QF grounding: Information for passengers

[thewinchester]

This thread is strictly to provide a quick overview of the current situation for affected passengers. This thread will be updated as new information comes to hand.

If you wish to discuss the grounding, please do so in this dedicated thread.
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This information is current as at 30 OCT 2011 0256hrs AEDST/1556hrs GMT

As Qantas is preparing to resume operations, please review any information presented here carefully.

This page does not constitute official advice, and links are available at the bottom of the page for verifying information, as well as contacts for enquiries and assistance.

Summary

QF mainline operations globally were grounded effective on 29 OCT 2011 at 1700hrs AEDST/0900hrs GMT as the result of Qantas taking protected industrial action.

As a result of industrial arbitration before Fair Work Australia, all protected industrial action has been terminated.

Based on this, and tweets earlier today from Qantas Airways, it is likely that the carrier will resume flying on 31 OCT 2011 from 1200hrs AEDST/2200hrs GMT.

Recommencement of operations is still dependent on the go-ahead from relevant airline regulators.

Carriers not affected

This grounding specifically excludes:

• Jetstar (JQ)
• Services operated for Qantas by either;
  • QantasLink (Flt numbers QF1400 to QF2699) or
  • JetConnect (trans tasman services)

Stranded?

Information on what to do is below.

Recovery fares

A number of airlines are offering recovery fares to pax affected by the grounding.

These airlines include (links to web information included where known);

• Air Asia
• Virgin Australia
• Etihad

Rebooking, refunds and reimbursements

Qantas is offering rebooking onto other airlines (to alternate QF flights, or carriers with an interline e-ticket agreement with Qantas), refunds and/or reimbursements.

Full information, terms and conditions, and the online refund claim form can be found at:
http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/disruptions/global/en#changing-or-refunding-your-booking

What to do?

Only passengers scheduled to fly in the next 24hrs are asked to contact the airline by telephone.

Passengers should not proceed to the airport unless specifically advised to do so by airline staff or official information channels.

Passengers currently not in their home port will be provided all the usual support, assistance and accommodation where necessary.

Staying up to date

Updates and information are available from this thread, as well as:

Twitter: @qantasairways
Facebook: facebook.com/qantas
Online: qantas.com - disruptions and travel alerts
Telephone: Global Reservations and Customer Service contact numbers

 

[medhead]

I think you need to edit your post. It seems to be a bias one side presentation of information. What is the source of this information? Did it come from qantas or did you make most of it up? For example the Reasons listed. I have not seen qantas use the word "nefarious". Is that editorial comment from you? If so it should not be presented as fact.

 

[Alanslegal]

I think you need to edit your post. It seems to be a bias one side presentation of information. What is the source of this information? Did it come from qantas or did you make most of it up? For example the Reasons listed. I have not seen qantas use the word "nefarious". Is that editorial comment from you? If so it should not be presented as fact.

I agree.

The grounding is in response to the continued, unreasonable demands of unions from the pilots, engineers and ground staff, and to prevent any nefarious action prior to a workplace lockout of these groups taking effect at 2000hrs AEDST/1200hrs GMT on 31 OCT 2011.

The grounding is in response to continued and unreasonable demand?

What one person / group of persons think is unreasonable, may be completely reasonable to another person / group of persons.

 

[oz_mark]

It's worth noting that Qantas is providing assistance if you end up on another airline:

The following commercial policy options are available to Qantas customers holding a valid Qantas (081) ticket issued on/before 29 October 2011 who are directly affected by schedule change activity (ie cancelled and retimed flights resulting from the grounding of Qantas services) for travel from 1700 AEDT 29 October 2011 up to and including 02 November 2011.

Passengers may, without fee:

• Rebook to alternative Qantas flights (including QF Codeshare flights operated by BA).
• Rebook with endorsement to another carrier where Qantas have an Interline E-ticket Agreement.*
• Re-route travel
  - Via the most direct routing using Qantas.
  - Return to the origin port via the most direct routing using Qantas.
• Change Destinations. The value of the existing ticket can be used towards the purchase of a new ticket. If the new fare is more expensive than the existing ticketed fare, the fare difference is payable by the passenger. Applicable surcharges, fees and taxes may apply.
• Retain the value of the ticket in credit for future travel within 12 months from the original ticketed date of departure. If the new fare is more expensive than the existing ticketed fare, the fare difference is payable by the passenger. Applicable ticket surcharges, fees and taxes may apply.
• Refunds
  - For customers who have commenced their journey a full refund of the affected sector(s) will be available.
  - For customers who have not commenced their journey a full refund will be available.

