Virgin Australia Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

There were other cancelled flights throughout the day and on the previous day on the SYD-MEL route pointing to dynamic capacity management.

Even flights like VA871 MEL-SYD departing at 1730 was cancelled.

Getting airlines to admit that they cancel flights due to low patronage may be difficult, but when this occurs, passengers should politely request compensation - perhaps some points added to a Velocity of Qantas Frequent Flyer account if it is a legacy airline - or if that request is refused then take up the complaint by email when one gets home or to the office. Then if no resolution, a complaint to the Airline Customer (sic) Advocate may be in order.

Airlines are for profit businesses (and often not good at that) but when they advertise say a flight every 15 minutes or half hour between Sydney and Melbourne, barring very extreme weather events, they ought to operate it.

Cancelling a flight in one direction is 'unbalanced' so often a flight in the opposite direction may also get the axe.

 

[Quickstatus]

Cancelling a flight in one direction is 'unbalanced' so often a flight in the opposite direction may also get the axe.

As you know this is actually not unusual for airlines operating the SYD-MEL or if you prefer, MEL-SYD flights. On any day both QF and VA have cancelled flight pairs on this route (and others).

It can get annoying for some and costly for others to have their flights cancelled and their itinerary pushed back. While the airline touts a high frequency "cityflyer" schedule which primafacie enables passengers an efficient use of the their time, the reality is that no one can really rely on the schedule to do what it says.

Additionally passengers mostly buy tickets that cannot be changed without a fee. Even Flexi tickets can only be changed by paying a fee. This means that they are invariably sitting/loitering at the airport (which is good for the airport) watching a earlier flight which may have seats on them take off without them. All this while the airlines tout a high frequency offering.

If airlines want flexibility as a core component of their capacity management strategy, then passengers should also have some flexibility without cost in their itinerary whatever their fare bucket.


For example (if there is available capacity):

Available at airport only:

super duper discount - can change to one flight earlier or later
discount - can change to 2 flights earlier or later
flexi - means flexible - can be changed without cost to any flight.

Then add tier status
Bronze - none
silver - in addition to ticket can change to +1 earlier or later
gold - +2 flights
plat - +3 flights earlier or later.

Hand luggage only - in addition to ticket ,+1 flight earlier or later

I know I am dreaming though...

It is unfair on the passenger to have to bear the brunt of airline capacity managment.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Thursday 28 July 2016, again showing how accurate Quickstatus' comments were about 'capacity management' and how it is unfair on passengers, VA862 and VA894, respectively the 1630 and 2100 hours SYD - MEL flights, were cancelled.

Perhaps given the above comments by an affected AFFer we have to put VA894 on cancellations watch to observe if it is regularly cancelled.

As Quickstatus observes, VA domestically is not alone in this practice.

 

[Quickstatus]

On Thursday 28 July 2016, again showing how accurate Quickstatus' comments were about 'capacity management' and how it is unfair on passengers, VA862 and VA894, respectively the 1630 and 2100 hours SYD - MEL flights, were cancelled.

Perhaps given the above comments by an affected AFFer we have to put VA894 on cancellations watch to observe if it is regularly cancelled.

As Quickstatus observes, VA domestically is not alone in this practice.

I think watch the second last flight of your favourite airline departing from your favourite city

 

[Melburnian1]

On Sunday 31 July, the 1830 hours MEL - CHC VA100 departed 61 minutes late with arrival forecast for 0040 hours to ring in August, 45 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

An inclement Monday 1 August in MEL sees VA206, the 0635 hours from ADL to MEL (B738 VH-YFS) having been airborne at 0701 but then placed in a hold above Warracknabeal with arrival at about 0856, 31 minutes late, likely.

Later, fellow class member VH-VUZ on VA1615 from MEL up to MQL is about half an hour late with arrival at around 1155 hours.

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on 1 August 2016, VA1594, the 1425 NTL down to MEL that was airborne at 1626 should arrive at around 1758, 118 minutes late with B738 VH-YFC.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Monday 1 August VA41 (BNE - DPS) took off at 1020 but due to volcanic ash in the Bali region it was diverted to DRW where it touched down at 1629 NT time, taking off again at 1740 for a flight back to BNE where it should touch down at 2123.

This may affect more flights tomorrow according to at least one media report.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Wednesday 3 August, VA809 (0645 hours MEL to SYD) is cancelled.

In the other direction on 2 August (tonight), VA870 and VA894, the 1730 and 'old favourite' 2100 hours flights respectively from SYD to MEL were cancelled.

