Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[drpurpleturtle]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Is the Trent common with the BA version? Wouldn't Nigel be willing to swap ... or are the the QF plants so old that Nigel would be afraid of never seeing his shiny, new engine again? Have QF cutback their maintenance agreements to such an extent that Royces wouldn't come to their rescue??

BA use the Trent 970B-84 (A380-841-) on their A380's, whilst QF use the (Higher Thrust Variant) Trent 972B-84 (A380-842-) so BA can't provide a spare engine. As JB has said there isn't spares just lying around, so it does take time!

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

MEL_Traveller, the expected SYD arrival time for the Monday 30 March 2015 delayed QF2 is 1815 on Wednesday 1 April - a delay of about 12 hours.

As this delay exceeds four hours, on my reading yes under EU261 you are all entitled to compensation of EUR600 per passenger:

Conditions of Carriage | Qantas

However, as always, treat my suggestions as only a general guide until you read this information on the QF website and satisfy yourself that it is true. Then, in due course, contact Qantas' 'customer care' section as the website suggests.

The delayed QF10 into MEL that arrived at 0400 or so (several hours late) would also be eligible.

There is an exclusion clause about 'extraordinary circumstances' but that does not mention the failure of an aircraft as occurred in this case. It appears that the compensation is also payable even if you boarded or alighted from such a delayed QF2 or QF10 at DXB - it's not just for 'both sector' LHR - DXB - MEL/ SYD travellers.

No compensation is payable for flights arriving into an EU airport as far as I can see. Unfortunately for QF's balance sheet, the majority of lengthy delays have been southbound, which is covered.

It would be interesting to know if QF publicised this at LHR or DXB and handed out leaflets. I suspect that this is one 'enhancement' that it has not made!

I stress that I have never been through this process but the website wording is in plain English and comprehensible.

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

VH-OQG is now at LHR back in service, it appears, but its QF2 Tuesday 31 March 2015 flight to DXB and SYD has been delayed from 2125 to a forecast 2330. Punctuality across the A380 scheduled flights should return to a more normal pattern if this aircraft does not give any more trouble. Fortunately QF was largely able to restrict significant delays to the LHR flights; with the exception of one 744 for A380 substitution between SYD and LAX, those flights and HKG were not really affected.

Meanwhile the delayed Tuesday QF10 managed to depart at 1617, two and three quarter hours late, but may be as little as an hour and a quarter late into MEL tonight if the QF website's predictions prove accurate, though this relies on cutting down the stay in DXB among other things.

UPDATE: The two hour delayed QF2 (Tuesday departure) pushed back at LHR at 2344, so thankfully the A380 fleet is now back to full strength.

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Due to QF10's predicted late arrival in MEL this evening at 2340 in lieu of its normal 2155, the late evening Wednesday 1 April 2015's QF9 from MEL to DXB and LHR is expected to be delayed 90 minutes to 0125 in its departure from the gate. Hopefully this will be among the last episodes of substantial delayed flights for QF on this route for a while.

 

[BD1959]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

<snip> ...the late evening Wednesday 1 April 2015's QF9 from MEL to DXB and LHR is expected to be delayed 90 minutes to 0125 in its departure from the gate.

It's a good job the Melbourne Flounge has started implementing RSA, think of the resulting damage from the Krug bill alone!!

Regards,

BD

 

[Ansett]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

It's a good job the Melbourne Flounge has started implementing RSA, think of the resulting damage from the Krug bill alone!!

Regards,

BD

BUT they dont have Krug LOL and only allowed 2 drinks per hour and one there after so no Biggie

 

[eminere]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

The 1615 QF146 AKL-SYD service today has been delayed by almost an hour to 1710.

 

[Flyerqf]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

QF7 to DFW is delayed 7.5 hours to 21.30 due to the late inbound arrival of QF2 from LHR via DXB.

 

[smit0847]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

The crews may need additional rooms given the changed arrangements. Future rosters may need to be tweaked.

It's the planning and operations staff that I feel for in these circumstances. While they'll have experienced it before, it must be an enormous amount of unexpected work and that's before dealing with individual passengers' needs such as having to somehow transport disabled passengers to hotels and back to LHR airport.

Arent all QF crew operating to and from LHR London based?

 

[Princess Fiona]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Just to remind anyone if they are affected by delays from London... get your EU261 claims in! If successful you could end up with some extra pocket money!

Interesting. I was on QF10 on Monday from LHR which arrived in DXB over 4 hours behind schedule.
QF were giving out meal vouchers at check-in.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Interesting. I was on QF10 on Monday from LHR which arrived in DXB over 4 hours behind schedule.
QF were giving out meal vouchers at check-in.

