Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Here is a summary of SYD weather conditions including what may be a QF plane close to lightning:

Live: Severe thunderstorm to hit Sydney

 

[pythonisman]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Colleagues on 17:10 flight to MEL this arvo were informed the inbound aircraft was hit by lightning and their flight from CBR was cancelled.

I've been bumped from 17:55 to 18:55, then cancelled, now finally on QF1494 from CBR to SYD due to weather etc.

Thankfully a WP colleague guested me into the J lounge where I am enjoying myself alone at present...

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

pythonisman, QF1486. the 1630 from CBR to SYD departed 10 minutes behind time at 1640. It then went to Newcastle (Port Stephens) where it arrived at 1822. It was supposed to depart from the latter at 1945 (although may not yet have) for an amended 2025 arrival in SYD, three hours late (although probably later due to the number of delayed flights trying to get in).

Providing it was not delayed by signalling knowcked out by lightning (always a possibility), it would have been quicker to get the 1725 NSWTrainLink XPlorer from Canberra's Kinston railway station to Sydney Central, or to drive.

QF1420 and QF1484 from CBR to SYD were cancelled while others are significantly late.

 

[pythonisman]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Yep, I'm well aware. We've just been bumped back another half hour too... Current departure ETA is 2045. I'm not holding my breath...

 

[Pushka]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Adl flight now departed. Phew.

 

[JMFK]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

I'm pretty friggin' dirty this morning. 9am QF418 to SYD was cancelled in MEL this morning - was advised at 0518. Called at 0530. Was told no flights available that would get us our connection to OOL at 1145. Looked at options to get us into BNE. Told the agent I'd call Hertz and see if I could change my hire car.

When I couldn't, I called Qantas at 0545 and was told by a different agent to head to the Airport ASAP to get on a standby list.

I live over an hour from the airport, but hustled my way there and got to the desk at 0732. Was told no flights, earliest available was 2pm.

When I said I was told to head to the Airport immediately to get on a standby list, agent said she couldn't put me on a standby list as all more flights were already 20+ oversold.

I would've hoped that as a WP, with a connection, I would've received some sort of priority in being rebooked on either the 830 or 930 service - evidently this is not the case and we are now faced with a 7 hour delay.

There's only so much lounge food you can eat.

 

[Ansett]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

I'm pretty friggin' dirty this morning. 9am QF418 to SYD was cancelled in MEL this morning - was advised at 0518. Called at 0530. Was told no flights available that would get us our connection to OOL at 1145. Looked at options to get us into BNE. Told the agent I'd call Hertz and see if I could change my hire car.

When I couldn't, I called Qantas at 0545 and was told by a different agent to head to the Airport ASAP to get on a standby list.

I live over an hour from the airport, but hustled my way there and got to the desk at 0732. Was told no flights, earliest available was 2pm.

When I said I was told to head to the Airport immediately to get on a standby list, agent said she couldn't put me on a standby list as all more flights were already 20+ oversold.

I would've hoped that as a WP, with a connection, I would've received some sort of priority in being rebooked on either the 830 or 930 service - evidently this is not the case and we are now faced with a 7 hour delay.

There's only so much lounge food you can eat.

That is some what disappointing.

How about they transfer you to Jetstar?

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Or better still, JMFK, QF could purchase a ticket for you on VA (if a spare seat could be found), although that's probably against company policy now as it would be seen as 'introducing' you to 'the competitor.'

Overbooking is nothing new although who knows, there could have been passengers meant to fly last night who could not due to the storms and resultant mucked up timetables.

Please let us know what flights and times you finally depart(ed) MEL and SYD and arrive in OOL (or BNE).

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Tuesday 2 December's QF10 did not depart LHR until 1552, 127 minutes late. It arrived DXB at 0146 on Wednesday 3 December, 136 late, and departed at 0313, 118 minutes behind the table.

It then arrived MEL this morning at 0034, 239 minutes late, losing almost two hours in running, which I assume was due to winds working against it, as it does not appear to have been diverted anywhere.

As a result, QF9, the 2355 hours Wednesday DXB and LHR flight did not depart MEL until 0254 this morning, 179 minutes late and is forecast into DXB at 0950, three hours and five minutes behind schedule with a rather optimistic target of arriving LHR 130 minutes late at 1435 in lieu of the scheduled 1225.

Thankfully this ought not delay tonight's QF2 from LHR to DXB and SYD.

 

[JMFK]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

That is some what disappointing.

How about they transfer you to Jetstar?

Believe me, I asked (JQ Fly direct too), was told Supervisor said they couldn't.

 

[docjames]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Believe me, I asked (JQ Fly direct too), was told Supervisor said they couldn't.

One option would have been to cancel ticket with QF (demand full refund) then purchase ticket direct on VA. Will undoubtedly cost more (buying last minute ticket) but get you there closer to planned time. VA are often quite reasonable about pricing in this situation.

 

[JMFK]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

One option would have been to cancel ticket with QF (demand full refund) then purchase ticket direct on VA. Will undoubtedly cost more (buying last minute ticket) but get you there closer to planned time. VA are often quite reasonable about pricing in this situation.

