Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

In more on Wednesday 11 September, QF425, the midmorning 1030 hours SYD down to MEL has got the boot, as has the early evening QF459 on the same route.

 

[Quickstatus]

Are you suggesting it was a physical rather than just verbal altercation? Pushing and shoving?

There is scant information, but for both to be evicted suggests some altercation. A turn around back to SYD when they could have easily gone to CBR in the approx same time (while inconveniencing the other passengers) is excellent because the 2 pax didn’t get to go to where they wanted to go.

 

[Melburnian1]

There is scant information, but for both to be evicted suggests some altercation. A turn around back to SYD when they could have easily gone to CBR in the approx same time (while inconveniencing the other passengers) is excellent because the 2 pax didn’t get to go to where they wanted to go.

'Not excellent' for the vast majority of passengers, who ought be the ones we are concerned about. On this route, those two errant patrons could easily drive, catch the dreaded Murrays or Greyhound cramped bus or the comfortable NSW TrainLink train, so not the penalty it would be were it a SYD - PER flight.

 

[Quickstatus]

YMMV. If it made me late for my appointment, I would not think so too. A 1.5 hr delay for the other passengers may be significant but would be within the usual possibilities for airline travel. Overall I think the evictees would have been significantly more delayed which is excellent. Likely they would have to hire a car and drive.

The captain likely thought they were a risk to the aircraft and passengers and took action. If I I am going to be late because of this so be it. At least the passengers would have got some small satisfaction seeing these 2 get booted off not at the destination but at the origin.

I don't think the captain turned the aircraft around to "teach them a lesson" although that would have been an unintended but nice secondary effect.

 

[Melburnian1]

...Looks like the 2 didn’t run on the 8th. That would have held the cabin crew for the 1 on the 10th, so you may actually be correct about crew rest, assuming they’re sticking with sending them back to London. There’s possibly a Sydney based crew who could do it, but I don’t know what their award says these days...

On Tuesday 10 September, the delayed QF1 pushed back in SYD at 2001, a whole minute later than QF expected, and thus 191 minutes tardy. The SIN stop was from 0146 to 0637, the latter being 402 minutes late with LHR arrival predicted as 1258 hours, 383 minutes behind schedule. Because 'the 2' (to use an AFF aviator's delightful and amusing description) is not timetabled to push back until 2105 tonight London time, it ought not be affected timewise.

 

[Melburnian1]

Switching to Wednesday 11 September, the often punctual QF61 (0935 hours nicely timd BNE - NRT) departed at 1022 hours, so arrival has become a suggested 1832 hours, 37 minutes tardy.

A332 VH-EBC on QF575, the morning 0825 hours SYD across to PER was airborne at 1014 hours after departing at 09471310 hours, 100 late. so arrival is a predicted 1310, 100 minutes late. The aircraft earlier came in to SYD at 0701 hours, 36 late on QF44, the redeye ex DPS, but would then have had to be towed to the domestic terminal, contributing to the delay.

QF682 (1105 hours ADL - MEL in the sky at 1153) should arrive at 1335. 40 late.

 

[dajop]

A turn around back to SYD when they could have easily gone to CBR in the approx same time

Flightradar24 shows the point at which the aircraft started turning around was just inland from Bulli, a mere 50km out from SYD, whilst still 180km to run to CBR. It would seem the prudent decision to make to return to SYD, irrespective of punishment motivations

 

[Quickstatus]

Yes from turnback to landing was only a further 16 minutes. Though about another 5 minutes to the halfway mark in terms of total flight time to CBR.

I wonder in these case did the captain offload the entire aircraft then reboard, or were only the 2 recalcitrants evicted?
Would have been entertaining to watch the proceedings and the karma infused outcome.....

 

[Melburnian1]

Flightradar24 shows the point at which the aircraft started turning around was just inland from Bulli, a mere 50km out from SYD, whilst still 180km to run to CBR. It would seem the prudent decision to make to return to SYD, irrespective of punishment motivations

dajop very kindly located this article which explains more:

Plane forced to turn back mid-flght after fight breaks out over mobile phone

Two men escorted off plane by police

www.independent.co.uk

While we may not know everything that happened, if all that occurred was that one passenger was doing something he shouldn't have and the other chap snatched the smartphone and threw it, with no other physical altercation, it seems somewhat of an over reaction for the Captain to turn back a flight. Yes, a confined space and perhaps there was a physical fight, but given no one was charged, that's unlikely.

A better solution would have been for the FA to move the second passenger - swap seats with a third party - and tell off the first gent for using his phone when he ought not have. But I was not there.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF412, the Thursday 12 September 0730 hours MEL - SYD was airborne at 0812 with B738 VH-VZE. Expected arrival is 0925, half an hour late.

A332 VH-EBN is ahead of it, operating QF408, the 0700 hours that was airborne from MEL at 0748. Its at gate arrival should be 0902 hours, 37 late.

Northbound VH-VXP is on QF416, the 0830 hours morning MEL - SYD in the air at 0924, so arrival should be 1034, 39 minutes late.

