Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

QF7 update (cancelled on 29 March 2017).
...There were no announcements about the rescheduled flight for today (Thurs 30 March) with 10am departure unless individually asking Qantas staff - which caused a fair deal of concern by passengers wondering what the plan was!

The accommodation was the Mercure at Newcastle. Yes, Newcastle. Qantas' plan for 400+ passengers at that point in the evening was to bus us 2 hours north with a 5am (estimate) return bus the next morning. Staff claimed this was the closest accommodation available given a number of earlier cancelled flights to NZ. The accommodation included a $50 food/drink voucher. We were flying business class but there didn't seem to be any differentiation or alternative option....

At first we were told no meal allowance if staying with friends. I explained we didn't expect our friends to feed us for a Qantas delay after 9pm when we would arrive and was eventually told to get a receipt for anything and there would be a process to claim....

map, this report is worthy of multiple wombat points.

It is true that as with Melbourne, Sydney hotels are enjoying good occupancy rates but surely by splitting passengers into eight or 10 hotels, spare rooms could be found closer than Newcastle.

Room tariffs for Mercures in Newcastle, NSW are relatively low: one in Charlestown had April rooms on offer through third party websites for A$122. Like all airlines, QF would never pay what you and I pay: it always receives a discount because apart from anything else the hoteliers want repeat business.

Very poor that business class passengers were not accommodated closer to the airport. Given that some would go home if they were local residents (even though in one's mind, one has 'departed' and hence 'going home' seems a bit odd), it's not as if QF would have had to find rooms for 100 business class patrons.

These breakdowns of aircraft must be stressful for staff, but the lack of information (unless you were wise enough to ask, as you did) about a 1000 departure today when we could see it on the QF website (perhaps a bit later than 2030 last night) was also poor. Similarly the assertive discussion you had to have about being reimbursed for dining despite you saving QF money by not taking up the accommodation option is unimpressive. I'm sure you didn't go to a hatted restaurant: at 2100 hours, you'd just want some food to tide you over for the night.

It will be interesting to see if you get away (off blocks) at 1000 as congested check-in counters at 0815 is starting to cut it a little fine, and you all have to enjoy the wonders of passing through security to airside, with the morning a busy time and hence queuing for security checks part of the fun.

Once again, amazingly good report!

 

[Melburnian1]

On Thursday 30 March, QF1464 (0720 hours CBR to SYD, Q400 VH-QOT) did not take off until 0844, so arrival has been delayed until 0936, 76 minutes late.

 

[map]

Thanks Melburnian - I can only echo your comments!

We are back in the business lounge waiting to board. Hopefully. Boarding was scheduled to commence at 9:15am but it hasn't yet - hopefully that's because of a minor delay in getting everyone through check-in counters rather than another issue!

I overheard some other passengers in the lounge who took up the Newcastle option saying they had 2.5 hours sleep by the time they settled in and then had to get up again...

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on Thursday 30 March, QF605 (early morning BNE down to MEL, the 0600 hours with B738 VH-VZE) took off at 0713 so naturally arrival is not forecast until 1015, 50 minutes behind schedule.

With shocking weather in BNE and central Queensland as Cyclone Debbie or its aftermath moves south, and schools closed, QF2332 (0615 hours BNE - GLT, Q400 VH-QOA) got as far north at GLT, did some holding and then appears to have decided to head back south, being likely to land back in BNE at 1000.

The Wednesday 29 March QF7 on which AFF contributor map is travelling (see above) has been further delayed to an expected departure at 1045 on Thursday 30. This will further delay Wednesday's QF8 back from DFW to SYD and see it arriving after 1900 hours on Friday 31.

It is unusual to see a MEL - SYD 0900 hours flight (or any) operated by a B717 such as VH_YQW but QF1954 took off at 0923 with suggested arrival as 1056, 46 minutes late.

QF2105 (0855 hours CFS - SYD that was airborne at 0926) should arrive at 1057, 32 late with Q300 VH-SBB.

Long flight QF63, the 1150 hours B744 from SYD to JNB is not predicted to depart until 1430 this afternoon with estimated arrival at 1920, 140 late. As a result tonight's QF64 back from JNB to SYD, the 1910 hours will be unlikely to depart before 2100 hours JNB time.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Thursday 30 March, the delayed QF7 from Wednesday departed SYD at 1152, more than 22 hours late. DFW arrival is suggested as 1127 hours on Thursday 30 rather than 1300 hours on Wednesday 29.