Note:
* Customers wishing to rebook to another carrier may do so in the lowest available booking class within the same cabin of travel.
Customers who purchase a new ticket with an alternative carrier, Qantas will reimburse the difference between the cost of the new ticket (in same cabin of travel) and the value of the refunded Qantas ticket.

Qantas Travel Alerts | Emergencies

 

[thewinchester]

The grounding is in response to continued and unreasonable demand?

What one person / group of persons think is unreasonable, may be completely reasonable to another person / group of persons.

That's the reason given and language used by QF in their press conference, as well as supplementary communications. Regardless of if the unions are the cause or not, it's why they stated they grounded the airline.

And please leave the union stuff to the main thread. Info only to assist those who are stuck here please.

 

[medhead]

That's the reason given and language used by QF in their press conference, as well as supplementary communications. Regardless of if the unions are the cause or not, it's why they stated they grounded the airline.

And please leave the union stuff to the main thread. Info only to assist those who are stuck here please.

The point remains that if we are doing what you ask then the one side company propaganda should be removed as well. Information only, not propaganda. I totally 100% agree. The reasons given by the company DO NOT help people who are stuck.

 

[medhead]

It's worth noting that Qantas is providing assistance if you end up on another airline:

Qantas Travel Alerts | Emergencies

that's very generous assistance. There is a refund claim form up on the website now as well.

My cousin has booked herself onto the train BNE-SYD. So doesn't help, I mentioned this assistance but she didn't have the cash to book with Virgin. Myself, I'm trying to decide irk rebook my flight or take the refund and fare difference payment. Waiting for FWA decision before making a final decision.

 

[rkfwombat]

The point remains that if we are doing what you ask then the one side company propaganda should be removed as well. Information only, not propaganda. I totally 100% agree. The reasons given by the company DO NOT help people who are stuck.

Couldn't agree more. Whether you agree with their position or not I'm sure you're gentlemen enough to understand the important difference.

 

[medhead]

Ok so now there are a full range of refund forms on the website:

Fare refund/rebooking and fare difference with another carrier here:
Qantas Travel Alerts | Emergencies

Accommodation and incidentals here:
Qantas Travel Alerts | Emergencies

 

[Flashback]

Flying out next Sunday (Nov 6), hopefully this will be sorted by then. The other concern is what the knock-on effect may be...:!: (if any?)

 

[froggerADL]

I suggest that anyone who is considering re-booking onto another airline ring Qantas first.

I rang them to confirm the conditions and they re-booked me. I thought I'd have to do it then claim the additional cost back.

That was for a FASA too.

 

[medhead]

I suggest that anyone who is considering re-booking onto another airline ring Qantas first.

I rang them to confirm the conditions and they re-booked me. I thought I'd have to do it then claim the additional cost back.

That was for a FASA too.

Your adviceis good for international flights only.

I booked with Virgin for my domestic flight first thing on Saturday evening. By the time Qantas said they'd do fare differences, all flights on my travel day, tomorrow, we're gone. Also qantas only offered to rebook me onto Qantas services when I contacted them.

 

[thewinchester]

Post #1 in this thread has been updated to reflect all the new information.

I'm continuing to keep it as up to date as possible as new information comes to hand.

On that note, after what has been a crazy 34 hours in Australia's aviation history - I am going to bed. Good night.

 

[QF WP]

Based on this, and tweets earlier today from Qantas Airways, it is likely that the carrier will resume flying on 31 OCT 2011 from 1200hrs AEDST/2200hrs GMT.

Recommencement of operations is still dependent on the go-ahead from relevant airline regulators.

From News online

The first flight to take off from Sydney's international airport was QF11 which left for Los Angeles around 2pm after the airline received clearance from air safety watchdog CASA to fly again.

Read more: Rolling coverage: Industrial action terminated with Qantas back in the skies | News.com.au​

 

[medhead]

Sky News was just saying that current advice is people should turn up to the airport for domestic flights. There may be delays but flights are going.

 

[NM]

Please note that the information in this thread may no longer be relevant since Qantas flights have resumed. I am going to close this thread now but it will be retained here as its part of the history of AFF member's posts relating to the event.

As always, readers should consider the timeliness and ongoing circumstances of their own situation and confirm all recommendations/information with reliable current sources.

Thanks for the efforts of those who researched and posted the information contained in this thread as it related to the circuistances at the time of posting.