Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[flychrisfly]

One can't really tell when one's there, but at times with late arrivals/departures there must be insufficient gates.

Actually you can. You can use the same tools as when you're not there, you can also see the use of the bus gates 26A-G on the displays in the terminal, and you can see the planes and people boarding them from the buses at the non-contact stands.

 

[JessicaTam]

QF36 was late pushing back as a sick pax failed to board and their luggage had to be offloaded. We ended up pushing back at 2045.

At 2100 we are advised that number 3 engine can’t be started so a tow back to the gate it is.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF36 was late pushing back as a sick pax failed to board and their luggage had to be offloaded. We ended up pushing back at 2045.

At 2100 we are advised that number 3 engine can’t be started so a tow back to the gate it is.

Goodness, QF suggests on its website that the flight 'departed' at 2040 hours (2240 AEST) with arrival in MEL tomorrow five late at 0540 hours. A388 VH-OQA has its transponder on and presumably is QF36 (as it was QF35 earlier today.)

Given JessicaTam is on the spot, this must be a case of the QF software not updating the true flight status.

It'll be interesting to see if the flight ends up being cancelled. JessicaTam, if you have to spend the night in an hotel, would you be kind enough to inform us which one and details about meals and transfers, and how efficiently it was handled?

Passengers booked on the Monday 10 Queen's Birthday 0900 MEL - LAX QF93 should watch this space (although in theory QF94 arrival could form QF93 with QF35/36 tomorrow downgraded to an A333/A332 - lower seating capacity.)

But I'm assuming the worst, so none may occur of that.

UPDATE: QF suggests departure of this 2015 hours SIN - MEL A388 QF36 will be at 2140 giving a MEL Monday 10 June arrival at about 0620, only 45 late.

 

[JessicaTam]

Goodness, QF suggests on its website that the flight 'departed' at 2040 hours (2240 AEST) with arrival in MEL tomorrow five late at 0540 hours. A388 VH-OQA has its transponder on and presumably is QF36 (as it was QF35 earlier today.)

Given JessicaTam is on the spot, this must be a case of the QF software not updating the true flight status.

It'll be interesting to see if the flight ends up being cancelled. JessicaTam, if you have to spend the night in an hotel, would you be kind enough to inform us which one and details about meals and transfers, and how efficiently it was handled?

Passengers booked on the Monday 10 Queen's Birthday 0900 MEL - LAX QF93 should watch this space (although in theory QF94 arrival could form QF93 with QF35/36 tomorrow downgraded to an A333/A332 - lower seating capacity.

But I'm assuming the worst, so none may occur of that.

UPDATE: QF suggests departure of this 2015 hours SIN - MEL A388 QF36 will be at 2140 giving a MEL Monday 10 June arrival at about 0620, only 45 late.

Well 2040 was our door close time. It just went downhill from there.

Engineers are currently “on the flight deck looking into things”.

 

[Melburnian1]

Well 2040 was our door close time. It just went downhill from there.

Engineers are currently “on the flight deck looking into things”.

And you're just sitting on the aircraft, wondering what will come of that.

At least they've not asked you to alight.

It can be a mystery how an airline with a problem like this can provide a (further) revised pushback time when the technical staff (engineers) may not have found the root cause and determined how, or whether, they can fix it.

 

[Quickstatus]

I wonder if the sick passenger was a participant on the SIN-KUL Lounge crawl ?

 

[JessicaTam]

I wonder if the sick passenger was a participant on the SIN-KUL Lounge crawl ?

We are all present and accounted for thanks!

We have just been told that if the engineers can “rejigg” things we might be away in the next 30 minutes.

 

[JessicaTam]

They have closed the front door and the engineers are on board. They will try to run up number 3 at the gate.

 

[Quickstatus]

And you're just sitting on the aircraft, wondering what will come of that.

At least they've not asked you to alight.

It can be a mystery how an airline with a problem like this can provide a (further) revised pushback time when the technical staff (engineers) may not have found the root cause and determined how, or whether, they can fix it.

Does the airline try and book a spare departure slot in advance as part of the delayed departure planning?

 

[JessicaTam]

The engine cowlings are back up and the seatbelt sign is off again. *sigh*

 

[JessicaTam]

We are being deplaned!

 

[JessicaTam]

We are being deplaned!

Cancel the deplaning. The part has been replaced and they will try to start no 3 again.

 

[JessicaTam]

And back to deplaning.

 

[JessicaTam]

The most recent announcement has us hopefully boarding at 2am. So another hour and a half in the lounge.

 

[Melburnian1]

The most recent announcement has us hopefully boarding at 2am. So another hour and a half in the lounge.

The delayed QF36 (VH-OQA, A388) departed SIN at 0213 hours, 358 minutes late on Monday 10 June with MEL arrival expected at 1057, 322 late. As a result, QF93, the 0900 hours MEL - LAX is estimated to depart at 1300 hours this afternoon, making Movie City arrival 0955 hours, 210 minutes tardy.

'The 94' arrived 34 late at 0804 hours. There must be a reason such as planned aircraft cycles why 'the 94' can't form 'the 93' this morning, and 'the 36' form 'the 35' back to SIN. This would minimise delays and theoretically allow QF93 to depart at say 1000, three hours better than what will occur today.

Sunday 9's QF2 departed LHR only six minutes late at 2111 hours but Monday 10 SIN arrival is at 1757, 32 late.

In the other direction, QF1 was off blocks on Sunday in SYD at 1626, 31 late. The SIN intermediate stop was from 2226 hours (11 late) to (Monday 10) 0142, 107 late, so LHR Monday arrival is estimated as 0830 hours, 125 late.

 

[JessicaTam]

We may have left the gate at 0215, but it was another 15 minutes before we finally started taxiing! And a frustrating 15 minutes at that. We did well to make up some time.

FYI, There were contingencies being organised in the background: hotels and transport had been reserved - just in case!

 

[bPeteb]

I've lodged an insurance claim with Amex under flight delay for hotel and the two taxi fares. If they say no, I'll try a compo claim.

Quick follow-on from our delayed flight to CHC last month.

Amex settled in full claim for lost night at Sudima and additional cabs home and back to airport. First insurance claim in years.

 

[Quickstatus]

Was your itinerary and hotels booked through Amex?

 

[Melburnian1]

Although the badly late QF36 arrived in MEL at 1059 hours on Monday 10 June 2019, VH-OQA (A388) had not departed on QF93 from MEL to LAX by 1325 hours.

A really efficient (quick) turnaround of an A380 at a "terminus" - i.e. not just an intermediate stop - would be about 100 minutes but often it takes longer, although 146 minutes is towards the "slow" end. It's logical that the number 3 engine repaired in SIN would receive quite an ocular.

UPDATE: 'The 93' departed at 1327 hours, 267 late. Further revised LAX arrival estimate is 1003 hours, 218 minutes tardy. Anyone bound for JFK may be booked onto the 1215 hours AA A321.

 

[Silvia]

Continuing today, QF691 (B738 VH-VXF) MEL-ADL was airborne at 16 31, arrival is revised to 17 05, 35 tardy.
QF580 (B738 VH-XZP Retro Roo) PER-SYD departed at 14 00, with predicted arrival at 19 50, 60 min late.