Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Silvia]

That sounds terrible. I'm glad I'm flying overseas on Monday night. We've got family flying tomorrow and Monday from Sydney so hopefully weather is not bad!

QF94 is due to arrive at 8 50, 80 min late.
There are some cancellations Sydney which may be as a result from yesterday

Cancelled - QF829, QF2001, QF2220, QF2202, QF2037, QF2102, QF2019, QF138, QF931, qf861
Also some slight delays in Syd - QF2 arrived 6 06am (54 late), QF33 is due to arrive 8 35 (50 late),

 

[Melburnian1]

In further on Saturday 8 September, QF15, the 1010 hours BNE - LAX is estimated to depart an hour late. This is due to Thursday 6's QF16, the 2320 hours late night ex LAX not pushing back until 0122 on Friday with arrival in BNE this morning at 0756 hours, 111 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

... There are some cancellations Sydney which may be as a result from yesterday...

Indeed: while Saturday (thankfully for the domestic airlines) is the least busy day of the week, it's not just planes that would have been out of position overnight, but staff such as pilots and flight attendants. So finding an available crew for some flights may be impossible.

 

[csueb31]

That was the problem last night. Several empty planes but no crew. Very frustrating. At 2.30 am the baggage started coming out, completely randomly, all (at least 6, likely more) flights mixed together. Still can’t get through to qantas to reschedule, now 14 hours later. (I gave up and paid $300 for Virgin flight but my friend is still waiting). With qantas it would have been a 40+ hour delay to get SYD-BNE. If they ever answered the phone.

 

[Melburnian1]

That was the problem last night. Several empty planes but no crew. Very frustrating. At 2.30 am the baggage started coming out, completely randomly, all (at least 6, likely more) flights mixed together. Still can’t get through to qantas to reschedule, now 14 hours later. (I gave up and paid $300 for Virgin flight but my friend is still waiting). With qantas it would have been a 40+ hour delay to get SYD-BNE. If they ever answered the phone.

If the domestic airlines are booked out for your friend, this afternoon's NSWTrainLink XPT still has seats (and perhaps sleepers) available for as low as $65 in economy class.

Also on 8 September, QF610 (0910 hours MEL - BNE) took off at 1006 hours with B738 VH-VYB. Predicted arrival is 1207 hours, 47 late.

The frequently delayed QF23 from SYD to BKK is expected to depart 40 late at 1030 with arrival 45 late at 1725 this afternoon local time. When I checked an hour ago, it had been showing as punctual. It might be waiting connectees from MEL.

The 0930 hours SYD - PVG is delayed to beyond 1020 in its pushback.

 

[Mark213]

Found out a couple of weeks ago (by just checking my booking online by chance) that my QF55 BNE LAX on 24 Sep has been cancelled. Since been rerouted via MEL LAX on QF95 now. What was annoying I was never contacted or emailed about the change as we actually were connecting from PER.

Seems they are getting keen on getting rid of the 744s asap

 

[Melburnian1]

Found out a couple of weeks ago (by just checking my booking online by chance) that my QF55 BNE LAX on 24 Sep has been cancelled...

That's surprising, as 24 September is during Queensland school holidays when bookings might spike.

Continuing with Saturday 8 September, QF421 (0930 hours SYD down to MEL, B738 VH-XZN) was in the sky at 1021 so arrival is likely at 1137, 32 late.

QF860 (0945 hours SYD up to OOL) did not point skywards until 1043, so arrival is expected at around 1154 late this morning, 44 minutes tardy.

 

[csueb31]

If the domestic airlines are booked out for your friend, this afternoon's NSWTrainLink XPT still has seats (and perhaps sleepers) available for as low as $65 in economy class.

Also on 8 September, QF610 (0910 hours MEL - BNE) took off at 1006 hours with B738 VH-VYB. Predicted arrival is 1207 hours, 47 late.

The frequently delayed QF23 from SYD to BKK is expected to depart 40 late at 1030 with arrival 45 late at 1725 this afternoon local time. When I checked an hour ago, it had been showing as punctual. It might be waiting connectees from MEL.

The 0930 hours SYD - PVG is delayed to beyond 1020 in its pushback.

Thank you! That's very kind of you to look. I did look at trains and buses too. The availability on Virgin suggests to me that his must have been a Qantas catastrophe - or at least that Virgin flights were not affected....Qantas still has very high call volumes. I don't understand why they can't have an online rebooking system or at least an automated email with instructions in these sort of situations. I'm sure its not the first time there has been a storm in Sydney...