 

[Quickstatus]

dajop very kindly located this article which explains more:

Plane forced to turn back mid-flght after fight breaks out over mobile phone

Two men escorted off plane by police

www.independent.co.uk

While we may not know everything that happened,

The details are scant. That there are no further comment suggests that both evictees were in the wrong.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Thursday 12 September, QF80 arrived MEL at 0823 hours, 48 minutes late. A333 VH-QPA was slow to turn around, with its 0910 hours return QF79 MEL to NRT not departing until 1032 hours. Predicted arrival is 1937 tonight, 37 minutes behind schedule.

The B744 on QF63 was again late, departing 24 minutes behind its timetable at 1119; forecast arrival is 1735, 35 down, which will marginally affect the departure of QF64, the 1910 hours local time ex JNB tonight back to SYD.

Earlier, the LHR- SIN - SYD QF2 arrived the latter at 0657, 107 minutes behind schedule.

 

[Melburnian1]

Later on 12 September, QF881, the 1200 'high noon' OOL - MEL (B738 VH-XZG) should arrive at 1454, 34 late.

 

[jb747]

Yes, but will the plane wait as they will have my bags loaded?

Yes from turnback to landing was only a further 16 minutes. Though about another 5 minutes to the halfway mark in terms of total flight time to CBR.

I wonder in these case did the captain offload the entire aircraft then reboard, or were only the 2 recalcitrants evicted?
Would have been entertaining to watch the proceedings and the karma infused outcome.....

The decision on whether to offload the entire aircraft, or just the problem children, would have been made by the security system, not by the Captain.

 

[Melburnian1]

I'd not checked QF37 earlier so goodness knows how long this altered time has been in place, but its Thursday 12 September 1615 hours MEL departure has changed to 2200 tonight. Predicted SIN arrival is 0355 hours on Friday 13, 330 minutes late, a most unpleasant time to arrive, the sole bonus being less traffic (but if planning to catch SMRT, not much good.)

QF38 usually departs at 2350 but has changed to become an 0510 hours with MEL arrival 1440 hours tomorrow, 325 late.

A delay like this is the worst of both worlds: strictly not quite long enough for an hotel stay (although perhaps in SIN QF may provide one if passengers check in at say 2100 tonight), and even if provided, a very early rise at say 0200 or at best 0245, and of course a significant delay to arriving in Oz.

Even air crew used to punishingly odd hours starts might (silently?) not prefer an 0440 hours sign on. Eventually this must take a toll on some staff's bodies as it's unnatural to continually be altering working hours, while also dealing with minor or greater time zone changes.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF2230, the 12 September 1650 hours WGA - SYD took off at 1743 (Q400 VH-QOY) with arrival suggested as 1839, 44 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Still on 12 September, QF462 (B738 VH-VYZ, the 1900 hours ME - SYD airborne at 2006) should arrive at 2113, 48 late.

Ahead of it is QF408 (1845 hours MEL - SYD, in the sky at 1950 hours with VH-VZF) that should arrive at 2058, 48 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Friday 13 September has QF80, the overnight NRT down to MEL arriving at an estimated 0840 hours, 50 late. This is due to its aircraft VH-QPA (A333) being delayed on yesterday's QF79 ex MEL. Sometimes 'the 79' forms QF62 NRT - BNE (with the ex-BNE QF61 plane then forming teh Melbourne) but not teh case last night. There doesn't seem to be a consistent pattern of which does which.

QPA appears to be forming QF29, the 0940 hours MEL - HKG so it will also be delayed somewhat. QF is unrealistically displaying a punctual departure.

UPDATE: QF29 was showing as at about 0930 hours that it'd be delayed until 0955, but this has extended to a projected 1050 hours departure, meaning arrival in the SAR at around the 1755 hours mark, 35 late. However as I write it's past 1100 so the estimate of arrival delay may be over optimistic.

FURTHER UPDATE: 'The 29' did not oush back in MEL until 1229 hours (169 late), so HKG arrival is forecast as 1932 hours, 132 minutes late. One of the ex-HKG southbounds tonight will be tardy due to this.

QF63, the frequently delayed B744 at 1055 hours ex SYD to JNB departed 31 minute slate with suggested arrival 40 behind at 1740 hours local time.

The 1210 hours lunchtime SYD - PEK (QF107) was predicted to push back at 1250 but the departure delay has extended past that.

With yesterday's MEL - SIN (QF37, the 1615 hours) not departing until 2149 hours and arriving at 0349 (324 minutes tardy), QF38 did not push back until 05510 hours, so MEL arrival on 13 September should be at 1428, 313 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

The A388 on Friday 13 September's QF7 pushed back in SYD 22 late at 1257 this afternoon with expected DFW arrivalo 1336, 36 minutes behind the timetable.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF73, presently the 1740 hours SYD to SFO B744 has been pretty good timewise lately but Friday 13 September is an exception.

The flight was showing as punctual when I checked an hour ago but departure has been suddenly changed to a predicted 1930 hours this evening. Estimated arrival is 1545, 105 minutes late.