More changes to SFO flight times

We were just looking at a November booking to SFO and were pretty annoyed to see that the times have been changed again and the VS19 departure is now brought forward to 0945, arriving 1300. That really eats into clubhouse time and is a poor schedule for a West Coast flight -- the earlier start required this end is inconvenient.

The return has also got worse. VS20 departs 1510 arrives 0945+1. How are you supposed to sleep with that schedule?

The silver lining is that you get to go to Revivals... Passengers will need it after 3 hours' sleep.

I would be less irritated if an email had been sent. As it happens, it was purely by chance we discovered the change. !

[Darren Wheeler]

This ties-in with the usual change for the SFO flight to the winter schedule. If you look, you'll probably see it's now on an Airbus.

My return on the 27th is still at the old 19:05 departure.

I've still got the following times and dates for end of October:

13:00 London
(Heathrow)
Sat 22 Oct
15:50 San Francisco
(International)
Sat 22 Oct
Flight No
VS019 Class
G


17:30 San Francisco
(International)
Mon 31 Oct
11:05 London
(Heathrow)
Tue 01 Nov
Flight No
VS020 Class
G

[Darren Wheeler]

Just done a dummy booking.

29th of October is the change date to a 09:30 departure, running through to 24th of March 2012. Although strangely, it still shows a 747 covering.

As I say, this is nothing unusual and happens every year.

[honey lamb]

If I recall correctly this happened a couple of years ago for the winter schedule when the SFO and MIA routes effectively switched schedules with the SFO flight going out at 9:30am and the MIA one around midday

Thanks Darren, Ryan, and honey lamb.

I didn't realise this was usual for the winter schedules. My apologies.

I am still a bit confused, though. We all encounter flight time changes occasionally, and obviously I understand that for operational reasons this kind of thing happens.

But this seems to be not so much a slight operational change, and rather a seasonal schedule switch. If it is normal for the flight to depart around this time in the winter, why wasn't it scheduled as such when we booked it originally?

I don't want to make a fuss, but it just so happens that where we live it is a pretty early start to get to LHR for an 1100 departure. To get there for an 0945 flight is very difficult. If the flight had been correctly scheduled to start with, we would never have booked it. And now, of course, we're stuck with it because it is too late (=expensive) to change.

So will VS be paying me a change fee?

Why don't you book a hotel at LHR the night before the flight? Can often get a room at the LHR Travelodge or equivalent satisfactory 'place to crash for the night' for £30.

My flight back fro sfo has been put back 15 minutes from 4.45 to 4.30, i do agree though the flight times are really poor but hey ho!

I too am suprised to see its still a 747.

cheers

alex

The return has also got worse. VS20 departs 1510 arrives 0945+1. How are you supposed to sleep with that schedule?

Those of us that go to Shanghai get the same times most of the year, count yourself lucky you get a nice flight time the rest of the time.

It looks like the 747 is to stay on the SFO route for the winter - but it now looks as if JNB will only see a 747 for December, rather than the whole UK winter.

In the flight schedules function on the VS website there are some dates where the SFO-LHR departure is at 15.10 and some still at 16.30 (seamingly Mon, Tues & Thurs). This then moves to a 16.10 departure with 17.30 on M/Tu/Th. Depending on the month.

Those of us that go to Shanghai get the same times most of the year, count yourself lucky you get a nice flight time the rest of the time.

I haven't expressed myself clearly enough. I take your point (and sympathise!), but it's not just the flight times themselves. It's the fact that the booking was made relatively recently after looking at all direct options to SFO. Departure time was an important factor. The flight was advertised and booked to depart at 1100. If this isn't just an operational adjustment but a switch to a winter schedule that has happened in the past, why wasn't the right schedule in the booking system already?

And why didn't VS send an email (as has happened in the past for minor (e.g. 5 minute!) adjustments) to affected customers? I wouldn't be complaining as much if they'd had the courtesy to inform us properly. If we hadn't checked, presumably the first thing we'd hear about it would be at OLCI.

Why don't you book a hotel at LHR the night before the flight?

Alas on this occasion that isn't possible because of other commitments, but thanks for the suggestion.

I realise I am moaning... apologies...

I sympathize with you and agree it is a poor schedule for a West Coast flight, makes a very long day indeed on the outbound. Nor do I understand why SFO has to flip so much, most of the schedule remains the same year round.

[honey lamb]

I haven't expressed myself clearly enough. I take your point (and sympathise!), but it's not just the flight times themselves. It's the fact that the booking was made relatively recently after looking at all direct options to SFO. Departure time was an important factor. The flight was advertised and booked to depart at 1100. If this isn't just an operational adjustment but a switch to a winter schedule that has happened in the past, why wasn't the right schedule in the booking system already?

And why didn't VS send an email (as has happened in the past for minor (e.g. 5 minute!) adjustments) to affected customers? I wouldn't be complaining as much if they'd had the courtesy to inform us properly. If we hadn't checked, presumably the first thing we'd hear about it would be at OLCI.

