Jetstar Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

Later on Tuesday 19 July 2016, JQ17 (1450 hours mid afternoon MEL - HKT) was airborne at 1558. Arrival should occur at about 2150, 65 minutes behind time with the aircraft VH-VKA, the usual B788.

 

[moa999]

I was actually on JQ17 SYD-MEL today and it actually shows how tight the schedules are.

VH-VKA operated JQ28 HKT-SYD inbound leaving HKT 45min late, but catching up time enroute and landing only 15min in SYD at 1020.
Thus looked like everything was on time.

I left the QF FL at 1125 (having still not had my Chicken Club sandwich ordered at 1101 when the part-lunch menu goes on delivered -- order got lost apparently, black mark to the FL) and the flight was still listed as on time.
Down to Gate 34 and they announced a short delay and boarding didn't commence until 1205 ... Interestingly a fairly full flight and I would say the vast majority were D Stickers (which surprised me).

We finally left about 40min late at 1230... The pilot blamed the delay on the predominately Thai crew who had to collect baggage and go through immigration (surely this needs to be timetabled on these routes). We had a good run into MEL and arrived at 1345 (again catching up 15min and only 25min late)

And then despite being late the aircraft spent 1hr45min on the ground in MEL, rather than the timetabled 1hr30min, to depart as mentioned 1hr10min late.

 

[Melburnian1]

The pilot blamed the delay on the predominately Thai crew who had to collect baggage and go through immigration (surely this needs to be timetabled on these routes).

moa999, great on the spot report.

If it is timetabled in SYD from 1005 to 1150, one could make a case that any need for immigration clearance due to a foreign cabin (not tech) crew IS built into the timetable.

Aircraft arrives at terminal gate 1005 - crew off the aircraft at say 1030 after all passengers have alighted - crew through immigration by 1050 if not earlier - bags already available on carousel - crew through customs 1100 with no searches by Immigration and Border Force staff - crew arrive at departure gate 1110 - board aircraft - boarding begins 1120 or if it must 1125 - aircraft doors closed 1150.

One might have to tweak these times a bit, but I hope that they are realistic. The ability to make up time between SYD and MEL as you noted also assists in keeping the flight on time.

While I appreciate that you state that the delay was announced once you arrived at the gate, it is disappointing that you had to abandon the lounge to queue. Surely you could have remained in the lounge for longer and then been advised of the sudden delay, and hence continued to eat your sandwich?

Do the cabin crew on these flights terminate and originate in MEL rather than SYD? That is, inbound crew work HKT - SYD - MEL then to a Tullamarine Airport hotel?

 

[moa999]

Would sure hope the cabin crew get a slip after that.

Agree that having such information relayed to the lounge would have enabled me to enjoy my lunch. The heirloom tomatoes and mozzarella were very nice.

 

[Melburnian1]

JQ7 on Wednesday 20 July (1115 MEL up to SIN, B788 VH-VKJ) took off at 1220 and should arrive at about 1747, 57 minutes late.

 

[Awesom Andy]

JQ7 on Wednesday 20 July (1115 MEL up to SIN, B788 VH-VKJ) took off at 1220 and should arrive at about 12747, 57 minutes late.

At least there's a much longer turnaround time in SIN, as JQ8 is scheduled for 2100.

 

[Melburnian1]

There are media reports of Wednesday 20 July's JQ27 from SYD to HKT having been diverted to Bali due to 'six rowdy passengers' on board being extremely disruptive. The passengers were offloaded at DPS, no doubt continuing to act as true bogans in the 'Boganville' that Bali is justifiably regarded as.

The flight landed in HKT at about 2315 last night, roughly two and a half hours late. The returning JQ28 looks to have departed coughet at about 0045 on Thursday 21 July for a predicted SYD arrival at about 1215, two hours and 10 minutes behind schedule.

Fortunately I have never been on a flight with extremely troublesome, inebriated passengers but some AFF members must have had what could be a very annoying experience, especially if one was unfortunate enough to be seated in the same part of the cabin as the drunks.

Just why these days with the increased focus on security anyone would misbehave like this on an Australian-domiciled airline is beyond me. To at least a small extent, Asian airlines may tolerate a bit of mild inebriation more.

 

[Melburnian1]

A 'Sydney Morning Herald' article of Thursday 21 July re the above Bali diversion suggests that there were five men arrested on Wednesday 20 July's JQ27, not six.

There were 314 passengers on the flight - with the planes having 335 seats, that means only 21 seats spare (which coincidentally is the number of seats in 'business class') but some of the 21 may be blocked off for crew rest if JQ practices this. Not being a patron of JQ medium haul, I do not know if it does.

 

[Quickstatus]

JQ27 on 20 July 2016 was diverted to DPS before setting off for HKT due to a "drunken altercation" on board. Several passengers handed over to DPS police.

Flight departed 30 minutes late from SYD and landed in HKT 3 hours late.

 

[Awesom Andy]

Dropped them off in Indonesia, out of all places. Certainly no favours from the crew.

 

[Quickstatus]

Dropped them off in Indonesia, out of all places. Certainly no favours from the crew.

I presume it was not deliberate but the timing was such that they were over Indonesian airspace when it happened.

Not only that but the Jetstar5 were handed over to police who will likely not do anything but send them back to OZ via another JQ plane.

Im glad JQ was created.

News of this in dailytelegraph.com.au but may be behind a paywall. The alleged offenders have their names and passport photos posted on the dailytelegraph, and maybe other sources as well.

Would the Jetstar5 be detained at DPS until their flight (separated) back to OZ probably on Thursday and Friday's JQ38 arriving on Friday,Saturday 22,23June.
I would imagine the media waiting for them at Syd arrivals.


Excerpts - Interesting JQ will send a security detail to escort them back to OZ.

 

[Melburnian1]

A major problem with JQ or other airlines, even if it or they wanted to, in proceeding to recover 'costs of a diversion' (in this case to DPS) is that many of these 'drunks' have no substantial material assets.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Friday 22 July it has been quite wet in the early morning in MEL.

The 0605 hours MEL - HBA, JQ701, departed at 0701 with arrival forecast as 0814, 54 minutes late. Later, the 1025 departure on the same route and direction (JQ707) has been deferred until a predicted 1110.

JQ472 (0615 MEL up to NTL) also left 61 minutes late: it should arrive at 0846 instead of 0745. In the opposite direction, JQ473 (A320 VH-VQZ), the 0620 departure took off at 0654 and should arrive at approximately 0843 in MEL, 43 minutes tardy as it has entered a Mt Buller (Vic.) hold.

JQ432, the 1000 MEL - OOL has been delayed until a forecast 1050. The 1015 MEL - SYD JQ508 has got the axe.

UPDATE: JQ432 did not take off until 1139 with VH-VWT, an A321.

JQ201 (0955 hours SYD across to AKL) took off at a very late 1144 so arrival will be about 89 minutes behind time at 1629. Aircraft is A320 VH-VGA.

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on 22 July, JQ708 (1210 HBA - MEL) was airborne at 1318 with arrival of A320 VH-VFP likely at 1435, 70 minutes delayed.

Lunchtime flight JQ766 from SYD across to ADL has a poor timekeeping record with Friday 22 being no exception: A320 VH-VGV is expected to arrive 31 minutes behind at 1456.

 

[jsd]

JQ714 the scheduled 2130 service from HBAMEL has been cancelled. The reason for the cancellation is unknown at this stage but JQ713 MELHBA did operate so my guess would be mechanical issues.

Passengers who are away from home are being accommodated in Hobart Hotels (I say as I sit here entering bookings for them at my desk).

 

[Melburnian1]

JQ714 the scheduled 2130 service from HBAMEL has been cancelled...Passengers who are away from home are being accommodated in Hobart Hotels (I say as I sit here entering bookings for them at my desk).

jsd, many thanks: great to have information from an hotel on-the-spot. This means an aircraft and crew out of position. However there are no JQ cancellations for Sunday morning ex MEL shown on the Melbourne Airport website yet.

