Is Qantas for real?

[fletty]

[Slightly off-topic]
Assuming the last column is the cancellation rate (%), what sticks out is the contrast between Rex and Virgin. Given both companies fly in the same conditions - weather, ATC, gate availability, etc - how is that Rex can keep their fleet going much better than Virgin? It's not about the age of the aircraft, either, because Rex runs an old fleet. I haven't checked but I guess that both airlines try to minimise the turnaround times as well, yet one manages to keep the flights going better than the other.
[/Slightly off-topic]

I suppose a deeper look into the statistics would be needed. My gut says that for e.g. VA operate about 4x as many flights as Rex for MEL>SYD on a given day, which could mean they have a higher number of flights in windows of bad weather (storms in the afternoon/evening) and have more capacity to cancel a flight and move passengers rather than just taking the delay.
Just a guess though! Agree it'd be interesting to see a detailed breakdown.

 

[Harrison_133]

[Slightly off-topic]
Assuming the last column is the cancellation rate (%), what sticks out is the contrast between Rex and Virgin.

Rex typically schedule longer turn arounds in Melbourne and Sydney for their 737 fleet compared to Virgin (and JQ/QF for that matter). They also have a lot more slack in their jet schedule, so they can mitigate cancellations more easily. Also, when Airservices issue the daily ATFM plan and flow rates are reduced, Qantas and Virgin are always going to be impacted more by virtue of the volume of flights they operate compared to Rex. The crewing issues at Virgin would also have influenced those figures.

Sort of on topic, sort of not … Rex often boast about having the best OTP of all the carriers, but the data doesn’t break down the performance of the 737 and Saab operations. In December, the Saab fleet did some heavy lifting to put Rex on top.

Because the monthly data breaks down performance of each route, it’s easy to calculate OTP for the 737 fleet. Using the most recent data, Rex had (roughly) a 61.0% on time arrivals rate, and 62.9% on time departures rate for their 737 operation in December. One caveat: that doesn’t include ADL-BNE/BNE-ADL because Rex wasn’t included in those individual route break downs. Compare that to Qantas mainline with 67.8% for arrivals and 70.2% for departures in December.

For cancellations, Rex clearly has the lowest rate, but their claims of having the best OTP is classic Rex spin. Rex like to compare their domestic jet product with Qantas mainline, so if we apply that comparison to OTP, using the most recent data Rex did not have the best OTP for mainline operations.

I have gone slightly off topic, but to relate back to the topic (and to answer your question about VA vs ZL @tdimdad), I think the OP has genuinely been unlucky. Their frustrations are very valid (I’d be frustrated too), but if we look closely at the data, the QF cancellation rate has held steady over 2023 and there isn't anything to suggest an uptick in cancellations. We'll have to wait for the January 2024 data to see if anything has changed.

 

[aikman]

Sorry to go off topic but as someone who thinks that all the Jetstar hate on AFF is unwarranted, I find it amusing that when QF cancels flights this community is quite forgiving and the response is that you are just unlucky. If these had been Jetstar flights the response of course would have been never fly Jetstar again, you get what you pay for. The bias is real.

 

[jotalira]

I feel completely the opposite. I've been flying weekly to Melbourne since early last year. This year I only had one flight delayed 30 min, everything else was on time and no flights were cancelled.

Last year, I had many flights cancelled or delayed in the evening.

 

[RooFlyer]

Maybe they should sell flight windows - flights departing within a 3 hour bracket, and you agree to go on whatever flight they stick you on.
Gosh, I hope they're not reading, I think I've just invented a new class of ticket!

Qantas is way in front of you. No tickets - just a 'bundle of rights' - and the window is a lot bigger than just 3 hours!!

 

[p--and--t]

Last week flew SYD-BNE return, this week SYD-MEL return.
Of the four flights, three were cancelled.
Is it just me or is there an extraordinarily high number of flights being cancelled?
Sometimes this has happened with only a few hours notice, meaning a mad scramble to get to a new flight.
Oh, and same thing happened last year, so in the last 6 domestic flights flown on QF, 4 have been cancelled.
What is going on? Why am I feeling like an inconvenience to Qantas?

If QF infuriates you try Bonza or Virgin (see actual industry stats)

 

[CaptJCool]

Linda Reynolds announces retirement – as it happened

This blog is now closed

www.theguardian.com

two AirServices people are absent from work and a two/thirds (13 per hour instead of 40) of the flights get cancelled
this from Monday last (which appears to co-incide with the beef mentioned in this threaad

 

[jpp42]

I've been seeing the flow forward come up via the app a lot lately, I kind of wish it'd become a feature either via status (which currently doesn't exist excluding P1 on a flex fare) or via the fare itself

I've never booked a fully flexible fare, but are you saying the app doesn't allow you to rebook those using a similar interface to the flow forward?

As far as flow forward for non-flexible fares, revenue management and operations staff must be continually at odds with each other about this. I would guess it's really important that flow forward availability is unpredictable, thus preserving the value of a flexible fare. If status holders were allowed carte-blanche flow-forward on days when it's not operationally important to QF, why would anyone buy a flexible fare ever? I would think this could only be granted to the absolute biggest spenders, and probably not connected to status unless QF changes to a revenue-based status system like the US majors now all have.

 

[henrus]

I've never booked a fully flexible fare, but are you saying the app doesn't allow you to rebook those using a similar interface to the flow forward?

