VA Cancellations, Delays growing?

[HS-TQE]

Any increases in the media I would read with a grain of salt. I mean look at this ridiculous claim in a Sky New article. 60%!!! Rubbish. My mates are telling me for some crew, it is as low as 9% for the duration of the agreement.View attachment 357472

The same GT that talks up PER with stuff such as PER-LAX and PER-JFK. I'll pass..

 

[jakeseven7]

I do find it laughable that they are also coming out claiming the long term viability is at risk. Private Equity gives a rats about the long term? Them plus all the management will be out once they get their payday.

Well… this is long term for Bain, they had no intention of owning VA2 in this capacity for so long, they clearly had lots of delightful Easter eggs waiting for whoever they flogged the company off to and now they are all blowing up in their face…. I feel very sorry for the front line staff.

 

[jrfsp]

Back on topic… and a serious question. Why can’t we land planes in fog in Australia?

Lack of investment in our major airports: Lack of runways, lack of gates, lack of taxiways/rapid turn offs, holding areas, ILS, poor investment in ATC.

 

[JessicaTam]

[mod hat]
Back to the VA cancellations discussion please.
[/mod hat]

 

[1022]

[mod hat]
Back to the VA cancellations discussion please.
[/mod hat]

I've got one.

Last Friday night VA883 MEL-SYD. Scheduled 7pm. By the time I'd driven 1:45 to MEL the eta had been pushed back to 8:20. Left the lounge (not a spare seat, loud, blokey ambiance as dirty glasses piled up on most tables...) about 8:15 for some peace and quiet out in the terminal. About 8:40 someone finally got on the PA to say they were looking for a first officer to fly the plane. By 9:00 someone in a suit from upstairs arrived at the podium with scratchy photocopied letters outlining $200 hotel reimbursement procedure. They'd given up on finding a pilot. Of course there was no accommodation anywhere near the airport at any price, let alone a paltry $200.

I was in paid J - meant to be the DSC flight that requalified me for SG. They rebooked me to SYD at 6:30am on Saturday morning, which may have been ok if I didn't have a 3+ hour round trip to be back in 7 hours' time. I gave up and took the offer of a "refund" to travel bank.

VA SG won't be renewed and I doubt I'll be flying them without status seeing as the Y experience without the perks of a gold card is no better than JQ imo. I'll probably just use the travel bank for a future J trip at some point for a weekend away or something.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I’d have taken the cash! And walked to Rex and booked a walk up for $349.

Not much fun having your money tied up in the travel bank. No benefit really.

 

[Saab34]

I recall a new hotel was (is) built down at T4. When is that opening again?

 

[jakeseven7]

I've got one.

Last Friday night VA883 MEL-SYD. Scheduled 7pm. By the time I'd driven 1:45 to MEL the eta had been pushed back to 8:20. Left the lounge (not a spare seat, loud, blokey ambiance as dirty glasses piled up on most tables...) about 8:15 for some peace and quiet out in the terminal. About 8:40 someone finally got on the PA to say they were looking for a first officer to fly the plane. By 9:00 someone in a suit from upstairs arrived at the podium with scratchy photocopied letters outlining $200 hotel reimbursement procedure. They'd given up on finding a pilot. Of course there was no accommodation anywhere near the airport at any price, let alone a paltry $200.

I was in paid J - meant to be the DSC flight that requalified me for SG. They rebooked me to SYD at 6:30am on Saturday morning, which may have been ok if I didn't have a 3+ hour round trip to be back in 7 hours' time. I gave up and took the offer of a "refund" to travel bank.

VA SG won't be renewed and I doubt I'll be flying them without status seeing as the Y experience without the perks of a gold card is no better than JQ imo. I'll probably just use the travel bank for a future J trip at some point for a weekend away or something.

And another - last week for a friend, VA2 cancelled Mel-Syd, next available provided was next day, via LST with a 3/4 hour layover.

