Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[jb747]

It's worth noting that most of the departure times mentioned here (and I expect all of the other threads) are inaccurate. Airline departure times are based on time leaving the gate. The time between push back and take off is accounted for as part of the flight time (on the schedules).

So, for instance, QF94 on 30/12/15 did not depart LA at 22:51 (36 minutes late). It actually departed at 22:13, 2 minutes early. Taxi time to the southern runway slightly longer than expected, but only by about 5 minutes...it's always slow, which is why that flight generally uses 24L. Runway works are precluding that at the moment.

 

[Melburnian1]

Thank you jb747. Many times quoted are push back times.

If touch down times have also been used (rather than arrival times at the gate), these will underestimate delays at the time that matters most to travellers.

What really matters to passengers apart from safety (which should be a 'given') is the arrival time compared with the timetable, and the elapsed journey time.

While UA98 (LAX to MEL) does not have as long a history of operation as its competitor QF94, FlightStats - Global Flight Tracker, Status Tracking and Airport Information states that UA98 has a 'good' punctuality and (lesser) delay severity rating of 4.4 compared to what FlightStats - Global Flight Tracker, Status Tracking and Airport Information rather euphemistically calls an 'average' rating of 1.9 out of 5 for QF94. In fairness, UA has had some concerning problems in the last couple of days: see the separate UA delays/cancellations thread.

QF slowed its LHR schedules for the northern winter which has improved punctuality, but the last time I checked SQ had the quickest point to point journey times for the Oz - LHR routes. It is no secret that SQ regularly receives awards for 'best worldwide airline.'

A friend who makes numerous F and J long haul trips worldwide recently commented to me (not in reference to the Oz-LAX A388 routes, but others such as SYD - NRT that has become SYD - HND, still with B744s) that QF was the only long haul airline he had encountered (and he has flown on many airlines) where its promise (presumably from seat maps when booked) of particular 'equipment' (aircraft) in relation to seat configuration is fairly often not met in practice. The friend suggested that SQ occasionally substituted different aircraft types or the same type but with a different seating configuration, but at a way lower rate than QF.

 

[Melburnian1]

The Sunday 3 January 2016 QF2138 (1155 MEL to CBR) did not depart until 1311 with arrival expected 75 minutes late at 1420 this afternoon. Q400 VH-QOU (something that many AFFers would like QF to adopt as a mantra in regards to upgrades!) is doing the honours.

The ADL to SYD QF736 (VH-VYF, a ubiquitous B738) had a timetabled departure of 1300 but took off at 1420, so will be in SYD at about 1630, just over an hour late.

The 1600 hours SYD to HVB, QF1576 is suffering a major delay with departure expected at 1935 tonight and arrival at 2020 AEST (2120 AEDT.) QF1577, the return flight that should normally depart at 1720 is shown on www.qantas.com.au as leaving at 1830 but this is almost certainly incorrect as it would be the same plane that originates in Sydney. If so, it could not possibly get back to SYD in time to beat the 2300 hours curfew so let's hope the delegate gives it an exemption.

QF1, the 1645 hours A388 from SYD to DXB and LHR departed at 1822. It could still be on time into LHR provided (among other parameters) that the DXB stop goes well and is not exceeded time wise compared to the schedule. With the new, slower timetable this flight is often recording a gain on the DXB - LHR timings.

In the other direction the Saturday 2 January evening QF2 ex LHR was eight minutes early into DXB but there the music stopped, as the second and final sector saw the A388 depart 78 minutes late at 1053 with Monday 4 January 2016 SYd arrival suggested as 0720, 50 minutes behind time.

The 1725 hours SYD - MNL (A333 VH-QPG) is about 25 minutes late and therefore likely to delay the 2350 hours Sunday 3 January return QF20 ex the Philippine capital. When this aircraft returns to SYD at its timetabled 1100 on Monday 4, it pretty much immediately returns to MNL on the 1225 hours QF19 four days a week (at that time) departure. There is much to be said from a shareholders' perspective in increasing the utilisation rate (productivity) of multi-million dollar aircraft, and this timetable can work, but all that is needed to create 'rolling delays' for a couple of subsequent flights (in this case, QF20 and then the Monday QF19 and perhaps that evening's QF20 back to SYD) is for the first one to be a bit late and then the aircraft is unable to turn around in the alloted time.

