I very briefly transited through Melbourne yesterday (off the Cairns flight, then headed to AKL). As I was walking through the Dom terminal I heard them announce 3 QF flights to Sydney were cancelled and they had 200 more people booked than they had seats for. Were calling for locals to please return home and rebook on the website(!). Offered to assist with accomodation for others. Also requested that anyone with non-essential travel to give up their spots. Service desk had a huge queue as I walked past. International all seemed fairly orderly and no real delays were apparent.
kermatu, a timely reminder (and a great on-the-spot report) that for JQ and TT, but I cannot recall whether for QF and VA, the 'terms and conditions' (in the fine print) do NOT guarantee a passenger being uplifted on the day of booked travel.
This would come as a surprise to the many who travel occasionally, and some frequent travellers who may have bookings made by 'the receptionist' or 'corporate travel agent' at the company or government department for which they work.
It is good information for QF staff to state how many excess passengers they had. This helps to bring out the best in travellers, whereas if the public address system voice merely announced 'we don't have enough seats', then passengers might think 'well there's a shortage of 10 seats so I'll join the bunfight to get on board.'
One problem with website rebooking might be that it is not programmed to offer flight changes without the payment of fees.
As another AFF member commented, accommodation near the airport, which is relatively limited - perhaps 1000 rooms if one includes motels near Mickleham Road, Tullamarine - would quickly be booked out so an 'offer to assist with accommodation' would almost certainly mean a passenger staying in Melbourne's CBD or near-CBD. Nothing wrong with that, but one ought not assume that when there is inclement weather delaying planes that rooms will be available in hotels like the Mantra or Ciloms, Tullamarine.
