Pacific Blue unannounced strike destroys holiday

[cma1957]

Last Sept I booked a holiday to Christchurch for 4 nights....Yesterday 12/1 checked in at Melbourne Airport around 7am for a flight to Christchurch thru Virgins Pacific Blue Holidays departing at 9.45am...told at 9.30am the flight is delayed till 12.30pm then......At midday called to front up at gate 9b to board plane..only to stand there and watch as some luggage went in the hull only to be retreived again 15 minutes later...after standing in line for just over 2 hrs..3 Security personal came down only to inform us that the flight has been cancelled due to a 'work dispute'...had to go thru customs procedure to leave airport. There we go an experience that has left a soar taste in my mouth. Cannot contact Pacific Blue Holidays due to the Floods in Brisbane cbd.

 

[nlagalle]

Last Sept I booked a holiday to Christchurch for 4 nights....Yesterday 12/1 checked in at Melbourne Airport around 7am for a flight to Christchurch thru Virgins Pacific Blue Holidays departing at 9.45am...told at 9.30am the flight is delayed till 12.30pm then......At midday called to front up at gate 9b to board plane..only to stand there and watch as some luggage went in the hull only to be retreived again 15 minutes later...after standing in line for just over 2 hrs..3 Security personal came down only to inform us that the flight has been cancelled due to a 'work dispute'...had to go thru customs procedure to leave airport. There we go an experience that has left a soar taste in my mouth. Cannot contact Pacific Blue Holidays due to the Floods in Brisbane cbd.

Welcome to AFF cma1957. Unfortunately these issues happen from time to time and there isn't much that can be done. However it highlights the importance of having travel insurance to cover you when something happens.

Are you re-booked to travel again?

 

[samh004]

I wonder what the work dispute was? :shock:

Edit: Can’t recall that thread title when I replied earlier in the day :-|

 

[JohnK]

Yes I know people say these things happen from time to time but it is how the airline handles the situation that matters the most.

Virgin/Pacific Blue did not offer alternative flights?

Hope you have some good travel insurance that will cover the cost of any accommodations and tours booked. I would at least expect a full refund of any flights booked.

Very disappointing and even though I am having some issues with QF I am glad most of my bookings are on QF as I could not handle this type of scheduling and service....

 

[GladstoneTim]

Interesting that the Virgin websitre says the flight operated, and on time! As did an afternoon flight???!!! What is going on (not that the flights were on time but the claims the OP has needed to make?

 

[cma1957]

Yes, I do have Deluxe Travel Insurance. ..Hopefully I can rebook this holiday at a later date.

 

[cma1957]

Re; Gladstone Tims reply...
Believe me Pacific Blue DJ 60 flight to Christchurch did not leave with the 200+ passengers when it was towed back out to the tarmac. All us stranded passengers about 2.15 had to hand in the stub from our seat allocation and go thru customs again to get out and get our luggage. Regarding the arvo flight..I have no idea and would have been passed checkin time anyway. I did ask a suited office person who was standing at door after we were ticked off list and all he said to me was "claim it on your Travel Insurance." Hopefully I cane rebook this again at later date.

 

[cma1957]

Once again tried to phone Pacific Blue Brisbane office(National Number) only to be told by a person who is taking overflow calls there is a wait of about 30mins, and next week would probably be a good time to call back.
Well, my son and I will not forget our Christchurch holiday we booked for 2011 that did not happen. Son starts back work on the Jan 18th at his Disability Industries factory. So hopefully, I can rebook it again later in the year with no hassels.

 

[FlyboyAl]

"claim it on your Travel Insurance."
All I can say is that if I had received that answer, I'd have been looking for someone higher up and I would give them absolute hell.
What sort of service is that? Its a total cop out, and totally un-professional.
It would make me think twice about Pacific Blue.

 

[markis10]

The water around Vigin Blues HQ only went down Friday at the earliest I believe, I would imagine a more definitive answer on what can be done to correct this problem will be forthcoming next week, I am sure Virgin Blue will take into account the fact the immediate opportunity to depart is now gone.