Just to clarify a couple of points. The SFO flight has not always operated a different winter schedule. A couple of years ago it did swap with the MIA flight but IIRC, that did not happen last winter so it was not a question of not loading a winter schedule. To my mind the change is for operational reasons and can happen at any stage. My flights to and from SFO this year were changed to a much later time just one week after I had booked and I know others were caught by this. I was fortunate that I had not booked my connecting flight when that happened.

Secondly, VS do not send emails when there is a schedule change. It is put in the Manage my Booking section of the VS website and asks you to accept the changes before allowing you to view your booking. People book flights through a variety of ways and VS would not have the contact details for many passengers on the affected flights. The easiest way is to link it with the booking reference. When my flight changed last year it was Expedia who notified me as I made my booking through them

why wasn't the right schedule in the booking system already?

Flight times change pretty regularly, particularly around the Summer/Winter changes. This is no different to many other modes of transport e.g. railways or ferries.

And why didn't VS send an email (as has happened in the past for minor (e.g. 5 minute!) adjustments) to affected customers? I wouldn't be complaining as much if they'd had the courtesy to inform us properly. If we hadn't checked, presumably the first thing we'd hear about it would be at OLCI.

I agree with you, I wouldn't be a happy bunnny if VS hadn't told me proactively about this (i.e. more than an hour's change). I would drop an email or Facebook note to VS highlighting this.

Arriving into SFO at 13.00hrs. That would please me no end. The more time I spend in that wonderful city, the better

When we went in Feb 2010, I think we arrived about 13.30 and was walking around Chinatown by 3pm. The 8 hour time difference is a 'killer' whatever time you fly out of LHR.

Don't think VS are any different to other airlines re informing folk of schedule changes. When we went to Vegas in 2008, our flight from there into Fort Myers with Delta actually altered 14 times over the months from booking to departure ii) Each time we had to "reconfirm" our seats via the telephone. We were pretty frustrated by the time the process finally got sorted but such is life!!!

For leisure I agree it is a bad schedule but for work the new schedule works well for me.
I can have afternoon appointments on day of arrival and when I leave at 3pm I will feel like it is 11pm so have a good sleep and wake up 930am in time for breakfast.

If you need later flights you could try what I have done a few times and fly via LAX which has an afternoon flight out and and late night (9pm) flight back. It is a short 'hop' on VX or the multitude of carriers that serve this route.

I think the 13.00 arrival is great for leasure travellers too.

Means I can get unpacked and settled in go to the tourist office to get my travel and attraction passes and pick up some other leaflets etc then an early dinner then bed.

Coming back though I'd prefer a later departure. 15.10 means no time for a leasurly lunch in the city before heading to the airport.

Coming back though I'd prefer a later departure. 15.10 means no time for a leasurly lunch in the city before heading to the airport.

Yeap totally agree with that too. The next time I do San Fransisco (which I hope is very soon). I'd love that early flight and then I'd maybe think of transferring to LAX with Virgin America for the late VS flight home (21.15)

[honey lamb]

When we went to Vegas in 2008, our flight from there into Fort Myers with Delta actually altered 14 times over the months from booking to departure ii) Each time we had to "reconfirm" our seats via the telephone. We were pretty frustrated by the time the process finally got sorted but such is life!!!

What's even worse with American airlines is that they also change the flight numbers as well. I've found myself booked on a flight with one flight number but when going into the equivalent of Manage my Booking, I find that it has disappeared. :0 The irony is that even though the flight number, the aircraft type and the time might have changed, my seat selection still stands!

Too true Honey Lamb. That's why I try to book VS or BA whenever possible.

[honey lamb]

Too true Honey Lamb. That's why I try to book VS or BA whenever possible.

Yeah but these would be internal flights connecting from VS usually on flights like Continental Express or some other airline that flies dinky planes!!

Arriving at 1pm will be a pure joy because Air France is scheduled to 12:40pm, Singapore from Seoul also for 12:40pm and Emirates from Dubai for 1:05pm.

[mitchja]

Make sure you enter your mobile phone number during the online booking process (IIRC there's a section to enter it to receive your booking confirmation via SMS for all online bookings) as I always receive a text if/when a VS flight schedule change occurs.

Make sure your mobile number is entered in the 'My booking' section as well as it also works with VH booked VS flights too as I received a text about last years VS20 schedule change which was booked via VH.

Thanks to all for your replies and/or sympathy -- especially JCBR for the LAX suggestion, which I'll investigate (though as this is an UC redemption it may be tricky as travel dates are fixed).

Secondly, VS do not send emails when there is a schedule change.

When I signed up to V-flyer I never thought I would say this, but I think that is incorrect, honey lamb. :0 In the past I have had emails to let me know of schedule changes (even very small ones). In March 2009, for example, I was emailed about a small schedule change of the VS9. I am looking at the email now so am certainly not misremembering. It came from an email address that began "VirginAtlanticScheduleChanges"...

Make sure you enter your mobile phone number during the online booking process

Thanks for the advice. I always do this but have never had a text, funnily enough. But I've received emails (as above) on several occasions, even ones just telling me that the flight is delayed by a couple of hours.

Anyway I've calmed down about this now. I guess worse things happen at sea, right?