VA cancelling Oz/ HKG route

Well it looks like VA are officially cancelling the HKG routes they run from SYD and MEL from March ( there have been rumours for a while on AFF ) but it’s been on the news tonight apparently ( down under) .
Not sure where this leaves Mr DL for his next journey home ( booked with VA to HKG and then VS to LHR as a return ticket ) ?
What happens in these cases?

Thanks
DL

This isn't great news if it is true.

The VS/VA partnership on these routes hasn't been going all that long!

[mitchja]

Virgin will be obliged to re-book him. I guess they may be able to re-route him, but going the other direction via LAX instead so keeping the VS/VA flights combo?

Didn't VS re-time their LAX flights last year to fit in with the VA departure / arrival times on their LAX>SYD route to make the connection work better?

I just wonder in all honesty now how long VS will continue flying to HKG now? What with the recent events in Hong Kong and now coronavirus. Both must be having an impact on VS loads to/from HKG.

[Nottingham Nick]

Late last year we were chatting to an off duty senior VA pilot when we flew from Auckland to Brisbane on VA, and he said then that the route were doomed, as the loads had been abysmal following the disturbances - it was a classic case of bad timing I am afraid.

Nick

I just wonder in all honesty now how long VS will continue flying to HKG now? What with the recent events in Hong Kong and now coronavirus. Both must be having an impact on VS loads to/from HKG.

I can see a cancellation period coming, much like PVG.

But long term the prospects are good. I was told by more than one FSM that HKG was a very good route for loads, which is backed up by the prices and tight availability of reward seats like other premium heavy routes such as SFO and LAX.

Virgin will be obliged to re-book him. I guess they may be able to re-route him, but going the other direction via LAX instead so keeping the VS/VA flights combo?

Didn't VS re-time their LAX flights last year to fit in with the VA departure / arrival times on their LAX>SYD route to make the connection work better?

Thanks James - the LA routing makes for a much longer journey ( and he’s got a flight to get to SYD...). MEL is stopping on Tuesday 11th Feb with SYD on the 3rd March ( all confirmed). To be honest the VS/ VA tie up has been a bit of a joke . Mr DL has had loads of aggro one way or another flying on the tie up ( and his VS status was never recognized on VA) and was contemplating moving back to SQ or QR before this announcement. This has given him no real alternative.
Adios VS....
DL

Update- he’s been re-routed via LAX with VA / VS with a 10 hour layover in LAX ( which we both think is ridiculous and has him hanging about- I don’t think the CH will be open that early either) ?
It also puts pressure on an onward flight he has with later in the day (which is cancellable). Can he insist on being routed via HKG ( which gets him into LHR at 05.00 hrs)?
Thanks,
DL

Update- he’s been re-routed via LAX with VA / VS with a 10 hour layover in LAX ( which we both think is ridiculous and has him hanging about- I don’t think the CH will be open that early either) ?

CH is technically open all day, but prior to 12.00/12.30 (or around then) it operates as a priority pass lounge. Some of the same CH staff are present. I've had DL flights on a VS booking and used it like the CH albeit with vastly reduced service. Staff are usually OK with you staying in through the changeover between PP and CH operations but YMMV with that. Ultimately he would probably be looking to get into the VA lounge, as oppose to the VS CH in T2. I don't know the details about that though beyond the fact VA are in a different terminal.

It also puts pressure on an onward flight he has with later in the day (which is cancellable). Can he insist on being routed via HKG ( which gets him into LHR at 05.00 hrs)?

He could I suppose, but it would require re-routing within Aus. It was only HKG>SYD that was removed, so he could still do SYD>MEL>HKG>LHR I think.

[mitchja]

....so he could still do SYD>MEL>HKG>LHR I think.

That won't work as VA are dropping MEL>HKG as well. That was announced separately last year. That route ends tomorrow (Feb 11th). The SYD>HKG route ends Mar 2nd.

....so he could still do SYD>MEL>HKG>LHR I think.

That won't work as VA are dropping MEL>HKG as well. That was announced separately last year. That route ends tomorrow (Feb 11th). The SYD>HKG route ends Mar 2nd.

Damn