Considering a VA status run - how tight can I schedule flights at OOL?

[Homer]

While I've re-qualified for VA WP based on SCs, I haven't flown enough on VA metal. I need five more sectors before the end of the month. I have no trips planned so I'm considering a status run. Let's not get into the psychology of why I want to re-qualify. I have the time and it bugs me that I might get bumped back to SG purely on sector count. So now that's out of the way...

I am considering spending one day next week going up and down between SYD and OOL on $79 fares. But how tight can I schedule these flights? For example, if I take DJ 505 from SYD at 7.10am, arriving into OOL at 8.30am, will that be the same aircraft operating DJ 512 from OOL to SYD at 9.05am? Similarly if I take DJ 523 from SYD at 1.10pm, arriving into OOL at 2.30pm, will that aircraft be operating DJ 528 from OOL to SYD at 3.05pm? There seems to be a pattern with these times so if anybody knows how this is scheduled it would be enormously helpful to me.

 

[lovestotravel]

No idea, but have a look at the Gold Coast website and you can see what gates are used and get an idea from that

Virgin website (from memory) also shows the gate each flight uses, so look at flights on the same day/time EG Saturdays and see if the inbound flight operates as the outbound

 

[Homer]

No idea, but have a look at the Gold Coast website and you can see what gates are used and get an idea from that

Virgin website (from memory) also shows the gate each flight uses, so look at flights on the same day/time EG Saturdays and see if the inbound flight operates as the outbound

Nice tip. I can't see the earlier flights but 523 arrives into gate 3 and 528 departs from gate 3 just 35 minutes later so that would surely be the same aircraft.

 

[medhead]

I did ADL-OOL a little while ago. DJ will apply a 90 minute connection time for a turn around. I booked the flights separately at about 35/40 minutes from memory. It helped it was the same aircraft. The 90 minutes is slightly annoying as DJ will offer as short as 30 minutes when offering connecting flights. eg TSV-BNE-ADL.


Sent from the Throne

 

[markis10]

Or use the VA source route tracker:

http://www.thevasource.com/routetracker.html

[TABLE="class: style7"]
[TR]
[TD]19/08/2012[/TD]
[TD]VH-YIB[/TD]
[TD]B737-800[/TD]
[TD]DJ505[/TD]
[TD]8J/168Y[/TD]
[TD]Sydney[/TD]
[TD]Coolangatta[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #A7A7A7"]
[TD]19/08/2012[/TD]
[TD]VH-VUN[/TD]
[TD]B737-800[/TD]
[TD]DJ509[/TD]
[TD]WY180[/TD]
[TD]Sydney[/TD]
[TD]Coolangatta[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]19/08/2012[/TD]
[TD]VH-YVC[/TD]
[TD]B737-800[/TD]
[TD]DJ511[/TD]
[TD]8J/168Y[/TD]
[TD]Sydney[/TD]
[TD]Coolangatta[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #A7A7A7"]
[TD]19/08/2012[/TD]
[TD]VH-VUM[/TD]
[TD]B737-800[/TD]
[TD]DJ515[/TD]
[TD]8J/168Y[/TD]
[TD]Sydney[/TD]
[TD]Coolangatta[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]19/08/2012[/TD]
[TD]VH-YFL[/TD]
[TD]B737-800[/TD]
[TD]DJ519[/TD]
[TD]8J/168Y[/TD]
[TD]Sydney[/TD]
[TD]Coolangatta[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #A7A7A7"]
[TD]19/08/2012[/TD]
[TD]VH-YVC[/TD]
[TD]B737-800[/TD]
[TD]DJ523[/TD]
[TD]8J/168Y[/TD]
[TD]Sydney[/TD]
[TD]Coolangatta[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]19/08/2012[/TD]
[TD]VH-VOK[/TD]
[TD]B737-800[/TD]
[TD]DJ527[/TD]
[TD]WY180[/TD]
[TD]Sydney[/TD]
[TD]Coolangatta[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #A7A7A7"]
[TD]19/08/2012[/TD]
[TD]VH-YFL[/TD]
[TD]B737-800[/TD]
[TD]DJ531[/TD]
[TD]8J/168Y[/TD]
[TD]Sydney[/TD]
[TD]Coolangatta[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]19/08/2012[/TD]
[TD]VH-YFK[/TD]
[TD]B737-800[/TD]
[TD]DJ535[/TD]
[TD]8J/168Y[/TD]
[TD]Sydney[/TD]
[TD]Coolangatta[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #A7A7A7"]
[TD]19/08/2012[/TD]
[TD]VH-YIG[/TD]
[TD]B737-800[/TD]
[TD]DJ539[/TD]
[TD]8J/168Y[/TD]
[TD]Sydney[/TD]
[TD]Coolangatta[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]19/08/2012[/TD]
[TD]VH-YFK[/TD]
[TD]B737-800[/TD]
[TD]DJ543[/TD]
[TD]8J/168Y[/TD]
[TD]Sydney[/TD]
[TD]Coolangatta[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #A7A7A7"]
[TD]19/08/2012[/TD]
[TD]VH-YFL[/TD]
[TD]B737-800[/TD]
[TD]DJ545[/TD]
[TD]8J/168Y[/TD]
[TD]Sydney[/TD]
[TD]Coolangatta[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

