Jetstar Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

JQ736, the 1720 hours Sunday 29 November arrival in MEL arrived at 1756. However its continuation, JQ566 to BNE, the 1800 hours departure has been delayed until a forecast 1904 in being off blocks.

Whether due to a revised (later) ATC-mandated slot time in BNE, the same for its MEL departure, crew unavailability or some other cause, 'losing' an extra 28 minutes in the turnaround when you're already 36 minutes late arriving is not a good look.

The new Melbourne T4 terminal does not seem to be working overly well (bearing in mind it is November - fewer slow boarding young children than during the Christmas lead up and school holidays) although in fairness some delays may be due to other factors.

The severe storms in BNE and around OOL have resulted in many aircraft in a holding pattern at 1800 on Sunday 29 November 2015 with JQ889, the 1635 from MKY that took off late at 1718 further delayed and - touch wood - perhaps arriving at 1845, 45 minutes late although FR24 is yet to provide a definitive touchdown time.

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

JQ827 the 19:40 service on 29 November from Brisbane to Sydney has been cancelled. Likely related to the previous post.

 

[Mattg]

JQ827 the 19:40 service on 29 November from Brisbane to Sydney has been cancelled. Likely related to the previous post.

I was on this flight last week. They seemed to be rushing to get the flight out in time to make the SYD curfew. With the horrible weather we had in BNE this afternoon no doubt delaying the inbound aircraft, these two factors combined have likely caused the flight's cancellation.

 

[Melburnian1]

Northbound from SYD to BNE on Sunday 29 November, both JQ818 (the 1810 hours departure) and JQ820 (the 1840 hours flight) were cancelled due to the BNE and OOL storms while JQ824, the 2025 hours departure, is showing as departing at 2235 (in 20 minutes' time.)

Being a Sunday night one would expect high load factors so the question that hardly any AFFers ever answer (since not many travel on JQ) is 'what happens to 300 plus travellers from these two flights?' especially given that it would be unlikely for QF to have the spare seats to accommodate them (and neother would VA, even if QF deigned to place its passengers with the opposition.)

Is it 'tough luck, we may rebook you for tomorrow if there are spare seats' or are hotels found for overnight, or miraculously spare seats on QF or other carriers tonight?

Feedback would be very welcome as there is a dearth of information about JQ's current practices.

AT 2259 tonight, one minute before curfew, JQ824 took off from SYD for BNE. VH-VQZ is the aircraft with arrival expected two and a quarter hours late at 2310 hours (0010 Sydney time.)

 

[Melburnian1]

On Monday 30 November 2015, JQ503, the 0700 from SYD to MEL did not depart until 0759 with arrival revised to 0924 instead of 0835.

JQ continues to have the worst punctuality record between SYD and MEL. Flights are often late while cancellations are relatively high.

JQ977. the 0825 hours from PER to MEL has been cancelled, as was JQ972, the 0630 MEL to PER and JQ976, the 1600 hours MEL to PER. JQ961, the after midnight 0020 hours arrival in MEL from PER has also 'got the gong' for Tuesday morning, 1 December.

How will all these passengers be accommodated on QF flights if there are not 300 spare seats in each direction today?

VA7981 is operating from NTL to SYD this morning, a very short hop for VH-VFH, an A320. It is to land at about 0840. Is this a positioning flight due to Sunday evening's BNE and OOL storms?

UPDATE: As at 1745, only three of the first eight northbound MEL to SYD JQ flights today have arrived within 15 minutes of the timetabled 85 minutes gate-to-gate journeys. Poor, but fairly typical.

 

[Melburnian1]

JQ976, the 1600 hours from MEL to PER was cancelled today (Thursday 3 December.) JQ cancels transcontinental flights quite a bit. I wouldn't rely on it to get you there on the day booked, although there is no such requirement for it (or many other airlines) to do that in the contract passengers explicitly sign with many airlines including JQ.

JQ961, the 0020 just after midnight arrival in MEL ex PER is also cancelled (Friday 4 December arrival.)

There are also a number of delays ex MEL today. JQ574, the 1320 hours to BNE did not take off until 1647 this afternoon, three hours late. JQ778, the 1825 hours to ADL has been delayed until 2020, which was five minutes ago. The 1910 hours to MCY, JQ794 will be hot on its heels with a projected 'off blocks' at 2030. JQ715, the last of the evening to HBA is expected to be delayed for 70 minutes in departing at 2055 hours.

