Virgin Australia Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

Perth-bound VA569 (B738 VH-YFL) appears to have taken off from SYD tonight (Thursday 26 November) at 2303, three minutes after the dreaded SYD curfew commences, for the often sunny WA capital.

 

[dgarbutt]

Perth-bound VA569 (B738 VH-YFL) appears to have taken off from SYD tonight (Thursday 26 November) at 2303, three minutes after the dreaded SYD curfew commences, for the often sunny WA capital.

I was on this flight. We ended up pushing back from the gate I think about 10:40pm or so and we just sat on the runway for what felt like an eternity. I'll admit that curfew deadline was running through my head as we were waiting. Anyhow a lot of people (I think almost 100) didn't make the flight due to an aircraft change from a A332 to the 738.

 

[Melburnian1]

dgarbutt. did you have any indication as to whether the 'missed passengers' would be given taxi vouchers to home late that evening and back to the airport today (or, if not Sydney residents, hotel accommodation?)

Apart from VA status, how do you believe VA determined who made it onto the (reduced capacity) B738 and who was left to spend overnight in SYD? Were there any leisure travellers who opted for 'compensation' even if it was only an overnight hotel stay with brekky?

On Friday 27 November, VA113 (B738 VH-YIS) has just landed in SYD at 1917 after departing ZQN about 65 minutes late.

 

[dgarbutt]

dgarbutt. did you have any indication as to whether the 'missed passengers' would be given taxi vouchers to home late that evening and back to the airport today (or, if not Sydney residents, hotel accommodation?)

I don't know about the people at the gate as I was in the lounge myself, but when I enquired at the lounge because my name hadn't been called yet (used my Velocity number on ticket, but using my Etihad Gold for access/so forth) I got asked if I was local or not (was not and was connecting through SYD) and they said worse cast scenario they'll try to get me into a hotel. Incidentally when I made it to Perth some people who were connecting through to the South African flight to Jo'Burg were given accommodation since I'd assume we arrived far too late for them to make that flight.

Apart from VA status, how do you believe VA determined who made it onto the (reduced capacity) B738 and who was left to spend overnight in SYD? Were there any leisure travellers who opted for 'compensation' even if it was only an overnight hotel stay with brekky?

I imagine most people who were on the plane were those with VA status. Immediately after the announcement in the lounge that those who had not received new boarding passes for the flight please come to see the service desk I went there and one of the ladies there was able to snag a seat for me but the impression I got was there were not many seats left for the common folk. I don't really know what actually happened at the gate though. Also since I only managed to score a new boarding pass/seat at near the last minute my bag didn't end up making it with me on the flight but hey I wasn't too concerned really as I was coming back from holidays and not on business or anything.

Out of curiosity I did have a look at Twitter/Facebook and there were a few complaints but not much like I've seen flying in the states and encountering IRROPS over there.

 

[Melburnian1]

dgarbutt, very kind. Your information will be of a lot of use to others using VA as while some is commonsense (for instance the apparent priority given to those with 'status'), the comment from the staff member about the 'hotel' is reassuring (although there are no guarantees on any night that nearby hotels will have many room vacancies - some nights yes and plenty, others maybe not.)

 

[Melburnian1]

On Sunday 29 November, the 0640 from ADL to PER, VA713 (VH-ZPJ, an Embraer) did not take off until 0945 and is now on approach to its destination where it should arrive at about 1020, two and three quarter hours behind time. From what is displayed publicly, no other flights appear to be delayed as a result, as VA714 appears to have used a different aircraft.

 

[Melburnian1]

With severe storms over Brisbane and the Gold Coast at 1750 hours AEST (I.e. Queensland time) on Sunday 29 November, flights such as VA535, the 1710 hours from SYD to OOL (B738 VH_VOT) remain in a holding pattern with nominal Flightradar24.com - Live flight tracker! arrival time shown as 1811, 41 minutes late but that may not turn into reality if the weather keeps 'misbehaving.'

