Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

On Thursday 4 August, the late departures of A388s continued with QF1, the 1550 hours SYD - DXB - LHR having commenced pushback at 1830. QF predicts that the Middle Eastern stop will be from 0205 on Friday 5 to 0415, which would be 125 minutes late, meaning subsequent LHR at the gate time of 0640, 105 minutes behind schedule.

 

[Melburnian1]

The delayed QF10 arrived in MEL at 2242 hours on Thursday 4 August. A lengthy turnaround ensued; QF9 for DXB and LHR departed 130 minutes late at 0105 this morning (Friday 5). The DXB stop is predicted as 0900 to 1035, the latter being 90 minutes behind time with the likely LHR arrival at 1525, 70 minutes late.

The truncated QF10 (due to late running of QF1 ex SYD) departed DXB at 0230 this morning, 55 minutes later than expected with predicted arrival in MEL tonight (Friday 5) at 2130 to be 35 minutes late. In turn this will probably delay QF9 by about 40 minutes in its departure. It could pick this time up on the flight to DXB but as always it depends on the level of congestion approaching this Middle Eastern hub.

The 1030 hours MEL - CBR, QF1528, has been cancelled. Earlier, QF500, the first of the morning at 0605 hours from SYD north to BNE also got the chop. QF1513 (0815 hours SYD to CBR) is also not operating.'

QF23 (0950 hours SYD up to BKK) is again late, with takeoff at 1132 for a projected arrival at 1745, 65 minutes tardy: VH-QPB (A333) has the honour.

 

[Melburnian1]

The Friday 5 August QF73 (1300 hours SYD - SFO) is forecast to depart three hours late at 1600 with the unpunctuality reduced to two and a half hours late (1200) at destination.

 

[Melburnian1]

Friday 5 August's QF19 departed at 1216, only six minutes late, but instead of arriving in MNL has diverted to nearby CRK (after about five 'racetrack circuits') where it was at the gate at 1922. It then departed from CRK a few minutes ago at 2049 (2249 AEST). I assume it took on fuel at CRK. The QF website shows it arriving in MNL at '2035' but that must be incorrect. Looks like there have been thunderstorms (presumably heavy) in MNL and there is (not unusually) a fair bit of congestion in the air so it might be 2300 or so, an hour later than the QF website rather optimistically predicts, before QF20 hits the road tonight for the trip back to SYD.

I cannot recall any other diversions of QF19 to CRK in the last two or three years but it must have occurred occasionally in the long history of this flight. A333 VH-QPI is the aircraft.

Earlier today, GF155 (1230 hours MNL - BAH) had turned back and landed in MNL safely at about 1305 after an engine failure. Not sure if that contributed to QF19's need to divert, although it was more than five hours prior to the latter.

At this stage, QF20 that arrives in SYD on Saturday 6 August (late) looks to be forming the 0950 hours SYD - BKK, QF23. Given QF20 is unlikely to arrive much before 0845, QF23 will again be delayed departing, one of several times in the last few days this has occurred.

Two posts above, QF had predicted the truncated QF10 that operated only from DXB to arrive in MEL at 2130 hours on Friday 5 August. Instead, it was at the gate at 2215, 80 minutes late, meaning that QF9 will probably depart at 0025 on Saturday 6, 90 minutes late, with DXB arrival an hour late at 0805.

The Thursday 4 August 2016 QF8 ex DFW (2215 hours) was delayed due to the very tardy arrival of QF7. Flight 8 pushed back at 0054 on Friday, so Saturday 6 August arrival should be at 0845, 160 minutes behind time.

 

[pjm99au]

QF 19 did land at Clark Air Base for fuel after circling MNL for about 1.5 hours. Thunderstorms caused the delay with about 6 aircraft diverting to Clark. Thankfully we were first on the ground so first for fuel and we were in the air again after about 1 hour for the short 20 minute flight back to Manila

 

[Melburnian1]

QF 19 did land at Clark Air Base for fuel after circling MNL for about 1.5 hours. Thunderstorms caused the delay with about 6 aircraft diverting to Clark. Thankfully we were first on the ground so first for fuel and we were in the air again after about 1 hour for the short 20 minute flight back to Manila

QF19 arrived MNL last nigfht at 2125, with QF20 departing at 2239, 154 minutes late for a Saturday 6 August 0838 hours arrival, 148 minutes behind time. This aircraft is still on the 0950 hours SYD - BKK (QF23) but the delay is expected to be minimal: only 10 minutes in its departure.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Saturday 6 August, QF19 (1210 hours SYD - MNL) departed 52 minutes late at 1302 for a suggested 1910, 40 minute late arrival.

