Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

QF19 on Wednesday 13 December arrived MNL at 1839 (69 late), departing 59 minutes behind time as QF20 at 1959. SYD arrival on Thursday 14 should be at 0800 hours, 105 minutes late.

Possibly related to Flyerqf's B744 VH-OEI HND presence note above, tonight's QF26 is delayed from 2200 to 2355 with expected Thursday 14 arrival in SYD at 1035, an hour late.

 

[Melburnian1]

As Christmas travellers increase, QF63 (1135 hours SYD - JNB) departed 178 minutes late at 1433 on Thursday 14 December, mid afternoon, from SYD to JNB where projected arrival is 1850 hours same day, 135 late. This will delay the redeye QF64 back to SYD although quite often it manages to pick up some time on a gate-to-gate basis. B744 VH-OEF is the taskmaster: it had arrived (ex HND) in SYD on QF26 at about 1119 hours, 104 minutes late, so that explains the delay, although the turnaround took above an hour more than 'best practice.'

QF81 (A332 VH-EBS), also an 1135 ex SYD left at 1211, so arrival in SIN has become an estimated 1750, 65 minutes behind time.

The 1305 hours SYD - HKG (QF117, A388 VH-OQB) got away at 1432; arrival should be 2025 tonight, 70 minutes tardy. This flight became an A388 effective (as airlines like to say) 10 December 2017. I will refrain from using the word 'upgauged' as it has the whiff of another mode of transport. Let's say 'increased seating capacity' instead. QF127 used to be the QF SYD - HKG offering with the higher capacity but as Flyerqf let us know some days ago, that has changed.

Wednesday 13's QF9 departed MEL on Thursday 14 at 0044 hours, 79 minutes late, arriving DXB at 0744, 74 down on the timetable. Departure was only 46 late at 0916 this morning; LHR arrival is estimated at 1301 hours, 21 minutes late.

Today (Thursday 14) QF1549 (1410 hours BNE down to CBR, B717 VH-NXJ) took off at 1533. Arrival is suggested as 1813 hours, 73 minutes late.

 

[jb747]

....I will refrain from using the word 'upgauged' as it has the whiff of another mode of transport.

Shotgun...?

 

[Melburnian1]

Due to the late arrival of QF94 at 0937 hours on Friday 15 December, QF93 from MEL to LAX (the 1115 hours) had not departed by 1232.

The 1135 hours SYD up to SIN, QF81 is expected to depart 115 minutes late at 1330 with arrival at 1820, 95 late tonight in the Lion City.

QF63 is also an 1135 hours scheduled ex SYD, but to JNB and amazingly is also delayed to a projected 1330 in its departure.

The 1305 hours SYD - HKG A388 (QF117) is expected to depart 25 late but arrival should be half an hour late at 1945 hours.

QF19 (1225 hours early afternoon SYD - MNL) should push back at 1415; arrival is predicted at 1835, 65 late.

The 1250 hours long haul from SYD across to SCL, QF27 (B744) shoudl depart 35 late at 1325 with arrival suggested as 40 late at 1150.

The 1755 hours SYD - SFO (QF73) B744 is predicted to depart at 1945 hours. It has to wait for the arriving QF64 at 1734 (124 minutes late) as QF64 is forming QF73. This intensive utilisation is probably terrific for shareholders but poor for travellers, who may compare QF's unreliability with some competitors (the latter imperfect, but often better than QF.)

UPDATE: A388 VH-OQE on QF93 departed at 1243, taking off at 1301. Arrival should be at 0736, 61 late in LAX.

 

[Melburnian1]

Thursday 14 December's QF12 arrived in LAX at 2119 hours, 24 late (ex LAX) but the connecting QF12 did not depart 'Hollywood' until 0027 on Friday 15 (117 late) so Saturday 16 arrival in SYD should be at 0955 hours, 85 minutes behind the scheduled.

 

[Melburnian1]

A previously omitted report is that B789 VH-ZNB, the second one delivered to QF was late on its first two revnue flights.

On Thursday 14 December, it operated QF414, the 0800 hours from MEL to SYD that was airborne at 0913, arriving at 1024, 59 late. It returned as QF427, the 1100 that took off at 1209, arriving MEL at 1329 hours, 54 minutes tardy. It was not used yesterday. I assume it is on today's (16 December) second 'resumed' QF95, the 1425 hours MEL - LAX.

On Friday 15 December, QF64 departed JNB at 2116, 146 minutes late after a turnaround from QF63 that took 129 minutes, about 25 minutes slower than a 'top speed' one. SYD arrival on Saturday 16 is estimated as 1725, 115 minutes late. It should then form the first Christmas QF75 from SYD to YVR at 1915, pretty close to a minimum turnaround. Let's hope the aircraft is properly cleaned.

Also on Saturday 16, QF28 from SCL should arrive in SYD at 1850, 70 minutes late.