Storms are finite in duration but Australia's official weather forecasts & weather radar - Bureau of Meteorology indicates heavier 'cells' are moving towards both OOL and BNE airports (although since I am 1700 kilometres away or so, I cannot predict exactly where in each region the storms will be at their fiercest.) I assume if need be such delayed flights can divert to either BNK or MCY.

VA376, the 1430 from TSV to BNE that took off very late at 1555 is diverting into MCY with it about to touch down at 1800 hours. Aircraft is B738 VH-YFL: the flight was due at BNE at 1625 so heaven knows whether it will eventually get there tonight, or if buses will be used in each direction BNE - MCY - BNE (which would be time consuming, and VA would have to order the buses and wait for them with drivers to arrive from their suburban depot.)

VA751, the 1610 hours from MEL to OOL (VH-YFP) had an unusual route in proceeding north of MCY; it then flew low south and has turned and is also diverting into MCY. It is even further from its destination than VA376. It was due at OOL at 1715 but is landing at MCY at 1806 hours Queensland time.

VA176, the 1630 hours from NAN to BNE took off at 1655, on time, but is now at least an hour late on its 1740 scheduled arrival with B737 VH-YIF still at FL38 and not yet descending as at 1822 Queensland time.

Ex BNE for SYD, VA468, the 1730 hours transcontinental flight to PER is queued awaiting takeoff at 1853 BNE time so it is more than an hour late. VH-XFJ, an A330 is operating the flight so at least those in J will have a comfortable, albeit delayed, trip.

VA43, the 1730 from BNE to DPS (B738 VH-YIZ) has yet to depart at 1837 Qld time from the international terminal from what I can see so its return flight will be late ex DPS.

 

[Melburnian1]

VA986 (B738 VH-YFN) has just taken off for SYD at 2041 ex BNE (SYD time 2141 hours), so this is what is called 'cutting it fine to beat the 2300 hours SYD curfew.' It was timetabled out at 1900 hours.

VA346, the 2115 hours arrival in MEL ex BNE and VA352, the 2215 hours arrival were both cancelled tonight due to the BNE/ OOL storms - Sunday 29 November.

 

[Melburnian1]

This is from Latest & Breaking News Melbourne, Victoria | The Age (stablemate to Australian Breaking News Headlines & World News Online | SMH.com.au and Brisbane Times - Brisbane News, Queensland News & World News) tonight:

A spokesman for Brisbane Airport Corporation said that services from the airport had not been affected by the storms.
-------------------
How do these public affairs people get away with such lies, and why don't journalists do a two minute check of flight times to see the veracity or otherwise of such a claim?

 

[QF WP]

My neighbour (a VA check captain) and I were having a drink together tonight when the storm hit BNE. Wished I'd taken photos of the black storm front but I had to go home and get my iPhone and was only able to capture these:





We were watching BOM site as well as Flightradar 24. There was a VA flight from NZ that did two holding patterns before coming in, most did one or were obviously delayed leaving their origin.

 

[Melburnian1]

Good photos QF WP, although as you acknowledge 'black would be better.'

On Monday 30 November 2015, VA807, the 0630 from MEL to SYD did not take off until 0736. VH-VOS is the B737 with arrival now at 0847 not 0755 behind VA813, the 0715 hours departure that is only a minute or so late.

 

[BillytheFIsh]

...

VA376, the 1430 from TSV to BNE that took off very late at 1555 is diverting into MCY with it about to touch down at 1800 hours. Aircraft is B738 VH-YFL: the flight was due at BNE at 1625 so heaven knows whether it will eventually get there tonight, or if buses will be used in each direction BNE - MCY - BNE (which would be time consuming, and VA would have to order the buses and wait for them with drivers to arrive from their suburban depot.)
...

It did make it to BNE eventually, but I'm glad I ended up getting QF973 TSV-BNE yesterday instead of VA376.

