VS005 diverted to Nassau?

Today's VS005 appears to have diverted to Nassau, Bahamas...
I assume this is a weather delated diversion, but surely a more northely stop at MCO with full VS ground staff etc would have been the obvious choice?

Thanks,

Matt

I guess it depends on where it was when the divert was ordered.

MCO might be the obvious choice but ATC or MCO authorities might have said 'no' go to Nassau

[Darren Wheeler]

Or if a medical emergency, MIA was too far.

I guess MCO may have already taken a load of diverts if MIA was closed for a short while.

I can think of worse places to end up!

Matt

I guess MCO may have already taken a load of diverts if MIA was closed for a short while.

I can think of worse places to end up!

Matt

Am not sure what soert of view the pax would get from the windows. don't think they would be allowed off the plane let alone near a beach and bar !

Well, I wouldn't be too upset if the plane went tech, put it that way! ):

I guess MCO may have already taken a load of diverts if MIA was closed for a short while.

I can think of worse places to end up!

Matt

Funnily enough earlier this month when at MCO, MIA was shut also. You would have thought there would be a wealth of planes diverted but apart from the 005, their was only an IB 346 and an Air Pulmanteur 744. I say only as there may have been less exotic planes diverted but these were the only heavies. I guess FLL, NAS, RSW and PBI also recieve diverts depending on size of the storm.

EDIT: Having been diverted from MCO to JAX I can tell you having VS ground crew makes no difference. All that happens is the aircraft heads to a remote stand and is refuelled...this was the same at MCO when I saw the 005.

it appears to be due in about 2 hours late. a lot of mid afternoon flights have been delayed so almost certainly a big storm -there have been lots the past few days

I was on this flight - haven't flown Virgin in years but had built up miles on my credit card so used them to book in upper class. Up until the diversion was really impressed - the food is better than BA First imho and the service spot on.

We were diverted due to the thunderstorm. A BA and Iberia plane already diverted ahead of us - they refuelled fairly quickly and flew back to Miami. Pilot told us there was some problem with paying for the refuel (I can't remember exactly what he said but that's the jist). Eventually we were told the refuel complete - but the crew had run out of hours. Then advised a crew were flying out from Miami to take us back that evening. They never arrived and after over 6 hours on the tarmac we were put in in a hotel. 2 receptionists at the hotel to check in nearly 300 people - we were lucky as we were at the front. I dread to think what time the back of economy got to bed.

It could have been worse (6 hours at the back for example) and Virgin did their best - but I'm left with the impression that a bigger airline like BA is better able to cope when things go wrong.

wow what a nightmare,imagine being at the back of that queue...can I book in please ? -no its time to check out !!

6 hours?! Wow that is a long time! Hope you got to miami ok in the end

Sounds like you've had an eventful trip! BA do fly direct to Nassau so it would have been a lot easier for them to turn their aircraft around for MIA. I'm not sure whether the same is true for IB though?

I guess the combination of a divert to somewhere not serviced by VS and the fact it was an island meant they were somewhat restricted in what they could do in terms of onward travel.

From the flight status tool on the VS website it looks like G-VATL is not even in Miami yet??

Matt