Downgraded A330 to 737 but not warned

[juliusg]

My Sydney > Perth flight today (via Melb) is now 737 all the way. When I booked and upgraded back in November it was specially to have The Business on the A330. Sometime since the equipment has changed. My beef is that I wasn't told - so I can't change. I've been a Plat for many years.

 

[serfty]

Sadly this is going to happen more and more as the 332 are moved to international routes.

Looking at loadings, the 7pm direct SYD-PER flight has 5 business seats available - if the timing suites, I'd be calling up and strongly be trying to switch.

I don't go one week, let alone 3 months without checking my bookings. I'd be double checking with a VA "The Business" trip.

(I currently have about 20 separate bookings spanning the next 6 months.)

Using expertflyer (annual subscription) I also set up an aircraft change alert wich emails me when a flight changes equipment.

Results from https://www.ExpertFlyer.com

Flight Availability Search
Departing SYD on 06/03/18 12:00 AM for PER
Flying VA 


                                                                     Frequency
Flight        Stops  Depart             Arrive             Aircraft  Reliability     Available Classes
0 Connections
VA 555        0      SYD                PER                332       Daily           J0 C0 D0 I0 Y7 B7 H7 K7 L7 E7 N7 V0 Q0 T0 S0 M0
                     06/03/18 9:35 AM   06/03/18 11:40 AM            78% / 21m

0 Connections
VA 561        0      SYD                PER                738       Daily           J1 C1 D0 I0 Y7 B7 H7 K7 L7 E5 N1 V0 Q0 T0 S0 M0
                     06/03/18 2:00 PM   06/03/18 4:05 PM             83% / 14m

0 Connections
VA 569        0      SYD                PER                332       Daily           J5 C5 D5 I4 Y7 B7 H7 K7 L7 E7 N7 V7 Q7 T0 S0 M0
                     06/03/18 7:00 PM   06/03/18 9:05 PM             66% / 33m

1 Connection
VA 917        0      SYD                BNE                73H       Daily           J1 C1 D1 I0 Y7 B7 H7 K7 L7 E7 N7 V0 Q0 T0 S0 M0
                     06/03/18 8:00 AM   06/03/18 8:30 AM             92% / 8m
VA 464        0      BNE                PER                73H       Daily           J1 C1 D1 I1 Y7 B7 H7 K7 L7 E7 N7 V7 Q0 T0 S0 M0
                     06/03/18 9:15 AM   06/03/18 12:50 PM            94% / 8m

1 Connection
VA 820        0      SYD                MEL                73H       M,T,W,Th,F,Sa   J2 C1 D0 I0 Y7 B7 H7 K7 L7 E7 N0 V0 Q0 T0 S0 M0
                     06/03/18 8:30 AM   06/03/18 10:05 AM            88% / 12m
VA 685        0      MEL                PER                73H       Daily           J1 C0 D0 I0 Y4 B3 H0 K0 L0 E0 N0 V0 Q0 T0 S0 M0
                     06/03/18 1:00 PM   06/03/18 2:20 PM             73% / 17m

1 Connection
VA 824        0      SYD                MEL                738       Daily           J5 C5 D3 I1 Y7 B7 H7 K7 L7 E0 N0 V0 Q0 T0 S0 M0
                     06/03/18 9:00 AM   06/03/18 10:35 AM            87% / 11m
VA 685        0      MEL                PER                73H       Daily           J1 C0 D0 I0 Y4 B3 H0 K0 L0 E0 N0 V0 Q0 T0 S0 M0
                     06/03/18 1:00 PM   06/03/18 2:20 PM             73% / 17m

1 Connection
VA 830        0      SYD                MEL                73H       Daily           J1 C0 D0 I0 Y7 B7 H7 K7 L7 E7 N7 V0 Q0 T0 S0 M0
                     06/03/18 10:00 AM  06/03/18 11:35 AM            84% / 12m
VA 685        0      MEL                PER                73H       Daily           J1 C0 D0 I0 Y4 B3 H0 K0 L0 E0 N0 V0 Q0 T0 S0 M0
                     06/03/18 1:00 PM   06/03/18 2:20 PM             73% / 17m

 

[Pushka]

My Sydney > Perth flight today (via Melb) is now 737 all the way. When I booked and upgraded back in November it was specially to have The Business on the A330. Sometime since the equipment has changed. My beef is that I wasn't told - so I can't change. I've been a Plat for many years.

