A330 downgrade to 737

[pblackie]

Seems every time I book the business on a Sunday night from Sydney to Perth the aircraft gets swapped out for a 737. I know the 330's will almost disappear from this route but what's the point in continuing to sell the business if you can't support the service!

 

[pauly7]

Weekends are a hotspot for being downgraded on VA trans con... but any day is a target now honestly and as you have noted will only increase as they pull the A330's off. Nothing really you can do I'm afraid.

 

[Jurahn]

Definitely much more likely to happen these days no matter which day/time you choose. I have PER-SYD in a few weeks on a Friday and MEL-PER on a Tuesday a couple of weeks later, arranged to fly on weekdays and on those particular flights for the A330 (or least to give a better chance than the weekend of KEEPING the A330 as booked) so am on tenterhooks at the moment to see whether either (or even worse, both) are swapped out.

 

[clipped_wings]

I reckon your frustration and anticipation is well warranted. While I think the process of swapping out is a logistical necessity on some occasions, there still should be some form of reimbursement for the poor passenger. Many of us don't fly for work - we fly for fun. How many people are there planning special holiday flights and choose Virgin over Qantas for a particular sector, assuming it will be "The Business"?

Creating and paying for an itinerary based on the information provided at the time of booking SHOULD also underwrite an assurance that, in the event of a change in metal - a points compensation or monetary refund is pending.

I am a small trade business owner/operator who relies heavily on the 80/20% philosophy. (80% of my income comes from 20% of my customers). And if I sold one thing and offered another - I'd have very few loyal clients left.

 

[fewings85]

I agree with you to an extent there clipped wings.

I have a flight on august 16th coming up from PER - SYD. I have been downgraded from an A330 to a 737. Its a red eye flight as well which makes it worse as I could of benefited from the lie flat bed. It seems the Per - SYD flights are much harder hit than PER - MEL. All red eye flights seem to have had the A330's removed from PER - SYD.

Looking at a flight I need PER - MEL return on 9 Nov and every flight that day is A330. So is it just the SYD flights that they are really pulling them from? I checked some more dates and it seems PER - MEL and MEL - PER is not too affected...yet anyway it just seemts the SYD flights are. Which is worse as its a longer flight.

I sent VA an email last week about it just telling them of my frustration at it when I had used points to upgrade based on the fact that it was an A330. I did say to them while I understand you have a policy in place for aircraft changes and I understand that they have to happen but when the quality of the product is just so different something has to be offered as compensation specially. Their response was just an apology no offer of points or anything. I did also vent to them, as I checked the pricing of that day, the flight with the 737 was more then any flight with a A330 and I notice this a lot the pricing is usually just the same and sometimes more. I made that known to them, I felt their pricing needs to be looked at and I questioned with them how they can charge so much for an inferior product let alone even more. Its like if you went and bought a Mercedes car and then got given a Hyundai because that's all they could supply at the time. You wouldn't be happy.

 

[Bagpuss]

I checked some more dates and it seems PER - MEL and MEL - PER is not too affected...

I would say this is for the rotation of flights on/off the Melbourne - Hong Kong route.

To be honest, I'm not sure this is always down to the a330's being re-allocated due to the Asia flights. It can be due to seasonal demand, crew factors, freight (everyone forgets Virgin have the TNT freight contract).

 

[Bagpuss]

Seems every time I book the business on a Sunday night from Sydney to Perth the aircraft gets swapped out for a 737. I know the 330's will almost disappear from this route but what's the point in continuing to sell the business if you can't support the service!

Can you define "Swapped out" ?

If it's planned IE a few days out they will tend to notify you. If possible they could move you onto an a330 service. (I'd imagine for "The Business" most would prefer an economy trip to Mel, then business Mel - Per as an option)
If it's at the last minute it is probably down to other factors such as aircraft, crew issues. If one goes tech it will have a flow through and I would image the international service will get priority in movements.

 

[pblackie]

Checked the seating yesterday morning for the 1900 dep and overnight it had been changed from an A330 to B737. Didn't receive any notification, to make matters worse despite being on the same PNR my wife hadn't been allocated a seat.

