Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[TonyHancock]

Re: QF1 delayed by two hours in SYD

elbarto, I did not make any comments about the previous QF1 flight routings one way or the other. I looked at the available public data for 55 recorded flights of QF1 via DXB, because as others have pointed out, DXB is a whole new ball game with a markedly different length in nautical miles and hours' flying time for the first sector ex Oz compared with the previous much shorter SYD - SIN sector.

All the more reason to look at the previous route, surely? If you have nothing to compare to what is the point of the analysis.

In my view it is a pointless, some may say meaningless, exercise. Delays happen, for many reasons, and if you travel enough by air it is an occupational hazard.

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: QF1 delayed by two hours in SYD

Most passengers on the three major mainland Chinese airlines (plus the fourth that now operates to MEL) are Chinese. In comparison, QF carries many AFFers and Australian citizens, so what happens to its flights are more relevant to this forum, simply because more of the participants may consider QF, but many would never use a Chinese airline - yet.

This may change as CZ in particular continues to promote its forthcoming A380 flights to and from SYD, but CZ has previously acknowledged that Australians are resistant to using it because of a perception that the stewards and hostesses on board cannot or poorly speak English. CZ has trained some Australian flight attendants: I gather there may be one per flight, all being well.

tonyhancock, if you read my original post, you'd observe that I highlighted this late running because ex SYD on this particular long distance flight, it is not an everyday occurrence. You might think it's pointless - to those who are travelling in the next week, it may be of quite some interest, especially if it is the beginning of a systemic problem.

 

[milehighclub]

Re: QF1 delayed by two hours in SYD

In the end it must be a business judgement for QF and its competitors on whether they have standby staff at major airports (not at home) who sign on at a similar time to when major flights depart. If that's too risky in terms of exceeding permitted hours of a tour of duty (even if its the standby - reserve - equivalent) or too costly or impractical, passengers (and the airline's accountants) just have to wear any delays or (for the airline) additional costs. I realise that at home standby staff airline staff may have a requirement to be at the airport within a couple of hours of receiving a call from the operations department, which shows an admirable flexible attitude on the part of the employee.

Qantas and Virgin do airport standby for domestic flights. Given the frequency of flights and changes to operations it makes sense to have crew ready to go at a moments notice.

For international the minimum amount of time you must be given is 90 minutes when on standby. They can give you less but you are not accountable if you don't make it in time. Crew are on standby for 12 hour blocks with 12 hours off after if not used.

It's very rare for pilots and crew to be sick last minute or not make the flight for whatever reason but a flight will only ever be held for a pilot ( for obvious reasons ). Most of our aircraft operate above minimum operating cabin crew, so if a crew member can't be replace the flight will go short.

 

[TonyHancock]

Re: QF1 delayed by two hours in SYD

tonyhancock, if you read my original post, you'd observe that I highlighted this late running because ex SYD on this particular long distance flight, it is not an everyday occurrence. You might think it's pointless - to those who are travelling in the next week, it may be of quite some interest, especially if it is the beginning of a systemic problem.

Nope, just checked with someone in my office, traveling next week, and they have no interest. I'm on QF1 in four weeks and I don't care.

Given my DYKWIA status - self proclaimed - I think a straw poll of two is absolutely conclusive.

 

[nlagalle]

Re: QF1 delayed by two hours in SYD

tonyhancock, if you read my original post, you'd observe that I highlighted this late running because ex SYD on this particular long distance flight, it is not an everyday occurrence. You might think it's pointless - to those who are travelling in the next week, it may be of quite some interest, especially if it is the beginning of a systemic problem.

Where is one delay the start of a "systemic problem".

Likewise anyone I know that travels won't be checking the OTP, they'll be checking the $$$ of the flight before they worry if it's leaving on time.

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: QF1 delayed by two hours in SYD

tonyhancock, you'd make a great initial President of an Australian Banana Republic. One Paul John with a 'K' surname could be Emeritus Professor of Republicanism, but advisory only. A straw poll of two is a great beginning, but you could drop the 'do you know who I am' requirement as we would all know how esteemed you'd suddenly become. It would be compulsory for you to have seat 1A should you decide to travel on a commercial flight in lieu of your normal Falcon or other conveyance.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Re: QF1 delayed by two hours in SYD

tonyhancock, you'd make a great initial President of an Australian Banana Republic. One Paul John with a 'K' surname could be Emeritus Professor of Republicanism, but advisory only. A straw poll of two is a great beginning, but you could drop the 'do you know who I am' requirement as we would all know how esteemed you'd suddenly become. It would be compulsory for you to have seat 1A should you decide to travel on a commercial flight in lieu of your normal Falcon or other conveyance.

A straw poll of two, is 100% better than a sampling size of one delay.

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: QF1 delayed by two hours in SYD

Except that one delay affects up to 479 passengers in the case of an all seats taken QF A380 with the more squeezy configuration that saw 39 whY seats added.