Earlier, QF83 (1020 SYD - HKG) departed 65 minutes late at 1120 with forecast arrival at 1845, the same degree of tardiness.

The 1020 SYD - SIN, QF81, departed bang on 1100 with arrival suggested as 55 minutes late at 1740 hours.

QF73 (1300 hours SYD - SFO B744) departed at 1628, 208 minutes behind time. Arrival should be at 1225 not 0930 hours. This flight has recently been unpunctual on a few occasions.

 

[katiebell]

Cruiser Elite, with the QF93 connection, just keep in mind that you have to pass immigration and collect your bags and then walk around to the domestic terminals to check in for your next flight. The chaos at LAX when I flew to Canada recently was only mitigated by the knowledge that I had almost four hours to make my onward flight (40 mins of which was eaten up by QF93 taking off late from MEL). And reading my stressed messages to hubby while waiting in the immigration queue at LAX is upsetting. It took almost an hour to pass immigration, I'm afraid. There's no real signage or instructions that I could discern for an easy transfer between terminals either - and the shortcut I've used before (walk through the carpark) is no longer available since there are building works in the carpark area. Currently, you must walk around the perimeter of the terminals. There was quite a queue to check in for my onward flight too.

ETA: NEXT time, I will do everything I can to avoid LAX into N.America. Coming into SFO six weeks later was a doddle by comparison, though immigration was still a long queue.

Having experienced the hassles of USA transits I fly via HKG when I need to travel between Aus & Canada.

 

[Quickstatus]

Usually the B747 QF25/26 SYD-HND pair is very punctual. This might be because of its late night departures from both cities, and requiring a 16hr layover in HND and therefore a 2 aircraft operation for that route - so relatively immune from the increased utilisation rates demanded of the rest of the fleet ?

Aug 1: VH-OEI diverted to NKM early in the morning on Aug 2 presumably not weather related as HND opened for other flights at the same time - medical?

Aug 5: VH-OEG diverted to BNE due to technical reasons resuming its mission the morning of Aug 6 as QF25D

The VH-OEx series are the relatively new "extra Longreach versions" that AJ recently opined will keep flying for a long time even after the introduction of the B787. OEI and OEG are 13 and 14 years old respectively. "Just run in" in automotive parlance.



QF93:
The cancelled July 31 QF93 was ferried to SYD for repairs on Aug 1 and returned into service on Aug 2 operating that day's QF93. Does this suggest that MEL is operate a significant maintenance shop for the A380?.
Standby flight crew would have been used - if this is a call-in do they get paid minimum 4 hours at double time like some do in other industries? I understand this would have required more than 4 hours duty time

 

[Melburnian1]

The delayed QF19 on Saturday 6 August did not arrive MNL until 2003 (93 late) due to extensive holds for many aircraft. It then failed to depart until 2229 (144 minutes late) with Sunday 7 arrival in SYD as QF20 at 0842 (152 minutes behind the schedule.)

On Sunday 7 August, QF161 (0930 hours SYD across to WLG) was very late in pushing back at 1116: arrival should be at 1625 this afternoon, 105 minutes tardy.

The 1300 hours SYD - DFW lengthy flight, QF7, is anticipated to depart at 1400 this afternoon with same day arrival 50 minutes late at 1425.

 

[jb747]

Standby flight crew would have been used - if this is a call-in do they get paid minimum 4 hours at double time like some do in other industries? I understand this would have required more than 4 hours duty time

The would have been paid the minimum daily rate. The only time that overtime, or increased rates come into play is when you have extremely long tours of duty.

Scheduling are always reluctant to use the standby crew. If you have them do a ferry in the morning, then they are not available for anything else for the entire day. They might have offered the flight around for extra hours, or they may just assign it to someone who is on a day off (!). They would also have had a crew available who were supposed to go to LA....so a monorail might have been their replacement.

 

[Quickstatus]

The would have been paid the minimum daily rate. The only time that overtime, or increased rates come into play is when you have extremely long tours of duty.

Scheduling are always reluctant to use the standby crew. If you have them do a ferry in the morning, then they are not available for anything else for the entire day. They might have offered the flight around for extra hours, or they may just assign it to someone who is on a day off (!). They would also have had a crew available who were supposed to go to LA....so a monorail might have been their replacement.

Would the airline offer it to 2FO?

 

[Himeno]

Aug 1: VH-OEI diverted to NKM early in the morning on Aug 2 presumably not weather related as HND opened for other flights at the same time - medical?

It went to NGO.
https://twitter.com/Centrairairport/status/760248886589992960
Reason is quoted as weather.
It appears to have landed at NGO after it would normally have landed at HND.

 

[jb747]

Would the airline offer it to 2FO?

Instead of a Captain and FO? No, not a chance. Some Captains can replace FOs, but never the other way around.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF2283, the Monday 8 August 2016 1140 hours MEL - LST is badly delayed, having been in the sky from 1316 with forecast arrival at 1418, 88 minutes late. Aircraft is Q400 VH-QOE.

Long haul JQ2 operated by B788 VH-VKA should arrive ex HNL in MEL at about 1520 this afternoon, 40 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Tuesday 9 August, QF418, the 0900 MEL up to SYD (A332 VH-EBA) did not take off until 0951. Arrival shuld be at around 1056, 31 minutes tardy.

QF7, the often punctual 1300 hours SYD to DFW departed at 1405 with arrival forecast for 1420 same day, 45 minutes behind schedule.

Earlier, QF127 (1005 hours SYD - HKG) departed 77 minutes late at 1122. Arrival should be at 1805, just 45 minutes tardy and quite a gain on the gate-to-gate schedule.

QF93, the 0915 hours MEL to LAX long haul flight did not depart until 85 minutes tardy at 1040 with same day arrival predicted for 0735, an even hour late.

Despite the Monday 8 August transcontinental USA JFK to LAX B744 on QF12 pulling in only two minutes late at 2107, QF94 to MEL took until 2308 - 53 minutes late - to commence pushback. Wednesday 10 arrival should be at 0750 hours, 50 minutes tardy. The B744-operated following flight, QF96 should arrive in MEL at 0830, half an hour late.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Wednesday 10 August, the A388-operated QF7 long haul flight from SYD to DFW departed 270 minutes late at 1730. Same day arrival should be at 1750 in lieu of 1335. In theory this should be plenty of time to allow the returning QF8 to depart on time on Wednesday evening Texan time.

QF7 has run badly late two or three times lately. While it would be a large exaggeration to suggest that this was occurring everyday, previously, late running of this flight was very rare, far more so than the Oz - LAX flights.

The 1230 hours SYD - SCL B744 departed 39 minutes late with arrival expected 25 minutes late.

The early afternoon 1215 SYD - HKG 'newbie' flight, QF117 departed 47 minutes behind schedule at 1302 but should arrive 40 minutes late at 2020.

 

[bad]

Hi Bad,

If you can can you appraise the followers of this thread of your experience in the next day or so.

QF1 attained 30000 feet before a fast descent to 10000 feet

I didn't have personal concierge look after me but I was not totally ignored. We were informed of the delay the captain was available. keen to chat after the flight and even during the flight! Qantas organised some accommodation in a only a half decent hotel. Two taxi vouchers. My flight re-booked onto BA next day so about 24 hours delay in my case. BA went via Singapore and then an A380 to LHR. Some letters were given addressed from Qantas confirming delay and also amount to spend on meals about 50AUD per day. I could spend more but would have to probably keep receipts and use my travel insurance. My experience was not a total disaster. I did enjoy the experience with BA and drew the conclusion that both airlines are very similar.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Thursday 11 August, QF609, the 0700 hours BNE down to MEL (B738 VH-VZO) took off at 0748, so arrival at the gate should be at around 0958, 33 minutes late. Whether there is any connection I am not sure, but QF612, the 1010 hours MEL - BNE has been cancelled. It is quite common for QF arrivals in MEL that have come in from BNE - invariably a B738 - to form the next MEL - BNE northbound that if I am not mistaken until recently used to depart at '05' past the hour not '10.'

QF804, the 0720 hours MEL - CBR was cancelled.

Medium to semi-longhaul QF130, the redeye from PVG (A333 VH-QPD) is about 71 minutes late and should arrive at 0941 or so. Despite its timetabled departure of 1955 last night (Wednesday 10), it was not airborne until 2136.

 

[Quickstatus]

I didn't have personal concierge look after me but I was not totally ignored. We were informed of the delay the captain was available. keen to chat after the flight and even during the flight! Qantas organised some accommodation in a only a half decent hotel. Two taxi vouchers. My flight re-booked onto BA next day so about 24 hours delay in my case. BA went via Singapore and then an A380 to LHR. Some letters were given addressed from Qantas confirming delay and also amount to spend on meals about 50AUD per day. I could spend more but would have to probably keep receipts and use my travel insurance. My experience was not a total disaster. I did enjoy the experience with BA and drew the conclusion that both airlines are very similar.

Thanks bad for your report!!

If you are able to, can you let us know what the letters were for?. Were they on request or provided as part of the airline's recovery efforts?