Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[piglet]

QF35 delayed by 50mins, airport check in opened earlier than usual. Shortly after, got a text about delay, departing 1300 now.

 

[piglet]

Pushed back again, 1345 now for QF35

 

[Melburnian1]

Wednesday 12 February sees QF840, the 1005 hours SYD - DRW not airborne until 1111 hours, so expected arrival for B738 VH-VXQ is 1342 hours, 37 minutes late.

QF525 (1105 hours BNE - SYD, B738 VH-XZN) did not take off until 1225 hours so expected arrival is 1440 hours, an hour tardy.

QF29, the 0935 hours MEL - HKG was cancelled.

The 1125 hours late morning SYD - SIN QF81 was delayed yesterday, with today's pushing back 73 behind at 1238 hours for forecast arrival at 1735, 50 behind.

 

[Melburnian1]

Later on 12 February, QF7, the 1440 hours SYD - DFW is expected to depart at 1740, arriving same day at 1530, 155 late.

UPDATE: It pushed back at 1746 hours with estimated at gate arrival 1548 hours, 173 late.

QF35 (lunchtime 1210 hours MEL - SIN) departed at 1333 hours, arriving at 1801, 56 minutes behind schedule. Redeye QF36 back down to MEL is suggested as pushing back at 2000 hours, only 20 late.

QF43, which lately has been delayed a few times, was slightly in the wars on Wednesday 12 as it pushed back 44 late with claimed arrival to be 2030, half an hour behind.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Tuesday 11 February, QF10 (1155 hours LHR down to PER) departed at 1222, arriving on Wednesday 12 at 1258, 28 minute stardy. The domestic leg however ran later, departing PER at 1434 (34 late) and arriving at the MEL allocated gate at 2059, as luck would have it also 34 minutes behind the timetable.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF730 with B738 VH-VXS is the 0600 hours first of the morning's ADL across to SYD airborne on Thursday 13 February at 0650 hours. Arrival should be at 0903, 38 minutes late.

QF472, QF410, QF488 and QF420 (0615, 0715, 0845 and 0930 hours MEL - SYD) were cancelled. Insufficient bookings? Fog had been predicted for some suburbs but most flights to a large number of destinations have operated.

The 0825 hours MEL up to MQL, QF2078, also got the boot.

Thsi afternoon, QF438 (1400 hours MEL up to SYD) is also not running.

 

[milehighclub]

QF472, QF410, QF488 and QF420 (0615, 0715, 0845 and 0930 hours MEL - SYD) were cancelled. Insufficient bookings? Fog had been predicted for some suburbs but most flights to a large number of destinations have operated.

SYD slot restrictions due weather

 

[Melburnian1]

QF433 (Thursday 13 February, the 1230 hours SYD down to MEL airborne at 1327 with B738 VH-VYL) is arriving at 1437 hours, 32 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

It was showing as 'punctual' this monring but the afternoon's Thursday 13 February's QF1 has been suddenly altered to depart SYD at 1830 hours rather than 1700. SIN arrival is predicted 65 late at 2310 late tonight local time. QF has yet to publicly adjust timings for the second leg to LHR.

 

[Melburnian1]

It was showing as 'punctual' this monring but the afternoon's Thursday 13 February's QF1 has been suddenly altered to depart SYD at 1830 hours rather than 1700. SIN arrival is predicted 65 late at 2310 late tonight local time. QF has yet to publicly adjust timings for the second leg to LHR.

The flight did not push back until 1929 hours. The SIN stop is estimated as 0014 to 0135 hours on Friday 14 with LHR arrival 0800 hours, 105 minutes behind the timetable. Aircraft A388 VH-OQF had been in SYD since arriving at 0629 hours (11 early) on QF128, the redeye from HKG that tonight becomes either an A333 or a B744 for quite some time (although today's QF127 was A332 VH-EBO.)

QF45 (1730 hours B738 from MEL to DPS) is usually pretty good timewise but tonight it departed at 1911 hours. Estimated arrival has become 2140, 70 behind, so QF44 will be delayed. VH-XZH is the taskmaster. It was delayed on QF151/156 MEL - AKl and return today, arriving back at 1757, 102 minutes late. For whatever reason even though it's only a smaller plane, one doesn't observe '35 minute turnarounds' for QFi (unlike domestic airlines that can achieve this sometimes.)