Nope fully flexible fares whilst attracting no change are subject to fare difference, this means you could still be up for a lot to change.

As far as flow forward for non-flexible fares, revenue management and operations staff must be continually at odds with each other about this.

Oh 100% but at the same time a seat that is freed up on a later flight is one that can be sold for a high price last minute - particularity on the golden triangle.

That being said Jetstar offers free same of day changes between flights on the same route assuming a flex fare is booked, this is something that the full service parent doesn't offer which is surprising.

 

[maroonone]

Just had a look and saw flight departed at 1705 - 35 mins late and landed 26 mins late.

 

[fr.stephen]

Well, I made it back to SYD. Off to PER in 4 weeks, so hopefully that will go smoothly.

 

[wannabeinvestmentbanker]

Unlucky…I wouldn’t take it personally. Maybe buy a lotto ticket in a few weeks when your luck turns

I do one of these routes weekly and can’t recall a cancelled flight tbh…usually a few mins early…touchwood that continues

 

[clifford]

I guess I might have just been "lucky", as I've never had a cancellation with QF or VA (at least not one that was not telegraphed many days ahead).

And those cancellations (that were notified well ahead of time) were actually beneficial, as I was able to select slightly more convenient flights.

 

[The Flying Schwartz]

For what it’s worth, here’s how the last two days have gone for us with QF. The backstory is that my partner was flying back from the US via AKL (due to reward availability), her flight arrived into SYD too late for the last flight home to PQQ so I thought I’d meet her in Sydney, spend the night and fly home together

1. My 16:35 QLink flight PQQ-SYD was cancelled with about five hours notice- got on the phone straight away, they wanted to book me on the 6am flight but convinced them to put me on the 15:30 instead

2. Before I took off, my partner’s QF flight AKL-SYD was delayed two hours, not too much of a drama as she had lounge access

3. While I was in the air, her flight was cancelled and they were rebooked onto a 6am flight. Qantas provided a hotel and meal voucher.

4. This morning, the aircraft developed an electrical issue after takeoff and they turned back to AKL

At last contact, pax were onboard while they attempted to fix the issue.

This is my first bad run with QF in a while, maybe just unlucky too

 

[JohnK]

It's just you. Please notify us all of any flights you have planned.

It's not just @fr.stephen with this sort of luck.

I commuted almost weekly between 2008-2017 and then regularly until 2019. Covid saved a little of what was left of my sanity. My on time was well below 50%. Had quite a few cancellations as well and this continues now that I'm taking daughter to SYD every 6-8 weeks.

From memory one time my original flight was delayed, then cancelled, then moved to new flight, this flight delayed, then cancelled, then moved to another flight and this also delayed. One thing I used to stand firm and this continues is I refuse to sit in middle seat. I've been moved to flights that had only middle seats. Luckily with SYD-BNE lots of choices. I move to a flight with an aisle seat.

Now taking daughter to SYD or travelling with wife/daughter when we go overseas. March 2023 VA cancels last flight of night BNE-SYD then a few days later Scoot delays flight SYD-SIN from 10:00pm to 5:00pm the next day. The simulation does not treat everyone the same.

 

[HSB44]

It sounds like the Sydney air traffic controller shortages were a massive issue. Good to see the CEO get a grilling - it's easy to blame generous sick leave policies, but it sounds like they've mismanaged the workforce profile

 

[CaptJCool]

It sounds like the Sydney air traffic controller shortages were a massive issue. Good to see the CEO get a grilling - it's easy to blame generous sick leave policies, but it sounds like they've mismanaged the workforce profile

It’s a govt agency

The fact 2 key personnel apparently can put a spammer in the works seems so 2024
(Spanner)

If you’re sick you’re sick
Doesn’t matter how generous is the leave policy (unless they’re insinuating something else is going on)

However in a frontline service sector one would have thought the workforce planning might have contemplated these kind of situations and addressed the risk of them happening.

PS Apparently not
I suggest the capped public service salaries are part of the problem in attracting and retention of sufficient staff aside the harassment challenges. You ain’t going be a millionaire working for the Govt

 

[sww199]

Related topic. I am soon to fly QF79 MEL-NRT (9.35am departure ex-MEL). Have been following it on FR the last few days:

• 11/2: Did not depart until 12:34pm (3 hours late)
• 12/2: Did not depart until 1:47pm (over 4 hours late)
• 13/2: Has not departed, QF website says estimated 12.05pm departure (2.5 hours late)

It is no secret that the QF fleet is stretched, particularly the A330s, but three straight days of (what I consider to be) significant delays - seriously?

 

[Jean Prouvaire]

it's easy to blame generous sick leave policies, but it sounds like they've mismanaged the workforce profile

On the topic of sick leave, I assumed that the reason air traffic controllers have unlimited sick leave is because it's not the sort of job you want someone who's feeling unwell turning up just because they've run out of their allotment. (A certain episode of Breaking Bad comes to mind...)

 

[aikman]

Related topic. I am soon to fly QF79 MEL-NRT (9.35am departure ex-MEL). Have been following it on FR the last few days:

• 11/2: Did not depart until 12:34pm (3 hours late)
• 12/2: Did not depart until 1:47pm (over 4 hours late)
• 13/2: Has not departed, QF website says estimated 12.05pm departure (2.5 hours late)

It is no secret that the QF fleet is stretched, particularly the A330s, but three straight days of (what I consider to be) significant delays - seriously?

Nothing more than a bunch of unlucky people.