Offered an earlier flight on an "E" class airfare

[JohnK]

I had a suspicion that I would be offered an earlier flight today but still did not get to the airport too early. Bloody idiot!

Anyway got to the airport around 5:45pm for 7:15pm flight and I was asked at check-in if I wanted earlier flight. I was on QF557 and the only alternative was QF555. Guess what? Both aircraft are scheduled as delayed. What is the point so I stick with original flight with 23D on 767-336.

Go to Qantas Business Lounge and they are paging anyone on QF557 to visit the desk. I am told that they have a technical issue and QF557 will not be operating so they are moving everyone onto QF555. I get given a boarding pass for 26A on 767-338 and asked for aisle seat and managed to get 26B with seq #238. Very good considering the late change.

Now the aircraft operating QF555 is meant to be running late and is due to take off around the same time as my original flight. Has there really been an issue or has Qantas merged 2 lightly loaded flights? Any chance of looking at details serfty?

Not a good start to my "holiday". Hope I do not have these issues on the weekend otherwise I am stuffed....

 

[serfty]

No chance of lightly loaded flights this afternoon.

(My first ever op-up was on Christmas eve SYD-MEL)

557 showing the following:

JC DC IC YC BC HC KC MC LC VC SC NC QC OC XC EC

555 is showing:

JR DR IR YR BR HR KR MR LR VR SR NR QR OR XR ER

559 is showing:

J9 D9 I0 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9 OC X9 E0

 

[JohnK]

I guess the "C" means cancelled. What does the "R" mean? The airport and lounges are almost empty. Personally I feel that they merged QF557 and QF555. Is it bad being a sceptic?

By the way QF555 looks like leaving at least 10 minutes after the scheduled QF557 service. :shock: So much for being put on an earlier flight.

 

[serfty]

Qantas.com flight status is showing for 555:

Flight No.  From      To      Sch Dep.  Act.Dep.  Sch.Arr.  Act.Arr    Status
QF555       Brisbane  Sydney    18:45     19:25     21:20    22:00     Estimated

So running an hour late.

557 is showing:

Flight No.  From      To      Sch Dep.  Act.Dep.  Sch.Arr.  Act.Arr    Status
QF557       Brisbane  Sydney   19:15     20:10     21:50     22:45     Estimated

So at 7pm 555 is due to depart in 25 minutes (should have commenced boarding) and 557 is due to depart on 70 minutes.

 

[serfty]

C means "Closed", R means "This class might be available on request, refer to carrier"

 

[JohnK]

Thanks serfty. Can you check if QF557 has indeed been cancelled?

QF555 does not even look like boarding anytime soon. :shock:

 

[serfty]

NO flights have been cancelled between BNE and SYD this evening.

What you have come across is some white lies to move PAX around on a busy day.

Back to my first ever op up.

I had joined QP since I was going to be commuting between MEL and SYD weekly for a month. I had dome the sums and it seemed worth it.

This upgrade was on my 8th trip of that year, all fares were B class.

 

[serfty]

Thanks serfty. Can you check if QF557 has indeed been cancelled?

QF555 does not even look like boarding anytime soon. :shock:

Go to the gate, you may see something surprising.

557 is a ZX, so 26B is a bulkhead.

 

[JohnK]

QF557 was originally supposed to be a 767-336 with mini cabin and QF555 was supposed to be 767-338 domestic (with 23F).

QF559 was called for boarding ~10 minutes ago and then I hear my name paged with a few others. They have a new boarding pass for me and it now says "3E". :shock:

They have just called QF555 so off I go....

 

[serfty]

Sweet! Enjoy! (And merry christmas to you )

 

[Bundy Bear]

Nice on the upgrade; seems like there were shuffling people between flights.

And I don't think Qantas are out to get you; I hope you had a good flight.

 

[JohnK]

Yes it was finally good to get out BNE. Not that I do not like BNE but I do have an award booking out of SYD Boxing Day and a barbeque at home tomorrow.

And I don't think Qantas are out to get you; I hope you had a good flight.

Yes flight was good in "3E" even though we took off 60 minutes late, 30 minutes after my original flight and arrived 20 minutes after my original flight. And then i had to walk to the Stamford after waiting for ~30 minutes at T3 arrivals as the traffic to the terminals was chaotic.

No one is out to get me. It must just be my imagination. By the way according to Flighstats QF557 did take off, albeit ~60 minutes late, and did land in SYD. I still think that QF was consolidating flights and crew.

It has been a long year. Looking forward to the status runs on CX in a few days. Merry Christmas to all and thanks for your help and support serfty....

 

[aus_flyer]

I think the title of this thread should be:

"Op up on an "E" class airfare"

That's the most amazing part!

 

[JohnK]

I think the title of this thread should be:

"Op up on an "E" class airfare"

That's the most amazing part!

Absolutely right. Still can't believe it. It started off badly and ended up quite good in the end.

Although looking at some of the business class passengers QF would have been struggling to find status flyers to op-up in the end. The young lady next to me was gorgeous but she had no idea where the tray table was located. She was looking for it in the seat pocket in front. Who am I to talk anyway as I am still not comfortable operating skybeds after so many op-ups. :shock:

Domestic op-up #7 (#8 if you count dad) for the year and I only purchase "E', "O" and very rare "N" class airfares. Shouldn't complain really but I am glad I do not have any more domestic flights this year. Bring on the CX status runs....

 

[Sprucegoose]

NO flights have been cancelled between BNE and SYD this evening.

What you have come across is some white lies to move PAX around on a busy day.

Back to my first ever op up.

I had joined QP since I was going to be commuting between MEL and SYD weekly for a month. I had dome the sums and it seemed worth it.

This upgrade was on my 8th trip of that year, all fares were B class.

We all love talking about our first OP-UP.

One year the three of us had PER-MEL-SYD-PER at chrissy all op up.


Cheers
SPRUCE

 

[bambbbam2]

We all love talking about our first OP-UP.

Good idea for a new thread..