Get this. On the phone, one of the options offered was a partial refund, and I could rebook on Jetstar at market rate, + pay for new baggage. (We buy 3 additional pieces and must fly Qantas as we exceed JQ's 80kg limit).

I declined the generous offer.

 

[docjames]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Get this. On the phone, one of the options offered was a partial refund, and I could rebook on Jetstar at market rate, + pay for new baggage. (We buy 3 additional pieces and must fly Qantas as we exceed JQ's 80kg limit).

I declined the generous offer.

Pathetic. You'll have to let us know which flight you eventually get and when you get to BNE or OOL.

 

[JMFK]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Pathetic. You'll have to let us know which flight you eventually get and when you get to BNE or OOL.

Jumped on an 1130 to SYD (thought we'd at least split our time 50/50 between the SYD + MEL lounge...now in SYD waiting for our 1630 flight to OOL.

 

[docjames]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

I guess with SYD-OOL at 1630 there's no benefit in going to BNE as the transfer is over an hour additional and a PITA.

Best of luck.

Jumped on an 1130 to SYD (thought we'd at least split our time 50/50 between the SYD + MEL lounge...now in SYD waiting for our 1630 flight to OOL.

 

[JMFK]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Arrived at OOL just after 1700. What a day!

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

JMFK, you may have had a slightly more comfortable day than our friends on QF93's Thursday 4 December 2014's departure ex MEL that was altered from its usual 1155 to eventually depart at 0208 this morning (Friday 5 December). It is forecast to arrive in LAX at 2105 which means a probable late departure for QF94, the 2250 hours flight back to MEL.

Here is a discussion of possible maintenance and crew issues:

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....requent-flyer-program/qf93-delayed-64673.html

0200 is a most unnatural time to depart on any public transport although EK has an even worse departure around 0300 ex MEL daily.

There are also some bad delays in SYD this morning. QF405, the 0630 to MEL (767 VH-OGO) did not pull out of SYD until 0824 and hence is not due in MEL until at least 0940, 95 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

More stormy weather that by the looks of it may have resulted in SYD being closed for part of this afternoon has resulted in many delays.

QF438 (VH-EBB) took off from MEL at 1625 (having been timetabled off blocks at 1400) and is about to arrive SYD at around 1831, three hours and six minutes late, having lost about 50 minutes in a holding pattern.

QF28 (B744 VH-OEE) is deviating into MEL where it should arrive in a few minutes at about 1840, 55 minutes after it was due into SYD ex SCL. The earliest it could be in SYD, even with a 20 minute brief stop, is 2030 but the aircraft may require refuelling. A long trip becomes even less bearable for those in whY, although not QF's fault. MEL does not play host to 747s like it used to so in one sense (for aviation enthusiasts) the plane may be a welcome sight.

 

[defurax]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

More stormy weather that by the looks of it may have resulted in SYD being closed for part of this afternoon has resulted in many delays.

QF438 (VH-EBB) took off from MEL at 1625 (having been timetabled off blocks at 1400) and is about to arrive SYD at around 1831, three hours and six minutes late, having lost about 50 minutes in a holding pattern.

QF28 (B744 VH-OEE) is deviating into MEL where it should arrive in a few minutes at about 1840, 55 minutes after it was due into SYD ex SCL. The earliest it could be in SYD, even with a 20 minute brief stop, is 2030 but the aircraft may require refuelling. A long trip becomes even less bearable for those in whY, although not QF's fault. MEL does not play host to 747s like it used to so in one sense (for aviation enthusiasts) the plane may be a welcome sight.

I'm at SYD at the moment. The "tarmac" closure or whatever it's called lasted around 45 minutes. Apparently the Qantas shuttle bus does not operate during these closure. So I took a cab: $25 from Dom to Intl!
Flights are resuming now. I'm in the F lounge so I don't care too much about delays!

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Passengers on QF444 must count themselves unlucky as although it departed MEL only seven minutes late at 1537 (and only 17 minutes behind JQ514 that arrived SYD 11 minutes late at 1651 ex MEL), QF444 took the scenic route arriving CBR at 1800 a after two hours and 23 minutes trip, and estimated to depart at 1835 (which may not yet have occurred) for a slated 1930 hours arrival in SYD, more than two and a half hours late.

These '-ber' months afternoon storms must pose many challenges for QF (and competitors) given restrictions such as 2300 hours curfews in SYD and ADL and crews having to be found if staff are out of hours. Numerous connecting passengers will miss flights. Someone should ask the good Lord only to schedule these on Tuesdays or Wednesdays when there are typically fewer passengers using flights.

defurax, if it was operating, the SYD airport train between INT and DOM stations (vice versa in your case) would have got you there for A$5.40 one way. Better than a taxi with lifts available to make it easier if you have luggage (rather than dragging suitcases up and down escalators, which with one and a small backpack I don't find difficult but many do.)

QF146, the 1530 from AKL to SYD (Airconnect B738 ZK-ZQE) has called into BNE and as a result is expected to be three hours and five minutes late into SYD at 2100 this evening. The return working, QF149 is forecast to depart at 2135 after a quick turnaround, 155 minutes late for an unpleasant 0235 arrival at AKL, meaning crashing into one's AKL hotel if a visitor at 0400 or later.