QF20 from MNL arrived 80 minutes late at 0735 hours as yesterday QF19 was delayed.

 

[Flying mermaid]

QF12 (15 Dec), currently delayed 90 minutes in New York. Watching this one as Dr FM joins it in LAX.

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on Saturday 16 December, QF143 (A332 VH-EBB, the 1015 hours SYD - AKL that was airborne at 1113) should arrive at 1557, 37 minutes late.

QF117 (1135 SYD - HKG) pushed back 32 minutes late. Arrival is suggested at 1826, 41 late.

QF19 is delayed for the second consecutive day with departure expected 95 late at 1400, and MNL arrival 80 late at 1850.

 

[Flying mermaid]

QF12 (15 Dec), currently delayed 90 minutes in New York. Watching this one as Dr FM joins it in LAX.

departed now 3.5 hours late, but is scheduled to only be an hour late into Sydney

Update - now 3 hours late into Sydney. Dr FM was silly enough to make arrangements to have lunch with friends - looks like she will be taking her luggage to lunch

Update - now 4 hours late (and the plane still hasn’t taken off). Don’t think the luggage will make it to lunch

And it has finally arrived 4 hrs 35 min late.

 

[Melburnian1]

B744 VH-OJU on QF27 (Saturday 16 December 1250 hours SYD - SCL that departed at 1423) should arrive at 1235 hours, 85 minutes tardy, thereby delaying QF28's same day scheduled departure.

 

[Melburnian1]

In further on 16 December 2017, QF73 from SYD departed 173 minutes late at 2046. Same day arrival should be at 1445 hours, 140 late.

QF75 (the first one of the season) was away from SYD 65 late at 2020 with arrival likely at 1505, an hour late.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Friday 15 December, the first (resumed) QF96 departed LAX at 0002 (Sat 16), 37 minutes late, appropriately with the initial B789 in the QF fleet, VH-ZNA. Arrival on Sunday 7 in MEL was at 1`051, 41 late.

Earlier, QF94 on the same route had arrived 36 late at 0936 hours.

The SYD - SIN QF81 is predicted to depart 25 minutes tardy at 1200 hours 'high noon' arrival should be half an hour behind time at 1715.

The 1130 hours long haul from SYD to LAX is predicted to depart at 1200 'high noon.' Usually this flight easily makes up such a deficit.

QF35 (MEL - SIN) should depart 35 late at 1300 hours early this afternoon.

Another B744 delay (adding to many in the past few weeks) is QF27 (1250 hours SYD - SCL) that is suggested as departing 150 minutes late at 1520 for arrival in Chile at 1345, 155 late. Inevitably, QF28 returning overnight will be late.

UPDATE: QF27 has been further delayed to an expected 1535 hours departure. While too early to publicly tell, it is not impossible that because of this the Monday 18 QF75 (SYD - YVR) may be delayed.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with Sunday 17 December, QF11 departed SYD later than predicted, at 1222 hours (52 late); LAX arrival should be at 0705 hours, 45 late.

QF11 from LAX across to JFK is suggested as departing 75 minutes tardy at 0935 with arrival 80 late. This will adversely affect QF12 back to LAX.

The third flight of QF95 since its resumption (now a B789) has seen its first major delay with departure at 1822 hours (237 late.) Anticipated arrival for VH-ZNA is 1240, 175 late. Not clear what went wrong given it came in unexceptionally on QF96 this morning. Embarrassing to have a major delay on the third flight if it was due to a defective plane.

 

[ayebee]

QF11 from LAX across to JFK is suggested as departing 75 minutes tardy at 0935 with arrival 80 late. This will adversely affect QF12 back to LAX.

Hi Mel1,
I was watching QF11/12/94 as my daughter is heading home from NYC for Christmas.
(16 Dec) QF11 departed LAX late but seemed to make up considerable time - maybe favourable winds - to arrive JFK only 10 minutes late.
QF12 passengers initially advised departure as boarding 5.50pm for a 6.20pm departure (20 late) but ended up departing an hour late, with similar delay arriving LAX.
Having a vested interest, I was happy to see QF94 held at LAX for connecting passengers and it departed about an hour late. MEL arrival is in the lap of the winds, but I assume between 30 and 60 minutes late.

 

[Himeno]

Having a vested interest, I was happy to see QF94 held at LAX for connecting passengers and it departed about an hour late. MEL arrival is in the lap of the winds, but I assume between 30 and 60 minutes late.

QF96 must be getting heavy loads then.
With the new 787 flights, it's even more unlikely that QF94 will get held as if 94 is too late arriving in MEL, the next 93 can be delayed, and with the 787 now available to spread delayed connecting pax from NY, the only reason to hold 94 is if the MEL connections from JFK can't be accommodated on available seats on 16, 12 and 96.

It looks like QF96 also departed LAX late at 0031.