UPDATE: QF1576 and the return QF1577 were cancelled. While the SYD - HVB flights could have operated, it presumably would have meant stranding an aircraft and crew overnight in HVB. It would be interesting to hear from passengers if they instead made it to another provincial Queensland city such as Bundaberg, or were placed on a flight to say MCY and bussed north.

QF518, the 1915 hours BNE to SYD arrived 46 minutes late at 2236. This does not leave a great further margin before the dreaded curfew commences.

 

[Melburnian1]

Monday 4 January marks the third day in the last couple of weeks when QF2262, which today is the 0700 SYD to LDH, is forecast to be delayed, this time from 0700 to 0740 in its departure.

The B744-operated QF15 from BNE to LAX is forecast to depart at 1230 rather than its usual 1100. However if this comes to pass then QF suggests that arrival will only be 40 minutes late. The Saturday 2 January 2320 hours QF16 did not depart LAX until 0256 on Sunday 3 so today (Monday) it will not arrive until 1000, two and three quarter hours behind time. This is unusual as these daily BNE - LAX and return flights have a generally very good to excellent punctuality record, better than the A388-operated SYD or MEL to LAX and return flights.

The 4 January QF20 SYD arrival ex MNL actually arrived 12 minutes early at 1048, having departed MNL 24 minutes late at 2314. However QF19 on Monday 4 did not depart until 1330 hours, 65 minutes late - still VH-QPG. QF expects it to be 55 minutes late into the Philippine capital.

The delayed QF15 departed BNE today at 1251 with arrival expected in LAX at 0714, 74 minutes late but a point-to-point gain of 37 minutes on the timetable.

QF1555, the 1130 SYD to ADL was cancelled today. QF1576, the 1130 SYD to HVB is delayed in departing until an expected 1450 hours. This route has had a few problems in the last week or so: quite unusual. See above for one or two other instances including a recent 'last of the day' cancellation from HVB. There is quite a plethora of other country routes in this part of Queensland but passengers have to get to them, and that is not always practical nor would some who are connecting elsewhere have the time to travel by www.qr.com.au or to drive.

QF1949, the CNS to ASP 1120 departure took off at 1220 and is about to arrive at just before 1400, still almost 50 minutes late. B717 VH-NXO is operating the flight.

 

[cove]

Ok fear of flying I can almost understand.
We are in Sydney doing a long cut to ADL and the couple in 1A and 1B sat in their seats for about 5 minutes and then walked back to the gate.
Unfortunately their bags have to come off and it is raining hard so I feel sorry for the ground staff.
It was a full plane and now full minus the two who have deplaned from business class.

 

[Quickstatus]

Ok fear of flying I can almost understand.
We are in Sydney doing a long cut to ADL and the couple in 1A and 1B sat in their seats for about 5 minutes and then walked back to the gate.
Unfortunately their bags have to come off and it is raining hard so I feel sorry for the ground staff.
It was a full plane and now full minus the two who have deplaned from business class.

maybe they forgot to feed the cat?

 

[Melburnian1]

Quickstatus, very, very witty - but also with the 'ring of truth' to it.

Cove, one suspects that you are on QF765, the 1640 hours SYD to ADL that departed bang on 1700 hours and that is forecast to arrive at the ADL gate at 1829, 14 minutes late and hence according to the statisticians an 'on time' flight, as 'late' is greater than 15 minutes.

 

[cove]

Yes they found the couples bags within a reasonable time (in the pouring rain in Sydney) and after a few bumps we arrived in ADL in time for some lounge time and then on to PER later this evening.
Last time it was a girl, luggage and a dog that held us up more because we were out on the runway ready to roll out of MEL for SYD.
Looks like the fear of flying is not too isolated now that I have seen it twice in a year.