 

[nlagalle]

Re: QF1 delayed by two hours in SYD

Except that one delay affects up to 479 passengers in the case of an all seats taken QF A380 with the more squeezy configuration that saw 39 whY seats added.

Which I am sure has been pointed out to you that it isn't so "squeezy".. Were those 39 seats added into the same Y area as before? Or was more floor space used?

 

[under the radar]

Re: QF1 delayed by two hours in SYD

after reading numerous postings by melb1 on numerous topics...i now read them.. (i cant resist looking at people making fools of themselves) ..then i LOL..then i get back to the 'real world'

 

[Melburnian1]

QF2 cancelled on Wed 4 September 2013

The ever-alert markis10 has drawn my and others' attention to how QF10, the 2130 ex LHR that was due in SYD this morning (+ 2) at 0510, was cancelled on Wednesday 4 September 2013.

QF1 ex SYD arrived at LHR on Wednesday at 0716, 41 minutes late, while QF9 ex MEL, the only other QF A380 normally at LHR that day had arrived at 0600, half an hour behind time.

There does not seem to have been an extra departure (such as QF10D) on Thursday 5 September ex LHR.

What went wrong? Is the aircraft still at LHR? How were passengers accommodated overnight, and have they since been placed on other operators (such as EK's) flights or did they have to wait until Thursday night to depart LHR on QF2 or QF10?

I assume that unlike in some previous years when it operated via SIN, BKK and HKG, QF no longer dispatches a spare heavy all the way to LHR to pick up stranded passengers (at the busier times when flights the next night and the one after might be full) as the tieup with EK means that there's a much greater chance of passengers being able to be found seats on those flights to DXB (or at worst case, ex another European airport served by EK) and then to MEL or SYD.

Will this lead to an A380 flight ex SYD or MEL being delayed in the next day or substituted with a B744 or so given QF's fleet of 12 of these birds and the roster that calls for A380 flights to and from DXB, HKG, LAX and LHR, or is there a spare available not undergoing planned or unplanned maintenance?

 

[markis10]

Re: QF2 cancelled on Wed 4 September 2013

Unlike most of the other threads you have started about delays, this was out of the norm, however a quick glance at Qantas Source would have answered your questions, the aircraft operated a charter . It happens every year, my guess its the Exclusive Brethren!

http://uk.flightaware.com/live/flight/QFA6052

 

[Fruitcake]

Re: QF2 cancelled on Wed 4 September 2013

What went wrong?

QANTAS News & Information - The QANTAS Source

4th September 2013 - VH-OQB Operates London - Sydney Charter.
QANTAS A380 VH-OQB operated a London Heathrow - Dubai - Sydney charter this morning as QF6052. As a result there will be no QF2 London Heathrow - Dubai - Sydney this evening.

Oftentimes, this is due to an Exclusive Brethren charter flight.
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ogram/qf6052-qf6054-flights-14-oct-44063.html

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: QF2 cancelled on Wed 4 September 2013

No doubt the pilot, FO and other QF staff will be sworn to secrecy. Thank you, QantasSource for breaking the 'cone of silence.'

 

[mannej]

Re: QF2 cancelled on Wed 4 September 2013

Out of interest, when was the last QF 747 at LHR.
I would think they would pinch a 380 off a HKG or LAX run and place it on the LHR run leaving the 747 for the HKG or LAX instead

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: QF1 delayed by two hours in SYD

under the radar, thank you for your vote of confidence. The delay occurred, so it is 'the real world.' I'm pleased that you were not among the affected passengers.

 

[nlagalle]

Re: QF2 cancelled on Wed 4 September 2013

No doubt the pilot, FO and other QF staff will be sworn to secrecy. Thank you, QantasSource for breaking the 'cone of silence.'

There is no cloak of secrecy around a charter flight.. your attempted humour is poor.

It was nothing more than someone booking a charter flight.. time to move on...

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: QF2 cancelled on Wed 4 September 2013

While it's a gray area, for QF2 to show as 'cancelled' on the QF website is a tad misleading, because if the flight was never opened for bookings in the first place, technically it isn't really a cancellation.

 

[mannej]

Re: QF2 cancelled on Wed 4 September 2013

No doubt the pilot, FO and other QF staff will be sworn to secrecy. Thank you, QantasSource for breaking the 'cone of silence.'

Lol - sworn to secrecy? This isn't the first time that QF has chartered a plane out to such a group and I don't think they have ever hidden behind the fact...

 

[samh004]

Re: QF2 cancelled on Wed 4 September 2013

While it's a gray area, for QF2 to show as 'cancelled' on the QF website is a tad misleading, because if the flight was never opened for bookings in the first place, technically it isn't really a cancellation.

So you're not affected at all, but yet want to create a scene because?