Although the QF website still suggests that QF8 (2100 hours Wednesday 29 March DFW - SYD) will depart at 1030 on Thursday 30, this is impossible. A likely new departure time is around 1315 if all goes well, with a probable Friday 31 March evening arrival at somewhere around the 2130 to 2200 hours mark. There is not an enormous amount of further wriggle room before the SYD 2300 hours curfew kicks in, so passengers will have to hope that the QF 'minimum equipment list' is met so that the flight can depart.

Advice from passengers on QF8 as to what hotel(s) they have been granted in Dallas/ Fort Worth and any meal and transfer arrangements would be great.

On Thursday 30, QF11 departed SYD 62 minutes late at 1152 with same day LAX arrival suggested as 0725, 55 minutes late.

The 1050 hours SYD - BKK, QF23, is often punctual but today it did not depart until 1134. Arrival is predicted for 1735, 55 minutes tardy.

QF127 departed 35 minutes behind schedule at 1135; HKG arrival ex SYD is predicted as 1400 minutes later at an even 1800 hours.

Unusually, the early afternoon, retimed due to overseas time changes QF107 from SYD to PEK (the 1325 hours) is delayed in its departure to a predicted 1550 mid afternoon. Arrival should be at 0025 hours on Friday 31, 130 minutes late. Expect the 2345 hours timetabled QF108 back from PKG to commence pushback at about 0140 hours on Friday 31 if all goes well.

The Thursday 30 March QF7 from SYD to DFW has been delayed by a predicted 75 minutes to 1445 in its departure, meaning two consecutive QF7s will be late. Quite unusual for this QF route.

 

[Melburnian1]

A332 VH-EBN on the Thursday 30 March QF437 from SYD down to MEL was airborne at 1434; arrival is predicted for 1603, 58 minutes late.

in the opposite direction, QF432 (A332 VH-EBA) is likely to arrive 55 minutes behind schedule at 1450.

A333 VH-QPA on QF117 (1225 hours SYD - HKG that took off at a delayed 1414 hours) should arrive at 2023 tonight, 78 minutes tardy.

B738 VH-VZA on QF887 (1140 hours OOL down to MEL) was airborne at 1255 with arrival likely at 1601, 61 minutes tardy.

QF619 (B738 VH-VXP, the 1155 hours BNE down to MEL that was in the sky at 1309 hours) should arrive at around 1618 this afternoon, 58 minutes tardy.

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on Thursday 30 March...Long flight QF63, the 1150 hours B744 from SYD to JNB is not predicted to depart until 1430 this afternoon with estimated arrival at 1920, 140 late. As a result tonight's QF64 back from JNB to SYD, the 1910 hours will be unlikely to depart before 2100 hours JNB time.

The expected departure time of QF63 has been further delayed to 1530 hours, with predicted JNB arrival of 2010 to be 190 minutes tardy. This will mean that QF64 tonight (JNB time in South Africa) will be unable to depart much before 2200 hours, and so is likely to arrive in SYD tomorrow afternoon after 1815 hours (given that often it can pick up some time on a point-to-point basis.)

Thursday 30 March's QF127 departed 35 late at 1135 from SYD with HKG arrival suggested as half an hour behind at 1750.

UPDATE: QF63 (B744 VH-OJM) departed SYD at 1530, 220 minutes late with suggested arrival in JNB 2020, 200 minutes tardy.

 

[Quickstatus]

Melburnian1

On this eventful day I have discovered a quirk in the flight aware system, or at least an error somewhere in the data collection

Look at QLK2225
Prima facie there have been several diversions to Armidale including one today 30Mar SYD-WGA was diverted to ARM. However I believe that these are not actual diversions.

 

[Melburnian1]

Melburnian1

On this eventful day I have discovered a quirk in the flight aware system, or at least an error somewhere in the data collection

Look at QLK2225
Prima facie there have been several diversions to Armidale including one today 30Mar SYD-WGA was diverted to ARM. However I believe that these are not actual diversions.

Quickstatus, when I looked at QF2225, FlightAware claimed that it was about to take off from SYD at 1720 hours (in 10 minutes or so) with destination MRZ (Moree), a long way from WGA and some distance cross country from ARM, and in rather different country.

These flight status sites can be imperfect. AFF member Boris spatsky once gave us a detailed explanation.

