Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

Due to Sydney storms on the evening of Friday 8 February 2019, QF843 from DRW to SYD (B738 VH-VXL), the 1350 hours airborne about 15 minutes late at 1420 had to hold above three locations in NSW: Orange, Crooked Corner and Goulburn/Crookwell. Arrival is likely at 2050, 65 late.

Just ahead of it is the short hop CBR to SYD (QF1522, VH-YQW, the timetabled 1825 hours airborne at 1905) that should be at its allocated tarmac space at 2047, 87 late.

Departures of aircraft that were 'trapped' in Sydney are worse, with QF571 (A332 VH-EBL, the 1740 hours late afternoon SYD across to PER that did not take off until 2039 forecast to arrive at around 2218, 163 minutes behind schedule.

QF1, the 1700 hours SYD - SIN - LHR departed 39 late so SIN arrival is suggested as 2244, 39 late.

 

[docjames]

As at 1844 AEDT, one or two flights had just departed SYD but the intensity of the storms according to the BOM website looks about to intensify if the 64 km radar is any guide.
.

Which two flights (or carriers)?

 

[Melburnian1]

Which two flights (or carriers)?

If I recall doc, one (surprisingly) was a TT flight bound to the north (from memory SYD to BNE) and another one was a QF.

AFFer Silvia was on the spot and advised that VA had announced operations were suspended but this was only, seemingly, for departures as some arrivals landed (although not consistently).

There may have been a 'small window' allowing ATC to get these couple of departures in the air but from observing the BOM radar every now and then, the rain (storms) has been severe and long lasting. Difficult, however, to judge from another city.

 

[Melburnian1]

In further on a stormy Friday 8 February evening in Sydney, QF3, the 1925 hours SYD up to HNL is expected to depart at 2120, 115 late. QF4 returning ex HNL on Friday will also be tardy.

QF743 (1840 hours SYD across to ADL with B738 VH-VYA) took off at 2119, about 145 minutes late.

The 1900 hours from SYD up to CFS, QF2118 (Q400 VH-LQQ) was airborne at 2125 so will be more than two hours late arriving.

Again showing what a lottery domestic flights can be when bad weather strikes, QF544, the 1800 hours timetabled from SYD north to BNE departed at 1805. The identically timed departure down to MEL, QF459, departed more than two hours later at 2011.

 

[Silvia]

Qf467 cancelled, even though plane has been sitting there since 6pm. Time to get a new flight for tomorrow (hopefully!)

Interestingly they had cancelled plenty of flights prior mine and had kept that one as good

 

[Melburnian1]

A large number of SYD - MEL flights have indeed been cancelled this evening. QF477 (the 1815 hours ex SYD), QF465 (1900), QF467 (Silvia's 1930 hours), QF487 (the 1945 hours) and QF489 (2000 hours) were some of the southbounds flicked.

QF2178, the 1840 hours SYD up to PQQ also got the bullet as did QF1525 and QF1495, the 1845 and 1935 hours SYD short hops down to CBR.

QF2034, the 1850 hours SYD up to ARM was also cancelled, a fate that also befell QF2217 (1905 hours SYD down to ABX).

QF163, the 1830 hours SYD - WLG has been delayed overnight with a revised time on Saturday 9 February for pushback of 1115 hours.

The 1910 hours SYD - TMW also has been given the boot, as was QF550, the 1930 hours SYD up to BNE.

The 1845 hours SYD to CHC has also been changed to depart on Saturday, in its case at a proposed 1045 hours.

The 1935 hours SYD across to ADL is also suddenly not running tonight: it is QF783.

Other flights are displaying as departures around 2200 but some may not get out.

In a scenario not dissimilar to 2000 years ago in a certain famous town, there may be no room at the inn.

Do many have to "sleep" at airports like MEL and SYD if they lack a friend to purloin a bed space from tonight?

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with Friday 8 February 2019, QF496 (B738 VH-VZC, the 1745 hours MEL - SYD airborne at 2136 hours) is arriving at 2244, 214 minutes behind schedule.

 

[JohnK]

QF555 touched down in SYD ~10:25pm. I think we took off from BNE ~7:50pm. There are no gates available and we are staying on board slowly inching forward.

Apparently QF559 touched down in SYD ~10:25pm. It departed BNE ~8:19pm.

