Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Flyerqf]

As per usual practice a delayed transcontinental 747 QF12 from JFK also delays the transpacific 380 QF12.
It’s past midight in LAX and QF12 is still there. Several passengers complaining on social media that their flight did not depart on time so as to pick up some disrupted passengers. Interestingly they were saying they were waiting for the passengers while onboard the Nancy Bird 380 QF12. What I don’t understand is that the delayed QF12 arrived in LAX a little after 2200hrs. Their post was at 2330. Should not take 1.5 hours to transfer aircraft at TBIT.
Maybe the disrupted passengers were from another flight? QF codeshare from another part of the country?

And as usual QF94 does not wait. In this case it’s the 787 which is turning around as QF93 after arrival in MEL

QF96 was held though. For some strange reason QF94 was scheduled on this occasion to depart only 10 mins after the arrival of QF12, so no pax would have been connecting.

 

[Flyerqf]

The departure delay has become worse, to 1940 hours tonight (2240 AEDT.) Anticipated arrival of QF130 in SYD on Monday 12 March is 0915 instead of 0940 hours on Sunday, so almost a day late.

A333 VH-QPC had operated QF129 for three consecutive days but is now stuck in Shanghai enjoying a pleasant Sunday morning and arvo off.

Is the extra delay due to slot unavailability at either or both ends, or minimum crew rest times?

Looks like Saturday QF130 is awaiting the inbound Sunday QF129.

There may still be an issue with the aircraft as the Sunday QF130 is delayed several hours.

 

[Quickstatus]

QF96 was held though. For some strange reason QF94 was scheduled on this occasion to depart only 10 mins after the arrival of QF12, so no pax would have been connecting.

Yes QF96 only held for 45 min or so unlike Transpacific QF12. But nonetheless releases QF93 from waiting duties. Generally QF96 the later flight tend to have lower passenger numbers generally because it departs later and in previous flights was a 747 instead of the A380. Here both 94 and 96 were 787.

The one saving grace of a late transpacific QF12 is that it’s arrival into SYD avoids the Zoo in the immigration and quarantine hall between 7-9am.

Nancy Bird departed LAX 2 hours late arrival just after 1000 SYD. Some honeymooners on board cranky about first day of honeymoon not to expectation

 

[Quickstatus]

Interestingly QF74 (SFO-LAX) also assisted in the passenger uplift at LAX the evening 10/03/18.

Passenger on board reported that they were rerouted to LAX to uplift some disrupted passengers. Arrival into SYD predicted just a tad more than 2 hours.

While 2 747 operated JFK-LAX 10/3/18,delayed QF12 and QF12D, only one is operating it’s transpacific leg. Apparently VH-OEH QF12D is remaining in LAX. So understandable that QF74,12,96 were made to assist in the uplift of the delayed QF12 transcontinental and cancelled passengers form QF16 9/3/18

 

[Melburnian1]

Building on what Quickstatus just contributed, Saturday 10 March's QF12 departed LAX at 0037 hours on Sunday 11 (127 minutes late) so Monday 12 SYD arrival is suggested at 1005 hours, 85 minutes tardy. I agree with the transcon QF12 having arrived LAX at 2214, one might think the transferring could have been quicker.

QF16 from LAX to BNE departed 167 minutes late at 0207 hours; Monday arrival should be at 0900, 105 minutes tardy.

A388 VH-OQF on QF1 is just about to touch down in LHR as I write so it's pleasing to report that my guess a few posts back of a 1020 hours arrival will be close to the mark as it is likely to be at the terminal at 1016 hours.

QF74 should arrive in SYD on Monday at 0959 hours rather than the normal scheduled time of 0610, so almost four hours late due to the diverting via LAX.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Monday 12 March 2018, QF127 (the 'second SYD - HKG flight' as it usually has lower capacity now than QF117) is cancelled. It usually departs at 0930 hours. QF128, the 1750 hours HKG - SYD is also cancelled.

Due to the delayed QF107, QF108 on Sunday evening 11 March should push back in PEK at 0020 on Monday 12 (35 late) with SYD arrival suggested as 1455 hours, 40 minutes down.

Sundays QF3 departed 92 minutes late at 2107 from SYD with same day HNL arrival likely at 0930, an hour behind schedule. No obvious reason for A333 VH-QPB to be late as it had come in from HNL at 1803, 33 minutes late. It is operating QF3 for the third consecutive night.

QF4 is displaying as departing on time at 1000 from the US state but this is impossible, so expect pushing back at roughly 1040.

 

[moa999]

QF74 diversion interesting.. obviously must have had plenty of spare seats if they thought inconveniencing all the SFO-SYD pax was worthwhile.

Has QF done a diversion like this in the US before??