Needless to say they fought the robotic call centre for another option / none given so the scenic route was declined, demanded and was success in getting a full refund and managed to get on a QF flight (expensive obviously last minute) but at least direct and flying in the correct direction

 

[TheInsider]

I recall a new hotel was (is) built down at T4. When is that opening again?

No one knows. Probably a few months away. Fittings seems to be nearly done in the rooms, from what I hear.
It will be a needed 464 room dual branded hotel.

 

[TheInsider]

Lack of investment in our major airports: Lack of runways, lack of gates, lack of taxiways/rapid turn offs, holding areas, ILS, poor investment in ATC.

It also comes down to training from what I've been told. MEL has the capability being Cat III and I think equivalent to LHR, but seems to be rarely used by QF, VA and JQ.

 

[antycbr]

And another - last week for a friend, VA2 cancelled Mel-Syd, next available provided was next day, via LST with a 3/4 hour layover.

There has been quite a few reports of connections via LST since the crewing issues have started. The Virgin Lounge Boags Pub will be doing well in what no one ever thought would be a fortress connecting hub for VA, our very own version of ATL or DFW.

 

[jb747]

It also comes down to training from what I've been told. MEL has the capability being Cat III and I think equivalent to LHR, but seems to be rarely used by QF, VA and JQ.

I'll comment on this, and the prior related comments, in the pilot thread.

 

[Saab34]

The Australian reporting more constructive talks held today, no agreement however between the parties was able to occur today, they have agreed to continue talks tomorrow.

They only need to give 72hrs notice for strike action, so watch this space.

 

[1022]

I’d have taken the cash! And walked to Rex and booked a walk up for $349.

Not much fun having your money tied up in the travel bank. No benefit really.

I was too tired and fed up with the caveats in the fine print. If I took a cash refund it would have only been for the cancelled flight, not for the return a few days later that I wouldn't be using seeing as it was too late in the night by the time they cancelled to get a walk up fare on another carrier. At least the VA travel bank is far more user-friendly than QF's rip off of travel credits which can only ever be used on more expensive flights.

 

[marks]

Stuck with the cancellations in MEL last Friday. MEL-BNE VA314 cancelled. MEL-SYD-BNE to get me home by 23:00. But a colleague got home via QF after the 2nd flight cancelled. The plane was available, but the crew wasn't.
I will be asking for a QF option if the VA option is an overnight stay in the future.

 

[jakeseven7]

Stuck with the cancellations in MEL last Friday. MEL-BNE VA314 cancelled. MEL-SYD-BNE to get me home by 23:00. But a colleague got home via QF after the 2nd flight cancelled. The plane was available, but the crew wasn't.
I will be asking for a QF option if the VA option is an overnight stay in the future.

Do you know how they forced VA2 to rebook them onto QF? I wonder if the ‘overnight’ part triggered it? I ask because someone I know who got stuck was refused when they asked to be rebooked onto Jetstar or Qantas when VA2 went down, again.

 

[bcworld]

Do you know how they forced VA2 to rebook them onto QF? I wonder if the ‘overnight’ part triggered it? I ask because someone I know who got stuck was refused when they asked to be rebooked onto Jetstar or Qantas when VA2 went down, again.

As I mentioned a few posts ago...I was refused rebooking onto available QF when my VA cancellation resulted in an overnight in CBR.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

My 15:10 dep MEL - ADL is now due to dep at 16:10.
Then, probably delayed to 18:10, then 19:00, then 20:45, then probably meets ADL curfew, so then....
What say you, that it will be cancelled.
Wonder if VA will put me into the Ibis Budget Melbourne Airport.

 

[Saab34]

Breaking: TWU and Virgin have come to an agreement in regards to a new Cabin Crew EBA. 14-18% increases over the 3 year term.

Still needs to go to a vote however. Only need 51%.

 

[twinaisle]

Breaking: TWU and Virgin have come to an agreement in regards to a new Cabin Crew EBA. 14-18% increases over the 3 year term.

Still needs to go to a vote however. Only need 51%.

Why wait for news from the company when I can get it off AFF