Both were 737s with scheduled departures ex TSV at 1430, but we arrived into BNE a few minutes early at 1615 or so, rather than taking a detour via MCY and landing at 2000.

The VA bird was on time into TSV, so there must have been some issue there for it to have been delayed almost 90 minutes.

 

[Melburnian1]

VA820, the 0830 from SYD to MEL on 30 November (B738 VH-VOS) did not take off until 1042 so instead of arriving at 1005 it should be in the southern capital at around 1150.

 

[Melburnian1]

While a QF flight between CBR and SYD on Wednesday morning 3 December is almost 12 hours late (having been apparently delayed overnight - see the QF thread), it also is not much of a start to the day for VA on the same run, with VA625 (ATR VH-VPJ), the 0600 departure not taking off until 0734 and hence due in SYD at 0833, 93 minutes late.

VA696, the 2235 hours Tuesday 2 December PER to MEL B738 (VH-YFP) did not take off until 0248 on Wednesday 3 and is now to arrive MEL at 0911 instead of 0510, so it is a 'super red eye' with missed 0900 hour appointments a further downside for businessmen travelling.

VA679, the 0915 from MEL to PER has been delayed until a suggested 0950 in its departure although that is probably a tad optimistic.

 

[Ausbt]

Wednesday morning 3 December... Tuesday 2 December

Has Melburne crossed the international date line?

 

[Melburnian1]

Apologies Ausbt, I have altered those dates to the correct ones.

 

[jb747]

Perth-bound VA569 (B738 VH-YFL) appears to have taken off from SYD tonight (Thursday 26 November) at 2303, three minutes after the dreaded SYD curfew commences, for the often sunny WA capital.

You only need a taxi clearance before the deadline (which is about 2250), but I haven't operated through there at night for ages so not exactly sure of the cutoff. In any event, if you get that you're good to go.

 

[Melburnian1]

Thank you jb747. Very kind.

VA54, the 0710 Wednesday 2 December 2015 arrival from DPS in MEL has been altered to arrive tonight at 2145 hours, almost 15 hours late. The return to DPS, VA49 was altered from an 0915 to a 2115 hours departure tonight.

VA64 from DPS to SYD today (2 December) departed at 1151 instead of 0010, arriving SYD at 2038 as its forecast rather than the usual 0920 hours.

This evening's VA62, the 1725 from DPS to PER has been altered to depart at a forecast 0210 hours on Thursday 3 December with arrival at 0600 hours tomorrow rather than 2115 hours this evening.

I may have missed it but there is no mention that I have seen regarding volcano-related delays so these inconveniences may be more related to VA as an airline rather than 'weather.' Maybe AFF member ChrisDPom could confirm?

Thousands of Australian holidaymakers who take a break in Bali over Christmas and New Year (including school leavers, many of whom must be travelling there if not already 'resident') must hope that these airline or weather disruptions disappear at the forthcoming extremely busy time of the year travel-wise.

 

[mavrick9]

A330 service VA561 SYD to PER delayed 7 hours, causing VA694 PER-MEL to be delayed outbound today.

VA561 hasn't left SYD yet, PER lounge staff say its technical issues, so i'm hoping it doesn't get cancelled.

6 more hours in lounge
--

update : looks like they are switching the aircraft for VA694 from the inbound SYD flight to the inbound from MEL which arrives 2145. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/VOZ697

 

[Melburnian1]

mavrick9, many thanks: VA561 is retimed to 2105 ex SYD tonight (Thursday 3 December) with forecast arrival at 2300 hours in lieu of 1605.

VA694 is claimed by VA to be departing PER tonight at 2145 hours (impossible if the inbound to form it arrives at 2145) and then be in MEL at 0420 on Thursday 3 December instead of 2350 hours tonight. This is one where there may be further delays on top of those highlighted by mavrick9.

UPDATE: VA694 ended up departing at 2255, arriving MEL at 0516 on Friday 4 December.