V Australia..any clue on delay to first flights

[Standby]

With Boeing on strike and little likelihood of a quick resolution, what chance VA startup being delayed. I noted in the blatherings yesterday a comment from V Aust..that they are in discussion with Boeing(Thats not a very positive "spin" from the PR team) with only about 12-13 weeks til startup the first aircraft is parked without any interior fitted...I have no knowledge of how long it takes but that timeframe to fit interiors do final tests/acceptance, get to Aust and get the appropriate CASA clearances sounds like its going to be VERY tight...and youd expect their flights in the leadup to Xmas will be pretty full...any others out there with more info??

 

[Saab34]

I dont know if flights are full yet. But yes, I would say they better get a bit of a move on, or the Media will just destroy them. Its going to be VERY VERY tight for them to get going I think.

 

[file51]

Word from various sources in the industry state that 2 aircraft are on standby which will be available on a wet lease for 2-3 months.

I believe they are not 777's and more thn likely 747-400's (possibly ex UA stock).

This information cannot be gauranteed however it certainly would be a viable, although not a great option for VA

 

[royincanada]

My family and I are booked on the December 20th LAX to Sydney flight. VA called earlier this week with a minor time change for both departure times on so it appears they are still planning to launch. It makes sense they would come up with a back-up plan or the bad press of cancelling flights a week before Christmas would be crushing to a "new" airline.
Here's hoping at least or I will have a VERY cranky wife who is planning on seeing her identical twin granddaughters for the first time on our arrival on December 22nd.
Merry Christmas..I hope!

 

[Standby]

Just announced delay start up til 28Feb09!!!!
You'd think they have built some contingency in this for the ongoing Boeing strike.
Hope QF have enough space to take the disrupts or there could be some very unhappy Xmas's

V Australia delays launch flights

 

[Kendall Roy]

Ouch! That's gotta hurt!

Hopefully there's some compo in it for VA.

 

[oz_mark]

Media Release: V Australia > Media Releases

V Australia said it appreciates the support of those Guests who have already booked on the new airline and whose travel will be unavoidably impacted by the Boeing strike. Accordingly the airline will honour its commitments and offer one of the following alternative arrangements to Guests booked to travel between 15 December, 2008 to 16 January, 2009:

• Guests who rebook on V Australia on or after 1 March, 2009 will be reaccommodated on their choice of flights. As a gesture of goodwill we would also provide a $200 voucher for travel on Virgin Blue’s Australian network.
• A full refund, if our Guests prefer.
• An alternative flight on another airline, arranged at our expense, if our Guests prefer.

 

[baz123]

I've got flights booked to LA for the 18th, and just spent 2.5 hours on hold to V Australia. Their on hold message keeps apologising about the unexpected wait and tells me about their great deals flying to the US starting 15th December. Very irritating!

 

[docjames]

I've got flights booked to LA for the 18th, and just spent 2.5 hours on hold to V Australia. Their on hold message keeps apologising about the unexpected wait and tells me about their great deals flying to the US starting 15th December. Very irritating!

How did you go?

 

[Standby]

I would be very surprised if all wouldnt be accomodated on the RED RAT.
After all the have helped after AN/OZjet plus many other Humanitarian crisis over the past 10yrs. A mate at QF says they regularly pick up each others distrupted customers and have had agreements to do so since DJ started
I have to say I laughed at the V Aust press release offering to book a pax disrupted by this post 1Mar on any V Aust flight and a $200 sorry cheque.,then a refund or last option on another carrier...How many punters would say OK I'm booked at xmas to take the kids away or visit family "FOR XMAS'or for the school holidays but heck no we'll go in MAR!..surely to gain credibility the offers shud have been reversed to 1/another carrier 2/refund or 3 /travel later with compensation.
If Qantas tried that the howls of indignation would be loud and long!!!
Not a good start

 

[baz123]

How did you go?

The battery went flat on my speaker phone after 3 hours on hold, so I don't know! I've booked a qantas flight using the $25 dollar pay later option, and have sent the booking details through to VAust and asked for them to pay - at least I figure I've secured a flight (if they agree to pay) on the same dates as I was originally travelling. Fingers crossed!

 

[ANstar]

I have to say I laughed at the V Aust press release offering to book a pax disrupted by this post 1Mar on any V Aust flight and a $200 sorry cheque.,then a refund or last option on another carrier...How many punters would say OK I'm booked at xmas to take the kids away or visit family "FOR XMAS'or for the school holidays but heck no we'll go in MAR!..surely to gain credibility the offers shud have been reversed to 1/another carrier 2/refund or 3 /travel later with compensation.
If Qantas tried that the howls of indignation would be loud and long!!!
Not a good start

Why does it matter what order it is in a press release? The point is the have offered to rebook people at their own expense. so why the howls?

I've booked a qantas flight using the $25 dollar pay later option, and have sent the booking details through to VAust and asked for them to pay - at least I figure I've secured a flight (if they agree to pay) !

They won't pay. They will have agreements with other airlines to accomodate you at rates much lower than you would have booked.

 

[file51]

They won't pay. They will have agreements with other airlines to accomodate you at rates much lower than you would have booked.

Ditto this.

I have 3 groups of friends who have/had bookings to LAX on VAustralia between the 18th and 24th of December, all of which have been placed on United flights on the same days. (I am flying over on the 25th on JQ/HA)

Spoke to one of these people this morning and he said the VAustralia phone staff, whilst run ragged with the volume of calls last night, were very helpful, apologetic and even though he is flying on the same dates as originally booked, has been offered a $200 voucher for future use on VAustralia...

Not the best start up, but based on that I wouldnt be complaining.

I doubt V will divert passengers to QF unless UA is fully booked.

 

[flying1977]

I would think that even though passengers would rather fly QF than V Australia, I don't think V Australia will move booked passengers onto QF. Virgin are always bagging QF, so hopefully this delay will teach them a lesson...

 

[baz123]

You were right, even though I'd booked onto Qantas as a back up measure, they said they'd get me onto another flight but wouldn't promise it's be a Qantas flight. I shall wait and see what they provide. I also found the VAust CS member very pleasant and helpful - if they sort me out with an alternative flight then I think I'd regard them as having dealt with the delayed startup very well.

 

[pauly7]

I would think that even though passengers would rather fly QF than V Australia, I don't think V Australia will move booked passengers onto QF. Virgin are always bagging QF, so hopefully this delay will teach them a lesson...

Um of course Virgin will book some PAX on QF, they have done it many times before (I can recall 3 from my own experience circle) - not to mention this seems to be a trend with DJ launching - remember?? They didn't get off the ground in time for the mainline airline either and QF picked up their PAX!

On the plus side, I imagine some lucky PAX may get a shiny new A380 instead!! Which would be a nice upgrade!

 

[Blackswan]

I have booked to depart on the 2nd of Feb - so I guess I have to wait until they contact me. I deliberately booked a month or two after the launch, expecting a few problems.

I'm just hoping its not with United. I would prefer the boat trip over United . . .

 

[straitman]

I'm just hoping its not with United. I would prefer the boat trip over United . . .

... and may we ask why :?:

 

[Blackswan]

... and may we ask why :?:

Certainly.

I refer you to all the lovely comments posted on Skytrax.

 

[straitman]

Certainly.

I refer you to all the lovely comments posted on Skytrax.

Does anyone actually believe that Skytrax has credibility :?: