Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[gracekelly]

Sorry should have said Sue

 

[Melburnian1]

Sorry should have said Sue 04xx_xx_xx_

Probably best not to publicly distribute mobile contact numbers unless you want a million calls asking you to change electricity or gas retailers.

Also on 17 February, QF146 from AKL to SYD (B738 VH-XZA, the scheduled 1540 arrival) and QF122 from ZQN to SYD (ZK-ZQB, the 1640 hours SYD arrival) also look to be diverting to the nation's capital and should arrive in CBR at around the 1645 to 1650 mark.

This may well be one of the largest numbers of aircraft to divert to CBR in a day.

North of SYD, QF1573, the 1225 HTI - SYD that was airborne at 1238 and which should normally arrive at 1545 seems to have diverted to NTL with B717 VH-NXR having touched down at about 1628.

 

[Himeno]

For anyone stuck in CBR, NSWTrainLink has a 1725 hours train to Sydney Central ex the Canberra railway station in Kingston: if one's destination is the southern suburbs in Sydney, this may be a reasonable alternative for once.

The train station is somewhat out of the way and doesn't have very many services. A better suggestion would be to head over to the Jolimont Center on Northbourne Avenue and get one of the many buses to Sydney. (The CBR-SYD bus route is roughly as busy as the MEL-SYD air route)

 

[Melburnian1]

With the storms in SYD, QF445 (1530 SYD down to MEL, B38 VH-VZR) on Friday 17 February managed to take off at 1644 after the airport reopened so arrival in the southern capital should be at 1809 hours, 64 minutes behind time. This might be typical for many SYD - MEL (and vice versa as the arrivals from SYD come in to MEL and form northbounds) flights tonight.

QF538 (the 1530 hours SYD - BNE, B738 VH-VYI) took off at 1716, indicative of the sort of delays one can expect. QF1515 - B717 VH-YQY- (also the 1530 hours, but to CBR) looked ready for takeoff at about 1720.

The 1500 hours longhaul across the Pacific from SYD to SFO, QF73 (B744 VH-OJM) looked to be ready for about a 1727 hours takeoff.

QF2006 (1525 hours SYD - TMW, Q300 VH-TQY) was airborne at a little after 1750 hours. Meanwhile flagship QF1 (A388 VH-OQF) was a few minutes behind that, but on adjacent runway 34L,

 

[N860CR]

Still onboard QF64 at CBR. Have been on the ground for about 3 hours now.

Initially there was a battle to refuel (apparently concerns about fuel availability). The aeroplane has now been refueled and the captain has announced that there was apparently an engine problem on the leg from JNB-CBR and the plane isn't serviceable. Latest is that an engineer is flying in from Sydney.

Crew handed out water at the 3 hour mark.

 

[Melburnian1]

...Crew handed out water at the 3 hour mark.

N850CR, it sounds like you don't quite know if you might all be alighting in CBR if the plane has problems.

That said, is there any indication that you may all be receiving a meal on board (perhaps sandwiches and rolls from 'raiding' an airport cafe, although one cafe would not have sufficient for a planeload of passengers and crew.)

Were you last fed about three hours prior to arrival in CBR? What about babies, young children and the pooer health elderly on board - they're the ones who find going without food (or drink) for a long time difficult.

The QF website suggests that you will depart CBR at 1900 hours and arrive SYD at 1930 - that isn't possible because no flight can go from the CBR gate to one in SYD in half an hour.

Unless there is a spare B744 hanging around, it may be that QF25 from SYD to HND is delayed tonight, or at worst misses curfew, because quite often QF64 forms QF25. I cannot discern this as the QF website is yet to indicate a gate number for QF64 in SYD.

You were most unlucky, because some flights 45 minutes later or so managed to make it in to SYD: as always happens with these storms, there's no pattern as to which flights divert and which ones have minimal delays.

QF5, the 1715 SYD - SIN on 17 February departed at 1808: not too bad given the numerous other storm-related delays.

The 1500 hours MEL - SYD (QF442) departed at 1811 with arrival suggested as 1923, two hours and 58 minutes late. In contrast, the following QF444 (the 1530 hours) was 'only' 63 minutes late arriving SYD at 1758. It can a lottery with domestic flights as well as to how long one is delayed.

 

[gracekelly]

Thanks. Panic posting. But now am in Sydney so all good. Thanks again.

 

[JohnK]

I'm guessing SYD a mess today?

QF563 BNE-SYD cancelled. QF537 still here as is QF547.

Qantas must have proactively moved status frequent flyers to other flights and the rest are in the service queues trying to get other flights.

I was moved to QF547 now due to depart same time as QF563. That's a good thing. Allocated 10B is not a good thing. Managed to get 30C released otherwise I would have left on later flight. Think QF557?

The lounge is a mess.

 

[Melburnian1]

...QF537 still here as is QF547....The lounge is a mess.

QF537 left BNE at about 1400 but arrived back at about 1745 - a real scenic tour.

QF547, the 17 February 1635 hours BNE - SYD may be departing at about 1800 tonight.

 

[JohnK]

QF537 left BNE at about 1400 but arrived back at about 1745 - a real scenic tour.