94 departed 57 mins late and is forecast to be 18 late.

 

[ayebee]

QF96 must be getting heavy loads then.
With the new 787 flights, it's even more unlikely that QF94 will get held as if 94 is too late arriving in MEL, the next 93 can be delayed, and with the 787 now available to spread delayed connecting pax from NY, the only reason to hold 94 is if the MEL connections from JFK can't be accommodated on available seats on 16, 12 and 96.

It looks like QF96 also departed LAX late at 0031.

94 departed 57 mins late and is forecast to be 18 late.

Had the same thought that maybe she would get moved to 96. I think in our future NYC visits we will book 96 routinely.
I had noted QF12 JFK-LAX only had a few empty seats, so a lot of pax to juggle, and in end 94 was scheduled for only a 30 minute delay.
Arrival 18 late was optimistic I think.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF96 is expected to arrive in MEL on Monday 18 December at 1105 hours, 55 minutes late. This means on the third trip of the reinvigorated QF95/QF96 rotation, flights are late in both directions.

The other flight ex LAX, higher capacity QF94 should arrive in MEL at 0934 hours, 34 minutes late. ayebee was correct to suggest that '18 minutes late' was an optimistic forecast. Generally the QF website recalculates projected arrival times once the aircraft has reached cruising altitude. Often - but not always - the arrival time becomes later as the original forecast of the time taken between the gate and takeoff turned out to be optimistic.

Sunday 17 December saw QF28 depart SCL at 1606 hours, 151 minutes late. SYD arrival tonight is estimated at 1950, 130 minutes behind schedule.

 

[ayebee]

The other flight ex LAX, higher capacity QF94 should arrive in MEL at 0934 hours, 34 minutes late. ayebee was correct to suggest that '18 minutes late' was an optimistic forecast. Generally the QF website recalculates projected arrival times once the aircraft has reached cruising altitude. Often - but not always - the arrival time becomes later as the original forecast of the time taken between the gate and takeoff turned out to be optimistic.

Last night's 94 was ready with connecting pax 30 late, but passengers then told there was paperwork problem for some freight. The quickest solution was to remove the freight rather than fix the paperwork. So the delay extended.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Sunday 17 December, QF12, the 1800 hours JFK - LAX departed at 1924. Arrival is said to be at roughly 2235 hours, 100 late, meaning that the different aircraft on QF12 to SYD will depart at least an hour late, as will QF16 to BNE.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Sunday 17 December, QF12, the 1800 hours JFK - LAX departed at 1924. Arrival was at 2226 hours, 91 late, meaning that the different aircraft on QF12 to SYD departed 85 late at 2355 hours but is picking up a lot of time with Tuesday 19 arrival in SYD estimated at 0824 hours, six minutes early!

In contrast QF16 departed LAX 86 late at 0046 hours on Monday 18 December; BNE arrival (Tuesday 19) should be 50 late at 0805 hours.

Also on 17, QF10 (1155 hours ex LHR, A388 VH-OQH) did not depart until extremely late at 1735, 340 minutes tardy. The intermediate DXB stop was from 0430 hours on Monday 18 December (325 minutes late) to 0648 (343 late) so arrival in MEL is estimated at a shocking time on Tuesday 19, to wit 0307 hours, which would be 342 late. Often airlines manage to reduce the time at intermediate stops but not on this occasion.

This means that tonight's 2325 hours late night scheduled QF9 becomes an estimated 0500 hours departure on Tuesday 19, with the DXB stop projected from 1205 to 1400 hours and then LHR arrival at around 1815, 335 minutes late. In practice by recent observation it may be possible to pick up some of the deficit but as always 'it depends', and rarely do two days appear to be identical.

This is the worst timekeeping for QF10 observed for some weeks. It was because on 17 December, QF1 (A388 VH-OQA) arrived LHR slightly late at 0657, but sat in LHR all day, forming QF2 at night that took off at a delayed 2316, arriving DXB on Monday 18 (today) at 0926 hours, 91 minutes late. It is claimed to be departing DXB at 1130 hours, 115 late with Tuesday 19 SYD arrival projected as 0820 hours, 110 late.

The result was that VH-OQH arrived in LHR at 1403 hours (83 late) and then had the long turnaround described.

Tonight's (local time) Monday 18 December 2045 hours LHR - DXB QF2 is suggested as departing and arriving on time, but then being delayed - I'm guessing due to crew rest requirements - until 1415 hours in DXB on Tuesday for SYD arrival at 1105 hours on Wednesday 20, 275 minutes tardy.

The Tuesday 19 December QF2 ex LHR should in theory be unaffected but that will alter if tonight's QF10 to QF9 turnaround in MEL is significantly slower than assumed, or if time is lost re gate ex MEL to arrival at gate in LHR for QF9.

So the Christmas holiday 'fun' has begun for long distance QF passengers.