 

[drron]

So continuing with the flow on effects from last night in SYD QF1581 MCY-SYD has been delayed until 1400.Was due out 1215.

 

[Melburnian1]

The availability on Virgin suggests to me that his must have been a Qantas catastrophe - or at least that Virgin flights were not affected....Qantas still has very high call volumes. I don't understand why they can't have an online rebooking system or at least an automated email with instructions in these sort of situations. I'm sure its not the first time there has been a storm in Sydney...

The may be a simpler explanation: VA too has few seats available, and you may have just been 'lucky' in that a cancellation was made a minute or three before you attempted to book.

An automated rebooking system would be great, but complex for IT experts to establish (and costly?) but many would then say 'that doesn't suit.' On a couple of occasions when there's been severe weather I've also found VA to be hopeless.

In contrast, when a relative was travelling on the train MEL - SYD during school holidays and there was a freight train derailment, the rail operator got passengers to Albury (late) that night by hired coaches and on to the train.

For at least three and possibly all of the domestic airlines, getting us to our destination same day is NOT part of the contract of conditions of carriage. I reckon many travellers wouldn't believe this, but it's so. Airlines have to put up with curfews in places like ADL and SYD so there are constraints.

 

[Melburnian1]

On 8 September, QF23 departed at 1037 hours, 47 late with BKK arrival suggested as 1730, 50 late, meaning a delay to the 1810 hours scheduled QF24 redeye back down to SYD.

QF129 was meant to depart SYD for PVG at 1030 but this has ballooned to a predicted 1215 hours departure and hence a 2100 hours (155 late) anticipated arrival in the major mainland Chinese centre. QF130 tonight will be similarly delayed.

 

[Silvia]

QF143 departed 125 min late, expected to arrive in AKL at 16 41, 101 behind schedule

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on Saturday 8 September, QF7, the 1235 SYD - DFW departed 34 late with suggested same day arrival 1330, half an hour behind.

QF15 departed a little later, at 1119 from BNE than had been thought. Further amended arrival is 0715 hours, 85 late.

 

[Silvia]

Continuing today, QF 146 AKL-SYD has been cancelled, was due to be operated on an A332.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF434, 1300 hours MEL up to SYD on Saturday 8 September has A332 VH-EBM and took off at 1355. Arrival should be at 1508, 43 late but at 1444, the aircraft was holding above Gunning.

The 1200 'high noon' QF430 on the same route is worse, having become airborne only at 1406. Arrival is estimated at 1512, 107 late for colleague VH-EBA.

QF438 (MEL - SYD at departure time of 1400 hours) took off at 1442, so VH-VZF should be at its destination at 1556, 31 late.

QF618 (1310 hours MEL - BNE, B738 VH-VXU) did not take off until 1437, so estimated Sunshine State capital arrival is 1637 this afternoon, 77 minutes behind the timetable.

 

[Silvia]

QF133 left 88 late, due to arrive in CHC 68 min behind

QF 769 MEL-PER left 113 min behind, due to arrive 83 late.
QF1013 left 86 late, arriving in Hobart 61 min late.

 

[csueb31]

VA had ample seats available on several flights, going fast at 3am though!

It would have been helpful to get an automated email from Qantas with information about what to do when your flight is cancelled and the airline doesn’t offer to rebook. (unless you sit on the phone for 3 or more hours...Which is difficult when your phone goes flat). Surely that is possible, if the system can cancel you?

I also suspect that in cancelling my 1930 flight and moving it to 2210 that they are avoiding “delayed flight” stats. It never showed as delayed.

People were most upset at the lack of information. Everyone was glad they weren’t up in that storm! And people do understand this stuff happens (well at my gate anyway).

 

[Melburnian1]

...I also suspect that in cancelling my 1930 flight and moving it to 2210 that they are avoiding “delayed flight” stats. It never showed as delayed.

People were most upset at the lack of information. .

First point: no, in official BITRE statistics it should still show as 'late.'

The only thing worse than a 'lack' is incorrect info.

 

[Silvia]

Continuing tonight QF476 (PER-MEL) (VH-EBJ) left 95 late, arrived to MEL 76 late. That caused a further delay in QF481 which departed 97 min behind, expected to arrive in PER at 10 24pm, 64 behind schedule

QF819 CBR-MEL was cancelled

QF161 SYD-WLG (VH-XZK) was significantly late, 321 behind. The 8pm arrival to WLG meant that QF 172 WLG-MEL left at 9 15pm (100 min late), scheduled to arrive at 10 41pm (81 tardy)

 

[Mark213]

QF9 this evening has returned to PER due to a disruptive passenger... knock on effects coming....