Can someone from Virgin Blue answer this re: Your lack of help for Bali flights

[peanut pusher]

Just a quick question to my f/a friends at Virgin Blue.
Can someone ask Big Brett or Randy Richard why Virgin Blue never offered any aircraft or support to Bali victims. No help to evacuate the injured or people wanting to escape Bali after the bombing, not even an offer. This was quoted in the AFR & SMH the week after the bombing. I always see Richard & Brett complaining or making a big deal of little details or Richard doing something for his publicity machine. Maybe the money he bagged John Travolta with could have been sent on an aircraft or two going up to Bali to lend a hand. This is not an attack on F/A's, just want you to ask the men who love the publicity. I thought they would of relished at this task.


PS I was one of 121 QF staff who gave up holidays or days off to fly up and evacuate our people.

[cabinboy]

Peanut Pusher,

Whilst I can see your point re: Virgin Blue fluffing their own pillows in the media and not sending an a/c to bali to evacuate pax, I can hardly see how our resident pprune DJ f/a's could answer such a question.

Obviously you were not involved in the decision making process to send QF a/c to DPS , so I highly doubt that DJ f/a's are involved in this decision making process to send aircraft to Bali.

As a rapidly expanding no frills airline DJ probably had no a/c spare to send over without inconviniencing their own pax. QF already operate flights to DPS so the infrastructure was already there to continually operate these emergency flights.

Perhaps your views should be expressed in a letter to Virgin blue rather than our cabin crew forum. I highly doubt you are in a position to answer questions relating to the business activities of Qantas and I would think the same for the virgin blue flight attendants.

Cabinboy
P.S - I do belive however that QF has not received enough praise for the way in which it handled the situation and not enough credit for it's employees who went above and beyond during this horrible time.

[skypryncess]

I really like peanut pushers line of thought. Cabin boy, altought FA's are not involved in the decision process of any airline I think that PP was getting at the fact that Sir Branson will be in Australia on one of his many 'publicity tours'. Surely this will create the opportunity for one of Bransons Angels to queery Virgins failure to step up to the plate. You question Virgins infrastructure; Qantas cancelled flights and inconvienieced passengers to commence this mercy mission. Not even the big Q has the infrastructure to just pluck aircraft off the tarmac and send them off at whim. When was the last time you saw Qantas schedule three international aircraft to touch down from Bali within an hour. People love to bag qantas, at the end of the day they have come through for all Australians and should be commended for doing so.

[stormywx]

Hi,

I don't work for DJ but I think you may find their AOC doesnt cover international RPT operations at the current time.

Also a few other reasons...

1. No spare aircraft
2. Unfamiliar route, no proving flight ever completed to the destination
3. Logistically not possible - no airport plates, no crews trained for the airspace/airport, planning options not available
4. No ground support in DPS - no gates, no refueling, no ground staff, no operations staff etc (Who would do loading, planning etc?)
5. No government approval from Ind or Aust authorities to operate into that airport and/or airspace under a RPT service
6. Aircraft/Crew not suitable - remember Qantas crew are much more use to operating evac flights and med services

DPS is a QF port of call, they fly there regurally, have crews familiar with the airport, have govrenment approval, have ground support and have staff trained to deal with a flight of that nature.

Think outside the square here, planes don't just takeoff and fly somewhere, there is a lot of planning and support required, DJ simply don't have that available to them in DPS.

stormy

[peanut pusher]

Cabinboy: Thats why the question asks the f/a's to ask Brett or Dick on there next energising walk around. It wasn't asking them to comment on the management decision, but to ask why the didn't help out.

Just to answer a couple of the points made by other people.
Bali was massively under resourced, when we arrived I gave the a/c controled first aid kit to a doctor at the door. We also gave every pillow & blanket there was. The injured didn't even have sheets so we have the memory of people being lifted of stretchers with all there burnt skin stuck to the stretcher. Kerry Stokes was there in his private plane, helping out. Believe me (Stormy) Bali was taking any a/c, anybody or thing it could. The Packers plane was there. There were many private jets taking 3 or 4 people at at time to Darwin. Qantas even took 800 Garuda pax who were told no seats for 5 days. The big Q delayed or changed 27 flights each day to make adjustments. For example the QF2 was delayed 14 hours out of London 3 days in a row, that really pissed off alot of people.

Not an attack on the workers, just think the Virgin people could of helped out. The media didn't have room to print it with all the coverage of the victims but plenty of people were saying it on the ground.

[stormywx]

Peanut,

Again, it is very, very different for a small corporate jet then a B737. Those companies/operators are set up to fly to any destination at short notice and don't require ground service as such.