 

[Nigelinoz]

Not sure if he's around at the moment but perhaps the OP could send a PM to crazydave98 who works for DJ.I'm sure he would be happy to help sort this mess out for the OP.
Cheers
N'oz

 

[yohy?!]

Incidentally my friend who is PB cabin crew knew nothing of any 'industrial action' on the day in question (or any day for that matter).

Seems like the gate staff may have been telling porkies or the OP misunderstood 'industrial action' rather than crew unavailable/plane gone tech/catering truck ran into plane etc etc etc

 

[cma1957]

:-|

I wonder what the work dispute was? :shock:

Edit: Can’t recall that thread title when I replied earlier in the day :-|

Thread title was changed by someone else hopeing it would catch the eye of someone from Pacific Blue.......

 

[samh004]

:-|

Thread title was changed by someone else hopeing it would catch the eye of someone from Pacific Blue.......

Ahh, thought I wasn’t going that crazy!

 

[cma1957]

Incidentally my friend who is PB cabin crew knew nothing of any 'industrial action' on the day in question (or any day for that matter).

Seems like the gate staff may have been telling porkies or the OP misunderstood 'industrial action' rather than crew unavailable/plane gone tech/catering truck ran into plane etc etc etc

The gate staff did not tell us 200+ passengers...Security was called down to tell us then came 2-3 people in suits possibly from the office. On of this persons also told me to claim it on my travel Insurance! Departure time for flight DJ60 was suppose to be at 9.45am its wasn't until 12midday that we were called to the gate,,,,,,then standing another 2+ hours like cattle to the slaughter in a crowded queue until the announcement...The standing did very little for my arthritic knee & back also my son son was looking forward to his holiday in Christchurch before he started back at work on Tues at Radius Disability Industries here in Bendigo...and the day tours I had booked also....

 

[TheInsider]

Just some quick facts:
Impossible for 200+ people. Unles PB has some new aircraft they are using.
Pacific Blue is run by Aerocare at Melbourne International
Stand for 2hrs? This is MEL airport, they have plenty of seats right next to the gate.

 

[Nigelinoz]

Someone definetly has their wires crossed because the flightstats site shows DJ60 as departing on time at 9.45 am but somehow it's arrival in CHC was delayed 236 minutes,scheduled arrival was 3.00pm NZ time but it didn't arrive till 6:56PM.
I don't know how accurate flightstats is though.
DJ 60^
Virgin Blue 9:45 AM 9:45 AM ~ T-2
11 3:00 PM 6:56 PM I32 Landed
236 min 73H

 

[cma1957]

Just some quick facts:
Impossible for 200+ people. Unles PB has some new aircraft they are using.
Pacific Blue is run by Aerocare at Melbourne International
Stand for 2hrs? This is MEL airport, they have plenty of seats right next to the gate.

Sorry, I did not actually count the passengers..this was a rough estimate on my side and seemed like 200+...Regarding seating yes there is alot of seating upstairs before going down the escalator to gate 9 and very little seating down in that area mainly only a narrow standing area. I am just glad I had the chance to sit for the 2+ hours upstairs b4 hand. Initially the flight was to depart from gate 11 at 9.45am...thanx for your facts..

 

[TheInsider]

Sorry, I did not actually count the passengers..this was a rough estimate on my side and seemed like 200+...Regarding seating yes there is alot of seating upstairs before going down the escalator to gate 9 and very little seating down in that area mainly only a narrow standing area. I am just glad I had the chance to sit for the 2+ hours upstairs b4 hand. Initially the flight was to depart from gate 11 at 9.45am...thanx for your facts..

Obviously some mods don't like my comments, ah well, was no malice directed to the OP. Wow, you get away with more on Whirlpool it seems!

Can anyone confirm if it did depart or not then?

 

[Nigelinoz]

Can anyone confirm if it did depart or not then?

Probably only the airline would be able to confirm that,I guess though whether it did or didn't depart is now beside the point because the OP didn't get the service he paid for,so the task now is to help him in his quest to get some satisfactory outcome to his complaint.
Hopefully another phone call to Pacific Blue will sort it out.