[TABLE="class: style7"]
[TR="bgcolor: #A7A7A7"]
[TD]19/08/2012[/TD]
[TD]VH-VUX[/TD]
[TD]B737-800[/TD]
[TD]DJ504[/TD]
[TD]8J/168Y[/TD]
[TD]Coolangatta[/TD]
[TD]Sydney[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]19/08/2012[/TD]
[TD]VH-YIB[/TD]
[TD]B737-800[/TD]
[TD]DJ512[/TD]
[TD]8J/168Y[/TD]
[TD]Coolangatta[/TD]
[TD]Sydney[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #A7A7A7"]
[TD]19/08/2012[/TD]
[TD]VH-VUN[/TD]
[TD]B737-800[/TD]
[TD]DJ516[/TD]
[TD]WY180[/TD]
[TD]Coolangatta[/TD]
[TD]Sydney[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]19/08/2012[/TD]
[TD]VH-YVC[/TD]
[TD]B737-800[/TD]
[TD]DJ518[/TD]
[TD]8J/168Y[/TD]
[TD]Coolangatta[/TD]
[TD]Sydney[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #A7A7A7"]
[TD]19/08/2012[/TD]
[TD]VH-VUM[/TD]
[TD]B737-800[/TD]
[TD]DJ520[/TD]
[TD]8J/168Y[/TD]
[TD]Coolangatta[/TD]
[TD]Sydney[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]19/08/2012[/TD]
[TD]VH-YFL[/TD]
[TD]B737-800[/TD]
[TD]DJ526[/TD]
[TD]8J/168Y[/TD]
[TD]Coolangatta[/TD]
[TD]Sydney[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #A7A7A7"]
[TD]19/08/2012[/TD]
[TD]VH-YVC[/TD]
[TD]B737-800[/TD]
[TD]DJ528[/TD]
[TD]8J/168Y[/TD]
[TD]Coolangatta[/TD]
[TD]Sydney[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]19/08/2012[/TD]
[TD]VH-VOK[/TD]
[TD]B737-800[/TD]
[TD]DJ536[/TD]
[TD]WY180[/TD]
[TD]Coolangatta[/TD]
[TD]Sydney[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #A7A7A7"]
[TD]19/08/2012[/TD]
[TD]VH-YFL[/TD]
[TD]B737-800[/TD]
[TD]DJ540[/TD]
[TD]8J/168Y[/TD]
[TD]Coolangatta[/TD]
[TD]Sydney[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]19/08/2012[/TD]
[TD]VH-YFK[/TD]
[TD]B737-800[/TD]
[TD]DJ544[/TD]
[TD]8J/168Y[/TD]
[TD]Coolangatta[/TD]
[TD]Sydney[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #A7A7A7"]
[TD]19/08/2012[/TD]
[TD]VH-YIG[/TD]
[TD]B737-800[/TD]
[TD]DJ546[/TD]
[TD]8J/168Y[/TD]
[TD]Coolangatta[/TD]
[TD]Sydney[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[Homer]

I did ADL-OOL a little while ago. DJ will apply a 90 minute connection time for a turn around. I booked the flights separately at about 35/40 minutes from memory. It helped it was the same aircraft. The 90 minutes is slightly annoying as DJ will offer as short as 30 minutes when offering connecting flights. eg TSV-BNE-ADL.

So they won't let me book a flight departing 35 minutes after an arriving flight?

 

[Fruitcake]

So they won't let me book a flight departing 35 minutes after an arriving flight?

Not in a single transaction. Just do it as two separate bookings.

 

[AaronBradford]

Not in a single transaction. Just do it as two separate bookings.

I did that on my status run transiting OOL, with my first aircraft not operating my second flight. I thought 45 minutes was generous, but my flight departing SYD was delayed. I ended up checking in online for my OOL-MEL flight on the T2 internet café computers while my SYD-OOL was boarding, then we got to OOL with 10 minutes to spare. By the time I left my seat on one aircraft to the time I sat down in the other (thank the aviation gods for the small OOL terminal) was 6 minutes. I'm glad I made it, but it's not recommended if not on the same aircraft.

 

[pmdg7444]

These only show past history - so can I assume that future patterns will be the same on a weekly basis?

