Virgin Australia Delays/Cancellations

[prozac]

So mrs prozac and I front up at Virgin today expecting to fly at 1310 SYD-OOL. As we are checking in we are told the flights today have been cancelled because OOl is flooded. We take this in our stride and arrange to try BNE tomorrow. Whilst discussing weather with the check-in person we are told that Virgin has put on extra flights to bring people back from Hamilton Is. and Daydream(?)

Then I get a call from my mate on the Gold Coast. Where are you? I explain that OOL is flooded according to Virgin. No flights in at all. "No, mate. I am here and Jetstar is flying in and out. It is not flooded"
So now I am wondering if this was really just a ruse because Virgin needed the planes to get people off the islands?

We have lost money on hotel booking and may not recoup 2 Amex complimentary flights. It has also cost $120 today on the airport shuttle and will again tomorrow. With other carriers getting into and out of OOL I have gone from accepting to suspicious.

 

[Melburnian1]

prozac, I have not gone backwards in time to look at earlier flights but the facts support your friend's assertions:

Flight Information - Gold Coast Airport

Sometimes it may be that they simply do not know (because a manager or another staff member has not told them, and they do not or are unable to make their own enquiries) but a question I have had for a long time is 'why do airport check-in and other staff sometimes lie to passengers?'

Staff on other modes such as rail or long distance coaches do not do this as a rule.

 

[prozac]

...
Sometimes it may be that they simply do not know (because a manager or another staff member has not told them, and they do not or are unable to make their own enquiries) but a question I have had for a long time is 'why do airport check-in and other staff sometimes lie to passengers?'...

I don't think they did lie. The received telephone call and relayed what they had been told. Cannot fault the 3 or so check-in people we had to interact with. It is the management I am suspicious of.

Oh, there was one on the Virgin Service Desk who was a line naz_. "Stand back behind that line!" With only two people ahead being attended to it was not at all crowded and we were not even looking her way. But we had to get back!

 

[Melburnian1]

In further on Thursday 30 March 2017, VA1535, the 1635 hours HBA up to SYD is stuck in some congested airspace south of SYD due to the poor weather. Arrival of B738 Vh-YFF should be at roughly 1907 hours, 42 minutes behind schedule.

The 1600 hours MEL - SYD was not airborne until 1736.l Hence B738 VH-VUY is unlikely to arrive prior to 1913 that will be 108 minutes later than its scheduled arrival time of 1725 hours.

 

[Colin 2905]

What's with VA279 (MEL-CBR) today? Did they not like our weather, and decided to go back to MEL instead?

 

[Melburnian1]

VA469 from PER to BNE on Thursday 30 March is arriving at 1943, 33 minutes late to a rather siggy airport with about 65 millimetres of rain recorded since 0900 hours this morning. A332 VH-XFG is the plane which may become (at least for transcontinental flights) an increasingly rare site in the Queensland capital.

B738 VH-VUJ on VA1109 (1815 hours NTL - BNE that was airborne at 1914) should arrive at 1947, 77 late.

 

[prozac]

Having been to SYD and back home due to cancelled flights, I tried to rebook flights tomorrow. Called Virgin who said, "We don't do rebookings when you have booked through an agent (amex)". Excuse me, you cancelled the flights!
In this case we will make a "one-off exception". I held my tongue as I have to be on Gold Coast tomorrow. But really, you cancel flights then want to say that to me!!!!!!!!!!!
After the last disaster flying Virgin I am considering my future position.

 

[Melburnian1]

In further on the disrupted day, east coast flights-wise, Thursday 30 March 2017, VA354, the 1955 hours BNE - MEL took off at 2055 hours. B738 VH-YIF should arrive at about 0016 on Friday 31, 56 minutes tardy.

Despite the allegedly damaged ATC tower and other facilities, VA appears to have operated an evening airlift from HTI that appears to be heading for MEL, with takeoff of VA1752 (B738 VH-YIF) at 1959 hours this evening against a previously scheduled pushback time of 1125. Arrival looks to be at 2342 instead of 1525 hours.

VA1226 (B738 VH-VUJ, the 1915 hours nonstop BNE - CBR that was in the sky at a delayed 2111 hours) should arrive in the national capital at around 2316, 71 minutes past its allotted arrival time.

VA986 is only just making curfew in SYD, with this flight ex BNE arriving at 2257 (77 late) with B738 VH-BZG.

 

[Melburnian1]

Friday 31 March has VA846 (0705 hours MEL across to ADL) not having taken off until 0813. B738 VH-VOO should arrive at 0851, 51 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Later on 31 March, VA184, the 1545 hours mid afternoon NAN down to MEL took off early at 1545 but has lost time with arrival of B738 VH-YIB suggested as 2119, 44 minutes late.

At 1953 hours, the scheduled 1825 hours VA437 from ADL across to SYD was in the sky; arrival is suggested as 70 minutes behind at 2155 tonight.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Sunday 2 April 2017, VA289, the 1905 hours early evening MEL up to CBR that was airborne at 1940 should arrive half an hour late at 2040. Aircraft is B738 VH-VUR.

The 1815 hours SYD across to PER (VA532, A332 VH-XFH) did not become airborne until 1938 so arrival has been delayed until about 2209, 44 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Television news was reporting tonight in Melbourne that ROK airport would be closed from 12 noon on Monday 3 April 2017 account expected flooding. The airport terminal building was being sandbagged, and there was speculation that the airport could be closed for weeks. Time will tell.