 

[Melburnian1]

The late arriving QF1 has delayed QF10 from its LHR scheduled departure of 1155 hours on Sunday 11 March by an expected hour.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF74 diversion interesting.. obviously must have had plenty of spare seats if they thought inconveniencing all the SFO-SYD pax was worthwhile.

Has QF done a diversion like this in the US before??

I cannot monitor every flight but from memory in the last five years, no. Very, very unusual I suspect.

After all, sometimes 'the 74' would be full so even if the airline wanted to divert it, there'd not be any point.

 

[Quickstatus]

QF74 diversion interesting.. obviously must have had plenty of spare seats if they thought inconveniencing all the SFO-SYD pax was worthwhile.

Has QF done a diversion like this in the US before??

I can’t pinpoont exactly but QF74 has done it before.
No winners in any delays/cancellations
I suppose making the best of a bad situation. I can understand why they did this but will never understand what they did at DXB 2 New Years ago when they offloaded an entire a380 passenger load to uplift another entire already delayed a380 group and calling that normal practice - they had not done that before

 

[moa999]

I presume that was a simple commercial decision that a 24+hr delay was never acceptable.

And for those who say it came down to one particular pax, it would have been very easy for QF to give them special treatment, they didn't..
I also understand many (or at least many of the elites) on the 2nd flight didn't suffer substantial delays.

 

[Quickstatus]

Who knows what the analysis was but they have never done it previously or since even though they maintain on social media that it was normal to do that

It was a massive logistical excercise at a remote port where they don’t have a large presence relying on contract staff to offload nearly 500 just to onload another group of 500 during what was perhaps some of the busiest periods at that airport.

 

[Melburnian1]

The overnight delayed QF130 (refer Flyerqf contribution a few posts back) departed PVG at 2043 hours on Sunday 11 March, 63 minutes later than that to which it had been rescheduled. Monday 12 SYD arrival should be 0945, a day plus five minutes late compared to the normal schedule.

Sunday 11's QF4 pushed back in HNL 79 minutes tardy at 1119 so on Monday 12 it should arrive SYD at 1835, 65 late.

QF11 on Sunday departed LAX an hour behind at 0920, arriving JFK at 1720 hours, 50 late.

On Monday 12, QF23 from SYD to BKK is predicted to depart half an hour late (1100) while QF19 to MNL should be 25 minutes late pushing back at 1250 hours.

 

[jb747]

Who knows what the analysis was but they have never done it previously or since even though they maintain on social media that it was normal to do that.

Many took the bloke who made that decision to task. The only saving grace in the decision was that there was never any intention of delaying the second group of passengers more than marginally. The broken aircraft was, at that time fixed, and they simply wanted to swap aircraft destinations. It just didn't stay fixed for long. If I recall correctly, the flaps had not been rigged correctly ex Manila.

 

[Quickstatus]

@jb747 do you know what was the operational effect of the incorrect flap installation?

 

[jb747]

@jb747 do you know what was the operational effect of the incorrect flap installation?

It would cause a flap asymmetry warning, and lock the flaps in position.

So, taking off, they'd move until the trip, and then you'd not be able to retract or extend them any further. So, dump the fuel and land.

If it happened on an arrival, they'd again extend to a degree, and then lock, and you'd have to land with whatever you had.

If it happened as you were selecting flaps for departure, it would again lock, but at least you're now on the ground...

The aircraft is quite benign, even without any flap, but it increases the approach speed quite dramatically, and so requires a lot more runway. The pitch attitude on approach and into the flare is also greater, which increases the risk of a tail strike.

 

[Flyerqf]

Who knows what the analysis was but they have never done it previously or since even though they maintain on social media that it was normal to do that

It was a massive logistical excercise at a remote port where they don’t have a large presence relying on contract staff to offload nearly 500 just to onload another group of 500 during what was perhaps some of the busiest periods at that airport.

Looks like the same thing occurred overnight in Shanghai with the plane that was due to operate Sunday’s QF130 pushed into operating the 24 hour late Saturday QF130 and Sunday’s pax from QF130 delayed overnight instead.

 

[Quickstatus]

Slightly different. In that case an entire aircraft was not offloaded to accomodate another.

Delays/cancellations are often unavoidable. Ive always accepted that there are other factors that are more important in the operation of an airline than fare payers.

 

[Melburnian1]

Although Monday 12 March's QF23 was supposed to depart half an hour late, it ended up so doing at 1143 hours, 73 late, meaning likely BKK arrival at 1648, 38 minutes tardy.

QF15 from BNE to LAX is delayed an hour to 1120 in its pushback but it's already 1135 in BNE.

 

[Flyerqf]

QF130 (Mon) is delayed 4 hours. It looks like yesterday’s QF130 will be formed by today’s QF129 and therefore the 4 hr delayed QF130 will be operated by the aircraft with mechanical issue delaying the last 2 days.