Or use the VA source route tracker:

The VA Source - Virgin Australia Route Tracker

[TABLE="class: style7"]
[TR]
[TD]19/08/2012[/TD]
[TD]VH-YIB[/TD]
[TD]B737-800[/TD]
[TD]DJ505[/TD]
[TD]8J/168Y[/TD]
[TD]Sydney[/TD]
[TD]Coolangatta[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #A7A7A7"]
[TD]19/08/2012[/TD]
[TD]VH-VUN[/TD]
[TD]B737-800[/TD]
[TD]DJ509[/TD]
[TD]WY180[/TD]
[TD]Sydney[/TD]
[TD]Coolangatta[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]19/08/2012[/TD]
[TD]VH-YVC[/TD]
[TD]B737-800[/TD]
[TD]DJ511[/TD]
[TD]8J/168Y[/TD]
[TD]Sydney[/TD]
[TD]Coolangatta[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #A7A7A7"]
[TD]19/08/2012[/TD]
[TD]VH-VUM[/TD]
[TD]B737-800[/TD]
[TD]DJ515[/TD]
[TD]8J/168Y[/TD]
[TD]Sydney[/TD]
[TD]Coolangatta[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]19/08/2012[/TD]
[TD]VH-YFL[/TD]
[TD]B737-800[/TD]
[TD]DJ519[/TD]
[TD]8J/168Y[/TD]
[TD]Sydney[/TD]
[TD]Coolangatta[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #A7A7A7"]
[TD]19/08/2012[/TD]
[TD]VH-YVC[/TD]
[TD]B737-800[/TD]
[TD]DJ523[/TD]
[TD]8J/168Y[/TD]
[TD]Sydney[/TD]
[TD]Coolangatta[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]19/08/2012[/TD]
[TD]VH-VOK[/TD]
[TD]B737-800[/TD]
[TD]DJ527[/TD]
[TD]WY180[/TD]
[TD]Sydney[/TD]
[TD]Coolangatta[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #A7A7A7"]
[TD]19/08/2012[/TD]
[TD]VH-YFL[/TD]
[TD]B737-800[/TD]
[TD]DJ531[/TD]
[TD]8J/168Y[/TD]
[TD]Sydney[/TD]
[TD]Coolangatta[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]19/08/2012[/TD]
[TD]VH-YFK[/TD]
[TD]B737-800[/TD]
[TD]DJ535[/TD]
[TD]8J/168Y[/TD]
[TD]Sydney[/TD]
[TD]Coolangatta[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #A7A7A7"]
[TD]19/08/2012[/TD]
[TD]VH-YIG[/TD]
[TD]B737-800[/TD]
[TD]DJ539[/TD]
[TD]8J/168Y[/TD]
[TD]Sydney[/TD]
[TD]Coolangatta[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]19/08/2012[/TD]
[TD]VH-YFK[/TD]
[TD]B737-800[/TD]
[TD]DJ543[/TD]
[TD]8J/168Y[/TD]
[TD]Sydney[/TD]
[TD]Coolangatta[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #A7A7A7"]
[TD]19/08/2012[/TD]
[TD]VH-YFL[/TD]
[TD]B737-800[/TD]
[TD]DJ545[/TD]
[TD]8J/168Y[/TD]
[TD]Sydney[/TD]
[TD]Coolangatta[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

[TABLE="class: style7"]
[TR="bgcolor: #A7A7A7"]
[TD]19/08/2012[/TD]
[TD]VH-VUX[/TD]
[TD]B737-800[/TD]
[TD]DJ504[/TD]
[TD]8J/168Y[/TD]
[TD]Coolangatta[/TD]
[TD]Sydney[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]19/08/2012[/TD]
[TD]VH-YIB[/TD]
[TD]B737-800[/TD]
[TD]DJ512[/TD]
[TD]8J/168Y[/TD]
[TD]Coolangatta[/TD]
[TD]Sydney[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #A7A7A7"]
[TD]19/08/2012[/TD]
[TD]VH-VUN[/TD]
[TD]B737-800[/TD]
[TD]DJ516[/TD]
[TD]WY180[/TD]
[TD]Coolangatta[/TD]
[TD]Sydney[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]19/08/2012[/TD]
[TD]VH-YVC[/TD]
[TD]B737-800[/TD]
[TD]DJ518[/TD]
[TD]8J/168Y[/TD]
[TD]Coolangatta[/TD]
[TD]Sydney[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #A7A7A7"]
[TD]19/08/2012[/TD]
[TD]VH-VUM[/TD]
[TD]B737-800[/TD]
[TD]DJ520[/TD]
[TD]8J/168Y[/TD]
[TD]Coolangatta[/TD]
[TD]Sydney[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]19/08/2012[/TD]
[TD]VH-YFL[/TD]
[TD]B737-800[/TD]
[TD]DJ526[/TD]
[TD]8J/168Y[/TD]
[TD]Coolangatta[/TD]
[TD]Sydney[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #A7A7A7"]
[TD]19/08/2012[/TD]
[TD]VH-YVC[/TD]
[TD]B737-800[/TD]
[TD]DJ528[/TD]
[TD]8J/168Y[/TD]
[TD]Coolangatta[/TD]
[TD]Sydney[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]19/08/2012[/TD]
[TD]VH-VOK[/TD]
[TD]B737-800[/TD]
[TD]DJ536[/TD]
[TD]WY180[/TD]
[TD]Coolangatta[/TD]
[TD]Sydney[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #A7A7A7"]
[TD]19/08/2012[/TD]
[TD]VH-YFL[/TD]
[TD]B737-800[/TD]
[TD]DJ540[/TD]
[TD]8J/168Y[/TD]
[TD]Coolangatta[/TD]
[TD]Sydney[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]19/08/2012[/TD]
[TD]VH-YFK[/TD]
[TD]B737-800[/TD]
[TD]DJ544[/TD]
[TD]8J/168Y[/TD]
[TD]Coolangatta[/TD]
[TD]Sydney[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #A7A7A7"]
[TD]19/08/2012[/TD]
[TD]VH-YIG[/TD]
[TD]B737-800[/TD]
[TD]DJ546[/TD]
[TD]8J/168Y[/TD]
[TD]Coolangatta[/TD]
[TD]Sydney[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[serfty]