Well, that happens. We booked specific flights on Qatar to experience the Q suites from Doha to Paris in September. Then we received a flight change notice about seats but see now it’s an A380. Of course that’s ok too but we were disappointed. But then a couple of weeks later Qatar put the Qsuites in the Doha - Syd - CBR Route. Annoying. But what can you do.

 

[blackcat20]

Unfortunately the specific plane type is usually not guaranteed.

 

[RooFlyer]

I think the main beef of the OP was that they weren't told of the downgrade, so couldn't change (if they chose and were able).

Now, we know airlines aren't into that level of service (no-where near it), but if it happened to me, having specifically booked the aircraft experience, I'd be a bit grumpy.

I did just this last year - SYD-PER on VA and PER-MEL on QF to see what the transcon experience was like these days. Fortunately the scheduled planes stuck.

 

[Pushka]

I think the main beef of the OP was that they weren't told of the downgrade, so couldn't change (if they chose and were able).

Now, we know airlines aren't into that level of service (no-where near it), but if it happened to me, having specifically booked the aircraft experience, I'd be a bit grumpy.

I did just this last year - SYD-PER on VA and PER-MEL on QF to see what the transcon experience was like these days. Fortunately the scheduled planes stuck.

We weren’t told either. We were just advised of a seat change. It was only when I went in to check the seat I could see the seat map had changed. And we also were not able to change flights. It happens. Move on.

 

[Denali]

I would phone CS and nicely explain how disappointed you are and either move to another flight (and hope they dont change the plane again) or ask for point compensation for the downgrade, because it is a downgrade.

Although no guarantee, its a huge disappointment booking the modern sports seats and getting grandma's old recliner.

 

[pauly7]

My Sydney > Perth flight today (via Melb) is now 737 all the way. When I booked and upgraded back in November it was specially to have The Business on the A330. Sometime since the equipment has changed. My beef is that I wasn't told - so I can't change. I've been a Plat for many years.

Hate to say it but it’s going to happen more and more as VA pull off the A330 trans con flights... and unfortunately they don’t tell you because - we’ll you can imagine what happens!

Try calling and moving (if it works for you).

 

[Pleb Status]

Of the hundreds of flight/aircraft changes I have endured over the years, I have never had any airline in the entire world advise me of an aircraft change when everything else about the flight has stayed the same.

The one time I ran into this problem on VA we were able to come to a very good 'agreement' to resolve the issue...

 

[Bagpuss]

My Sydney > Perth flight today (via Melb) is now 737 all the way. When I booked and upgraded back in November it was specially to have The Business on the A330. Sometime since the equipment has changed. My beef is that I wasn't told - so I can't change. I've been a Plat for many years.

This happened to me recently though I noticed a week out and wasn't told.

I called and they moved me to the a330 service no hassles whatsoever.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Hate to say it but it’s going to happen more and more as VA pull off the A330 trans con flights... and unfortunately they don’t tell you because - we’ll you can imagine what happens!

Try calling and moving (if it works for you).

I think we should distinguish between a schedule change (i.e. known before the day of), and a day of ops adjustment. I had a day of downgrade a couple months ago.

Received a text...
"Virgin Australia advises VA697 MEL-PER today 30 November will be operated by a Boeing 737 instaed of the scheduled Airbus A330. We apologise for any inconvenience caused."

I also received an e-mail from "The Club Executive Services" advising me of the same, although I can't find the email.

Was a lowly Gold at the time.