 

[Melburnian1]

On Friday 14 February, QF1 is delayed by two hours to a predicted 1900 hours in its departure from SYD with the SIN intermediate stop to be 2350 to (Saturday 15) 0115 and LHR arrival 0720 hours, being 65 minutes late.

QF1014, the 1440 HBA to MEL creditably took off early at 1447 but due to an unsettled Melbourne (storms), B738 VH-VXH had to hold in Bass Strait so arrival should be 1631 hours, 31 minutes behind schedule.

 

[Melburnian1]

Later on 14 February, QF448 (VH-XZE, the 1645 hours MEL to SYD airborne at 1738) looks to be arriving at 1856 hours, 46 minutes tardy.

Unusually, the 1650 hours initial QF9 MEL - PER sector has been cancelled but it is operating the 1920 hours PER - LHR. QF10 came in from LHR to PER today but similarly, its domestic sector to MEL has received the flick.

As the preceding domestic flight is QF777 at a scheduled 1510 hours mid afternoon from MEL, this would be too early for many '9' passengers checking in even if it had lots of spare seats, probably unusual on a Friday afternoon. Are MEL - LHR passengers rerouted on QF37, the 1720 hours MEL - SIN and then the 2355 hours just before midnight QF1 to LHR (delayed today by an expected two hours ex Sydney), or does EK take some or all of these QFi passengers?

This suggests B789 VH-ZNG that was on QF10 will return tonight to LHR as QF9. While not normal practice, it's occurred between half a dozen and 10 times at a quick guess since QFi commenced the PER - LHR - PER nonstops. Interestingly, IIRC neither long distance flight has been diverted yet on account of adverse weather, which was a big concern when the flights were proposed.

QF43 is again delayed, pushing back in SYD at 1743 (53 behind.) Consequently, DPS arrival should be at 2035. 35 down. This will slightly delay redeye QF44 back down to SYD.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with 14 February 2020, QF453 (1700 hours peak time SYD - MEL, B738 VH-VZF was in the sky at 1817 hours so expected arrival is 1943 hours, 68 behind.

QF451, the 1715 hours from SYD is similar, having taken off at 1822 so forecast at gate arrival looks like 1950, an hour late for VH-VXU.

The 1745 hours is not as bad, becoming airborne at 1836. VH-VXR should have a 38 minute late, 1958 hours arrival tonight in MEL.

QF459 is the 1800 hours southbound that took off at - wait for it - 1800, so at that stage it was a very creditable 10 - 15 minutes ahead of schedule. While it hasn't (as at 1930 hours) had to go into a holding pattern, it may be on ATC-imposed 'speed restrictions' as arrival is showing as 2009, 34 behind the timetable.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Friday 14 February, QF1 is delayed by two hours to a predicted 1900 hours in its departure from SYD with the SIN intermediate stop to be 2350 to (Saturday 15) 0115 and LHR arrival 0720 hours, being 65 minutes late...

'The 1' departed SYD at 1907 hours (127 minutes late.) SIN's intermediate stop is estimated as 2350 to 0115 (Saturday 15) with LHR arrival 65 minutes late at 0720 hours. This is a net gain ('gate to gate') of 62 minutes. A388 VH-OQB had been in Sydney all day after arriving 24 late on QF12 at 0859 hours.

As a comparison, yesterday's QF1 had a net gain of 39 minutes on its complete timetable. Conditions vary from day to day.

The ADL to MEL QF688 (VH-VXP) is what should be the busy 1725 hours that was in the sky 130 minutes later. Anticipated arrival has become 2121, 126 minutes late. Another on the same route is QF696, the 1925 hours in the sky at 2014. Its at gate arrival (VH-VXC) should be at 2151 hours, 36 late.

CBR to MEL's QF823 has VH-XZL and is arriving 32 late at 2127 hours.

