What is happening with virgin flights Brisbane to Melbourne Friday 16 August 2013?

[moffat39]

Have a booking Brisabne to Melbourne for three people Friday 16 August 2013 on DJ 318 which was to depart at 8.55am.

One of the passangers has received a call from VA to advise that flight has been cancelled and we are now flying via Sydney with flight to leave at 9.00 am and arrive Melbourne 1.30.

Have checked VA website for Friday and the 7.55, 8.55 and 10.55 Brisbane to Melbourne flights have been cancelled.

Any comments why three flights would have been cancelled?

 

[KCMil]

Re: What is happening with virgin flights Brisbane to Melbourne Friday 16 August 2013

The 0755 and 1055 are not cxl, they are just sold out. Fri morn bne-mel is very busy. the 0855 must have been fairly full as well so I guess that is why you are not seeing flights available in the morning.
The 1155, 1255 and 1455 all have less than 8 seats available. And the 1555 has very few left as well.
Perhaps that explains it. VA have said that their loads from Jul and onward looked a lot better.

Still annoying when it happens though!

 

[moffat39]

Re: What is happening with virgin flights Brisbane to Melbourne Friday 16 August 2013

Have just done another search and this is what is showing up.

The 5.55 and 11.55 flights are showing up as sold out with seats available on the 12.55 flights. No mention of the 7.55, 8.55 or 10.55 flights.

BNE05:55 AM	MEL08:20 AM	0	VA 304	Virgin Australia	Sold Out	Sold Out	Sold Out
BNE11:55 AM	MEL02:20 PM	0	VA 326	Virgin Australia	Sold Out	Sold Out	Sold Out
BNE12:55 PM	MEL03:20 PM	0	VA 328	Virgin Australia	Sold Out	Sold Out	$ 369.00Not available2 seats left

 

[grubbidok]

Re: What is happening with virgin flights Brisbane to Melbourne Friday 16 August 2013

It is election season and Queensland seems to be pretty targeted this time around. Maybe locals caught wind of invading pollies over the last Ekka photo opportunity weekend and are high-tailing it out of there?

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: What is happening with virgin flights Brisbane to Melbourne Friday 16 August 2013

One other reason may be that both the Coalition and Labor campaign teams are based in MEL and some have to attend events in BNE or further north, and have thus booked return flights.

However some would travel on RAAF jets while often during an election campaign, strategists keep destinations a secret until the last minute.

I cannot see that there is an AFL match in MEL on Friday night involving a Queensland-based footy team, so maybe it's just hordes of Melburnians returning after sunning themselves at OOL and chossing to get a flight from BNE instead (goodness knows why).