Itinerary Change PER-MEL - Shouldn't I be informed??!?

[wob.geek]

I've recently booked a weekend in Melbourne with my lovely wife, her birthday and a bonus status run to boot (should get me over the line to re-qualify platinum).

I originally booked the Friday 0830 flight out or PER, it's the Airbus and gets us into MEL at a reasonable time. I recieved an itinerary confirming at settled back to wait until September.
Bored the other day, I checked the booking via the Velocity website and the PER-MEL flight has been changed to a 1030 departure!! I requested an another itinerary via email and this confirmed the flight change - but so far I have not received any notification from VA (or Velocity) that the flight has been changed!!?!

I'm not overly concerned about the change in flight as a quick check of the schedules shows it's still the Airbus, and it would appear that there is no longer a 0830 flight, what I am miffed about is the lack of consultation or indeed the lack of any information from VA.

Surely an airline must be required to inform their customers when they (the airline that is) make a change to the customer's booking.

Anyone else had a similar experience, and am I ever likely to receive any sort of expanation from VA?

 

[Must...Fly!]

Yes, multiple times

IME, DJ are serial offenders at this

 

[pythonisman]

I've had itinerary change notices from DJ/VA in the past (not for a while, but years ago), via email - is it possible they've landed in a spam folder?

 

[markis10]

Yes you should be informed, the real question is when, a month out means still quite a lot of potential for change?

 

[Ansett]

Yes you should be informed, the real question is when, a month out means still quite a lot of potential for change?

I would say even a month out passengers should be advised. Indeed as soon as a change is made they should be notified. What if they have arrangements that mean that the revised flights are no longer viable this gives them time to change airlines, flights or reschedule mettings. To me its just common sense and courtesy. BUT alas they seem to be the most uncommon of common things these days.

 

[wob.geek]

I've had itinerary change notices from DJ/VA in the past (not for a while, but years ago), via email - is it possible they've landed in a spam folder?

Nope, nothing in the spam folder (apart from a Dan Murphy's promotion).

If it was a business trip I would probably would have had meetings or training arranged around the arrival time - so yes, as much advance notice as possible please!!

 

[Mogul]

Received an email from VA regarding our flight change from Per to Syd in late September yesterday.

Flight moved back 1 hour, must be due to daylight savings starting.

Flying in J so maybe more notice than Y pax ?

 

[markis10]

Received an email from VA regarding our flight change from Per to Syd in late September yesterday.

Flight moved back 1 hour, must be due to daylight savings starting.

Flying in J so maybe more notice than Y pax ?

DST starts in October, maybe its changes that will be announced Aug 28 to do with capacity or route realignment.

 

[Mogul]

DST starts in October, maybe its changes that will be announced Aug 28 to do with capacity or route realignment.

Played around with a few dates from early to late September and it seems basically all Syd / Per and return will be A330 flights.

 

[Justinf]

I have noticed a change in time of a VA MEL-LAX flight that was scheduled to depart (from memory) at around 10am and now it's something like noon. The return has been changed from 8.30pm to something like 10.30pm. Doesn't affect my connection to PDX, in fact it helps, but that's not the point.
I only stumbled across these changes. Was not informed at all.

 

[fairhsa]

This reminds me of a BA snaffoo in the USA. Purchased a London - Minneapolis return from BA via Chicago, all coded BA but with AA operating the Chicago - Minnneapolis leg. On my return flight, I arrived at the airport to check in for my return flight to be told that the flight had been moved back by 1.5 hours. "Oh," I said. "They could have told me, I'd not have bothered coming to the airport so early". THEN the check in guy went on to explain that this now meant my connection in Chicago was unviable (45 mins) and they would not allow me to check my bag through. WFT! How can that happen? I couldn't believe that AA would both change the flight time, NOT notify me (via BA or otherwise), and no longer connect! The next BA flight was the following day, so I ended up sprinting around Chicago, just made the flight, bag missed it, and my connection in London and ended up being delivered home in HK some three days later. Bunch of idiots.

 

[Jamesl]

I have noticed a change in time of a VA MEL-LAX flight that was scheduled to depart (from memory) at around 10am and now it's something like noon. The return has been changed from 8.30pm to something like 10.30pm. Doesn't affect my connection to PDX, in fact it helps, but that's not the point.
I only stumbled across these changes. Was not informed at all.

The VA11 flight for about 6 months has been operating at 11am and when it becomes DST it goes to a 12pm service. And it's a 11:40pm flight home. Flying it yesterday I was quite impressed!

 

[lovestotravel]

I have always been notified of schedule changes/flight cancellations about 3-6 weeks prior to the flight

Both via Email and SMS

Email seems to come about 6 weeks out, then the SMS 3 weeks out

 

[wob.geek]

Re: Itinerary Change PER-MEL - Shouldn't I be informed? [Email received finally]

Finally received an email notification of the schedule/itinerary change:

"We'd like to thank you for making a booking with Virgin Australia and let you know that your Travel Plan has been altered since you made your booking, as a result of changes to our Virgin Australia schedule. (Schedule changes may occur as a result of Virgin Australia's expanding network, addition of new planes to our fleet, our uncompromising commitment to safety in the air.) This change will affect all Guests travelling on the reservation number below. We apologise in advance if this causes you inconvenience."

Looks like around a month's notice is the trigger. I still think we should have been informed as soon as the change was made, the more notice the better - time to arrange alternatives or contingencies.