 

[JessicaTam]

Yes they found the couples bags within a reasonable time (in the pouring rain in Sydney) and after a few bumps we arrived in ADL in time for some lounge time and then on to PER later this evening.
Last time it was a girl, luggage and a dog that held us up more because we were out on the runway ready to roll out of MEL for SYD.
Looks like the fear of flying is not too isolated now that I have seen it twice in a year.

Maybe it's a fear of flying ... with you!

Oh, I crack myself up.

 

[cove]

Yes Jessica that must have been it.

 

[Melburnian1]

The Sunday 3 January B744-operated QF12 from JFK to LAX departed 54 minutes late at 1854, arriving LAX at 2149 hours, 44 minutes behind time.

The A388-operated onward leg of QF12 due out at 2230 did not depart from LAX until 0038 hours today (Monday 4 January) and should arrive in SYD at 1010, 110 minutes late on Tuesday 5 January. The B744 running the following flight, QF18 departed 108 minutes late at 0123 on Monday morning and should be at the SYD terminal at 1030 tomorrow morning, 75 minutes late.

The Sunday evening QF94 ex LAX for MEL was unaffected and is only forecast to be 10 minutes late (0915 hours) on Tuesday morning. In terms of what really matters - arrival time, the BNE-bound QF16 is only expected to be 20 minutes late into the Sunshine State capital on Tuesday morning (0735 AEST) but it departed LAX 50 minutes late at 0010 on Monday 4 January.

QF74, a newbie and probably quite successful given the relative attractiveness of entering or departing the USA via this airport was timetabled to depart the 'City of cable cars' at 2325 hours on Sunday 3 January but has been delayed until a forecast unpleasant and tiring 0400 or in about half an hour as I write. Arrival on Tuesday afternoon should be at 1250 rather than the morning timetabled on blocks of 0900 hours.

While it may depend greatly as to whether QF knew about the delay in advance (and hence was able to hold the crew at their hotel for longer), if it was a result of problems encountered when the crew were at the airport and signed on then they must be pretty close to being out of hours - 18 or in some circumstances 20 hours being the maximum permissible time on duty if I recall the previous discussion on AFF.

QF63, the 1135 Tuesday 5 January from SYD to JNB is shown on the QF website as departing from the same gate that the delayed QF74 is pulling into at 1250. An AFF member such as Flyerqf might be kind enough to advise if that is factually correct (and hence no forecast delay to the JNB-bound B744) or whether QF has yet to update the JNB flight (as sometimes occurs online) with a delay due to the flight ex SFO being an expected almost four hours late.

 

[Melburnian1]

The Sunday evening QF74 from SFO to SYD has now been delayed by 21 hours and should depart at 2020 on Monday 4 January SFO time. Arrival should be bang on curfew end time of 0600 Wednesday 6 January in lieu of 0900 Tuesday. This suggests that the crew 'ran out of hours.'

This may leave QF one B744 short in SYD tomorrow. As far as I can see, VH-OJM remains inoperable and has not flown since about 23 December 2015. Again, Flyerqf may be good enough to advise.

www.flightaware.com indicates that on Tuesday 5 January for the second consecutive day and the third time in eight days, the 1135 hours SYD to HKG (QF127) and its QF128 overnight redeye return will be operated by an A333 instead of an A388.

 

[Mattg]

www.flightaware.com indicates that on Tuesday 5 January for the second consecutive day and the third time in eight days, the 1135 hours SYD to HKG (QF127) and its QF128 overnight redeye return will be operated by an A333 instead of an A388.

I notice that last night's QF26 from Tokyo to Sydney was also operated by an A330 (VH-QPE) in place of the usual 747.

 

[Mattg]

QF slowed its LHR schedules for the northern winter which has improved punctuality, but the last time I checked SQ had the quickest point to point journey times for the Oz - LHR routes. It is no secret that SQ regularly receives awards for 'best worldwide airline.'