Can anyone confirm if QF559 flew down with passengers? There are still quite a few seats vacant on QF555 so 2 flights merged into one with seats still available. Or have others gone even earlier?

 

[Melburnian1]

QF555 touched down in SYD ~10:25pm. I think we took off from BNE ~7:50pm. There are no gates available and we are staying on board slowly inching forward.../QUOTE]

There are also quite a few flights that have yet to depart SYD despite it being 2250 as I write.

jb747 reminded us that prior to 2245, if ATC gives the OK to take off, that can occur all night. On occasion however in the past, some requests by airlines have been refused for particular flights.

 

[Silvia]

Qf staff were not even rebooking non status/economy passengers. They were told just to pick up instructions to do it yourself.

I got a 5pm flight for tomorrow, staff helped, but it was a do it your own hotel booking, qf apparently reimbursing $200 for this but that’s it. Very little accommodation available even in the CBD

 

[Melburnian1]

Qf staff were not even rebooking non status/economy passengers. They were told just to pick up instructions to do it yourself.

I got a 5pm flight for tomorrow, staff helped, but it was a do it your own hotel booking, qf apparently reimbursing $200 for this but that’s it. Very little accommodation available even in the CBD

Silvia, isn't the normal QF limit on spending for accommodation (including sundries) $250 a night not $200?

A quick check on booking.com shows that (through this OTA) no well known Sydney Airport hotels have available rooms. The only one that does, the Branksome Hotel and Residences (a kilometre from domestic airport) has allegedly been booked from this third party site alone 31 times in the last six hours.

Not many hotels in the CBD were under $180 for tonight when I checked. Even the backpacker places had few bunks available through this major third party booking.com site.

If I was caught, one strategy would be to find an hotel online in Parramatta, or Chatswood areas, as since they are a little out of sight/mind for air travellers, they might be more likely to have rooms.

Provided hotels have functioning, good guttering and spouting to cope with such rain, they must LOVE bad weather airline disruptions. What a way to quickly put up rates yet fill accommodation!

For the benefit of anyone else stuck who unlike Silvia has not secured a flight,. the NSW TrainLink Sydney to Melbourne XPT train has suddenly become booked out for Saturday morning ex Sydney (no surprise), but the night train still has seats and sleepers. The morning train ex Sydney will beat Silvia to Melbourne's CBD if it is less than 45 minutes late.

Northbound from Melbourne, neither morning nor evening departures are booked out in each class.

Sydney - Brisbane XPTs in each direction have seats or (for the northbound) sleepers. (The northbound is an unattractive schedule thanks to the Queensland government: a super early arrival in Brisbane at just before 0400 AEST).

 

[Melburnian1]

In more for 8 February 2019, QF764 passengers from ADL to SYD ought purchase a Tatts ticket.

This flight, the 1655 hours ex ADL, departed at 1700, but then diverted to MEL, stopping there from 2044 to 2148 and then arriving SYD (at gate time) at 2301, therefore just scraping in pre-curfew as landing time (2256) is the critical one.

QF37, the 1715 hours MEL - SIN pushed back 44 late with suggested arrival at 2250, 35 late.

QF474, the 1815 hours MEL - SYD was cancelled.

QF25 (B744 VH-OEH, the 2135 hours SYD - HND) departed at 2309, and took off at 2326. On Saturday 9, arrival should be at 0635, 95 late.'

Earlier, 'the 3' departed SYD at 2122 so HNL same day arrival will be 1001 hours, 121 late, delaying QF4 returning down to SYD.

QF548 (1900 hours SYD north to BNE, VH-VYD) was airborne at 2320 hours so arrival should be at 2338, 248 late.

QF493, the 1915 hours early evening SYD down to MEL has B738 VH-VZD, taking off at 2329, so arrival at a suggested 0049 on 9 February will be 239 minutes late.

QF499 (VH-VXU, the 2100 hours scheduled ex SYD) had not taken off by 2335 hours for MEL. Nor had QF491, the scheduled 2030 hours SYD down to MEL.

UPDATE: QF499 took off from SYD at 2342 for MEL. QF491 was airborne at 2345 hours so will be almost three hours late.

