Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Tonight's QF10 arrival in MEL was 42 minutes late ex DXB despite having arrived in DXB on time ex LHR. This excess time in DXB may not occur every night, but it occurs sufficiently often to be a problem in enabling QF9 to depart on time given the relatively quick timetabled turnaround at night in MEL.

The QF website is having another 'night of sunny disposition' and predicting that QF9 can depart at 2320, only 25 minutes late. I suggest it will be more like 2340 or 2345 as two hours appears to be the minimum turnaround for an A388 as far as QF goes.

Is this excess time on the ground in DXB simply because that airport has become exceedingly busy with numerous EK and other A380s arriving and departing not to mention other flights, is it due to fog or sandstorms, are there often late passengers who have to be called multiple times and whose luggage cannot be quickly offloaded or is there some other typical reason? Allowing two hours 10 minutes southbound and two hours five minutes northbound to stop in DXB for 'the 10' and 'the 9' as QF staff call them is pretty generous.

While QF1 and QF9 sometimes manage to arrive at the gate at LHR on time (including the 15 minute allowable margin) or even very occasionally early, we already know from media reports that QF's LHR based manager is under pressure for QF to improve its punctuality.

QF seems pretty good - better than inbound - at getting out of LHR on time (sometimes even a few minutes early), and obviously some delays inbound will be as a result of the aircraft being in a holding pattern so that is not QF's fault, but inbound tardiness may also reflect what went on earlier in the trip.

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

With the rain in BNE today, QF553, the 1925 hours from BNE to SYD (and the third last QF flight of the night to SYD, although there's also one JQ) was cancelled.

On a Thursday I would be surprised if there were 150 or more vacant seats on three remaining evening flights southbound on Australia's third busiest airline route.

Are some QF passengers having to spend an unexpected night in BNE tonight?

It isn't the only route with late running or cancellations but I've used it as an example.

 

[RickyT84]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

With the rain in BNE today, QF553, the 1925 hours from BNE to SYD (and the third last QF flight of the night to SYD, although there's also one JQ) was cancelled.

On a Thursday I would be surprised if there were 150 or more vacant seats on three remaining evening flights southbound on Australia's third busiest airline route.

Are some QF passengers having to spend an unexpected night in BNE tonight?

It isn't the only route with late running or cancellations but I've used it as an example.

I highly doubt passengers would need to spend the night in BNE as Thursday nights are not too busy (this would be different if it is a Friday) and I am sure QF would just shuffle passengers around to accommodate those who were on the cancelled flight.

Looking at the weather forecast for SE QLD tomorrow, it is certain that delays are expected.

 

[JessicaTam]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

I highly doubt passengers would need to spend the night in BNE as Thursday nights are not too busy (this would be different if it is a Friday) and I am sure QF would just shuffle passengers around to accommodate those who were on the cancelled flight.

Looking at the weather forecast for SE QLD tomorrow, it is certain that delays are expected.

I am flying MEL-xSYD-OOL tomorrow afternoon, so I might be able to give some live updates.

 

[geordieladinoz]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

I am flying MEL-xSYD-OOL tomorrow afternoon, so I might be able to give some live updates.

Fingers crossed the weather doesn't create too much chaos - SWMBO and I are BNE bound this weekend. After enjoying the rain in NCL last week, the rain in SYD last weekend, there is nothing more that I am looking forward to than rain in BNE this coming weekend!!

:evil:

 

[JessicaTam]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

QF436 scheduled at 1330, now 1415. I am on QF438, scheduled at 1400. My boarding has been put back 10 minutes, due to QF423 not getting in until 1323.
QF442, the 1500 service has also been cancelled. My flight has filled dramatically in the last hour, according to EF.

(even flight nos are MEL-SYD, odd nos the reverse)

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

JessicaTam, your QF438 took off at 1433, about 20 minutes late. Well done!

QF450, the 1630 hours from MEL to SYD has also been cancelled. Southbound, QF473 has also 'got the gong' (the 1415 ex SYD) as has QF451, the 1715, and QF479, the 1845 ex SYD. On a Friday afternoon, when one might expect seat occupancy to be at 95 per cent or even 100 per cent on all flights, how on earth does QF find spare airline seats? Does it suddenly transfer some passengers to the NSWTrainLink night XPT from Southern Cross to Sydney Central?

With the BNE weather inclement to say the least, QF538, the 1535 from SYD to BNE has been cancelled as has QF542, the 1735. QF529, the 1325 from BNE to SYD departed 58 minutes late at 1423 while QF623, the 1400 hours from BNE to MEL is delayed about 40 minutes and has yet to depart the Queensland capital.

QF651 from BNE to PER departed 59 minutes late at 1214 and amazingly is shown as not due in PER until 1639, an hour and 59 minutes late, meaning the winds or whatever have 'knocked it' for an hour.

Many of these delays have compounding effects.

 

[eminere]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

On a Friday afternoon, when one might expect seat occupancy to be at 95 per cent or even 100 per cent on all flights, how on earth does QF find spare airline seats? Does it suddenly transfer some passengers to the NSWTrainLink night XPT from Southern Cross to Sydney Central?

LOL!! :mrgreen: I must say, reading your posts is very entertaining!

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

eminere, yes we all need a sense of humour in life, thank you. By the way, the XPT has 18 sleeping berths that while a bit noisy are superior to any QF, VA, JQ or TT 'products' (seats) on the MEL - SYD- BNE routes.

