Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Silvia]

QF95 MEL-LAX has a revised departure at 20 02.

QF464 MEL-SYD, the 19 30 hours service was delayed to 20 30; however, still yet to depart.

 

[Melburnian1]

thank you! I wasn't sure if qantas published the reasons. I'm on that flight shortly, secretly hoping it gets cancelled and I get moved to QF400 30 min later in an A330!

Unlike government franchised public transport in Victoria where there's a little bit of transparency - sometimes they'll state on the applicable website or at a station or stop should it be staffed why trains, trams or buses are cancelled - regrettably no such openness from Australia's domestic airlines, particularly if it is 'low bookings.'

Staff may - or may not - tell us the real reason why flight 'xx_' was cancelled. Occasionally it can be obvious, such as if we observe engineers feverishly working, or when there is bad weather elsewhere or at one's point of origin. If one politely asks, a variety of responses can be obtained from the complete brush off, a fib, a reason that turns out to be incorrect but the staff member hadn't been told the full story, or conversely a full 10 second explanation that seems credible.

 

[Melburnian1]

In yet more on Monday 17 June, QF73, the 1740 hours B744 from SYD to SFO is expected to depart at 2100 hours mid evening with arrival suggested as 1715 hours, 195 minutes behind schedule...

A minor further alteration sees departure further revised to 2110 hours mid evening.

 

[Melburnian1]

Fog hasn't lifted in Bendigo yet. QLK1408 is still sitting on the tarmac waiting for it to clear.

The Monday 17 June 2019 BXG - SYD QF1408 departed at 1139, 239 late, arriving SYD at 1325 hours, 255 minutes behind schedule. Disastrous if one has a series of meetings in the CBD beginning at say 1100 and it's a day return trip.

I'd like to see the data but further inland BXG may well be more subject to fog than MEL. In winter, this would be an inhibitor for passengers having connecting flights, or business meetings to use BXG rather than multiple flights available to and from MEL.

 

[Silvia]

QF464 MEL-SYD (A332 VH-EBJ) was airborne at 21 30, now expected to arrive at 22 38, 103 tardy.

QF135 BNE-CHC (B738 VH-VZY) departed at 19 44, with revised arrival at 00 53, 43 behind schedule.

 

[Melburnian1]

The much delayed Monday 17 June 2019 QF73 pushed back in SYD at 2128 hours, 228 minutes late with B744 VH-OEJ wasting no time in becoming airborne at 2142 hours. SFO at gate arrival has changed to an estimated 1714 hours, 194 minutes behind schedule, but this should easily be sufficinet time to form a punctual Monday late night 2225 hours QF74 back to SYD.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF94 (LAX to MEL) is arriving on Tuesday 18 June with A388 VH-OQJ at 0810 hours, 40 late.

The LAX - SYD QF12 is far worse, with B744 VH-OEE - the substituted aircraft because the QF A388 fleet is down to nine available from the usual 12 - not taking off from LAX until 0135 hours on Monday 17, not far shy of three hours late. Tuesday 18 arrival looks to be 0908 hours, 158 minutes behind the schedule.

The 0615 hours MEL - SYD, QF472 (B738 VH-VZH) had a delayed start to its morning duties, taking off at 0721, so at gate arrival is suggested as 0832 hours, 52 minutes tardy.

 

[Silvia]

VH-VZH later formed as QF510 SYD-BNE, airborne at 9 44, now with revised arrival at 10 56, 55 min tardy.
QF2033 DBO-SYD and QF2105 CFS-SYD have been cancelled.

 

[Melburnian1]

B744 VH-OEI operating in lieu of the usual A388 on the Tuesday 18 June 2019 scheduled 0935 hours SYD - LAX, QF11, took off at 1039, about 35 -40 late.

B717 VH-YQX on QF1564, the 0945 hours SYD - OOL was airborne at 1034. Arrival is expected half an hour behind schedule at 1140 hours.

 

[levelnine]

B744 VH-OEI operating in lieu of the usual A388 on the Tuesday 18 June 2019 scheduled 0935 hours SYD - LAX, QF11, took off at 1039, about 35 -40 late.

You have to feel sorry for the pax on these substituted aircraft. A substantial downgrade in amenity on these flights with an older, noisier aircraft.

 

[Melburnian1]

You have to feel sorry for the pax on these substituted aircraft. A substantial downgrade in amenity on these flights with an older, noisier aircraft.

99 per cent likely QF does not offer any compensation - even in the form of costly (with high QF fees and charges) FF points.

