90 minute delay on the tarmac

[Rick93]

I was onboard QF051, Sydney Int. to Brisbane (and onto Singapore) on Tuesday 12th. October 2004.

Whilst checking in (QC check-in), I noticed our newly re-elected Prime Minister standing at the First Class check - in point (shaking hands with several supporters - First Class supporters, of course!)

QF051 was supposed to depart Sydney at 1120hrs.

We didn't leave sydney until 1250hrs. exactly the time of estimated arrival at Brisbane!

Now, two things....

1. What happened to the PM?

2. The blo*dy awful experience of the Economy Class passengers (me included)

Considering I had an 'orange sticker' on my boarding pass, like a couple of dozen others, I want to know, why we weren't shuffled of to the DOM. for available seats to Brisbane?

Further, during the 90 min. delay, we were offered one plastic cup of water (at the ten minute delay point - did they REALLY know how long it was going to take???) No additional cabin service was offered. During 'lunch', they weren't even going to offer free wine / beer ! I had to 'frown heavily' when informed "not on this flight sir...". I did actually get my 'garden variety' chardonnay.

I would of thought... that QANTAS would have been in 'damage control'.... and offering all soughts of 'goodies' when we finally did get off the ground !

I've written an email to the QF Feedback link on the website.

I've requested "compensation" for my drama.... given I was 75mins. late to a job interview, and probably performed less than expected as a direct result of the additional 'stress' of the day.

How do you think such request will be received???

***** what did become of the PM on that flight???******

regards,

 

[clifford]

***** what did become of the PM on that flight???******
regards,

I guess the people that voted for him would know.

 

[moa999]

don't think PM got on the flight

Given the election was on Saturday, and the PM is still campaigning in Australia, think he might have been seeing someone off.



Believe one of his sons is working on Bush's campaign and popped back to see Dad's election

 

[NM]

... I did actually get my 'garden variety' chardonnay.

...

.... given I was 75mins. late to a job interview, and probably performed less than expected as a direct result of the additional 'stress' of the day.

Now, if I were on my way to an important function such as a job interview, I would not book an Int flight on a sector like SYD-BNE for the very reason you found. I would have booked a fully flexible fare type from the domestic terminal so that if there was a problem I could request to be put onto another flight without having to beg for waiver of the rules of the fare I had purchased.

And if a 90 minute delay results in being 75 mins late for a very important meeting, I would have booked a much earlier flight. I never select a flight based on 15 mins slack before an important meeting.

And if I was on my way to a job interview, I don't think I would be partaking in the chardonnay, be it garden variety or top shelf.

I would not expect you will get anything more than an apology from QF. At best they may spring you a few FF points. Delays happen all the time. They are a pain and often result in stress or missed meetings. But there is no obligation to compensate for a 90 min delay.

Are you implying that the PM's presence at SYD had something to do with the 90 min delay? Note that the PM does not fly on QF between SYD and BNE or SIN. He has several aircraft available to him courtesty of us taxpayers.

 

[Rick93]

Yes, I take note of the various comments.

In regard to the "15 mins slack..." The maths are misleading. If the flight was on time, I would have arrived at Brisbane by 1250hrs. I would have been on a train to Bowen Hills, and arrived by 1330hrs. I had a 10 - 15 walk to the Royal Brisbane Hospital, and had 15 mins.to spare. I didn't think this too short a margin.

When I noticed the PM, he was at the check - in counter (with minders), he gave the impression he was 'ckecking - in'. He wasn't at the reception area or where passengers are first seen coming out of the Customs area.

Anyhow, I'd be happy with 20,000 QFF points !

regards,

 

[oz_mark]

Don't ya just love sitting on a plane while they sort something out. I've spent an hour on the ground in one of the A330's while they tried to figure out why their headcounts gave them an extra passenger over what they thought should have been on the plane. . . .

 

[shillard]

Yes, I take note of the various comments.

In regard to the "15 mins slack..." The maths are misleading. If the flight was on time, I would have arrived at Brisbane by 1250hrs. I would have been on a train to Bowen Hills, and arrived by 1330hrs. I had a 10 - 15 walk to the Royal Brisbane Hospital, and had 15 mins.to spare. I didn't think this too short a margin.

Gordon,

If your planning is so appalling that you only leave 15 minutes of spare time for an interstate job interview, there's no way in hell that I would hire you.

Come on mate, seriously!

15 minutes to spare might be OK if you're going around the block, but interstate? If I had a 2pm interview in Brisbane, I'd be planning to arrive there mid-morning.

 

[straitman]

Yes, I take note of the various comments.

In regard to the "15 mins slack..." The maths are misleading. If the flight was on time, I would have arrived at Brisbane by 1250hrs. I would have been on a train to Bowen Hills, and arrived by 1330hrs. I had a 10 - 15 walk to the Royal Brisbane Hospital, and had 15 mins.to spare. I didn't think this too short a margin.

Gordon,

If your planning is so appalling that you only leave 15 minutes of spare time for an interstate job interview, there's no way in hell that I would hire you.

Come on mate, seriously!

15 minutes to spare might be OK if you're going around the block, but interstate? If I had a 2pm interview in Brisbane, I'd be planning to arrive there mid-morning.

Gordon,

I've got to agree with shillard here. I recently had someone arrive late for an interview. He was however late from a QF flight that we had booked on his behalf and that arrived approx 4 hours late due weather.