 

[Melburnian1]

Alsp on Wednesday 3 August, VA869, the 1715 hours MEL - SYD took off at 1731 which is basically on time, but was delayed en route due to 'traffic' and should arrive at about 1910, half an hour late. Aircraft is B738 VH-VUY.

 

[Melburnian1]

Oh well QF 1 just did a large circle and zig Zags before landing again in Sydney approximately 3 hours later. There is dog yapping below deck .....all the time. I think it's distressed. Anyway it is hot onboard due to the air conditioner not working and the pilot was unable to pressurise the aircraft hence we flew most of the way back at about 10k. Feet. Who knows how long we will be in Sydney. At the moment we are not disembarking.

bad, could you please post this in the 'QF delays/ cancellations' thread rather than the VA one?

 

[bad]

bad, could you please post this in the 'QF delays/ cancellations' thread rather than the VA one?

I thought I did ! Then to my surprise I read your email. Sorry a very honest mistake due to the heat on board. It looks like my message has been removed. Thank you. ( Mods)

 

[Melburnian1]

On Thursday 4 August, VA319, the 0900 hours from MEL up to BNE has been cancelled as much later has VA295, the 2030 hours MEL - SYD.

There is a slew of cancelled flights into MEL, VA252 (0735 hours arrival from CBR), VA804 and VA810 (the 0805 and 0850 hours respective arrivals from SYD), VA304 (0820 arrival from BNE) and VA206 (0825 arrival ex ADL) are among those getting the bullet. Tonight, VA874, the 1800 hours from SYD down to MEL is also not operating.

VA219 from MEL to ADL, the scheduled 1005 departure, is also cancelled as was VA827, the 0900 hours MEL - SYD.

Are these flights cancelled due to VA's 'capacity management' to save it big dollars? If so, it ought be reducing its publicly displayed frequencies and not falsely advertising that flights will operate, although in fairness it has not yet been apparent that any of these are daily (or weekly each Wednesday) cancellations. Demand is generally lower domestically on Tuesdays in particular and probably also Wednesday in comparison to say Friday.

 

[getluv]

My flight (VA436) has changed its departure time at least 8 times today, according to my TripCase updates.

Sydney Airport saying 1h15 delay, was a 90 minute delay at one point. VA's awful website still saying on-time, but I have more faith in the SYD website at this stage which is really unsatisfactory.

'Capacity management' is one thing, but VA's 'disruption management' system is borderline low cost.

 

[Melburnian1]

getluv, I will be guilty of getting 'off track', but so is its website, as many AFF members have remarked or discovered. I say that as someone who flies VA and quite likes the on board experience, which is arguably often better than QF's.

Thank you for the 'real world' update: nothing beats it. What you are encountering must be really annoying if it is being repeated to other passengers.

 

[Melburnian1]

VA474, the 2020 hours BNE - PER transcontinental flight was airborne at 2120 so arrival of B738 Vh-YFN should be about 38 minutes behind time at 0038 on Friday 5 August.

 

[liamsal]

VA8 from LAX - BNE last night (06/08 LA time) was delayed by 8 hours and had a new departure time at 8am the following morning. Announcement was only made about 3 or so hours before departure. Luckily managed to swap onto the LAX - SYD flight for the same night and put on a connecting flight to BNE.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Tuesday 9 August, the 0630 hours SYD down to MEL (VA804 - B738 VH-VOK) took off at 0700 and has been slowed down by ATC due to traffic, so is likely to arrive at the gate at around 0841, 36 minutes late. It is windy in MEL.

 

[Melburnian1]

VA1191, the Tuesday 9 August 1610 hours SYD - PQQ (ATR 72 VH-VPJ) had not even moved away from its place on the tarmac at 1649, so it will be somewhat delayed.

 

[Melburnian1]

VA8 from LAX - BNE last night (06/08 LA time) was delayed by 8 hours and had a new departure time at 8am the following morning. Announcement was only made about 3 or so hours before departure. Luckily managed to swap onto the LAX - SYD flight for the same night and put on a connecting flight to BNE.

liamsal, many thanks.

To anyone else considering using VA between Australia and LAX, it appears that when one of the VA long haul aircraft is inoperable (planned maintenance or emergency repairs), VA gives priority to VA1 and VA2 between SYD and LAX rather than the BNE - LAX - BNE flights VA7 and VA8.

Not everyone will have or will want to have the choice of using the SYD or BNE flights, but if you do, my suggestion is to book on the SYD flight.