 

[Silvia]

Silvia, isn't the normal QF limit on spending for accommodation (including sundries) $250 a night not $200?.

I was told $200 and that because it’s weather related, no food or vouchers would be provided. But if any member has insight on this, it would be very helpful for when I chase customer care.

I ended up securing the oaks near museum station for under $200. Very bizarre hotel, but does the job. Caught the train to skip the long uber/taxi queues.

And yes, the train is a pretty good option! We definitely need to invest on proper fast rail services!

 

[Quickstatus]

QF8, the Wednesday 6 February 1955 hours DFW to SYD departed at 2034. However, A388 VH-OQD then diverted to BNE../

Was this a medical reason, did the crew need to do a famous Quickstatus 'splash and dash

The routing was direct to BNE - a planned Splash and Dash.

By the way, while things were happening in LHR and in SYD, VH-OJS operated QF3 SYD-HNL on 6Feb but did not operate the return QF4. It is still in HNL. Apparently waiting for an engine part.

It should depart soon. There are 2 flights from HNL-SYD on 8Feb - one departing at the usual time (1010-1700) and the other at 1510-2200). I suspect one of those would be the repaired VH-OJS. A delayed QF3 departed SYD 1:50 late and should arrive into HNL 2:00 late at 0945 on 8Feb. Possibly therefore the stranded VH-OJS will operate the earlier QF4 (will it be QF4D?)

Then a JQ 787 has a story as well.... See over at the JQ D&C thread. Will confirm

 

[Melburnian1]

On Saturday 9 February 2019, QF2221 (0800 hours SYD down to WGA) was cancelled.

QF2016, the 0810 hours scheduled turboprop from SYD to growing WTB should push back at 1325 this afternoon.

The 0815 hours SYD to DBO should depart at 0920. A problem with these rural NSW flights is that Qantaslink does not have crew based in the rural cities as I understand it, so if an evening flight from Sydney is delayed significantly, crew then need mandated rest at their motel and hence are unavailable for the scheduled time of departure next morning in DBO, ABX, ARM and so on.

QF2020, the 0820 SYD - ARM was showing an amended departure at 0900 but that time has just passed.

The 0845 SYD - NOU is not often delayed but this morning it has been altered to push back at a predicted 1000 hours.

The 0930 hours SYD up to BNE, QF514, should depart half an hour late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Probably due to Friday 8 February's Sydney storms and consequent cancellations, QF6136 is operating on Saturday 9 and looks to be a 'ferry' (empty) flight from SYD across to PER with A332 VH-EBK. It was apparently meant to depart at 0900 but at 0933 was still taxiing in Sydney.

 

[JessicaTam]

Earlier on Friday 8 February 2019, QF19, the 1225 hours SYD up to MNL departed at 1314 with forecast arrival 1816, 46 late. This will delay departure of the QF20 redeye back down to Sydney by at least half an hour, but this flight often picks up time on a gate-to-gate basis provided it is not delayed too long on the ground at the congested MNL airport.

'The 36', quite often late, again is so on Friday, having pushed back in MEL at 1304 with SIN arrival likely at 1755, 50 late.

Hopefully you mean QF35! The flight was delayed twice, once due to late arrival, and then an “engineering issue” was detected - and fairly quickly resolved. A fair bit of time was made up in the air, but then SIN ATC required us to a bit of aerial circle work which meant we were about an hour late getting in.

 

[bcworld]

Silvia, isn't the normal QF limit on spending for accommodation (including sundries) $250 a night not $200?

$200 for accomm.
$50 for sundries

...so if you were to claim $250 for accomm they would reimburse only $200.

 

[Melburnian1]

Hopefully you mean QF35!...

Thanks, apologies for the mistake. Corrected.

 

[Melburnian1]

$200 for accomm.
$50 for sundries

...so if you were to claim $250 for accomm they would reimburse only $200.

While better than LCCs, a $200 accommodation spending limit may be unrealistic if hotels and other accommodation become aware there's a sudden surge in demand and put tariffs hugely up, or when a city's hotels are busy already (say Australian Open or AFL in Melbourne, or Vivid in Sydney) and any remaining rooms are being sold at premium prices. Thankfully Silvia didn't have trouble last night in securing acceptable accommodation for less than $200 in the Sydney CBD but others who tried to book later may have had a harder time.