If it had been in line with the circumstances that you outline I would have been inclined to say "Gordon who :!: "

:roll:

 

[Jano]

90 MINUTE DELAY ON TARMAC

Yes, well Gordon was cutting it fine for an interview.
As for me Qantas booked me on a domestic flight from Melbourne to Sydney to connect to Bangkok with the usual plenty of time. Unfortunately the mechanical problem on the plane (which was being fixed as we boarded) was delayed and so were the passengers....60 minutes (OK it is better to be late than dead on time)....despite Qantas aware that there were about 10 of us to meet the same connection the transfer bus kept to it's schedule so we were delayed another 20 minutes as the previous bus departed as we descended the escalator....the lines in customs were large and then to top it off the departure gate seemed to be almost the furtherest away. OK, it has happened before but I was flawed when the Qantas groundstaff member at departure gate started yelling at us to hurry up as we had delayed an international flight!!! No apology from Qantas on the spot, email complaint has produced the usual run around of emailing someone else, ringing up to complain giving a phone number that cannot be accessed outside Oz etc.
On my next flight a month later I flew to Hong Kong with only an hour connection time from one terminal to the other (Qantas booked it not me) and the Qantas staff herded me from one of the front seats in economy to a business seat for arrival so I could be off quick and a groundstaff member was waiting to escort me through the maze that seems to be Hong Kong Airport.
It seems that Qantas is good at assisting when something is routine but not when something goes wrong.

 

[Craigo]

Re: 90 MINUTE DELAY ON TARMAC

It seems that Qantas is good at assisting when something is routine but not when something goes wrong.

The first experience you had was unfortunate, Jano, but in my experience Qantas were superb when something went wrong. I had booked a red-e-deal for CBR-MEL to attend the Rugby World Cup match between Australia and Ireland. It was also Derby day at Flemington, so all QF and DJ flights from Canberra were fully booked.

A maintenance problem grounded my scheduled flight and the Qantas staff in Canberra organised for the 20+ pax to get a 737 to Sydney, then transfer to an Australian Airlines flight that was going to Denpasar via Melbourne. We had 20 minutes to connect and the Qantas staff guided us through the international transfer and Customs/Immigration at Terminal 1 to make the AO flight. Got into Melbourne a little late, but with plenty of time to make the game.

 

[Rick93]

To my legion of ex-fans.... especially those who now won't hire me....

I take on board what you are saying... but I'm just used to operating that way.

For eg. I worked night shift on Firday 22nd., left work at 0640hrs. Drove to Syd. DOM, parked in my usual 'free' spot 500m walk to the Qantas terminal, boarded a flight to Melbourne, drove to Melbourne University Private at Hawthorne for a seminar, left at 1645hrs. and drove back to airport, and boarded flight back to Sydney (1800hrs. flight). Arrived in Sydney at 1920hrs., walked back to car, drove to Cronulla Leagues Club for 25yrs. school reunion gathering, arriving at 1955hrs. for an 2000hrs. kick-off.

Left at 0100hrs. drove to mother's house in Hurstville for 5 hours sleep, and drove to Rozelle for day shift at 0655hrs. (0700hrs. start)

For most of my travelling plans, I work to a plan of being on time. If I think there may be traffic... I'll factor that in.... if I had thought of Qantas having a 90 min delay... I would have factored that in, but if all runs as it should... then I usually try to squeeze that little bit extra into the day!

So, to those who won't employ me now... (you basta*ds know who you are.... ) I didn't want to work for you anyway !!!

(just joking...)

regards,

 

[NM]

I always try to make my international connections as long as possible. I would to a minimum of 2 hours, prefer more like 3 or 4 hours. That way I still get plenty of time in the Qantas Club lounge before departing, even if the flight is delayed by 90 mins.

However, there are times when even that time is consumed by delays. On my last return from Europe, I was in FRA for the day. Arrived back at FRA airport about 16:30 for a 18:45 departure to arrive at LHR at 19:20 to connect to my 22:05 departure for SIN. That would allow me some time in the FRA BA lounge (as poor as it is, but that's another story) and time in the LHR T4 F lounge.

But the FRA-LHR flight was delayed more than 2 hours, making my LHR T1 to T4 transfer very tight and I walked straight onto the SIN flight without seeing the F lounge :x . But if I had planned shorted connections I might have been even later returning home. But then again, maybe my bags might have made the same connection as me .

 

[Rick93]

UPDATE on this experience.....

If anyone else was onboard that flight (or knows of someone), then you should write Qantas an email.....

I've been sent a very apologetic response.... PLUS..... a $100.00 travel voucher from Qantas, for use during the next 12 months !!!

So, who said my 'complaint' wouldn't be heard? (or responded to)

regards,

 

[michaelblain]

So, who said my 'complaint' wouldn't be heard? (or responded to)

No one that I can see above.

Question remains - were you offered the job?

 

[QF WP]

I agree with michaelblain, a job is worth more than $100 MCO in my view :roll: :wink:

 

[Rick93]

Oh, come on guys!
It's not about 'the job'... I thought you'd be 'happy' for me.... getting a hundred bucks for sitting on the sunny side of a parked 747, missing out on morning tea!

If you really must know... then, I didn't.... I didn't ACCEPT that is!

I was checking THEM out, as much as they were checking out me. But that's aside from OUR BUSINESS HERE....

Now, I don't keep asking you guys about your income producing business activities.... because, THAT'S YOUR BUSINESS. I made reference to the point in the first place, because that's the angle of my complaint to Qantas. The same as if I was going to visit my 'dying granny' in Brisbane. If the flight was late, and old granny passed away before I got there... then I'd be making a complaint. But I wouldn't expect to be criticised for choosing a late flight!

anyway... it's over and done now....

regards,

 

[arun]

Well done Gordon. It is good to hear that Qantas is treating complaints seriously.

 

[Rick93]

Ta!