Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

Granted, AccountSignup, it would be difficult for QF to book you on a competing carrier (if you had asked for this - not suggesting you did, but some would) as the majority of nonstop flights to the good ol' USA mainland depart Oz at around 1130 to 1300 hours, rather than the much later 1825 hours timing of this cancelled flight.

Mind you, there is far more competition on Oz -USA routes than was the case even five years ago, with UA ramping up its offerings for one. There are also many indirect options such as HL and NZ, and even KE, OZ and PR to name a few 'indirect routings' of those available.

What time and day were you notified by QF of this change? Was there any room for negotiation or did a message advising about the flight to which you had been transferred just appear on your smartphone?

The Saturday 20 February QF27 is shown as delayed from 1250 t0 1330 in its departure (the latter having already passed) making two consecutive days that this flight will be late away.

 

[jb747]

Could a flight be cancelled or rerouted due to weather at that flights diversion airports even original destination airport has good weather?

Probably the wrong thread for a question like this.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF1555, the 1430 hours SYD to ADL on Saturday 20 February took off at 1515 and should arrive at 1637, 32 minutes late (VH-YQW, a B717.)

The 1355 hours QF974 (BNE to TSV) was airborne at 1447 AEST and will arrive TSV 36 minutes late at 1626. B738 VH-VZE is the aircraft.

 

[AccountSignup]

What time and day were you notified by QF of this change? Was there any room for negotiation or did a message advising about the flight to which you had been transferred just appear on your smartphone?

Texted around 5pm about it. Called QF back around 630pm and at the same time called carlson wagonlit who it was booked through. CWT answered first, told me to ignore it as I was being upgraded is all (GRR). Missed a follow up call from QF @ 10pm. Joined the queue for a call back around 1030pm. Had a ticket issued @ 11pm, rep called back around 1130pm, we looked at options to get me from LAX to my destination and diverting to DFW instead of LAX on the 20th. All flights to my final destination were booked. So stuck with the issued ticket prior to call. All in all about 22hrs notice.

Am still waiting to see if I get an upgrade. I can see there's 2 seats in J free on QF11 tomorrow still. 5 free in F, but no options for F

 

[Melburnian1]

The Saturday 20 February QF1 ex SYD overstayed in DXB, where it stopped from 0041 to 0338 on Sunday 21 February, meaning a projected LHR arrival 35 minutes late at 0730 despite the slower schedule that has applied since the onset of the northern winter. This flight often has a very good punctuality record.

QF1555, the 0800 SYD to ADL was cancelled on 21 February, as was QF1560, the 1050 ADL back to SYD.

The badly delayed QF28 from SCL to SYD (B744 VH-OEB) departed on Saturday 20 at 0948, 23 minutes later than QF had estimated and so will arrive SYD at 1340 hours this afternoon, 19 hours and 55 minutes late. The 'real' Saturday 20 QF28 departed SCL 39 minutes late at 1414 but in arriving in SYD at 1800 hours on Sunday 21, it will be only 15 minutes behind time.

Let's hope that AFF member AccountSignup (above) received 'his' upgrade.

QF1576 from SYD to HVB has been delayed in departing from 1400 to 1450 hours, while QF1421 (1440 SYD - CBR) is to depart at an estimated 1510. The timetabled out at 1445 from BNE to GLT, QF2340, has been cancelled.

 

[Melburnian1]

The 1725 hours (differently timed at present to the other four days of operation) QF19 from SYD to MNL (A333 VH-QPE) is inexplicably delayed according to the QF website until 1847 in its departure, but it did not come off blocks until about 1848.

QF suggests that it will arrive at 2325, so the 2350 hours returning QF20 will be delayed until 0040 at a minimum.

This may delay tomorrow's (Monday 22 February's) QF19 as the allowed turnaround time (1100 to 1225) is not huge, but by 2300 hours on Sunday 21, QF had altered the flights to have the arriving QF6 ex SIN (due at 1055 if on time) form the 1225 to MNL.

 

[Melburnian1]

The delayed Sunday 21 February QF19 arrived in MNL at 2328, with QF20 departing at 0042, 52 minutes late and likely to arrive in SYD on Monday 22 at 1140, 40 minutes behind time.