Similarly, FR24 has some deficiencies: its biggest one is that it appears to overestimate delays, and even when a flight has rached cruise, it does not or only partly corrects the inaccuracy.

Neither site copes overly well when aircraft are diverted, yet weather (and medical as well as faulty aircraft) diversions are a fact of life.

Sometimes when diversions occur one has to look at more than one site to join the dots (and even then sometimes we get things wrong or lack complete information.) Thankfully at least for QF we have the redoubtable milehighclub to come riding to the rescue.

 

[Melburnian1]

The delayed Thursday 30 March QF7, the 1330, left SYD 107 late at 1517 with DFW arrival suggested as 70 minutes tardy at 1410.

QF107 departed SYD at 1622 (taking off at 1657 with A332 VH-EBG) instead of its timetabled 1325 hours: PEK arrival should be on Friday 31 March at 0100, 165 minutes behind schedule.

 

[Quickstatus]

Yes if you look back into the history of QLK2225 you should find that there have been several SYD-WGA or Syd-ARM flights which have been diverted. I think these are not actually diversions. Seems to only involve WGA and ARM at least for this flight number - the airport to which these were diverted were the correct airport

 

[Quickstatus]

SYD airport is on parallel runway operations in conditions of wet weather + wind gusts 20-30 kts + turbulence in the circuit area. Crosswind 10 knots.
Pilot contributors as i understand it suggest that such operations require closer that preferred aircraft positions

Runway 16LR

 

[Melburnian1]

SYD airport is on parallel runway operations in conditions of wet weather + wind gusts 20-30 kts + turbulence in the circuit area. Crosswind 10 knots.
Pilot contributors as i understand it suggest that such operations require closer that preferred aircraft positions...

Yes, one of them went so far as to state or imply that this operational mode was unsafe if I recall. Unfortunately finding the said post on websites like this is very difficult as I would either have to trawl through hundreds of posts, or remember what search terms to use - a Herculean task.

In further on Thursday 30 March, QF5, the second SYD - SIN flight for the day with a timetabled departure at 1650 hours has been delayed until an expected 1800. SIN arrival is suggested as 2305 late tonight SIN time, 50 minutes tardy.

The 1700 hours MEL - SYD QF452 (B738 VH-XZN that was in the sky at 1746) should arrive at 1902 hours, 37 minutes late as with the poor weather there is a fair amount of congestion in the air.

QF456 (1715 MEL - SYD that took off at 1805, B738 VH-VXD) should pull in to its designated terminal gate at 1926, 46 minutes past the allotted.

The PER - SYD transcontinental QF580 (A332 VH-EBQ) should be at its designated arrival gate at about 1909 hours, 34 minutes late.

UPDATE: QF5 (A332 VH-EBP) took off at 1923 hours, later than predicted. SIN arrival should be at about 0020, 125 minutes tardy, up from the previous 50 minute estimate for the delay.

 

[Melburnian1]

Due to the continuing poor weather in SYD (and many kilometres north thereof) during the evening of Thursday 30 March, there are many arriving aircraft being held. QF496 (B738 VH-VXF, the 1745 hours MEL - SYD) was airborne at 1804 which is only five minutes late or so, but arrival is not predicted until 1955 hours, 45 minutes tardy.

QF454, the scheduled 1730 hours departure on the same route (A332 VH-EBA) took off at 1827 with arrival suggested as 2010 hours, 75 late.

The following QF458, VH-VZX, the 1830 hours from MEL was airborne at 1836. A 2010 hours arrival is on the cards, 45 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Probably due to the delay to Wednesday's QF7 that departed instead today, and consequent late running of the returning QF8 that will not be back into SYD until 2130 on Friday 31 March, too late to get out of SYD before the curfew commences at 2300 hours, the Friday 31 QF1 (1650 hours scheduled departure) from SYD to DXB and LHR has been altered to depart at 0800 hours on Saturday 1 April. Please refrain from any April Fool's Day jokes.

On Saturday 1, the DXB intermediate stop is 1505 to 1640 with LHR arrival at 2100 hours instead of 0655 hours, 14 hours late.

Publicly the QF website is not displaying any indication that either QF2 or QF10 on Saturday 1 April will be delayed, and nor is there any suggestion that (say) QF9 will terminate in DXB on Saturday. One of these things must logically happen if QF1 is 14 hours late.

The Thursday 30 March QF2359 (Q400 Vh-LQL, ROK - BNE) is arriving at about 1947, 97 minutes later than its timetabled arrival of 1805 hours.

