknowledge the changes although I haven't yet. I'm assuming I have to call to do anything different.

Then I'm booked from OOL-SYD coming back from a conference on a Saturday. I was leaving at 1500. Lo and behold it's now 1300. Two hours earlier changes everything. I really won't have any time at the conference that day. I haven't looked into it but have they cancelled the flight and just shoved me forward in this case?

It's very odd behaviour considering I've only had this happen about once in the past five years with VA. Twice in a month makes me think they are more like Tiger or Jetstar now.

I'm guessing I've got to get on the phone.

 

[grubbidok]

I had an issue with a SYD-DPS flight. They had a schedule change and had "assumed" I would want to leave to as close as the departure time as possible, and would prefer to arrive later not earlier, so redirected me via BNE at roughly the same time rather than the new direct time a few hours earlier. You do have to get on the phone, but I found they were quite accommodating around putting me on a flight that suited me rather than them (which was the earlier flight, which TBH actually suited us better than the original time).

 

[serfty]

...
I'm guessing I've got to get on the phone.

Yep.

Both changes are significant enough that they should move you to options you may prefer.

Have you ducks lined up before calling so you can empower them to enact your chosen options.

 

[Warks]

Thanks. Just checked it out and realised that VA only fly every two hours out of OOL (on Saturday anyway) so it's either the earlier flight or two hours later. So I'll probably stick with that. No idea why that flight was cancelled so far out. I guess they just look at the loading and divert it elsewhere. Never mind the pax.

The TSV flight is similar. They've cancelled the direct flight before today and I worry about its long term future. Alternatives are leaving at 0800 or 1200. So I'm stuck with their offer.

I just wish they'd stick to their schedule.

 

[theblank]

I haven't looked into it but have they cancelled the flight and just shoved me forward in this case?

It stands to reason that the best options for VA is to use their systems to automatically allocate passengers to the 'next best' flight. Where that doesnt suit, they can ring up and discuss.
It would be absolutely chaotic if they just sent a message and said the passengers need to work it out themselves, and then call up.

 

[Warks]

Yes I guess the question is why they are cancelling flights so far out. Surely there's time to fill those seats.

 

[JohnK]

Yes I guess the question is why they are cancelling flights so far out. Surely there's time to fill those seats.

Qantas does the same to my flights.

Months out the 4:30pm SYD-BNE on a Sunday afternoon becomes a victim. Also a 6:00pm flight SYD-BNE has been cancelled for next month and now they have a 5:30pm and 7:00pm. They've moved me onto the 5:30pm flight but I'll call and get on the 7:00pm flight.

 

[VulpesVulpes]

They stepped it up a level for me. They cancelled my 5.55 BNE-MEL 10 days out and reissued me onto the 4.55 and totally failed to notify me.

The desk agent checked me in as the wrong person for the 6.55 when I turned up at 5pm.

When I told lounge staff that "hey my boarding pass had the wrong name" it was my fault for not showing up for the 4.55 and refused to get me on the next flight. Had to buy a new ticket and it took a month of arguments to get the money back.

 

[redwoodw]

They stepped it up a level for me. They cancelled my 5.55 BNE-MEL 10 days out and reissued me onto the 4.55 and totally failed to notify me.

The desk agent checked me in as the wrong person for the 6.55 when I turned up at 5pm.

When I told lounge staff that "hey my boarding pass had the wrong name" it was my fault for not showing up for the 4.55 and refused to get me on the next flight. Had to buy a new ticket and it took a month of arguments to get the money back.

Wow how could they checked you in as the wrong person? Someone must be grilled for this