Virgin and Jetstar cancel Bali flights due to Volcanic eruptions

[Captain hum]

http://www.virginaustralia.com/au/en/bookings/flight-status/travel-alerts/

Seems VA is not flying today regardless that DPS is open again

 

[Melburnian1]

GA718D - 'D' for delayed' - is approaching MEL ex DPS about 80 minutes late - coming in at 0849. Aircraft is A332 PK-GPP.

In contrast into MEL, VA49, JQ43 and XT803 are all cancelled.

With XT, it has only a couple of aircraft under that AirAsia brand. For the Australian operators it may be more a case of aircraft not being up at DPS to come back when the airport reopened rather than any wilful desire to strand travellers for more time than is absolutely necessary. Presumably both Australian-domiciled operators have pilots and cabin crew staying in DPS and effectively available whenever a plane can travel north ex Oz.

The question has been asked before but GA generally seems the most reliable of the four in terms of minimising flight cancellations when there are volcanic eruptions.

Some AFFers will doubtless suggest that this indicates GA is less safe in view of the BA troubles with volcanic ash many years ago; others might suggest that the Australian airlines are too risk averse, in common with the nanny state, incredibly politically correct society that Australia has become in the last decade.

While it is not school holidays, there must be a few thousand Australia-bound passengers waiting to be uplifted ex DPS.

Surely it is not in GA's pilots' interests to man a flight if it was truly 'unsafe.' Perhaps GA simply has far more local knowledge and hence confidence about an ability to deal with such a climatic situation.

 

[Cynicor]

I think the ability of GA to have crew hours and landing rights at most diversion airports in the area means they don't need to turn back to Darwin if the airport closes suddenly.

Because of this they can fly with a bit less notice and certainty around the airport opening.

 

[Melburnian1]

Cynicor, interesting.

Can QF, VA, JQ, TT and XT divert suddenly and obtain permission to land at nearby airports such as LOP and SUB if conditions worsened around DPS?

 

[Cynicor]

No idea, it was just an assumption that as GA are indo, and land in and out of the other airports multiple times a day, and likely have crew nearby, that they could easily regroup. Every time I see an AU carrier divert they seem to go to Darwin.

I assume in an emergency the panes land wherever they want and deal with the fallout if everyone lives.

 

[JohnK]

Not a nice disruption.

I was thinking of overnighting in DPS in 2 weeks time. Just as well I didn't book those flights.

 

[Melburnian1]

Some mixed news: VA - bad if one is travelling; JQ - a muted good:

Cookies must be enabled. | The Australian

Would the ability of JQ to operate 'recovery' flights but not 'regular timetabled' ones be governed by crew availability or is it differing size of aircraft (larger = more efficient and able to carry more delayed passengers) or other factors?

 

[Captain hum]

http://www.virginaustralia.com/au/en/bookings/flight-status/travel-alerts/

 

[Bali Belly]

I am also flying on the 5th on jetstar

 

[ninja-tim]

The missus was booked on home bound flight ex-DPS on the 10/11/15, but as I was suppose to meet her in DPS 2 days ago and my flight was delayed, I chose to cancel the entire trip. She was there with a group of girls for a Hens. Couple girls were able to catch the recovery flight home last night and got to the airport early enough to notify the rest of the girls, including my missus, that there were atleast 15-20 seats still empty. So everyone, without a confirmed flight, was able to rebook at the airport and catch the flight home. Although the flight got delayed by some 3 hours, apparently because the airport wouldn't let them take off for some reason.

So if you're ever stuck in this or a similar situation, and want to get out early, there are lots of people who have been booked for the recovery flight but won't check their text/emails in time to make the recovery flight so you can risk going to the airport and trying your luck.

 

[Melburnian1]

Excellent tip, ninja-tim.

15 seats empty on a 300 seat plane is a five per cent 'no show' proprotion which is what I have always understood the airlines roughly assumed.

 

[Captain hum]

I see that VA are now flying up to DPS with empty aircraft . The flights are simply to get folks back to AU. Seems odd and VA are doing a great job of not explaining why this is, but it's a pretty poor show IMO.

Anyway- I'm wondering if we should get a credit on our flight for 14th nov and rebook out of SYD with GA. Anyone have any experience with GA from SYD to DPS? Interested to see if they have a record for on time departures? We are picking up a dive boat , so if we don't fly , we have no other option but to forfeit our entire trip.

 

[ChrisDPom]

Really up to you Heg.

The ash cloud is not over, it has just moved due to the current wind direction.

My observation from being involved in this event is VA & JQ pull the pin earlier and restart later than the other DPS airlines, as stated by other posters.

So GA may reduce the risk of a delay.

Something to consider is your travel insurance. If you had cover as you booked VA before this eruption and cancel & rebook with GA this may void ash cloud related claims as the booking with GA is after the start of the event.

I would call your insurer and check.

On flying GA, my good mate Bob is a retired 30 year Qantas employee who only flies GA to DPS from PER.

He likes the full service and is embarrassed by the Jetstar quality of service.

Chris

 

[Melburnian1]

ChrisDPom, JQ 'quality of service' - good to see that oxymorons are in use on a Sunday afternoon.

 

[ChrisDPom]

Well I am sitting by the pool at my villa rental in Bali.

So I was feeling generous with my comment.

If it wasn't for the use of the QF lounge at PER & SIN + QFF SC's, I would be joining Bob on GA to DPS.

Chris

 

[Captain hum]

Something to consider is your travel insurance. If you had cover as you booked VA before this eruption and cancel & rebook with GA this may void ash cloud related claims as the booking with GA is after the start of the event.

I would call your insurer and check.

Chris

Good point. i'll give AAMI a call and check. Thanks

 

[Melburnian1]

Here is an update - not sure how much it adds to the good knowledge that many who are booked will have of the situation:

Cookies must be enabled. | The Australian

 

[Captain hum]

Jolly annoying as all other airlines are still flying. Flight Status – Arrivals | Departures – Bali Airport Guide

 

[Melb FF]

We were over there last week, meant to fly out on Tuesday 3rd, flight cancelled.

instead of doing what every other Aussie seems to do (jumping on FB and having a whinge) I looked for flight options to SIN and KUL, knowing at worst I could get on a LCC back to Australia.

We managed to fly up to KUL on Air Asia, then got Air Asia X back to Melbourne that night.

Cost of ticket was $650 pp. Our Jetstar return ticket was $480. Given Jetstar was willing to give us a flight credit I was happy to be out of pocket $170.

We will continue to fly Jetstar, given the circumstances I thought the JQ call centre team did a good job handling our credit.

From my experience the regional flights seem to operate for an extra day or two, so we use this window to get to another port to travel home from.

im sure the same could be done in reverse for those who need to get up there urgently.

A bit of common sense and pro activity can go a long way.

 

[Melburnian1]

Melb FF, while longer and indirect, Cebu Pacific via MNL to SYD is another option but it only flies twice a week MNL - DPS - MNL.