QF490 from MEL up to SYD (VH-VXR) should arrive at 2204, 39 late after taking off at 2052, 52 minutes later than timetabled poushback.

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on Friday 14 February, QF2007 (Q400 VH-QOF, the 1650 hours TMW down to SYD) did not take off until 2119 so arrival at 2207 will be 242 minutes late.

 

[Quickstatus]

Seems all over the UK was hairy as hell yesterday - flights abandoned at Luton with diverts to Stansted or Manchester + some even being sent to Frankfurt.

Crosswinds increase the possibility of tail strikes. QF10 VH-ZND, 09Feb, got an EICAS tail strike indication which may only mean an activation of the tail strike sensors rather than an actual tail strike. (Apparently no damage found).

Nevertheless requires a return to airport and as a consequence the pilots are immediately out of hours.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF23, the Saturday 15 February 1030 hours SYD - BKK is expected to depart at 1300 this afternoon with arrival at a suggested 1820 hours, 130 minutes late, delaying the QF24 redeye back down to SYD.

The 1125 hours SYD - SIN pushed back 57 minutes late with claimed arrival 1730, 45 down.

 

[Melburnian1]

Checking a few hours ago, QF9 from MEL to PER, the 1650 hours B789, and on to LHR was showing as operating (no delays) but it has since been cancelled.

Unlike earlier this week, it isn't starting from PER.

Perhaps if there's room, some luckier passengers may be rebooked on QF37, the 1720 hours MEL - SIN A332 and then QF1, the 2355 hours SIN - LHR.

Advice from anyone booked as to what arrangements have been made would be appreciated, and very helpful to other users of this premium-priced offering.

 

[Peasant]

My sister was booked on the QF9 domestic segment MEL-PER today. She was sent a message at 1445 to advise of the cancellation, which meant she couldn't make QF777. She's been put in a middle seat on QF481 which she said is now completely full. She rebooked using the online chat.

On a side note, I'm very surprised more isn't being said of QF's ongoing operational reliability across the international network. I'm avoiding QF like the plague as a result of it, but it seems I'm part of a very slim minority who are bothered by it.

 

[Melburnian1]

...On a side note, I'm very surprised more isn't being said of QF's ongoing operational reliability across the international network. I'm avoiding QF like the plague as a result of it, but it seems I'm part of a very slim minority who are bothered by it.

Very good point.

There are 13 million QFF members.

Points collection has become a national hobby, and a serious one. And then there's the experts like some AFFers who also carefully note the SCs.

QFF has a tieup with Woolworths, which I'd opine is Oz's leading supermarket, and often perceived as somewhat more upmarket than Coles.

Coles is in Flybuys with Velocity Rewards: the number 2 retailer with the number 2 airline.

Even though VA carries millions annually domestically (though a far smaller number internationally), it just doesn't have the market share of QFd, and I can't see that it ever will.

Many frequent passengers would sort of know that QFi often is very poor for punctuality, and has too many cancellations.

They may be 'bothered' on the day but shrug it off, even though you and I know it happens far too often.

But most aren't "savvy", or in many cases are having travel paid for by their private sector or government employer that can almost mandate the employee or contractor travels on QFi.

I am bothered by QFi's poor performance and other poor features of QFi, so I use Asian airlines, sometimes at a fraction of the fares QFi wants to charge. Ones like PR, JL, NH, SQ and CI deliver a pleasant experience, are largely on time or not too badly late, don't have cabin crew with the infamous QF "attitude" and have good connections. CI previously had a questionable safety record but that was years ago, so I don't have fears about it.

I know others who fly far more than I do, exclusively in F or J, and who have abandoned QFi. But until most passengers are paying fares from their own pockets, QFi will continue to have a sizeable chunk of our countrymen using it in the higher cabin classes.

However remember only about one in four passengers depart Oz on QFi metal, so even allowing for JQi, a majority of travellers internationally use other carriers.

QF can also be a major advertiser with Australian media so there's a reluctance at times to write negatively about it, especially if one is a travel writer salivating about another freebie in J or higher. One-off cancellations aren't newsworthy, but multiple ones such as when the A388 or B744 fleet has a meltdown can be.