Just out of interest, did QF provide you with a written statement of your rights under EU261?

Article 14 states (my bolding for the relevant bit about delays):

Article 14

Obligation to inform passengers of their rights

1. The operating air carrier shall ensure that at check-in a clearly legible notice containing the following text is displayed in a manner clearly visible to passengers: ‘If you are denied boarding or if your flight is cancelled or delayed for at least two hours, ask at the check-in counter or boarding gate for the text stating your rights, particularly with regard to compensation and assistance’.

2. An operating air carrier denying boarding or cancelling a flight shall provide each passenger affected with a written notice setting out the rules for compensation and assistance inline with this Regulation. It shall also provide each passenger affected by a delay of at least two hours with an equivalent notice. The contact details of the national designated bodyreferred to in Article 16 shall also be given to the passenger inwritten form.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Just out of interest, did QF provide you with a written statement of your rights under EU261?

Article 14 states (my bolding for the relevant bit about delays):

Yes, IIRC there was a printed statement with copies at check-in.
I didn't take it.
FWIW QF were very proactive in re-booking at least some passengers on the very delayed QF2.
A colleague went to check-in and found he had been re-booked via SIN on SQ and BA (J ticket).

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Arent all QF crew operating to and from LHR London based?

Good point, smit0847. I ought have changed that to mean 'tech crew' as the pilots are either SYD or MEL based if I recall (such as the redoubtable jb747) but the cabin crew are (normally) LHR based. jb747 might be kind enough to confirm that. Do any Australian based cabin crew ever work through to LHR when there are staff on sick leave, annual leave or (as we saw until yesterday) substantial late running?

Princess Fiona, if you or other AFFers submit a claim whether individually or through your workplace, it would be interesting to know how long it took to be given the EUR600.

And by the way, no one has disclosed in what London hotel(s) they were put up by QF due to the delays, or what other arrangements (apart from meal vouchers) were made.

Interesting that QF would book a J passenger on SQ or BA. I thought the EK alliance would have had as one of its many goals the elimination of using competitors in the vast majority of circumstances. Perhaps EK flights were full in J or F?

 

[Hvr]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Arent all QF crew operating to and from LHR London based?

I spoke to a crew member on the LHR-DXB leg last week. Generally the London based crews work LHR-DXB but occasionally go through to Australia.

The Australian based crew generally only work from Australia to DXB.

 

[Flyerqf]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Due to QF10's predicted late arrival in MEL this evening at 2340 in lieu of its normal 2155, the late evening Wednesday 1 April 2015's QF9 from MEL to DXB and LHR is expected to be delayed 90 minutes to 0125 in its departure from the gate. Hopefully this will be among the last episodes of substantial delayed flights for QF on this route for a while.

Just as everything gets back on track for the LHR routes, the QF12 to SYD (from LAX) has encountered a problem with an electrical generator. Approaching 3 hours on the ground so far, but no word of cancellation yet. The aircraft is A380 VH-OQK.

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Just as everything gets back on track for the LHR routes, the QF12 to SYD (from LAX) has encountered a problem with an electrical generator. Approaching 3 hours on the ground so far, but no word of cancellation yet. The aircraft is A380 VH-OQK.

Flyerqf, you are a mine of information. While probably unrelated since it is a 744 and not an A380, QF16 to BNE is delayed by an hour to 0045 Wednesday ex LAX (although it's already almost 0100 there.)

Shame for the LAX passengers that EU261 does not apply.

 

[Flyerqf]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Flyerqf, you are a mine of information. While probably unrelated since it is a 744 and not an A380, QF16 to BNE is delayed by an hour to 0045 Wednesday ex LAX (although it's already almost 0100 there.)

Shame for the LAX passengers that EU261 does not apply.

16 has left now.

12 is cancelled. Another A380 out of rotation.

 

[Flyerqf]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

12 is cancelled. Another A380 out of rotation.

Apparently there is an engine issue with OQK.

 

[Kefci2000]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Can confirm one 747 in the hanger opposite SYD J lounge

Sorry eyesight not good enough to see number

 

[Princess Fiona]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Yes, IIRC there was a printed statement with copies at check-in.
I didn't take it.
FWIW QF were very proactive in re-booking at least some passengers on the very delayed QF2.
A colleague went to check-in and found he had been re-booked via SIN on SQ and BA (J ticket).

I have since received an email from Customer Care regarding the delay to my flight.
The email contained a link to the Feedback form which I have now submitted with a request for the scheduled compensation subject to EC 261/2004.
As my flight was a personal, individual expense I'm not sure how employer funded travel would work for seeking the requisite compensation.