Hamilton Island - flight still on tomorrow? [no - closed until June!]

[JB expat]

So I just called Qantas help desk (I am gold status) and they told me our direct flight to Hamilton island is still on for tomorrow morning - after I insisted that could not be true, the call centre person checked with a supervisor and confirmed it is still on. Seriously! I know they are in NZ but one just needs to turn on the news to know there is no way this flight is on. Anyone know what I should expect. I do not want to go to the airport tomorrow with 2 children- one of whom will be missing school - to be told to turn around.

 

[Hvr]

Re: Hamilton Island -qantas flight still on tomorrow?!

Given the situation in the region, wouldn't it be better to cancel and/or reschedule?

Travel updates | Qantas[h=2]Tropical Cyclone Debbie[/h] Tropical Cyclone Debbie is expected to continue moving towards the North Queensland coast and is forecasted to make landfall as a severe tropical cyclone between Townsville & Proserpine on the morning of Tuesday 28 March.

Options are available to Qantas customers holding a valid ticket issued on/before 27 March 2017 for travel to/from Hamilton Island, Townsville, Proserpine, Mackay or Moranbah who are affected by the cyclone on/after Monday 27 March 2017 and on/before Wednesday 29 March 2017.

Contact your local Qantas office.

 

[JB expat]

Re: Hamilton Island -qantas flight still on tomorrow?!

Given the situation in the region, wouldn't it be better to cancel and/or reschedule?

Absolutely but I need them to acknowledge the issue to have it covered under travel insurance. The person I spoke to had no clue. She said the flight was fine so she couldn't do anything. Frankly, she was pretty uninformed.

 

[oz_mark]

Re: Hamilton Island -qantas flight still on tomorrow?!

Absolutely but I need them to acknowledge the issue to have it covered under travel insurance. The person I spoke to had no clue. She said the flight was fine so she couldn't do anything. Frankly, she was pretty uninformed.

At this point, tomorrows services appear to be scheduled to operate.

 

[Robert K]

Re: Hamilton Island -qantas flight still on tomorrow?!

looking on flightstats.com, flights after 10am tomorrow are still scheduled.

 

[JB expat]

Re: Hamilton Island -qantas flight still on tomorrow?!

Yes. Flights seem to be going. Makes no sense to me based on what I've been told. Might be safe to fly tomorrow but island is a mess. I would think that SES and/or police and/or island management would close the island for 1-2 days for clean up and bringing food deliveries in. I cannot fathom how allowing guests onto the island helps. I see how safely getting guests off does help.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Re: Hamilton Island -qantas flight still on tomorrow?!

Looking at the Cyclone Track just now there would be no weather reason not to fly tomorrow.
http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDQ65002.shtml


Travel wise this is the risk one takes with bookings in the Cyclone Months.

 

[neil37]

Re: Hamilton Island -qantas flight still on tomorrow?!

I'm not sure what the problem is for QF here. Are you saying that if QF is flying you don't want to be on the flight? That's not QF's problem. Are you saying that QF should cancel the flight because you don't want to be on it? That's not realistic either. An "act of God" like a cyclone is not the airline's responsibility. You need to make a decision yourself and own it.

 

[Pushka]

Re: Hamilton Island -qantas flight still on tomorrow?!

I'm not sure what the problem is for QF here. Are you saying that if QF is flying you don't want to be on the flight? That's not QF's problem. Are you saying that QF should cancel the flight because you don't want to be on it? That's not realistic either. An "act of God" like a cyclone is not the airline's responsibility. You need to make a decision yourself and own it.

They are simply saying they find it hard to believe the flight is still on. Of course the weather will be rubbish but that isn't a Qantas problem.

 

[Vic]

Re: Hamilton Island -qantas flight still on tomorrow?!

I guess the quality of what you find when you arrive on Hamilton island is a problem for you and the resort. once they hit land Cyclones usually blow over pretty quickly.
I haven't followed in detail but do we know that Hamilton lost power. I would assume they have underground power or otherwise protected systems. In that case, I'ts not clear that they'd need to bring in more food or other restocking.

 

[PLANT]

Re: Hamilton Island -qantas flight still on tomorrow?!

It's a blow in.... Touch and go job

 

[JB expat]

Re: Hamilton Island -qantas flight still on tomorrow?!

Island is in lock down - as I thought. Qantas cancelled all flights indefinitely as of 5pm-ish. The entire island is not allowing new guests and do not know when they will as they haven't assessed. This all makes sense. Qantas has provided a full refund (not just a credit). We are now onto a last minute plan b. The island got hammered. I was not "bummed we might have bad weather" - the weather actually looks decent for Sat/Sun/Mon/Tues - it was that it would be unsafe, have no food and need to devote resources to clean up and repair and not laundering pool towels and waiting on guests. If anyone wants more info - check their facebook page. Now to deal with travel insurance on accommodation refund.

 

[Saab34]

Re: Hamilton Island -qantas flight still on tomorrow?!

The ATC Tower is severely damaged.

I understand the military are going to ferry everyone off.

 

[serfty]

Re: Hamilton Island -qantas flight still on tomorrow?!

I have read that Hamilton island will be basically closed through June due to damage to infrastructure.

 

[serfty]

Re: Hamilton Island -qantas flight still on tomorrow?!

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/...d/news-story/8e74668c4f7eea4bc0696f35286108f2

 

[JB expat]

Re: Hamilton Island -qantas flight still on tomorrow?!

Yes - island is a mess. It is very sad - sounds like no one was hurt though. We have totally rebooked going to Alexandra Headlands - we had very limited options at this late date given it is school holidays commencing next week (for VIC). I'm now learning all about travel insurance...tricky, tricky. At least Qantas refunded entire fare without question...I think we will be out some of our prepaid accommodation which irks me given that even if we could swim over, the accommodation is not habitable so I question whether they have the right to hold anything since they have nothing to offer and therefore fundamentally breached their part of the arrangement. Anyway - we are thankful that we weren't on the island when it happened as it sounds both frightening and now frustrating trying to get off.

 

[neil37]

Re: Hamilton Island -qantas flight still on tomorrow?!

If you paid accommodation by credit card and the accommodation cannot be provided you should get a refund if you contact the credit card provider.

 

[gwilli1]

Re: Hamilton Island -qantas flight still on tomorrow?!

Flights going into HTI tomorrow, Fri and Sat to clear those guests on the Islands. Possibly bringing in emergency crews to assist. No guests likely until June.

 

[Happy Dude]

Re: Hamilton Island -qantas flight still on tomorrow?!

Yes - island is a mess. It is very sad - sounds like no one was hurt though. We have totally rebooked going to Alexandra Headlands - we had very limited options at this late date given it is school holidays commencing next week (for VIC). I'm now learning all about travel insurance...tricky, tricky. At least Qantas refunded entire fare without question...I think we will be out some of our prepaid accommodation which irks me given that even if we could swim over, the accommodation is not habitable so I question whether they have the right to hold anything since they have nothing to offer and therefore fundamentally breached their part of the arrangement. Anyway - we are thankful that we weren't on the island when it happened as it sounds both frightening and now frustrating trying to get off.

Shame them on Facebook. Disgraceful.