Some passengers, as JohnM found, are involuntarily rerouted. In his case, no drama, but others may not be sanguine, especially if it involves a later than originally ticketed arrival.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with Tuesday 18 June, QF171 (B738 VH-XZC, the 1025 hours midmorning MEL - WLG airborne at 1137) should arrive at 1651 hours, 51 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Wednesday 19 June has QF56 from LAX to BNE (B789 VH-ZNC) arriving at 0544, 44 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

A388 VH-OQK on QF11, the 0935 hours Wednesday 19 June SYD - LAX does not appear to have pushed back as at 1130 hours. The QF website suggests a delay from 0935 to 0955 but it hasn't been further updated.

 

[levelnine]

A388 VH-OQK on QF11, the 0935 hours Wednesday 19 June SYD - LAX does not appear to have pushed back as at 1130 hours. The QF website suggests a delay from 0935 to 0955 but it hasn't been further updated.

People on Twitter are reporting that they've been stuck on the tarmac for a while:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1141174496356782080

 

[Melburnian1]

levelnine, thank you: great contribution.

Cabin crew are not allowed to serve meals (or drinks that require the carts to be pulled down the aisles) while planes are stationary on the tarmac, if I recall jb747's comment.

Whether this is a QF rule or one more broadly across the aviation sector I don't know. (QF is not exactly renowned for its 'service'.)

One difficulty is that no one may know when exactly (or if at all) a plane stuck like this is to resume taxiing and then take off, or alternatively when the flight is cancelled.

However if an airline knew that a delay would be two hours or more, but still 'fixable', any such restriction seems ludicrous.

In this case, it's almost certain that the flight (and cabin) crew will run out of hours so the whole shebang may well be cancelled unless a new crew can be found. Maximum flight crew duty hours are 18 but can be extended to 20 by agreement.

The QF website has been updated to show departure at 1215 hours.

This is "all QF needs", as its available A388 fleet is down to nine (from 12) due to VH-OQA being hit by a catering truck at LAX on 10 June 2019 (and requiring repairs to part of a wing) while two others are in AUH (VH-OQE) and DRS (VH-OQG) respectively for scheduled maintenance.

One QF B744 is already operating QF11/QF12 on alternate days but this is far from ideal as the B744 has fewer seats (and a different configuration) than the A388s.

 

[levelnine]

It looks like it is finally away. FlightRadar is saying it departed at 1306. I imagine that means all the people connecting on to the JFK flight will miss that. A couple of rough days for people heading to the US on QF.

 

[Melburnian1]

It looks like it is finally away. FlightRadar is saying it departed at 1306. I imagine that means all the people connecting on to the JFK flight will miss that. A couple of rough days for people heading to the US on QF.

1306 hours was the takeoff time for QF11's A388 VH-OQK. FR24 suggests it will be at gate in LAX at 0906 hours, 166 minutes tardy, but sometimes FR24 exaggerates longer flights' delays. QF has yet to update its site which is unusual. Passengers for JFK will be 99 per cent certain to be transferred to available seating on AA flights, meaning a delay of several hours.

A333 VH-QPG on the 1210 hours SYD - MNL did not take off until 1347 (about 75 late), but earlier, it had been showing as punctual. It may well have been 'blocked' by VH-OQK sitting on the tarmac as above.

B738 VH-VXA on QF521, the 1105 hours BNE down to SYD was airborne at 1247 so arrival is 1359 hours, 79 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF1 on Wednesday 19 June, the 1555 hours SYD - SIN - LHR did not take off until 1707 so expected arrival in the Lion City is 2306 hours, 51 minutes tardy. This will delay the onwards sector to LHR to about 0030 on Thursday 20, 35 late in its pushback.

Thursday 20's QF11 from SYD to LAX, the 0935 hours, has been cancelled, presumably due to the continuing situation where the A388 available fleet is down to nine, but 10 are needed to operate the SYD - DFW/LAX/LHR and MEL - LAX?SIN schedules QF7/8/11/12/1/2/93/94/35/36.

So levelnine's correct assertion re 'a couple of rough days for people heading to the US' is again true for those travelling west. Nothing like an equaliser in this 'game' of travel.

Tuesday 18's QF16, the 2320 hours late night LAX - BNE took off on Wednesday 19 at 0105 hours with B789 VH-ZNA, so Thursday 20 arrival should be at about 0731 hours, 86 late. B744 VH-OEI on 'the 12' is said to be at its gate tomorrow morning at 0700 hours, half an hour behind. QF8 departed DFW 37 late and should be in SYD on Thursday morning at 0652 hours, also 37 late.

 

[milehighclub]

Nancy, all going to plan, will depart Thursday night from LAX as QF12. The QF11 was cancelled today. This should see things get back to normal.