 

[Bagpuss]

Yesterday ...
One a330 spent yesterday parked in Perth .... https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/vh-xfg
One a330 is in for maintenance ... https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/vh-xfh

 

[bullz74]

I spoke to an aussie customer service staff who had informed me that they do have policy in place for compensation due to operational downgrades from a330 to 737. At the time I was given a choice of 15k one way (in addition to 30k refund from points upgrade) or to reschedule flight to another time slot with the a330 running. The option to cancel with no fee was also avaliable.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

I spoke to an aussie customer service staff who had informed me that they do have policy in place for compensation due to operational downgrades from a330 to 737. At the time I was given a choice of 15k one way (in addition to 30k refund from points upgrade) or to reschedule flight to another time slot with the a330 running. The option to cancel with no fee was also avaliable.

It would be hard to have a compensation policy when they charge almost exactly the same fare for the B738 and the A332.
I know there is a small fare difference but last time I checked it was only about $29. The exact amount is irelevant to my general point.
The real problem is calling them both business class. I would call the premium cabin on the VA (and QF) 738s Premium Economy and charge accordingly.
I hope the refurbished VA B738s will deliver a true business class product.

 

[oz_mark]

It would be hard to have a compensation policy when they charge almost exactly the same fare for the B738 and the A332.
I know there is a small fare difference but last time I checked it was only about $29. The exact amount is irelevant to my general point.
The real problem is calling them both business class. I would call the premium cabin on the VA (and QF) 738s Premium Economy and charge accordingly.
I hope the refurbished VA B738s will deliver a true business class product.

If you book on the Virgin website, they generally tag the A330 flights with the notation 'The Business'. They are then contractually obliged to provide that product. Anything else, and the product is not as described.

 

[clipped_wings]

If you book on the Virgin website, they generally tag the A330 flights with the notation 'The Business'. They are then contractually obliged to provide that product. Anything else, and the product is not as described.

"I'm not saying we're going to sue...I'm just saying, I think we have a case". (courtesy Cat in the Hat)

 

[esseeeayeenn]

If you book on the Virgin website, they generally tag the A330 flights with the notation 'The Business'. They are then contractually obliged to provide that product. Anything else, and the product is not as described.

I'm not arguing with that.* The question is what remedy should they offer you?
The normal remedy under contract law is to require performance of their contractual obligations.
In this case that isn't possible, and they have already delivered an inferior product, so you would be left seeking damages.
In determining the quantum of any damages it would be relevant to consider the difference between what you paid and what you would have paid for the product they actually provided.
If the difference was only $29 then you might not be entitled to much more than that.

*Although I do note that they state that aircraft allocations are subject to change.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

My only VA J on the VA330 was a few years ago now, PER - SYD... was a great sunset view.
Dep PER 16.00 arr SYD 22.00.
One of my bestest VA flights ever.
But OP I do see your dismay/shock/abhorance that VA does it so regularly.
If you can, and want to try, QF still have few 330s flying Au trans cont.
I have tried that one too PER - MEL in whY.
Edit: you can expect the 330 but its not till you take off and land then you can be satisfied.
They can equipment swap half an hour before your flight.

 

[jpk]

My mother was booked on an A330 tonight for MEL-PER. Chose the 6pm instead of 8pm to get the big plane, found out on checking in yesterday that they've been swapped around which was pretty frustrating.

 

[Mogul]

My mother was booked on an A330 tonight for MEL-PER. Chose the 6pm instead of 8pm to get the big plane, found out on checking in yesterday that they've been swapped around which was pretty frustrating.

Ring VA and see if they will change flights.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Its like herding the pet/s, you never can guarantee your plane will be a wide body in relation to Aust dom flights anymore, VA/QF.

 

[HeavyElectricity]

I noticed flight VA690 PER-MEL tomorrow was downgraded this morning to a 737. I had already checked-in yesterday and confirmed my seat selection on the A330. Interesting thing was that during seat selection confirmation, only 2 seats were showing as available on the A330 - makes me wonder if other people were therefore downgraded to economy with this equipment swap, or if seats were blocked 'in case of equipment downgrade'?

Phoned VA and they moved me without any hassle to the later A330 flight.

 

[pblackie]

15k points each compensation, i'm not complaining.