QF546 (1830 hours SYD up to BNE that took off at 1917) is arriving at around the 1949 mark, 49 minutes late. VH-VXL is the B738.

QF538, the scheduled mid afternoon 1530 hours SYD - BNE is in a much worse state delay wise, with B738 VH-XZP having not become airborne until 1856 hours this evening. The resultant arrival time is estimated as 2008, 248 minutes late.

The CNS - BNE QF655 by comparison has got off comparatively lightly, with this 1710 hours tmetabled departure having proceeded into the sky at 1810; arrival should be at 2000 hours, 40 late for aircraft B738 VH-VYA.

Q400 VH-QOK on QF2370 (1840 hours BNE - ROK that was airborne at 2041) should arrive in cattle country at 2151, 116 late. QF2346 (BNE - GLT, VH-LQL of the same aircraft model) is not much better with arrival tipped for 2134, 104 minutes behind schedule.

QF637, the 1905 hours evening BNE to MEL that was airborne at 2038 (B738 VH-VZE) should be pulling up stumps at 2350, 80 minutes late.

Northbound QF552 (2000 hours SYD - BNE, B738 VH-XZI that took off at 2146 mid evening) should arrive at roughly 2159, 89 minutes behind the schedule.

The MOV - BNE QF2354 (Q300 VH-TQE) is arriving in the not-so-Sunshiney State capital at 2133, 63 minutes tardy.

 

[JohnPhelan]

On Thursday 30 March, QF1572 and QF6204, both timetabled to depart SYD at 1000 for HTI have been cancelled.

The latter may have been an empty working to collect passengers who have been unable to leave since Cyclone Debbie hit.

I have not seen any photos as to how HTI airport fared but that island was hit by extremely strong winds.

It appears around 10 flights departed HTI today (QF, JQ, VA).

It seems the runway and taxiways are in operable condition. The ATC tower is kaput, the terminal building is damaged and there is no data, i.e. all check-in, ticketing and tagging has to be done manually.

There should be additional flights tomorrow.

 

[Melburnian1]

The badly delayed (overnight) QF7 from SYD to DFW arrived at 1130 on Thursday 30 March, 22 and a half hours late. The returning QF8 departed at 1414 with Friday 31 March 2017 SYD arrival estimated at 2235 instead of 0605, 16 and a half hours tardy.

 

[Melburnian1]

....the Friday 31 QF1 (1650 hours scheduled departure) from SYD to DXB and LHR has been altered to depart at 0800 hours on Saturday 1 April.,,,

Publicly the QF website is not displaying any indication that either QF2 or QF10 on Saturday 1 April will be delayed, and nor is there any suggestion that (say) QF9 will terminate in DXB on Saturday. One of these things must logically happen if QF1 is 14 hours late.,,,

QF10 on Saturday 1 April is predicted to depart 150 minutes late at 1600 (normally 1330) due to it being formed by the QF9 arrival. The DXB stop is predicted to be from 0140 to 0315 hours on Sunday 2 April - a departure time 100 minutes later than the timetabled 0135 hours - with MEL arrival at 2205 hours on Sunday 2 being an anticipated 70 minutes late. The 2255 hours MEL - DXB - LHR (QF9) on Sunday 2 will be unable to depart until at least 2345 but provided the weather is agreeable it can often pick up time on a gate-to-gate basis to DXB.

After QF1's delayed arrival, expected at 2100 hours, QF2 on Saturday 1 April is showing as departing LHR at 2250 (75 minutes late) with Sunday 2 April DXB arrival estimated as an hour late at 0830.

As always, hotel and transfer arrangements advice from passengers booked on the Friday 31 March QF1 that is delayed to an 0800 hours estimated departure on Saturday 1 April would be welcome.

 

[Melburnian1]

Friday 31 March sees QF1510, the 0815 hours MEL - HBA QantasLink cancelled.

The media is giving conflicting information about flights to and from HTI but the latest appears to be that these are cancelled until at least Sunday 2 April.

 

[moa999]

It appears around 10 flights departed HTI today (QF, JQ, VA).
It seems the runway and taxiways are in operable condition. The ATC tower is kaput, the terminal building is damaged and there is no data, i.e. all check-in, ticketing and tagging has to be done manually.
There should be additional flights tomorrow.

These are obviously special flights to get people off the island.
Whether the authorities will allow flights to continue after this period is another matter.