These only show past history - so can I assume that future patterns will be the same on a weekly basis?

They would indicate a trend - there are no guarantees.

 

[kpc]

Having done 2 Syd-Ool returns in the last 2 weeks for the same reasons as the OP for the necessary sector count to maintain DJ Plat, I'll suggest the following. Book the returns on one itinerary; I think the MCT DJ allow you is 1.5 hours. As soon as you arrive at Ool (hopefully you are in 3C ), rush to the DJ lounge (near gates 1 & 2), tell them that you want to "Fly ahead" and be put on the next flight to Syd. On Sat, I arrived at Ool at 1140 (10 mins late), rushed to the DJ lounge, and got put on the 1205 flight (same plane I came up on) instead of my booked 1405 flight. The flight was closed 1 minute after I got my new BP....the FA on the flight back recognised me and was some what bemused about the reasons for my very quick turn around time (20 mins) at Ool:mrgreen:

 

[medhead]

....the FA on the flight back recognised me and was some what bemused about the reasons for my very quick turn around time (20 mins) at Ool:mrgreen:

They recognised me as well when I did a quick turn around. Asked me what happen, I said I didn't like the place. Funny thing is my seat buddy in 1F also did the same turn around. She was there for work, urgent special delivery.


Sent from the Throne

 

[Homer]

This is all very helpful - thank you. Does anybody know whether Family Pooling sectors count as sectors towards the target account? So if I setup Lisa to Family Pool to my account, and the two of us do a SYD-OOL-SYD on Saturday, does that count as four sectors for me?

 

[kpc]

This is all very helpful - thank you. Does anybody know whether Family Pooling sectors count as sectors towards the target account? So if I setup Lisa to Family Pool to my account, and the two of us do a SYD-OOL-SYD on Saturday, does that count as four sectors for me?

No, family pooling does not apply for sectors needed.

 

[Homer]

No, family pooling does not apply for sectors needed.

Doh! .

 

[Homer]

Currently sitting in the VA lounge at OOL. I got off the morning flight from SYD and tried to do a Fly Ahead and get right back on it, but unfortunately it was full. However I am flying back at 12pm so that's not too long to wait. Oh and I got the elusive op-up (my first ever on VA) out of SYD this morning as the flight was oversold so that was a nice surprise on a cheap-as-chips ticket.

Now I just need another three sectors next week...

 

[kpc]

Currently sitting in the VA lounge at OOL. I got off the morning flight from SYD and tried to do a Fly Ahead and get right back on it, but unfortunately it was full. However I am flying back at 12pm so that's not too long to wait. Oh and I got the elusive op-up (my first ever on VA) out of SYD this morning as the flight was oversold so that was a nice surprise on a cheap-as-chips ticket.

Now I just need another three sectors next week...

DJ Ool is not a bad little lounge to spend some time...Oh well, I guess you win some (op up), and lose some (earlier flight back full).

 

[Sprucegoose]

I did ADL-OOL a little while ago. DJ will apply a 90 minute connection time for a turn around. I booked the flights separately at about 35/40 minutes from memory. It helped it was the same aircraft. The 90 minutes is slightly annoying as DJ will offer as short as 30 minutes when offering connecting flights. eg TSV-BNE-ADL.


Sent from the Throne

90 minutes is ridiculous. Qantas does connections in out of LAX under that.

 

[Homer]

Or use the VA source route tracker:

The VA Source - Virgin Australia Route Tracker

Except from the VA OOL lounge, where this URL is blocked...