On Friday 4 December, JQ972, the 0640 early morning flight to PER is also cancelled. Perhaps insufficient bookings is a possible reason with passengers being found spare seats on QF flights?

UPDATE: JQ976, the 1600 hours from MEL to PER has also been cancelled.

Does JQ have an aircraft out of service, or are low bookings or s crew shortage the reason?

 

[Melburnian1]

JQ519, the 1755 hours MEL arrival from SYD on Friday 4 December arrived 76 minutes late at 1911 tonight while JQ439 from OOL was 48 minutes late at 1853.

In turn this is delaying JQ778 from MEL to ADL for an expected 80 minutes until 1945 hours while JQ520 to SYD is forecast to depart 45 minutes behind time at 1930.

JQ961, the 0020 hours arrival in MEL from PER on Saturday 5 is cancelled as is Saturday's JQ972, the 0640 hours MEL to PER. This is becoming a pattern!

 

[Melburnian1]

With what may have been fog in MEL (although not forecast) on Saturday 5 December 2015, JQ677 from DRW to MEL appears to have diverted to ADL as has JQ981 from PER to MEL, the latter eventually arriving MEL at 0916, 121 minutes late.

Extensive delays will be the case as many aircraft are in a holding pattern; one QF flight has diverted to CBR ex SYD, and MH149 has diverted to ADL.

JQ575, the 0610 from BNE to MEL announced it was diverting to AVV, but in the end proceeded to MEL and landed at about 0943. Aircraft is A320 VH-VQS which like a number of others has been in a holding pattern above Berrigan. NSW.

JQ430, the 0700 from MEL to OOL took off at 0922.

JQ677, the 0700 from ADL to MEL arrived at 1014, 103 minutes late.

JQ773, the 0750 hours from ADL to MEL did not take off until 0931 so is due in MEL at about 1110, 90 minutes late with A320 VH-VFK the aircraft. JQ510, the 1040 from MEL to SYD is expected to depart at 1300 this afternoon.

JQ&, the 1210 hours from MEL to SIN took off at 1326 and should arrive SIN at 1744, 54 minutes late with B788 VH-VKJ as the plane.

 

[Melburnian1]

JQ220, the 1440 from ZQN to MEL took off at 1606 and should be in MEL at 1730 instead of 1550. A320 VH-VGY is the plane.

 

[Melburnian1]

Once again, JQ972, the 0640 hours from MEL to PER (on this occasion for Monday 7 December) and JQ976, the 1600 hours departure on the same route, also westbound are cancelled. Without even looking I can pretty much assume that the return flights ex PER are also getting the 'order of the Royal boot.'

This is happening so often it suggests that a JQ plane is undergoing unplanned maintenance. A less likely occurrence is that the bookings are considered insufficient and hence passengers are being transferred to QF flights.

 

[Awesom Andy]

passengers are being transferred to QF flights.

Are pax really being transferred to QF flights or is this an assumption? Although I guess there aren't that many ways somebody can go to the other side of the country.

 

[sinophile888]

Once again, JQ972, the 0640 hours from MEL to PER (on this occasion for Monday 7 December) and JQ976, the 1600 hours departure on the same route, also westbound are cancelled. Without even looking I can pretty much assume that the return flights ex PER are also getting the 'order of the Royal boot.'

This is happening so often it suggests that a JQ plane is undergoing unplanned maintenance. A less likely occurrence is that the bookings are considered insufficient and hence passengers are being transferred to QF flights.

How can passengers confidently book on any JQ PER -> MEL or vv flights? Is everyone being accommodated on QF flights?

PS Good work, Melburnian1.

 

[Melburnian1]

sinophile, that is exactly the question I too would like to ask.

These JQ MEL - PER - MEL flights seem to be cancelled within seven days of departure, because otherwise they would have been deleted from the timetabled flights disclosed on both the airline and airport websites.

Unfortunately AFF seems to lack the JQ equivalent of moa999 who does such sterling work in keeping everyone informed about the progress of the QF A332/A333 refurbishments.

While I have only read its first page, JetStar News | does not offer any clue such as an aircraft being in unplanned maintenance.

I totally agree that anyone booking for a trip from MEL to PER or return at present ought to choose one of the three other mainline carriers rather than JQ.

