Delays to Virgin Australia flights VA1 and VA2

Flew to and from SYD/LA 3 times over the past 6 weeks and chose the VA/DL option as I was connecting on to Minneapolis. On every occasion the VA1 and VA2 flights were delayed, flying yesterday on VA1 it was delayed 2-1/2 hours missing my DL connection in LA. It appears VA use the VA2 aircraft incoming from LA to turn it around straight back to LA at 9.30am as VA1. Would you not think that if it was operationally critical to get VA2 into Sydney on time or early that you would ensure it gets out of LAX every night on time, after all the plane sits on the ground all day. Overall probably will never fly them again, the LAX transfer, bus, dodgy boarding terminal at LAX plus what appears to very regular delays doesn’t work for me. Seems they are still just a budget point to point airline in fancy clothes. As a business traveler I need to make those connections, not sitting around an airport unnecessarily for 4 hours due to airline delays. Will fly QF or DL metal in future.

Serious whinge! An airline never wants to depart late for fun. There are many many things that delay the aircraft. On a long haul, this could be as simple as headwinds. Let alone, connections from other cities. It also could be maintenance related, or crew or anything else. I’m not saying you should not be upset, but invariably you may get delayed on QF from time to time as well. If you skip them both, then you can start flying the American group of airlines. I have never had a significant delay on any of VA flights, and same with QF. The people who are running this business lose a lot more when a flight is delayed than people who are inside it (in my opinion), so if a delay is inevitable, they are behind the scenes trying to fix it to minimise disruption.

I am not normally one to subscribe to these sort of whinges. However checking Flightaware on VA1 and VA2, I can see it has been quite some time that the flights have actually run on time. Comparing that to QF11 which is running mostly on time. However QF12 looks a bit spotty. Presumably due to late JFK arrival

And unfortunately, sometimes the really long turnarounds (like the full day in LAX that QF and VA both have) do little to improve operational reliability. Most of this time is used for planned offline maintenance, so many of the smaller mechanical issues that cause unexpected delays don't become known until the aircraft is powered up by the operating crew, like a flight on a normal turnaround.

LAX has serious terminal upgrades which will take a number of years to finish and with that construction of skyrail tunnels has caused all airlines to be delayed.I think it is unfair to say its a VA issue as they are the no.1 product across the pacific.

Unfortunate, absolutely. Systemic, I suggest no. 

I've travelled BNE/SYD-LAX-JFK on VA /DL 4 to 5 times a year for the last 4 years and I've only once arrived late into LAX missing my DL connection to JFK. Wasn't helped by being deplaned at a remote stand somewhere near SFO(!) and bussed to TBIT either.

VA annoy me on some of their digital and domestic experiences but regardless, I'll deal with it - you cannot beat the VA J product and service across the Pacific IMO

Could VA2 be intentionally delayed to collect delayed domestic us transit passengers to avoid over night accomodation costs? Any one know if the flight has mainly point to point passengers? No excuse but an explanation.

There are and have been massive terminal and runway works both of recent times and currently underway that greatly effect flights at LAX. I’ve traveled with VA multiple times and always left on time. I also agree with Mitch VA has the best product and that’s proven with the best business class award over the last two years.

You are being a little harsh. On pacific route, VA beats both QF and DL handsdown.

I certainly hope that my VA1 flight on the 24th won't have any serious delays, I have a connecting DL flight to JFK departing at 7.55am. Fortunately I'm only traveling with carry-on but there's still a risk I might miss the connection.

What's the procedure with missing a connection (even once checked-in), who is responsible for ensuring I get on another flight VA or DL?

Isn't QF also an airline with poor timekeeping out of LAX?