Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

QF27, the 1230 Sunday 23 October SYD to SCL departed at 1330. Arrival is suggested as 1155 same day, 45 minutes late. This will delay QF28 back from SCL by 20 minutes or more as the timetable calls for QF28 to push back at 1330.

QF434 (1300 hours MEL - SYD, A332 VH-EBE) was airborne at 1416, just under an hour late1518, 53 minutes tardy.; arrival should be at about

 

[Flyerqf]

QF4 has gone tech and is cancelled. The aircraft was also due to operate QF3 tonight, as a result that flight is cancelled. No suitable aircraft available to sub.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF4 has gone tech and is cancelled. The aircraft was also due to operate QF3 tonight, as a result that flight is cancelled. No suitable aircraft available to sub.

Flyerqf, what do the poor passengers stuck in SYD or HNL do? Just sit it out for 24 or 48 hours respectively (in a QF-provided hotel?) or would some (those with status) be put on other carriers such as HA despite it being a competitor?

 

[Quickstatus]

There might be a few seats on Nostar4?

 

[Flyerqf]

Flyerqf, what do the poor passengers stuck in SYD or HNL do? Just sit it out for 24 or 48 hours respectively (in a QF-provided hotel?) or would some (those with status) be put on other carriers such as HA despite it being a competitor?

Not sure. It's not uncommon to be put on competitor aircraft, however they could also be put on JQ services. They'd be in hotel until they can be rebooked.

 

[Flyerqf]

There might be a few seats on Nostar4?

JQ2 is also another option. Both JQ flights will be at least 20 hrs behind the cancelled QF4 service.

 

[Flyerqf]

QF5/6 are also cancelled.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF5/6 are also cancelled.

Oh dear. Earlier today (Sunday 23 October) I posted about how QF5 was to be delayed departing from 1630 to 1835. Something must have gone awry between that post and Flyerqf's update.

Fortunately Tuesday and Wednesday are slightly slacker use days for the QFi fleet - for the sake of folks travelling,. let's hope that any unscheduled fleet failures are repaired by tomorrow morning.

Flyerqf made the important point above (re cancellation of QF3/4) that there was a lack of 'suitable' aircraft. Even if QF could 'steal' one (with suitably qualified crew) from its QFd fleet, it might not be appropriate for international use.

It is not school holidays so load factors may be lower. Even so, it takes a few aircraft with 50 spare seats to accommodate say 220 booked passengers on QF6.

 

[Quickstatus]

What if one or more cancellation(s) was just a euphemism for dynamic load management?

 

[Melburnian1]

What if one or more cancellation(s) was just a euphemism for dynamic load management?

I agree: one cannot rule that out, particularly to and from SIN as there are two QF flights each way between SYD and SIN.

Most QF passengers would not consider JQ was a valid 'substitute' for QF on either the SIN or SYD-HNL routes. I do not know the attitude of QF Group management: after all, JQ has lower operating costs per available seat kilometre.

On Monday 24 October, QF2180, the early morning 0725 hours from SYD to MRZ is cancelled.

 

[Flyerqf]

What if one or more cancellation(s) was just a euphemism for dynamic load management?

Maybe for 5/6 (even though I doubt this because there was initially a delay imposed on the service rather than a straight cancellation) but you wouldn't cancel a flight (eg QF3/4) whilst abroad for load management.

 

[jb747]

QF4 has gone tech and is cancelled. The aircraft was also due to operate QF3 tonight, as a result that flight is cancelled. No suitable aircraft available to sub.

How do you know that the aircraft is out of service?

 

[Flyerqf]

How do you know that the aircraft is out of service?

Posts on social media - normally fairly reliable, are you suggesting incorrect on this occasion?

Melburnian1 - to answer one of your questions, a passenger impacted by today's cancellation of QF5 has posted that they were transferred to Singapore Airlines.

 

[Melburnian1]

Melburnian1 - to answer one of your questions, a passenger impacted by today's cancellation of QF5 has posted that they were transferred to Singapore Airlines.

Thank you Flyerqf. Interesting, and great information for others affected by similar cancellations to know and (nicely, without a DYNWIA moment) quote it if the airline check in staff member is 'hesitant' about rebooking. Mind you, transfer to a competitor might occur only for those travellers with 'status.'

 

[Melburnian1]

QF453 on 23 October is among numerous aircraft approaching MEL that have had to 'hold' so arrival of this 1700 hours ex SYD is likely at about 1905, half an hour late. Aircraft is A332 VH-EBV.

 

[Flyerqf]

Tonight's QF9 is delayed to 3am.

 

[Melburnian1]

Tonight's QF9 is delayed to 3am.

This is because the Saturday 22 October QF10 departed LHR at 1741 hours instead of 1305, stopped in DXB from 0320 on Sunday 23 to 0306 (departing there 211 minutes late) with arrival in MEL forecast as 0105 hours on Monday 24 October instead of 2155 on Sunday. This is the first time for a while that QF10 has been badly late but it has been tardy plenty of times in the last couple of years, although probably the year old slower timetable has assisted timekeeping.

 

[Quickstatus]

Friend was on cancelled flight from LAX last year back to OZ. He was WP and was shunted off to UA Global First

 

[jb747]

Posts on social media - normally fairly reliable, are you suggesting incorrect on this occasion?

I don't know that I'd consider social media to be a reliable source. Not just today, but any day.

 

[Melburnian1]

I don't know that I'd consider social media to be a reliable source. Not just as it today, but any day.

True, social media, like all of us and the Internet generally, is not perfect - but the QF website states that on 22 and 23 October respectively, QF4 (the 1245 HNL - SYD) and QF3 (the 2225 hours late night SYD - HNL) are both cancelled, so is not Flyerqf highly likely to be correct?