 

[Melburnian1]

Tuesday 4 April 2017 sees VA536 (the 1705 hours OOL down to SYD that was in the sky aty a much delayed 1909 hours) likely to pull in to SYD at around 2019 tonight, 99 minutes behind schedule. B738 VH-VUO is the taskmaster.

Many thousands of kilometres away, VA9304 (1615 mid afternoon ONS - PER that did not take off until 1800, F100 VH-FZH, should arrive at 2006 instead of the timetabled 1815 hours.

ROK has closed, as advised above:

http://www.rockhamptonregion.qld.gov.au/CouncilServices/Rockhampton-Airport

 

[Melburnian1]

The late evening of Friday 7 April sees VA567 (the 1815 hours SYD to PER that was in the sky at 1855, about 20 minutes late) arriving at roughly 2201 hours, 36 late. A332 VH-XFC is the well regarded conveyance.

 

[Melburnian1]

VA165, the early morning 0630 hours from AKL to MEL (B738 VH-VOR that was airborne at 0802) should arrive at 0956, 76 minutes late.

The 0805 hours SYD - CBR, VA632 (B738 VH-YFS) took off at a much delayed 0928 with arrival suggested as 1005, an even hour late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Stormy weather during the late afternoon and early evening of Saturday 8 April is ensuring MEL tops the FR24 list of airports suffering delays, although airline traffic-wise Saturday afternoon and evening is the quietest lengthy period of the week.

VA239, the 1735 hours MEL - ADL (B738 VH-VOM) took off at 1842. Arrival is estimated as 1921, 51 minutes tardy.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Sunday 9 April, the 0855 hours OOL down to SYD that was airborne at 0940, VA510 (B738 VH-YFC) should arrive 31 minutes tardy at 1056.

VA262 from CBR to MEL, the 1005 hours that was airborne at 1042 (B738 VH-VOL) should arrive at about 1149, 34 minutes behind schedule.

 

[Melburnian1]

In further on Sunday 9 April 2017, VA274 (B738 VH-YIA, the 1500 hours from CBR down to MEL that took off at 1543) should pull in to its designated gate at roughly 1648, 38 late.

VA23, the new 1130 hours MEL - LAX did not depart until about 1600 hours. Not good, but about 18 hours ahead of QF93 that is delayed by more than 24 hours. It might be too much to expect QF to have placed some passengers on arch rival VA.

VA682 (1130 PER - MEL that was airborne at 1201) should arrive at 1747, 42 minutes late: A332 VH-XFG is the craft.

 

[Melburnian1]

At 1940 hours on Sunday 9 April, many aircraft were in a 'hold' approaching SYD.

VA1192, the 1740 hours PQQ - SYD that was in the sky only about 10 - 12 minutes late at 1803 hours is expected to be at its allotted space on the tarmac at 1947 hours, 52 late. The ATR72 is VH-FVR.

VH-FVZ in the other direction, the timetabled 1805 departure was only airborne at 1918 hours so arrival in the national capital is suggested as 2004, 59 late.

VA870, the 1730 hours SYD - MEL did not take off until 1823 (B738 VH-VUH) so the inevitable result is a forecast 55 minutes behind schedule arrival at an even 2000 hours.

The northbound VA1157 (1825 hours SYD up to TMW that managed to become airborne at 1936 hours, VH-FVN should pull in to the major northern NSW city at 2025 this evening, 55 late.

The 1700 hours MEL - SYD VA867 took off at 1810 early this evening (B738 VH-YFI) with its forecast 2000 hours arrival 95 minutes late.

B738 VH-VUQ on the medium length VA1353 (1445 hours DRW - SYD that took off at 1521) should be able to allow passengers to alight at roughly 2010 hours, 40 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

A blustery Monday 10 April 2017 sees VA206, the 0635 hours ADL - MEL that was not airborne until 0716 hours (B738 VH-YFW) having been in a hold to Donald's south and hence likely to arrive at 0903, 38 minutes late.

VA304 (early morning 0555 hours BNE - MEL that was airborne at 0632) should arrive at roughly 0858, also by sheer chance 38 minutes tardy but with B738 Vh-VOS.

VA808 (VH-YIA, the 0700 hours SYD - MEL that was airborne at 0750) should pull in to its designated arrival gate at around 0920 hours, 45 late. The following VA810, the 0715 southbound was in the sky at 0800 even; it should arrive at roughly 0930, 40 minutes late with B738 Vh-YFP. Making a threesome, the 0730 hours SYD - MEL VA812 is an expected half an hour late into MEL at 0935 hours with another B738, VH-YFL.

VA814, the 0745 hours SYD - MEL took off at 0841 with E190 VH-ZPI; arrival is suggested as 100, 40 minutes late.

The large number of similarly late southbound SYD - MEL flights and the adverse weather makes it possible that ATC is holding these on the ground in SYD and issuing a 'controlled departure' time for each aircraft to push back:

http://www.airservicesaustralia.com/services/air-traffic-flow-management/

VA726 (0655 hours OOL - MEL that was in the sky at 0734, B738 VH-VUJ) should arrive at 0956, 36 minutes late.