Another A380 problem

[simongr]

A QF A380 today (QF31 SIN-LHR) failed to leave SIN this morning due to mechanical problems with the de-icing "whatsit".

The aircraft pushed back on time and the crew did the safety briefing but it was only at the end of the runway that the final checks showed the deicing whatsit was inoperable so the aircraft returned to the gate for repairs.

Initial estimates were 1 hour to install and test... 3 hours later the aircraft was emptied of pax... They couldnt source the part...

Good:

- Crew were pretty good throughout doing what they could to keep a brave face
- Bis/First pax are being put up in the Sheraton
- Food allowances provided


Bad

- Poor communication throughout the time on the tarmac - no real updates on what was going on
- We were told on board that we would be getting refreshments whic never arrived
- No real information provided to pax on when they would be departing again (I found out through myflights app on the iPhone)
- Check in at the Sheraton took a very very long time - I estimate 90miuns minimum...

Interesting

- PA announcement went like this "Biz and First pax - there are taxis waiting for you. Please pick up your bags at the carousel and go to the hotel" End of message - no mention of whY or Y+...
- There is a strike tomorrow in London of immigration staff


In around 150 flights over the past 3-4 years this is my first major incident of this kind. The only other incidents were:

- KA flight HKG-PEK returned to HKG after 1 hour as the gear wouldnt go back up
- QF flight ADL-SYD - inbound flight delayed due to storms so stuck in the QP for an extra 2 hours
- QF flight MEL-SYD - cancelled due to mech issues

Overall I think I have been pretty lucky...

 

[markis10]

Sorry to hear what happened but at least we have accurate reporting from an AFF'er rather than what we will read in no-news tommorrow, should be interesting to hear what happens tonight for you and how things are recovered. Surprised the Sheraton took so long but I imagine it was early morning, not a good night to be the night manager!

 

[anat0l]

I had to read this twice because I thought you meant a deicing machine went faulty in SIN, after which I would have started a rant about how we'll be in our cold dead graves before a deicing machine is actually needed at SIN!


Really silly how they couldn't get the part, but I'm imagining QF didn't put much effort into ensuring an adequate secondary A380 hub for its craft at SIN, although it begs to reason why they couldn't go begging SQ (who have a number of A380s hubbed at SIN, naturally) to see if they could help identify and locate a part (albeit possibly with some extortion involved).


Given the flight was to an EU nation, I suppose all those provisions that were made were done in accordance with the EU rules (QF is not a EU carrier but they were due to fly to the EU, so should be covered, plus maintenance rarely qualifies as exceptional circumstances). As for not much love given to the Y/Y+ pax, well, what else is new?


And a strike of immigration staff in London? Talk about an effective way to hold the nation at ransom.

 

[simongr]

I had joked about compensation with the guys earlier but I forgot about the EU compensation thing. Is there an easy link to the amount of compensation for a 24 hour delay?

 

[737]

Interesting

- PA announcement went like this "Biz and First pax - there are taxis waiting for you. Please pick up your bags at the carousel and go to the hotel" End of message - no mention of whY or Y+...

Don't quote me on it, but as far as I am aware, crew on board the A380 have the ability to make a PA to different zones. So a PA could have been made to P/J and not W/Y, which could be a reason for not hearing information regarding those passengers. Probably a good decision depending on what was offered to them in comparison to you.

 

[markis10]

This seem to have some info:​

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/flight-delays

Not sure how up to date it is!

 

[anat0l]

I had joked about compensation with the guys earlier but I forgot about the EU compensation thing. Is there an easy link to the amount of compensation for a 24 hour delay?

This Wikipedia article gives you a quick run down:

Regulation 261/2004 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

As it states, if your delay forces you on a flight scheduled for the next day, you need to be accommodated. No idea what the quality of this accommodation is, but transfers and necessary meals need to be borne at no cost to you.

Full links to the regs verbatim are also in the article.

 

[Dave Noble]

Whether there is entitlement to cash compensation will depend on whether it would be classed as a technical/extraordinary situation with the deicing equipment ceasing to function and a replacement not being available

Dave

 

[oz_mark]

AInteresting

- PA announcement went like this "Biz and First pax - there are taxis waiting for you. Please pick up your bags at the carousel and go to the hotel" End of message - no mention of whY or Y+...

One thing I learnt on my A380 flight is that they can make PA announcements to the business class section that are not broadcast in the economy section. Although as I was in the front of economy I could just make out what was being said....

