Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[BD1959]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

And again the reason CX and SQ can run multiple flights a day to HKG and SIN, apart from strong O&D traffic, is the fact that HKG and SIN are their respective hubs. Both can run traffic from Asia (including SYD/MEL/BNE/PER/ADL) before sending it one stop to their EU destinations - no different to EK in DXB and what QF is promoting with the EK partnership.

While it is sad QF has cut back Europe routes, the lack of a centrally located hub to allow one stop flights makes it very difficult to compete with competitors with lower cost bases, competitive premium products and a geographical advantage. Is there really a strong O&D premium market for AUS-FCO? ATH? CDG has had traffic rights issues. So that only really leaves Germany. A 330 PER-DXB-Berlin might be all that could be viable, considering EK traffic rights issues

QF should really be compared to the likes of BA and NZ, the only 2 carriers not stopping over in their own hub.

So, in the name of a "partnership" QF drop SIN-FRA and hub through DXB so that there is greater synergy for the Partners: QF can load onto EK into Europe and EK can load onto QF into LHR.

Except, QF "due to the usual load factor reasons" which have plagued it since Adam used to fly, don't seem to get the loads ex-EK into DXB to increase even their standard flights. Wasn't DXB supposedly the new"hub"?

Meanwhile, even BA has now managed to turn LHR-SYD from a marginal route to a profitable route (helped by the newer 777s) ... seems everyone is gaining from this partnership except one of the partners!

Regards,

BD

 

[defurax]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

So, in the name of a "partnership" QF drop SIN-FRA and hub through DXB so that there is greater synergy for the Partners: QF can load onto EK into Europe and EK can load onto QF into LHR.

Except, QF "due to the usual load factor reasons" which have plagued it since Adam used to fly, don't seem to get the loads ex-EK into DXB to increase even their standard flights. Wasn't DXB supposedly the new"hub"?

Meanwhile, even BA has now managed to turn LHR-SYD from a marginal route to a profitable route (helped by the newer 777s) ... seems everyone is gaining from this partnership except one of the partners!

Regards,

BD

It's complicated you know...kerosene price, industrial actions, government rules (Qantas sale act), all these factors are unique to QF in the aviation industry!

 

[BD1959]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

It's complicated you know...kerosene price, industrial actions, government rules (Qantas sale act), all these factors are unique to QF in the aviation industry!

Yes, I know. Isn't this why a certain CEO is uniquely paid 3x regional airline CEO rates, to understand, mitigate and succeed against "complicated"?
Regards,

BD

 

[Mr_Orange]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

So, in the name of a "partnership" QF drop SIN-FRA and hub through DXB so that there is greater synergy for the Partners: QF can load onto EK into Europe and EK can load onto QF into LHR.

Except, QF "due to the usual load factor reasons" which have plagued it since Adam used to fly, don't seem to get the loads ex-EK into DXB to increase even their standard flights. Wasn't DXB supposedly the new"hub"?

Meanwhile, even BA has now managed to turn LHR-SYD from a marginal route to a profitable route (helped by the newer 777s) ... seems everyone is gaining from this partnership except one of the partners!

Regards,

BD

No matter how much spin AJ puts on it, the EK partnership has been a dismal failure and unpopular with many (but not all) pax.

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Tonight (Friday 19 September 2014) QF10 is due into MEL an hour and 54 minutes late at 2249. Although it had departed LHR on Thursday two minutes early at 1328 and only arrived DXB 15" late at 2340, it spent overtime there and did not depart until 0331 this morning, an hour and 56 minutes late. Aircraft is VH-OQJ.

In consequence, QF9 from MEL to LHR via DXB is expected to be delayed from 2255 tonight until 0040 on Saturday 20 September.