An airline however, operating under a RPT AOC has much different requirements both legally and operationally.

You could even ring DJ and ask them why they didn't but I'm quite sure you'll find that it was simply logistically impossible for them to help out.

stormy

[MrSydney]

Peanut Pusher:I think QF response to the Bali crisis was nothing short of fantastic. They way in which they handled the whole situation was nothing short of superb within a tight schedule.

I imagine the flights home for the FAs most have been the extremely emotionally/phyically trying with all those people seriously injured. The most truamatic flights of their careers.

BTW Did the QF flights fly at a decreased altitude to reduce the pain for the burn victims????

No it would have ben realistic for DJ to send flights or staff to Bali

[airborne1]

PEANUT PUSHER.

I think it really sends a strong message out to the australian public about the support that qantas showed.

I agree with stormy's comments though and also that virgin probably doesnt have landing rights into bali - the logistics as well are all factors here. Also I'm not sure if 737 can do the long range flying required to get up to bali. Yes I work for virgin...ex ansett! I know ansett would have been there in a jiffy..but then we had landing rights into bali


Please do take these considerations on board - if you feel more strongly about having these questions answered then feel free to give the company a call.

Its commendable what you did in offering your support for the victims and also towards your company.

As crew, also as australian's our thoughts though were very much with the victims and their families. What happened in Bali was a horrible incident against humanity. My heart goes out to everyone particularly those directly pained by this. A few crew from virgin had family and friends involved in this incident so please also bear that in mind.

As for your efforts peanut pusher...I'm proud of them and also of qantas' support. They have my respect.

This shouldnt be an opportunity to have a dig at another airline..more it should be a time to offer prayers for those who are suffering thru this.

No harm is intended to anyone with this email.



united we stand...divided we fall

[stormywx]

I just wanted to add that I too was most impressed with the service Qantas and their staff did offer to those affected in Bali.

It must have been a truely sad and yet inspiring series of flights to be involved with, that I'm sure the crews will remember for many years to come.

Peanut - you and your crew should be very proud to have been involved with those flights. Once again you and your fellow staff showed us the true "Spirit of Australia".



stormy

[Based in Doha]

I would like to share with you my Qantas experiences ex Bali.
I lost my mum in Bali, at the Sari Club.
I tried for 4 days to find her, but in the end i had to accept giving DNA was the best thing i could do - so i flew home to Melbourne.
I was very distressed and crying alot.
On arrival at DPS airport, i was taken aside and a very nice man named Joshua from SYD, a QF person, arranged all procedures for me. He took time to talk with me, made sure i was ok, and if i needed anything, he saw too it.
I was given businees class borading pass, and was then escorted into the VIP lounge.
I was seated in the upper deck, so were alot of screaming kids with familes.
I was a mess, crying so much because i was leaving Bali without my mum. I had just checked me email before i boarded the flight and learnt that mum was seated at the front, near the entrance of the Sari Club.
The crew were excellent, comforting me, and after take off, re seating me in first class.
I couldnt eat, or drink, yet one flight attendant bought me out a sandwich and orange juice and insisted i eat and look after myself, and try to get some sleep.
I had mums photo in my hand the entire time, she gave me the strength to make it home. The crew did a remarkale job looking after me and the other passengers who were also affected. One passenger was flying home with his neice's body in the cargo hold.
On arr in SYD, again i was met and escorted through passport control and customs. I was also escorted through a back way to the domestic terminal, to avoid the media waiting outside.
I was given a business class boarding pass for the SYD to MEL flight, and the crew were briefed about my arrival. On this flight an ex AN flight attendant i used to work with was on board and she held my hand and chatted with me, comforting me. She helped me off the flight, carrying one of my bags.
Family members were at the gate in MEL.
I am so touched by the generosity and support i was given from QF. It was so nice to be treated with warmth and compassion - truly remarkable. I forever grateful to QF.

[Sick Squid]

... there is nothing that can be added, no comments worthwhile.. the only thing we can say is from the heart, all our thoughts are with you and your families in such a time of loss.

[Skylark]

Michael..
there is very little that words can express to reflect the sadness at the loss of your mother. I hope that you and your family are finding some comfort in her memory.

Thank you for sharing your experience of the trip home. All ozzies are very proud of our national carrier Qantas.. and the support and professionalism of the crew during the tragic events in Bali.

[peanut pusher]

still no reply from VB crew members ?????????

[airborne1]

Peanut Pusher

I am VB cabin crew and if you scroll back thru the messages you will notice that I did in fact reply to this thread.