It would be great to hear from any AFFers who had booked on any of these transcontinental flights so that we know what their experience was. Maybe Perth based members such as mannej could fill us in.

JQ404 (VH-VEY) on Monday 7 December did not depart SYD until 1031 nor take off until 1100 despite its timetabled departure being 0955, so it will arrive OOL at 1059 in lieu of 1015, delaying the return ZJZQ407 until 1130 in its departure and meaning a SYD arrival at 1400, also 45 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

How can passengers confidently book on any JQ PER -> MEL or vv flights? Is everyone being accommodated on QF flights?

sinophile88, I know that you will believe that I am making this up, but JQ972 (the 0640 hours MEL to PER) is again cancelled on Tuesday 8 December as is JQ976, the 1600 hours departure on the same route.

The 0020 super early morning (or 'late night' may be a better description) JQ961 arrival on Tuesday 8 will also be a no show, as will JQ977, the 1500 arrival in MEL ex PER on Tuesday.

Clearly we need a shortcut command such as 'Ctrl+x' to denote these continuing cancellations.

Presumably JQ accepted bookings for these flights and may not know from day to day (until the day before) if it can operate the flights - hence they have to appear as a 'cancelled flight' rather than JQ simply wiping them eight days or more in advance from its published timetable. These continuing cancellations between MEL and PER may give JQ one of the higher route cancellation rates ever to appear in the Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics airline operatioonal statistics when the December month figures are publicly released around late February 2016.

The answer to sinophile888's question must now be 'none of us can rely on JQ on this transcontinental route.' For how long this situation continues is the $64 million question.

 

[Melburnian1]

Are pax really being transferred to QF flights or is this an assumption? Although I guess there aren't that many ways somebody can go to the other side of the country.

This is my best guess Awesom Andy. Unfortunately not a single JQ traveller has commented about these arrangements. (I will pass on the JQ jokes).

Yes, the only direct ways one can travel to PER ex MEL are on QF, VA, TT or (sometimes) JQ, drive across the Nullabor, relax in an expensive cabin on an occasional cruise ship, bus it to ADL and then hitch (and perhaps catch 'The Prospector' train from Kalgoorlie, or perhaps most luxuriously (and expensively) of all travel on 'The Overland' and then the 'Indian Pacific' train, although neither operates as often as they once did.

 

[Awesom Andy]

Unfortunately not a single JQ traveller has commented about these arrangements. (I will pass on the JQ jokes).

I just tried to do a dummy booking on JQ, but it appears that I can't book anything MEL-PER until 16 Dec. Perhaps they've already dealt with it in their own way.

 

[Melburnian1]

JQ430 from MEL to OOL on Tuesday 8 December has been delayed from its usual 0700 to a forecast 0830 hours departure. The returning flight will also be late, and then, unless JQ cancels further flight(s), later departures during the day will also be adversely affected.

 

[Melburnian1]

JQ972, the 0640 MEL - PER is again cancelled tomorrow - Wednesday 9 December 2015 as is JQ978, the 1600 hours to PER and the two applicable JQ return flights eastbound.

JQ439 from OOL to MEL on Tuesday 8 is about to arrive at 1846, 41 minutes late, while northbound JQ916 from MEL to TSV has been delayed departing from 1700 hours to a forecast 1850. JQ478 to NTL is expected to be half an hour late in departing MEL tonight.

 

[Melburnian1]

JQ711 from MEL to HBA has been delayed from 1450 hours on Wednesday 9 December 2015 to an estimated 2030 departure, almost six hours behind time. JQ715 on the same southbound route later this evening will depart at 2045 hours rather than 1945.

Once again JQ972 and JQ976 (MEL to PER) tomorrow (Thursday 10 December) are cancelled, as are the two return JQ flights ex PER for MEL. Surely some AFFer is a rubber stamp manufacturer.

JQ665 frm AYQ to MEL this afternoon is expected in at 1735 not 1555: 100 minutes late.

 

[Awesom Andy]

Once again JQ972 and JQ976 (MEL to PER) tomorrow (Thursday 10 December) are cancelled, as are the two return JQ flights ex PER for MEL. Surely some AFFer is a rubber stamp manufacturer.

Probably easier if you post only when it's actually flying, rather than when it's cancelled.