Risk on taking last domestic flight of the day

[FF98]

Hey All

Just recently booked
MEL-BNE (Virgin, Friday Evening last flight out 8:50pm)
BNE-KUL (SQ Departing 9am from BNE).

The routing is the only combination shown ex. Mel & BNE when booking. Am I overthinking about the last domestic flight out of MEL presents a risk if it delays - potentially affecting my international flight the next day?

No status with Virgin.
Cheers

 

[DC3]

Am I overthinking about the last domestic flight out of MEL presents a risk if it delays - potentially affecting my international flight the next day?

The last flight of the day always comes with a risk. Of course, it usually goes well.

If both flights are on the same PNR then at least you are protected with the next available connecting flight.

 

[AIRwin]

MEL-OOL at 9:10 pm?

 

[RooFlyer]

The routing is the only combination shown ex. Mel & BNE when booking. Am I overthinking about the last domestic flight out of MEL presents a risk if it delays - potentially affecting my international flight the next day?

Not overthinking - its a real risk. If separate tickets, if that last flight cancelled, you've blown the international . But it sounds like its same ticket, so you will probably be 'protected', but it will mess with your plans. If you are able, I'd encourage you to take an earlier flight by calling.

For an international connection, I always make sure there are at least two subsequent flights to get me to the international departure port. Costs me time, and sometimes money, but I travel relaxed and have never missed a connection.

 

[FF98]

Not overthinking - its a real risk. If separate tickets, if that last flight cancelled, you've blown the international . But it sounds like its same ticket, so you will probably be 'protected', but it will mess with your plans. If you are able, I'd encourage you to take an earlier flight by calling.

For an international connection, I always make sure there are at least two subsequent flights to get me to the international departure port. Costs me time, and sometimes money, but I travel relaxed and have never missed a connection.

Thank you. Changing the MEL-BNE leg to 2 flights earlier will cost $110 per person. If it were you, would you pay to change?

 

[RooFlyer]

Thank you. Changing the MEL-BNE leg to 2 flights earlier will cost $110 per person. If it were you, would you pay to change?

Reluctantly, yes. I dare say its a small cost in the overall cost of the trip, and as I said, I like to lessen travel stress where I can.

But others I'm sure would think differently. Weigh up the cost/consequences of a missed international flight and the cash cost of rebooking.

 

[Cynicor]

Depends why you are going and what the consequences of 1 less day are. If it’s a 2 day meeting vs the start of a 6 week holiday, for example.
Also your accommodation might not refund the night. How much is that worth?

 

[clifford]

Thank you. Changing the MEL-BNE leg to 2 flights earlier will cost $110 per person. If it were you, would you pay to change?

No. If there's a MEL-OOL flight at 21:10, then that is a potential alternative that could be used at the last minute. It would be unlikely to be full. But then I'm a little bit of a risk taker.

In any case, what are the chances of your flight being cancelled? Check with FR24.

 

[FF98]

No. If there's a MEL-OOL flight at 21:10, then that is a potential alternative that could be used at the last minute. It would be unlikely to be full. But then I'm a little bit of a risk taker.

In any case, what are the chances of your flight being cancelled? Check with FR24.

Have you has that happen before? I booked the tickets via aeroplan, so in the event of a delay not sure how easy it is for them to swap me to the other flight

 

[gaz0303]

Daylight savings? If so, 1st flight on Saturday leaves at 6am, getting to BNE at 7:10 and enough time to transfer.

 

[FF98]

Seems to arrive 8:20am looking at virgin’s website for January departure

 

[elanshin]

Thank you. Changing the MEL-BNE leg to 2 flights earlier will cost $110 per person. If it were you, would you pay to change?

Reluctantly, yes. I dare say its a small cost in the overall cost of the trip, and as I said, I like to lessen travel stress where I can.

But others I'm sure would think differently. Weigh up the cost/consequences of a missed international flight and the cash cost of rebooking.

Whilst this is generally correct, my friend got stuck overnight in MEL (to SYD) on VA a couple of weeks ago because his 7:15pm flight was cancelled. Almost every other flight after took off albeit slightly late.

 

[FF98]

Whilst this is generally correct, my friend got stuck overnight in MEL (to SYD) on VA a couple of weeks ago because his 7:15pm flight was cancelled. Almost every other flight after took off albeit slightly late.

Why was he not bumped to the later flights? SYD has the curfew which makes cancellation more likely compared to BNE..

 

[elanshin]

Why was he not bumped to the later flights? SYD has the curfew which makes cancellation more likely compared to BNE..

All full.

 

[RooFlyer]

Have you has that happen before? I booked the tickets via aeroplan, so in the event of a delay not sure how easy it is for them to swap me to the other flight

Deleted - wrong info

 

[CaptJCool]

Short of a weather event sometime during the day before it’s likely the last flight of the night on the day before would actually fly (as much as the aircraft is needed first thing the next morning in the destination)

The other issue is unforeseen maintenance

In the many times I flew last flight of the day. Only ever had one severe disruption which resulted in an overnight away from home at the airlines expense

So the risk is low
The impact severe

Then that’s Upto your risk appetite
Adventurous or Averse

The fact ya posted here suggests you might favour averse.

If it was me I’d be ensuring I made the flight the following morning by arriving 2 / 4 days before….

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Award flight. That changes things for me. If you happen to miss the international due to a cancelled domestic, who knows when another award seat will be available - although SQ are better than most. You'd be dealing with Aeroplan by phone from Australia (been there - not easy!). I'd now definitely pay to get the earlier domestic.

Award seat availability is irrelevant for IRROPS. You are protected on the next available flight that has a seat. VA/SQ would handle the rebooking, no need to call aeroplan. Re-routing is also possible, so if the OP was to miss the MEL-BNE, they could be accommodated on a non-stop MEL-SIN. Award seating would not need to be available, just ‘a’ seat.

 

[RooFlyer]

Award seat availability is irrelevant for IRROPS. You are protected on the next available flight that has a seat.

Yes; I keep forgetting that! . Shall edit my post.

 

[FF98]

Award seat availability is irrelevant for IRROPS. You are protected on the next available flight that has a seat. VA/SQ would handle the rebooking, no need to call aeroplan. Re-routing is also possible, so if the OP was to miss the MEL-BNE, they could be accommodated on a non-stop MEL-SIN. Award seating would not need to be available, just ‘a’ seat.

Does that indicate I shouldn't have to worry so much then hahaha

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Does that indicate I shouldn't have to worry so much then hahaha

correct.

All on the one ticket means you are protected.

And given it’s an aeroplan award, it means VA and SQ can work together if there’s significant disruption. For example non-stop out of melbourne, or the next available flight on SQ out of BNE.

It it looks like bad weather on the day of travel, or if weather has caused delays on the network that day, you can always go out to the airport and see if you can get on the earlier flight.

If there’s a schedule change between now and January, you could use that for a free change via Aeroplan for the earlier flight.

But honestly I wouldn’t be too worried!

And let’s say you move to the earlier flight, and it gets cancelled? Your original flight could then be full, so you still might not make it! It really is a gamble. There are really no guarantees!