A330 Subbed out for a 737 MEL-PER 19/4/13 5.30PM

[Shy180]

Hi Guys

Just went to check in for tomorrows flight and seen the aircraft has been subbed.

Anyone else on the flight and have you received a phone call?

I am quite pissed off as the A330 is a major reason we fly VA and anyone who thinks J in a 737 is even close to the A330 is mad :evil:

I tried calling VA but the lady didn't even know how to see what the aircraft were for each flight....with me coaching her it took her 10 mins to find it

VA you are trying my patience these days.....

Greg

 

[Bofter]

You had me worried there, in my panic I only read parts of the title! I am on the 5:00pm (couldn't remember if it was that or 5:30pm) PER-MEL which fortunately hasn't been subbed for the 73H. My feeling of relief means that I can understand your frustration. Looking at ExpertFlyer it seems to be the 10.30am PER-MEL which is the eastbound flight to have copped the substitution.

 

[mannej]

I am wondering if a 330 went tech somewhere along the line?

 

[samh004]

I am wondering if a 330 went tech somewhere along the line?

I heard two went tech the other day, but then I hear lots of thing and rarely venture in here

Sorry to hear of your frustrations!

 

[mannej]

Unfortunately with a relatively small fleet of 330's, if one or two do go tech, you do feel the ramifications down the line.

I understand your frustrations but I am sure there are reasons as to the sub.

 

[docjames]

It'll almost certainly be a tech issue.

I guess it's 737 or not at all as the 330 fleet is too small to cover tech issues easily.

Did they offer an alternate flight time (on an A330)?

 

[tuapekastar]

Same happened to me last year (though PER-MEL) but I did not find out till I reached the end of the air bridge and saw a red plane! Fortunately my J seat allocation existed in both 332 and 738, 'cos 27 into 8 doesn't go, and there were certainly downgrades that happened.
A PITA for you, but it'll soon be history.

 

[Mak404matt]

The first flight on the 19th is also a 738, but it has been scheduled like that for a while, I assumed maintenance when I booked.

 

[Shy180]

I assumed it had gone tech but original lady on the phone (NZ call center?) clearly didn’t know VA flew different aircraft let alone why they might change...needless to say when i called back to switch flights to 8.15 the gold line lady was much better informed and quickly had our flight changed - thank goodness for the good people who staff the gold call center!

Hopefully no one else misread the title and had a coronary

Cheers

 

[Shy180]

Then after all that our 8.15 departure is still sitting on the Tarmac at 9.45. Needless to say another horrible VA experience. No talk of compensation and no sign of the staff. I am really sick of the **** service VA. how hard it it to look after your customers.

/end rant.

 

[docjames]

Don't think the grass is greener at the other full service carrier.

Mrsdoc is now airborne ex-Per after a ~4hr delay.

 

[Shy180]

I know, I know but wouldn't it be nice if etc

Hope she gets where's she's going!

 

[pat25d]

A bit keen expecting compensation don't you think?

No wonder costs in this country are going up!!

 

[docjames]

I know, I know but wouldn't it be nice if etc

Hope she gets where's she's going!

Home at midnight (vs 8pm).

 

[Jama]

Just found out my MEL - PER flight has been swapped out today. Just getting on a flight with my family to Melbourne solely to get on 330. Have spent a fortune to do this, so I am pretty upset. Would have flown direct from Brisbane on my own otherwise.

 

[ataline]

Then after all that our 8.15 departure is still sitting on the Tarmac at 9.45. Needless to say another horrible VA experience. No talk of compensation and no sign of the staff. I am really sick of the **** service VA. how hard it it to look after your customers.

/end rant.

I was on that flight as well. Annoying that we had already boarded before the fault was detected, but at least it was fixed! We did get personal apologies from the CSM and pilot though. Not expecting compensation - delay was only a couple of hours.

 

[maninblack]

Unfortunately airlines will look at loads and take the opportunity to sub an aircraft out if it might give them a chance attend to a maintenance item or other matter. Especially an airline with a small fleet, in this case of a particular aircraft type. But honestly MEL-PER is 4h5m , MEL-CNS is 3h25m and it's a 738 or nothing all the time so ...

 

[Jama]

Not only is it a sub but its one of the old red ones.

 

[KCMil]

It is better to get one of the old red ones as they are more likely to have IFE in the form of Live 2 Air. None of the new birds have seat back IFE and only 1 has the wireless entertainment operating.

 

[Jama]

It is better to get one of the old red ones as they are more likely to have IFE in the form of Live 2 Air. None of the new birds have seat back IFE and only 1 has the wireless entertainment operating.

in business so doesn't make a difference. Can't get my head around the new wireless system since we are supposed to have flight mode on, so no wifi functioning.

the substitute aircraft probably affects business more than anything else due to the huge difference. Given it is a small number I think they could have called and offered some options.

apparently one aircraft went to Singapore for some work and the order for new aircraft was delayed by airbus but they weren't permitted to delay the scheduled servicing, hence down one existing one.