 

[Mal]

Good to know you were treated well (albeit with some poor handling). Perhaps you'll also get a nice surprise in the mail from Qantas at some stage in the future...

That plane was pretty full, so it would be a lot of work to accommodate people.

Hopefully your flight late today will be on time and you don't have any further "A3latey" issues.

 

[samh004]

I have my first A380 flight in June, in Y, so I really hope this issue doesn’t pop up again then… though from what I’ve heard…

Good to hear you were well looked after.

 

[superchris]

In 2004, I was in SIN on a MEL bound 747 and we had 3 attempted takeoffs before giving in after midnight.
All F and J passengers were sent to the Sheraton while Y passengers were sent to a budget hotel 4 per room according to the announcement!
I got free breakfast and phone calls and was called by CS early in the morning and given 2 options as a QF J passenger : J on Emirates during the day or F on BA in the evening.
I was keen to get back to MEL so I took the earlier option which remains my only Emirates trip (everyone I mention this to says I should have taken the evening flight!)

 

[samh004]

In 2004, I was in SIN on a MEL bound 747 and we had 3 attempted takeoffs before giving in after midnight.
All F and J passengers were sent to the Sheraton while Y passengers were sent to a budget hotel 4 per room according to the announcement!
I got free breakfast and phone calls and was called by CS early in the morning and given 2 options as a QF J passenger : J on Emirates during the day or F on BA in the evening.
I was keen to get back to MEL so I took the earlier option which remains my only Emirates trip (everyone I mention this to says I should have taken the evening flight!)

I’d be surprised if I was only given a room with other pax as a passenger in Y. Many years ago I was flying back on CX, can’t recall from where, and we diverted to BKK as a typhoon was currently occupying HKG. We were given our own room before taken back to the airport.

 

[docjames]

I was keen to get back to MEL so I took the earlier option which remains my only Emirates trip (everyone I mention this to says I should have taken the evening flight!)

Haha, I agree - should have taken the evening flight in F!!

Out of curiosity, did you get the SCs/points for the emirates leg?


My father's just arrived in LHR on the 380 - no breakdowns......
(that's not really news though. ).

Does anyone have any idea of the cancellation / delay rate on the 380 comapred to:
- current 744 fleet
- the 744 at entry to operation?

 

[mannej]

I'd be surprised (and pretty annoyed) if I had to bunk up with other Y pax if I didn't know them.

For my one major delay, both J and Y Pax were accommodated at the Intercontinental so that wasn't too bad...

 

[Batesy]

My one major delay was also at SIN
QF32 747-400 lands in SIN from LHR. Decides it wants to fly no further. I am in Y and have already done the leg from London so shattered already.
After 5 hours in the QC the flight is cancelled. All pax sent to the Mandarin oriental, very nice and no room sharing.
Meals paid for etc. It was shift change at the hotel when we arrived so they had everyone checked in straight away as they used both shifts.

Next day put in J on the next QF32. My plane from the previous day is still on the tarmac when we depart. First J experience was of course great.

 

[moa999]

I assume it all depends.
For a tech issue - probably airlines can find rooms for 200+ pax.

For a weather issue - good luck

 

[Must...Fly!]

I assume it all depends.
For a tech issue - probably airlines can find rooms for 200+ pax.

For a weather issue - good luck

Not to mention other issues like what is on in the city at that time..

eg Grand Prix time, have fun finding available rooms!

 

[milehighclub]

Really silly how they couldn't get the part, but I'm imagining QF didn't put much effort into ensuring an adequate secondary A380 hub for its craft at SIN, although it begs to reason why they couldn't go begging SQ (who have a number of A380s hubbed at SIN, naturally) to see if they could help identify and locate a part (albeit possibly with some extortion involved).
.

They probably did ask SQ for the part - from my pervious experience from a technical delay also requiring a new part, they asked SQ for it and they laid out the conditions of borrowing the part.

The conditions were almost impossible to fulfill - and I don't blame them - delay the QF flight more and annoy 450 passengers who could potentially end up not wanting to fly Qantas again and may end up at SQ!

Airlines share information about safety incidents and the like but when it comes to sharing parts... different story!

 

[serfty]

I had joked about compensation with the guys earlier but I forgot about the EU compensation thing. Is there an easy link to the amount of compensation for a 24 hour delay?

EU reg. 261/2004 would not apply in this case.

It applies for all flights either departing from a EU port or operated by an EU registered carrier. Neither SIN, nor QF fall under those parameters.