However seriously, on busier days such as this with three out of about 26 remaining (from 1400 hours to 2100 hours) QF Group (QF and JQ combined) northbound MEL - SYD flights cancelled at this stage (possibly more later tonight, although that's an unknown at 1500 hours) where does QF 'find the spare seats' to accommodate passengers off these 737s or A330s? I am of course assuming that bookings have been very solid due to Sydney and Melbourne's populations of a combined nine million or so.

There would not be many passengers who would welcome the prospect of an extra unscheduled night in MEL since so many are travelling to get home (on time) at the end of a working week, or have sporting or family events to attend in SYD or elsewhere on the weekend, international or other domestic flights to connect with and so on.

 

[astrosly]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

QF2023 from Armidale now running very late, Dash 8-300 went tech when we were ready to take off about 30mins late. Waiting for a technician to fly up on the next flight QF2030 due (late) at 5pm, at the moment won't arrive in Sydney till 7.30pm (4 1/2 hours late). Hopefully no other knock-ons make QF2030 any later ...!

First officer said that a light was on that shouldn't be on, and it wouldn't clear under full engine power.

 

[Pushka]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Sydney - Adelaide running late...

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

astrosly, QF2030 departed SYD 36 minutes late but is due at ARM at 1701, 16 minutes late. QF2023 is not expected to depart ARM until 1828, four hours and 43 minutes late, while QF2031 is forecast to leave ARM at 1729, 24 minutes late.

You were relatively fortunate that there is a mid afternoon flight to convey the staff member up. Interesting to see that QF probably estimates repairs will take around an hour. No doubt whatever problem it is has previously occurred, and the staff member would have an excellent idea of what to do.

Pushka, you must be referring to QF765 meant to depart SYD at 1640 for ADL but delayed until an estimated 1710. Happy flying!

 

[Pushka]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Pushka, you must be referring to QF765 meant to depart SYD at 1640 for ADL but delayed until an estimated 1710. Happy flying!

Yep, now 5.20pm. They keep pushing it out. Maybe they think by doing that people won't notice?

 

[astrosly]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

astrosly, QF2030 departed SYD 36 minutes late but is due at ARM at 1701, 16 minutes late. QF2023 is not expected to depart ARM until 1828, four hours and 43 minutes late, while QF2031 is forecast to leave ARM at 1729, 24 minutes late.

You were relatively fortunate that there is a mid afternoon flight to convey the staff member up. Interesting to see that QF probably estimates repairs will take around an hour. No doubt whatever problem it is has previously occurred, and the staff member would have an excellent idea of what to do.

Pushka, you must be referring to QF765 meant to depart SYD at 1640 for ADL but delayed until an estimated 1710. Happy flying!

Indeed, we are quite lucky (!) to have 5 weekday QF flights to Armidale (I'm still yet to fly a Rex service). I'm personally not concerned as my destination is Sydney and I could move my PM appointment to tomorrow, but some people I was speaking to had onward connections and they will be moved to the QF2031 flight leaving earlier which was substituted from a 8-200 to a 8-300 to fit them. When I heard that the plane had a tech issue I thought we would end up at Tamworth so it is interesting that they think whatever it is can be fixed in the hour.

Update: QF2030 is now due to arrive 5.25pm or 40mins late. Hope they brought some extra bottles of wine with the technician as our service will probably need it by then

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

The QF computer (at least publicly) has yet to update the forecast departure time of QF2031 and is still suggesting a four minute turnaround time (like a suburban train at its terminus!) I'd like to see that.

Surely the departure time of this 'earlier' flight cannot now be until just before 1800 at the absolute earliest. I wonder how tight some passengers' onward connections are?

UPDATE: The computer now predicts a QF2031 amended departure time (late!) of 1744 but this remains realistic. I don't believe that all that needs to can be accomplished in 19 minutes.

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Pushka's QF765 finally departed at 1724 and is now airborne, and may be in ADL 27 minutes late.

QF2030 from SYD to ARM is now shown as a 1750 arrival in the latter, 65 minutes late. How the airlines can get away with this 'hiding' of true arrival times after a plane has departed the other end and levelled out to cruising (when at a small rural airport as destination the airline should know pretty much exactly when it will land) amazes me.

UPDATE: QF2030 finally pulled up at the ARM gate at 1755, 70 minutes late. Both QF2023 and QF2031 are now shown as simultaneously departing from ARM at a predicted 1826. This seems unrealistic, especially if the arriving technician has to fix the fault with one of the aircraft.

 

[Pushka]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Thanks for the update. It disappeared of the Sydney airport site. 45 minutes late but pilot said he would make some time up.

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Not to leave out our wonderful public servants, QF1484 from CBR to SYD is running 75 minutes late and not due to depart until 1910. Depending on one's Sydney destination, it may be quicker to travel by train or drive, but these delays are unpredictable and do not occur with every flight.

 

[astrosly]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Thanks for the updates Melburnian1. QF2030 circled a bit due to low cloud, and they turned it around surprisingly quick for a full aircraft (under 20mins). They left about 16:25.

QF2023/VH-TQH is currently doing tests by taxiing to the end of the runway and being checked under full throttle, everyone in the terminal is hopeful for a good result! Last update at ARM is to leave at 16:45 (though QF's flight status says 17:00).

Update 18:39: advised all sorted! We will be leaving shortly ....!

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

astrosly, you are on the ground in ARM and I am not, but the QF2030 to QF2031 turnaround was 28 minutes according to the QF website. I see that QF2023 is slated to depart at 1904, 319 minutes late.

A couple of your times need to start with '18'XX as the time not '16'XX.