 

[love_the_life]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

/Rant
A massive fail by QF staff in Bundaberg on Thursday and a mess now to fix. QF 2325 due out of BNB at 17.35 to connect to Canberra (QF 1553) at 7.15pm. Check in nice and early, have used my own points to upgrade to J on the BNE - CBR leg. So far so good. Announcement that QF 2325 will be a delayed departure due to problems at BNE airport and to please see ground staff as I will miss the connection. OK, a bit of an inconvenience but off I go to find said staff. He explains the problem and the two alternatives - stay in BDB overnight or go through to BNE and stay there. Here's the rub. He was adamant that because it was air traffic control in BNE that caused the delay, it was not QF's problem (his words) and that I would be responsible for the cost of accommodation overnight wherever I chose to be. As I was travelling for work, this meant a lot of organising to ensure that a breach did not occur. This included written permission for the use of public moneys (i.e. to use my CC for a taxi, to book a hotel) and contacting AOT the government accommodation supplier to arrange a room in BNE (breach if you do not use them but I must admit they were good). By this time they were calling the flight so it was nearly an hour later.
Not best pleased with the situation but given that I needed to make arrangements in line with government policy I had to work off what I was told by staff in BDB. I brought it up with check in at BNE the next morning and was told that QF should have covered accommodation/taxi etc as it was a failure to provide carriage. The very helpful checkin guy quickly outlined the process to try and get reimbursed. The mess is that it was not my own money, it was booked through the government supplier and there will be a bit of to-ing and fro-ing I am sure so that any refund is credited correctly to our agency as well as movement req and credit card acquittal headaches. BNE said that BDB staff are not QF staff but are contracted and really did not know what they were doing. If they did not, why didn't they just tell me to contact the passenger service desk in BNE to sort it out.
Pain, pain, pain!
/Rant over

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Today's A330 QF35 from MEL to SIn is timetabled to depart at 0945 but has been delayed until 1730 tonight, Saturday 20 September 2014. Its delayed arrival into SIN at 2300 means that QF36 is expected to be delayed from 2100 to 0020 on Sunday morning departing SIN, with a projected arrival in MEL on Sunday 21 September at 0930, well behind EK404 on which QF passengers can also travel if they choose.

I am as yet unable to see if this means that QF29 ex MEL to HKG or QF35 to SIN tomorrow (Sunday) will also be delayed but there must be a good chance as there may not be a spare A330 in MEL. 29 and 35 are due out within 10 minutes of one another at 0935 and 0945 in utilisation that assists in making the QF MEL airside lounges look busy at 0815 of a morning.

love_the_life, good on you to take the time to arrange reimbursement of the money to your government supplier. Very moral and ethical.

QF's attitude contrasts with that of surface travel providers (particularly railways) who always organise alternative transport. Of course QF may not be able to do exactly that in the circumstances outlined above, but it has a responsibility to arrange accommodation for love_the_life given that the flight was delayed.

By the way, the Airline customer advocate may be able to assist if a traveller has gone to an airline but not received reimbursment. Contact details are on each of the four major Australian domestic airlines' websites.

 

[N860CR]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Make sure feedback goes in regarding that. Qantas outsource most regional port operations and are currently swapping to the "lowest bidder" for most so this sort of massive stuff up should be documented.

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

This morning's QF35 was originally retimed to depart at 1730, seven hours and 45 minutes late, but has since been put back further to 1800 and now 1830. That's rarely good when an already delayed flight is further delayed.

It must have been galling for delayed passengers to watch EK405 (also bound for SIN) departing four minute early at 1756.

Tonight's QF36 passengers at SIN face a long wait.

UPDATE: QF35 was further delayed on the www.qantas.com.au site to 1850. However at 1858, it had still not departed.

FURTHER UPDATE: QF35 finally departed at 1916, nine hours and 31 minutes late (VH-EBI.) It is forecast to arrive SIN at 0045 on Sunday morning, so QF36 back to MEL will not be able to depart before 0200, meaning about an 1100 - 1130 arrival in MEL local time.

 

[Flyerqf]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

This morning's QF35 was originally retimed to depart at 1730, seven hours and 45 minutes late, but has since been put back further to 1800 and now 1830. That's rarely good when an already delayed flight is further delayed.

It must have been galling for delayed passengers to watch EK405 (also bound for SIN) departing four minute early at 1756.

Tonight's QF36 passengers at SIN face a long wait.

UPDATE: QF35 was further delayed on the www.qantas.com.au site to 1850. However at 1858, it had still not departed.

