Flight Delay - QF1 - Wed 15 Jan 25

[LDN via BNE]

My daughter and her friend are on that flight. She has already twice had to change her work clients, and now she has to tell them she can’t see them at all this week! She said the information from Qantas staff has been totally inadequate and no one has definitively said why the constant delays are happening. Furthermore she was reduced to tears by the attitude of one of the Qantas ‘customer service’ staff on the phone earlier. It is an extraordinary situation to be in with ZERO explanation.

It's such a shame it isn't on an EU or British airline, as they'd be entitled to 520GBP of compensation each (in addition to any expenses).

Have they received a hotel room at least?

 

[DC3]

Furthermore she was reduced to tears by the attitude of one of the Qantas ‘customer service’ staff on the phone earlier

Reduced to tears? That’s not good.

What was the attitude that resulted in this?

And welcome to AFF.

 

[Quickstatus]

you would think Qantas staff in Sydney would at least be aware of the onward delay from Singapore to London.

Reasonable assumption
Are Checkin agents employed by QF at the major airports?

 

[Quickstatus]

Welcome to AFF @London Mumma and @FFS. Hope you stay long time
I thought the new CEO said Qantas has turned the corner back in Oct 2024 at least with its greater customer focus

 

[wenglock.mok]

That would have gone over well at the airport. We had a member recently ask what to do with an early morning layover at Changi lasting 20 hours, we now have a plane load that could provide recent experiences.

So, at this point, it looks like tonight’s QF1 to LHR is going to leave before yesterday night’s QF1 (provided tonight’s QF1 doesn’t cop a delay)?

 

[markis10]

Todays QF1 could have relief crew on it as well.

 

[Scarlett]

I wonder if this is one of those lovely own goals where a company has done something to save themselves money but had a massive opposite effect.

If the assumption is that the SIN-LHR leg was originally delayed because the UK based cabin crew didn’t have sufficient crew rest in SIN following a late LHR-SIN sector the day before, I wonder if the follow on delays are because the Aus-based flight deck crew then had to have a full rest period in SIN? In which case the problem exists because QF employ UK-based cabin crew on a different contract, rather than just using Aus based cabin crew from the regular QF international contract. And my assumption is QF only do that (UK based cabin crew) because it costs them less than paying the QF international contract, probably with the side ‘benefit’ to QF that it takes a significant number of cabin crew out of the Aus union.

 

[LDN via BNE]

Is Qantas likely to offer any kind of compensation for this 31 hour and counting delay?

Even if only a few QFF points as gesture of goodwill?

 

[levelnine]

Is Qantas likely to offer any kind of compensation for this 31 hour and counting delay?

Even if only a few QFF points as gesture of goodwill?

lol

 

[LDN via BNE]

lol

Stranger things have happened.

In August 2023 we booked last minute points flights on Iberia which failed to ticket, so we had to buy ridiculously expensive cash fares at the airport.

We pursued the matter with Qantas for over 6 months (including escalating emails to CEO and GGC), and they eventually apologised and reimbursed us!

 

[Himeno]

Just no delays to QF2 ex LHR on the 29th please.

 

[milehighclub]

If the assumption is that the SIN-LHR leg was originally delayed because the UK based cabin crew didn’t have sufficient crew rest in SIN following a late LHR-SIN sector the day before, I wonder if the follow on delays are because the Aus-based flight deck crew then had to have a full rest period in SIN? In which case the problem exists because QF employ UK-based cabin crew on a different contract, rather than just using Aus based cabin crew from the regular QF international contract. And my assumption is QF only do that (UK based cabin crew) because it costs them less than paying the QF international contract, probably with the side ‘benefit’ to QF that it takes a significant number of cabin crew out of the Aus union.

This wouldn't be impacted by the flight crew, unless the QF1 the day before was delayed as the pilots do SYD-SIN-LHR-SIN-SYD, where as the UK crew do LHR-SIN-LHR. This would be, based on whats been said, because of an issue with the QF2 and the UK crew needing rest.

If QF didn't have a UK base, then the QF2 the next day would've been the flight delayed for rest, so there still would've been a delayed flight either way for rest requirements - the existence of a overseas base isn't the issue.

The benefit of these bases is certainly cost, but both the UK crew and NZ crew are all union as well.

 

[Forg]

Maybe the answer to all of this is that the QF plane drivers joined the same union as the Sydney train drivers?