The Sunday 21 February 2350 hours SIN to SYD (QF6. A333 VH-QPI) unusually departed at 0152 hours on Monday 22 February - 122 minutes late and should arrive SYD at 1240, 105 minutes late. QF has therefore changed the gate for QF19 on Monday 22 to be formed by the late arrival from MNL rather than the later arrival from SIN, so QF19 today is expected to depart at 1305, 40 minutes late and arrive MNL at 1810, the same in lateness. QF20 tonight will be unable to leave at its scheduled 1900 hours ex MNL for SYD but as sometimes occurs, QF has yet to update its website to reflect that.

The alteration to gates are a reminder that sometimes it can pay to check a few hours before a flight as to whether a change in the aircraft has been made, as provided there is a choice of suitable aircraft, like all airlines QF may try to reduce delays by 'swapping' rotations. In today's MNL case this has been insufficient to avoid any delay, but a 40 minute anticipated delay is better than what could have been an 85 minute or so delay had the incoming aircraft from SIN (QF6) continued to form today's QF19.

QF415, the 0800 SYD - MEL has been cancelled.

QF117, the 'second' and most recently introduced SYD to HKG flight is anticipated to depart at 1340 rather than 1315 this afternoon. The flight is being formed by the late QF6 ex SIN that is now expected to arrive SYD at 1228, so this is a 72 minute turnaround, which is often achievable for an A333 - fingers crossed.

UPDATE: QF19 arrived in MNL at 1801, 31 minutes late. QF20 took off at 2004 for SYD where it should arrive half an hour late at 0640 on Tuesday 23 February.

QF117 arrived HKG at 1956 hours, only 16 minutes late after departing SYD at 1354, 39 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Monday 22 February's QF28 from SCL departed 90 minutes late at 1505, arriving in SYD on Tuesday 23 at 1918, 93 minutes late. These SYD - SCL - SYD flights have been significantly late quite often in recent times. Tonight it is forming the 2130 hours QF25 gfrom SYD to HND, so the incoming ex SCL flight would not have wanted to be a lot later before delaying the Japan-bound flight. However the latter often makes up at least 40 minutes on the schedule and does not often run late, except for a couple of recent overnight delays due to problems with a B744 aircraft.

On Tuesday 23 February QF117, the 'second of the day' from SYD to HKG was late, departing 63 minutes behind time at 1443. Arrival should be 45 minutes late at 2050 hours this evening.

The A388-operated QF11 was airborne from SYD today at 1244, 74 minutes after its 1130 departure time. Arrival is suggested as 45 minutes late at 0710 same day.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF185 (1500 hours SYD to CBR) ws cancelled on Wednesday 24 February.

The Tuesday 23 QF94 A388 from LAX to MEL departed 64 minutes late at 2319. Tomorrow morning (Thursday 25 February) it should arrive half an hour behind time at 0935.

QF777, the 1535 MEL to PER took off at 1602 and should arrive at about 1713, 33 minutes late. Aircraft is A332 VH-EBF.

 

[Melburnian1]

0905 hours departures on Thursday 25 February from MEL to BNE (QF610) and LST (QF2281) have both been cancelled, as has QF426, the 1100 MEL to SYD.

Earlier, QF407, the 0715 SYD down to MEL also got the gong. QF1477 from SYD to CBR, the high noon flight is also not operating today. QF775, the 0700 ex MEL transcontinental flight across to PER did not run.

 

[Melburnian1]

The QF B717 flights between MEL and HBA would have to be one of the worst performing public transport routes in Australia - air or surface.

Today's QF1503 (Thursday 25 February) departed MEL 59 minutes late at 1234 and should arrive in HBA at about 1342, 52 minutes late. Aircraft is B717 VH-YQS.

The return QF1504 is timetabled out at 1330 but is likely to depart at least 40 minutes behind time. In turn, this will delay the mid afternoon QF1505 and later flights on this one aircraft shuttle.

Not the first time, as Qantaslink has terrible punctuality on this sector from its contracted operator.

QF is perhaps in a bit of a bind on this route: with stablemate JQ and the competitors flying mainline single aisle aircraft rather than the QF B717s, demand may be insufficient to justify operating a QF B738 at the frequency with which the B717 shuttle runs if a B738 was able to be considered for reallocation to this capital city linking route.

However, as outlined on AFF quite a few months ago by a well informed individual who may work for QF, the airline is (as one might expect) aware of the unpunctuality. In fairness things improved for a while but there have been one or two other recent instances of late running again rearing its ugly head, as in today.

There would be what one might initially think a surprising number of politicians, industry CEOs and CFOs, lawyers, accountants, doctors, conference attendees from specialist fields and the like who would book on these B717s - it is not just 'leisure traffic' - but for my money on this route VA is a safer bet. The unpunctuality must be somewhat embarrassing for QF especially when the occasional 'do you know who....' asks questions as to why a flight is running late.