I don't know of any "world's best airline" awards that are issued based on having the quickest flights schedules. Not sure how this is relevant at all.

 

[Melburnian1]

Mattg, there might be AFFers booked on some of these flights that are reduced to an A333, which as discussed above particularly affects business class (or in some cases first class) travellers. It would be good to have input from anyone affected as to how they were treated, given that there simply are not sufficient business class seats on an A333 to match a B744, a problem if a flight is heavily booked as many into and out of Oz will be at present given that it is Christmas school holidays.

You are correct: 'world's best airline awards' are based on other factors such as safety, creature comforts landside and airside, standard of the aircraft cabin seating and so on. However elapsed journey times may be an important consideration for time poor travellers as well, which is why I mentioned it.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF129 from SYD to PVG was delayed on Tuesday 5 January in its departure from 1050 to 1133.

QF143 from SYD to AKL is delayed until 1200 from its timetabled 1000 off blocks.

QF161, the 0945 SYD - WLG departed at 1113.

QF709 from CNS to BNE departed 89 minutes late at 1139, arriving BNE at 1344, 84 minutes behind time.

 

[Melburnian1]

In addition to the post 2112 above-discussed 21 hour delay to QF74 from SFO to SYD that should arrive at 0600 on Wednesday 6 January, the next night's (that is, Monday 4 January 2325 hours) QF74 has been delayed in its departure until an expected 0100 on Tuesday 5 January. The latter should arrive in SYD on Wednesday at 1020 instead of 0900 hours.

No wonder that air traffic controllers need flights at times to be differentiated with a 'D' for 'delayed' suffix in their flight number.

QF63, the 1135 SYD to JNB B744 departed 84 minutes late at 1259 but QF suggests that it will gain time on the journey and arrive the South African major centre at 1725, 50 minutes late. The return QF64 is highly likely to depart late.

 

[Flyerqf]

In addition to the post 2112 above-discussed 21 hour delay to QF74 from SFO to SYD that should arrive at 0600 on Wednesday 6 January, the next night's (that is, Monday 4 January 2325 hours) QF74 has been delayed in its departure until an expected 0100 on Tuesday 5 January. The latter should arrive in SYD on Wednesday at 1020 instead of 0900 hours.

No wonder that air traffic controllers need flights at times to be differentiated with a 'D' for 'delayed' suffix in their flight number.

QF63, the 1135 SYD to JNB B744 departed 84 minutes late at 1259 but QF suggests that it will gain time on the journey and arrive the South African major centre at 1725, 50 minutes late. The return QF64 is highly likely to depart late.

The delayed QF74 means tonight's QF25 is delayed until tomorrow morning.

 

[Mattg]

Tonight's QF17 SYD-LAX is also delayed. It will be operated by the late 747 arriving from SCL this evening as QF28 (VH-OEB).

 

[Melburnian1]

Thank you gents. To go into specifics, the B744 'shortage' due to late running means that QF25 should depart SYD for HND on Wednesday 6 January at 0800 (formed by the 21 hour delayed, 0600 hours forecast arrival of QF74) instead of Tuesday 5 at 2130 hours, with QF17, tonight's 1825 hours from SYD to LAX being delayed until an expected 2055 due to the late (forecast as 1842 hours) arrival of QF28 from SCL.

Touch wood - by Wednesday night, most long haul operations should be back to normal.

QF2006, the 1525 hours mid afternoon flight from SYD to TMW departed 40 minutes late; the 1530 hours from SYD to ARM is shown as 75 minutes late but may not yet have departed by 1710 (QF2030) while QF2131 from SYD to PQQ departed 36 minutes behind time at 1631 on 5 January to make the trifecta.\

QF1483, the 1630 hours from SYD to CBR will be a forecast 50 minutes late departing.

QF631 from BNE down to MEL, the 1700 hours is expected to depart 35 late while the BNE to AKL Trans-Tasman QF125 is suggested as departing 90 minutes late at 1930 hours on 5 January.