QF547, the 17 February 1635 hours BNE - SYD may be departing at about 1800 tonight.

Yes QF537 had a scenic flight. QF547 boarding now. I'm not well. Hope I fall asleep down the back.

 

[Melburnian1]

Well stone the crows - the diverted Friday 17 February QF64 managed to take off from CBR at 1843. B744 VH-OEG should arrive at about 1925 hours.

QF453, the 1700 hours SYD - MEL has been cancelled.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

melburnian... are you going to edit your post to take out the mobile number?

 

[N860CR]

N850CR, it sounds like you don't quite know if you might all be alighting in CBR if the plane has problems.

That said, is there any indication that you may all be receiving a meal on board (perhaps sandwiches and rolls from 'raiding' an airport cafe, although one cafe would not have sufficient for a planeload of passengers and crew.)

Were you last fed about three hours prior to arrival in CBR? What about babies, young children and the pooer health elderly on board - they're the ones who find going without food (or drink) for a long time difficult.

The QF website suggests that you will depart CBR at 1900 hours and arrive SYD at 1930 - that isn't possible because no flight can go from the CBR gate to one in SYD in half an hour.

Unless there is a spare B744 hanging around, it may be that QF25 from SYD to HND is delayed tonight, or at worst misses curfew, because quite often QF64 forms QF25. I cannot discern this as the QF website is yet to indicate a gate number for QF64 in SYD.

You were most unlucky, because some flights 45 minutes later or so managed to make it in to SYD: as always happens with these storms, there's no pattern as to which flights divert and which ones have minimal delays.

QF5, the 1715 SYD - SIN on 17 February departed at 1808: not too bad given the numerous other storm-related delays.

The 1500 hours MEL - SYD (QF442) departed at 1811 with arrival suggested as 1923, two hours and 58 minutes late. In contrast, the following QF444 (the 1530 hours) was 'only' 63 minutes late arriving SYD at 1758. It can a lottery with domestic flights as well as to how long one is delayed.

It was the afternoon that never ended...

Go around was initiated on final at Sydney and then an immediate diversion to CBR.

About 3 hours on the ground in CBR. First there was a delay getting fuel, then fuel arrived and there was a delay getting water for the passengers. After refueling the captain announced the engine problem with an ETD of 7:30. About half an hour later he said problem solved.

I was in J and ate during the first decent to Sydney. The poor folks in Y would have probably eaten 2 hours out and have subsequently had nothing since.

Big line now for quarantine. Bags still not out. My 8pm dinner isn't looking good!

 

[Melburnian1]

In further on 17 February, QF1578 (1740 hours SYD - MCY, B717 VH-NXI) took off at 2006 hours. Arrival is suggested as 2017, 122 late.

A332 VH-EBE on QF454 (1730 MEL - SYD) was airborne at 1935, so it ought arrive at about 2049 hours, 114 late. QF496 (the scheduled 1745 hours northbound same route departure) was airborne at 1954; arrival of B738 VH-VXC is predicted at 2058, 108 minutes tardy. QF474, the 1815 hours (B738 VH-VYA) took off at 1959 with at gate arrival said to be about 2102, 82 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on Friday 17 February, QF563 (1805 hours BNE - SYD) and QF557 (the 1905 departure) were cancelled.

How on earth do these passengers get to Sydney tonight? Perhaps JohnK can provide us with the answer - maybe 'they don't.'

QF552 (2000 hours SYD - BNE northbound) departed at 2144.

The 1940 hours MEL - CBR (QF822, B738 VH-VZC) took off at 2143 so arrival is estimated at 2236 instead of 2045, 111 minutes tardy.

 

[Melburnian1]

A333 VH-QPI on long established QF3, the 2155 hours SYD to HNL looks to have only begun pushback at 2251 on Friday 17 February (the QF website states 2249) so it sure is cutting it fine to have taken off prior to 2300 hours, the dreaded curfew commencement.

QF846 (2010 hours SYD - DRW, B738 VH-VZR) took off at 2303, post curfew.

 

[cove]

cough weather around Sydney and Newcastle must have messed up lots of travelers tonight especially with that stupid night curfew.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF3 (see above) took off at about 2306 for HNL with QF556 (the 2130 hours SYD up to BNE, B738 VH-VXJ) following at about 2308.

QF497 for MEL was even later, becoming airborne at approximately 2311. This is the last timetabled flight of the night from SYD down to MEL: tonight it had B738 VH-VXF.

That makes about five flights taking off after 2300 hours on Friday 17 February.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Saturday 18 February, QF80, the 1900 Friday 17 NRT - MEL that did not take off until 2100 should arrive at about 0844, 74 minutes late with A333 VH-QPE. QF79 back to NRT is delayed until 1000 in its departure, 45 minutes behind schedule.

The 0820 hours SYD - ABX, QF2205, has been cancelled.

QF1376, an 0700 MEL to SYD is also showing as 'cancelled.' This is not a normal flight number.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF23 is mostly punctual but on Saturday 18 February, its 0945 hours scheduled departure was 55 minutes late, with arrival in BKK ex SYD suggested as half an hour behind at 1605 hours.