It would be great to have some Taswegians' thoughts as the HBA - MEL air route is and always has been more important to Tassie than the HBA - SYD or other capital city routes.

UPDATE: QF818 (B738 VH-VZZ), the 1515 MEL to CBR mid afternoon flight took off at 1641 and is therefore an hour or slightly more late.

QF772, the 1005 PER to MEL did not take off until 1101 but should arrive a tad after 1710 hours, about half an hour late (A332 VH-EBJ.)

 

[Melburnian1]

The delays continue. QF1504 (see above) departed HBA for MEL at 1426, 56 minutes late, arriving MEL at 1549, 64 minutes late, as that is one of the 'peaks' for MEL on weekdays.

QF1505 then pulled out (or more correctly, 'pushed back') from MEL at 1649, 84 minutes late - an unusually slow turnaround of an even hour, arriving HBA at 1755, 75 minutes behind time.

The next shuttle flight, QF1506, departed HBA at 1845 (85 late), again with a slow turnaround of 50 minutes and arrived in MEL tonight (Thursday 25 February) at 1956 hours, 81 late.

The 1925 hours MEL to HBA is rather optimistically expected to depart at 2030 hours, 65 minutes late, but this plane has been unable to achieve half hour turnarounds or anything close to that this afternoon. QF then suggests it will arrive and finish up for the night in HBA at 2145 hours, again 65 minutes late.

Advice from those 'in the know' as to the root causes of these delays - technical problems, staff rostering, catering or other aircraft servicing delays, passengers being uncooperative and not turning up at the gate necessitating unloading of bags, holding patterns or departure delays awaiting ATC clearance are a few possibilities - would be terrific.

It is unimpressive that in the space of four hours this arvo, these flights 'lost' a further 25 minutes, making for an even longer travelling day for this evening's QF B717 passengers.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Friday 26 February, QF1461, the second of the morning from SYD to CBR had a grumpy start when it departed 52 minutes late at 0742 hours. Arrival was at 0824 hours, 39 minutes behind time.

 

[Quickstatus]

Melburnian1,

VH-YQS has had a chequered history being stored in VCV twice and in Mexico once after 2 lessees failed. QFLink is the third.

Rhetorically, could this be the underlying issue?. One aircraft I try to avoid due to seemingly common tech issues. I do like the E90s that VA has acquired though I have not yet flown on one (my liking developed for these after flying the E75 in the US)

 

[Melburnian1]

Quickstatus, an interesting observation. It is not only in aviation that transport operators find that some equipment or rollingstock performs faultlessly, while other(s) of the same class or model are subject to hiccups as you state. Thank you for the valuable information re VH-YQS.

While we do not want to go off topic, VA has recently announced that it is withdrawing some of its E90s that many would agree are the most comfortable RPT aircraft used in Australia, beating an A320 and a B737 by miles due to the E90s far more pleasant seat configuration and just the experience in the cabin. I also like them more than their Bombardier competitors.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF29 from MEL to HKG on Friday 26 February departed 34 minutes late at 1159 and should arrive at 1820, 25 late.

It is usually extremely punctual - often running early - but today QF7 from SYD on the long trip to DFW did not depart until 1612 hours, 67 minutes late. Arrival should be same day at 1435, exactly an hour late if it holds true.

 

[samh004]

QF29 from MEL to HKG on Friday 26 February departed 34 minutes late at 1159 and should arrive at 1820, 25 late.

My sister is on that flight. Glad it's not too late as she's going to a birthday dinner when she arrives.

 

[Melburnian1]

Ah, samh004, these passengers who expect international flights to operate on time and organise activities immediately after the published arrival time....

 

[Melburnian1]

QF653, the 2035 evening flight from MEL to PER on Friday 26 February did not take off until 2135.

 

[Melburnian1]

The Saturday 27 February QF739 from SYD to ADL has been delayed in its departure from 0800 to 0900 this morning while a conveyance with a far smaller capacity, QF2205 is not forecast to depart until 0930 in lieu of the usual 0820 for the run down to border city ABX.

QF2094 northwards from SYD to HVB is delayed even more with the time amended from 0940 to an estimated 1100.

UPDATE: QF63 departed SYD 41 minutes late at 1216 with arrival in JNB forecast at 1715, 40 minutes late.

QF15, the B744 BNE to LAX is showing as delayed in departure from 1100 to 1200 but that time is in the past.