Capital Airlines Delays/ Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

On Friday 7 October 2016, JD461, a newish entrant to the skies from TAO to MEL should arrive at around the 1104 mark, 99 minutes behind time. It is operated by A332 B-8549. I had to look Qingdao up to discover if one can rely on Wiki that it has a population in Greater Qingdao of at least nine million - approaching SYD and MEL combined.

As a quick aside, would we be lucky if two per cent of Australians knew about this mainland Chinese city? Awareness of (say) Chengdu might be a bit higher.

 

[soorox]

Since Chinese-Australian's make up 4% of the population, I'd say, yes they do know Flights also tag onto Shenyang, so that the whole North Eastern part of China to tap into too!

Tsingtao Beer is from Qingdao, I'm not sure why they spelt it as Tsingtao when the Chinese name is actually Qingdao. But many should know the brand.

 

[moa999]

Different translations at different times I suspect.
The IATA code for the airport is TAO, which I suspect also reflects the older spelling

Also only 350km or so from Beijing.

 

[trooper]

Pinyin vs Wade Giles.....If I remember my HSC History correctly! (Bloody long time ago...)

 

[Cossie]

Beer for me, brewery set up by the Germans. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsingtao_Brewery Sorry off topic, hic!

 

[Melburnian1]

Getting back to on topic, on Sunday 9 October JD461 is again badly late, with arrival in MEL predicted at 1204 early this afternoon instead of 0925. A332 B-8549 is again operating the flight: interesting to see this, which can also be the case with other mainland Chinese airlines on occasion - an almost 'captive' aircraft for a particular route.

 

[soorox]

Getting back to on topic, on Sunday 9 October JD461 is again badly late, with arrival in MEL predicted at 1204 early this afternoon instead of 0925. A332 B-8549 is again operating the flight: interesting to see this, which can also be the case with other mainland Chinese airlines on occasion - an almost 'captive' aircraft for a particular route.

JD only have x3 A330's at the moment so I think it's pretty common to see the same plane often. Same with MU, MU737/738 use FM A332's, and MEL usually see the same 2.

 

[markjb]

I was on Sundays service, plane had a tyre change needed at qingtao. The wind then was issue. We arrived about 2hrs late.

Staff don't speak much of any English. The airline won't allow you to use ANY mobile phone even in flight mode on the flight. iPad with sim card is ok but.....

 

[Melburnian1]

markjb, thank you for the excellent on-the-spot report. Which direction were you travelling?

Staff 'not speaking much English' is a major barrier to more Australians using these mainland Chinese airlines as there is a perception that requests from passengers will go unmet at times.

 

[moa999]

Staff don't speak much of any English. The airline won't allow you to use ANY mobile phone even in flight mode on the flight.

Surprised they don't have a couple of decent English speakers on the flight.

Mobile phone issue might be different Chinese regulations..
eg. Jetstar Asia which is governed by Singapore regulation won't allow you to turn on until inside terminal, versus Jetstar Australia which allows use while taxiiing

 

[markjb]

Going from Mel to Tao. Coming back on today's flight, let's see if it runs in time. There is zero movies or TV in English. The person traveling with me was offered a 2 day old newspaper as he was told to turn off his phone in flight mode and not watch movies on it.

Food was standard Chinese airline cough really. All bough from mainland on flight over.

Plane looked newish in the condition of the plane it self but seats looked like been taken from old aircraft. VOD was Touch screen but old old one still hade channels with the mode switch button.

Only paid $508 return per person so do the money it was good value and had to come here for 4 days for business. If you have to come to Qingdao it is a great option as the via Shanghai or HK you always get a delay on the next onward mainland flight.

 

[markjb]

Surprised they don't have a couple of decent English speakers on the flight.

Can confirm no "decent" speaking English 5% at best. we were only westerners on flight.

Mobile phone issue might be different Chinese regulations..
eg. Jetstar Asia which is governed by Singapore regulation won't allow you to turn on until inside terminal, versus Jetstar Australia which allows use while taxiiing

Flew 4 mainland airlines 2 weeks back they didn't care..... had a battery pack taken from me in Tianjin for not showing capacity of it but.

 

[soorox]

Going from Mel to Tao. Coming back on today's flight, let's see if it runs in time. There is zero movies or TV in English. The person traveling with me was offered a 2 day old newspaper as he was told to turn off his phone in flight mode and not watch movies on it.

Food was standard Chinese airline cough really. All bough from mainland on flight over.

Plane looked newish in the condition of the plane it self but seats looked like been taken from old aircraft. VOD was Touch screen but old old one still hade channels with the mode switch button.

Only paid $508 return per person so do the money it was good value and had to come here for 4 days for business. If you have to come to Qingdao it is a great option as the via Shanghai or HK you always get a delay on the next onward mainland flight.

We're your flights full? For that price, I'd certainly be happy, even cheaper than the LCC's!

HU has similar fares floating around for their XIY and CSX flights starting next month. Only in Y! J fares are around the 2.2k mark return, so it looks like there's demand for those.

 

[markjb]

About 5 free seats. The crew must have different working hours than other airlines. The cabin crew were waiting at Mel gate for about 90 mins, did whole flight 11hr30min then landed in Qingdao did customs went back on board and was same flight crew to next destination! Plane was in ground for about 45 mins. One of the flight crew my friend added the WeChat and she said she didn't get back until 5am!

 

[Melburnian1]

On Wednesday 4 January 2017, JD461 from TAO to MEL should arrive at about 1005 hours, 40 minutes behind schedule. Aircraft is A332 B-8019.

 

[Melburnian1]

Sunday 26 February 2017 has A332 B-8221 on JD461, the TAO - MEL redeye arriving at roughly 1006, 41 minutes tardy.

 

[Melburnian1]

Friday 28 April 2017 has JD461 from TAO to MEL suggested as arriving at 0907 hours, 42 minutes tardy. Aircraft is A332 B-8221. As JD462 back to Qingdao is not timetabled to depart until 1025, it may be able to punctually push back.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Friday 5 May, JD461 from TAO to MEL should arrive at about 0933 hours, 68 late with A332 B-8549. JD462, the 1025 hours back to TAO will be delayed by at least 20 minutes in its departure.

 

[Melburnian1]

JD461 into MEL on Wednesday 14 June 2017 (A332 B-8550, ex TAO) should be at its desrination airport arrival gate at 0943 hours instead of the scheduled 0825, or 78 minutes tardy.

 

[Melburnian1]

JD462 (1025 hours Sunday morning 16 July MEL - TAO) took off at 1127; arrival is predicted 43 minutes tardy at 2038 this evening local time.