FURTHER UPDATE: QF35 finally departed at 1916, nine hours and 31 minutes late. It is forecast to arrive SIN at 0045 on Sunday morning, so QF36 back to MEL will not be able to depart before 0200, meaning about an 1100 - 1130 arrival in MEL local time.

An A330-200 is operating the flight, instead of the A330-300 that was scheduled.

Assuming they fix the A333 in time, there should be no flow on delays to tomorrow's QF29 and 35.

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

flyerqf, yes you are correct, because tomorrow morning QF36 is booked in to arrive at a different gate at MEL to what the outbound QF29 and QF35 are departing from. So it suggests as you say that (other events going OK) there will not be any delays. I couldn't assume that earlier as I don't carry a copy of the QF plane roster with me!

 

[Flyerqf]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Normally QF36 turns around to operate QF29. But tomorrow the A332 operating QF36 should go back on to Domestic services.

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Thankfully, a relatively unusual reason for QF24 from BKK to SYD making an unscheduled stop in CNS today:

Qantas flight diverted because of drunk, Scotch-stealing passenger

The flight stopped in CNS from 0548 to 0646, arriving SYD at 0910, 145 minutes late.

While none of us were there, to have two AFP officers on the flight plus seven more allegedly restrain the drunk idiot seems a bit of an overreaction. Surely four big burly blokes would be sufficient?

 

[mannej]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

While none of us were there, to have two AFP officers on the flight plus seven more allegedly restrain the drunk idiot seems a bit of an overreaction. Surely four big burly blokes would be sufficient?

Without being there that is but of an assumption is it not?

 

[JessicaTam]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Thankfully, a relatively unusual reason for QF24 from BKK to SYD making an unscheduled stop in CNS today:

Qantas flight diverted because of drunk, Scotch-stealing passenger

The flight stopped in CNS from 0548 to 0646, arriving SYD at 0910, 145 minutes late.

While none of us were there, to have two AFP officers on the flight plus seven more allegedly restrain the drunk idiot seems a bit of an overreaction. Surely four big burly blokes would be sufficient?

The article states that "about seven Australian Federal Police officers escorted the male passenger from the plane".

It doesn't say anywhere that the seven officers restrained him.

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Fair enough JessicaTam. I was wondering how seven would fit even in a business class aisle. Two people 'of stature' have difficulty passing one another, let alone a few more crowded around.

It amazes me how in 2014 individuals think they can get on board planes inebriated, or even if they were not at that stage, get sufficiently drunk on board to cause upset to others.

I suppose these days it is always possible that there are other substances involved such as methamphetamines.

A problem for airlines or surface travel providers in pursuing such individuals through civil action is that a goodly percentage may have no monetary assets to speak of.

 

[JohnK]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Thankfully, a relatively unusual reason for QF24 from BKK to SYD making an unscheduled stop in CNS today:

Qantas flight diverted because of drunk, Scotch-stealing passenger

The flight stopped in CNS from 0548 to 0646, arriving SYD at 0910, 145 minutes late.

While none of us were there, to have two AFP officers on the flight plus seven more allegedly restrain the drunk idiot seems a bit of an overreaction. Surely four big burly blokes would be sufficient?

At least one of us was on that flight.

Don't ever want go through anything like it ever again.

 

[mannej]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

At least one of us was on that flight.

Don't ever want go through anything like it ever again.

Welcome back JohnK

 

[JessicaTam]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

At least one of us was on that flight.

Don't ever want go through anything like it ever again.

Sounds like an interesting time (!). A topic for when we next meet.

 

[JohnK]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

While none of us were there, to have two AFP officers on the flight plus seven more allegedly restrain the drunk idiot seems a bit of an overreaction. Surely four big burly blokes would be sufficient?

Not sufiicient. Even restrained he was a danger to those around him. He was across the aisle from me and I was scared. I had to move down the back a few times.

He was refused service of alcohol early. Spoken to nicely. He kept stealing the alcohol from galleys's and/or had his own. Caught many times. Spoken to nicely by AFP a few times until he started to lose the plot. The reason we diverted was he had broken 2-3 restraints on board already. Spat at crew. Swore. Was like Jekyll and Hyde.

Still don't have computer. Would love to read some of the articles.