Just as a matter of interest, do hotels in such circumstances typically give airlines a very large discount on the hotel 'rack rate' and also the applicable rate for that night that Joe or Jean Public would pay if they were a walk-in for a stay of one night?

What sort of typical room rate per night do you believe domestic airlines pay per room in Australian capital cities for these bulk bookings? Would there be nights even in HBA or LST where an airline with say 175 passengers and seven crew members suddenly stranded, 100 of whom were 'out of towners' requiring say 60 rooms (given that some passengers would be a couple or a family) would be unable to find that number of rooms vacant even if they did an extensive ring around of not just hotels but motels?

On Saturday 23 July, the 1820 hours arrival in MEL ex CNS, JQ948, arrived at about 2010.

On Sunday 24 July, the 0710 hours CNS - SYD, JQ953, has been cancelled.

Later, flagship flight JQ1, the 1610 MEL - HNL is expected to depart at around 1945. This will delay JQ2's return.

 

[Melburnian1]

B788 VH-VKG operating the 0800 hours 'tag flight' of JQ25 on Sunday 24 July took off from SYD at 0848. CNS arrival should be about 37 minutes late at 1132.

JQ7, the 1115 MEL to SIN is another JQ flight that is often late. Today's took off at 1203; arrival should be 53 late at 1743.

 

[jsd]

jsd, many thanks: great to have information from an hotel on-the-spot. This means an aircraft and crew out of position. However there are no JQ cancellations for Sunday morning ex MEL shown on the Melbourne Airport website yet.

VH-VWW ferried back to MEL empty as JQ7992 last night arriving at 22:53 which makes the reason for the cancellation a little more unknown.

Just as a matter of interest, do hotels in such circumstances typically give airlines a very large discount on the hotel 'rack rate' and also the applicable rate for that night that Joe or Jean Public would pay if they were a walk-in for a stay of one night?

The sourcing and contracted rates for QF/JQ is handled by Travelliance who typically negotiate a set rate for all room types with the Hotel. Without giving too much away our rate is closer to our lowest 'Best Available Rate'

What sort of typical room rate per night do you believe domestic airlines pay per room in Australian capital cities for these bulk bookings? Would there be nights even in HBA or LST where an airline with say 175 passengers and seven crew members suddenly stranded, 100 of whom were 'out of towners' requiring say 60 rooms (given that some passengers would be a couple or a family) would be unable to find that number of rooms vacant even if they did an extensive ring around of not just hotels but motels?

Travelliance quiz hotels on the number of available rooms twice per day (in HBA at least) by email, so my guess is that when an airline requests rooms they already have a pretty good idea of where passengers are going to end up, I believe there is also a scale system which determines which Hotel is most suitable for a delay where the number of available rooms in the city exceeds the number of stranded pax to be accommodated based on things like the number of total available rooms, the amenities of the hotel (24hr reception etc), dining facilities and if the hotel has co-operated in the past.

 

[Melburnian1]

Thank you jsd: a most information, illuminating and interesting reply.

The Sunday 24 July JQ521 (1725 SYD down to MEL, A321 VH-VWW) took off at 1827 and is arriving at about 1955 hours, 55 minutes behind schedule.

A later flight, JQ523 (1830 SYD - MEL) took off at 1930 and so should arrive at 2045, 40 minutes tardy with A321 VH-VWT.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Monday 25 July 2016, JQ500, the 0545 hours MEL to SYD has been cancelled. I have not noted this timing before: the last time there was an early morning departure (prior to 0600 hours) from MEL up to SYD was an attempt by AN in the late 1990s to operate an 0530 hours departure: it did not last and from memory was cancelled prior to AN's demise as an airline.

JQ507, the 0825 hours SYD - MEL was airborne at 0904. A321 Vh-VWZ should arrive at about 1032, 31 minutes behind time.