Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[zan5hin]

Continuing with Sunday 29, QF41 (1345 hours SYD up to CGK) has been delayed until 2005 hours in expected pushback, so an uncomfortable post-0200 arrival time awaits the unlucky patrons. Redeye QF42 back will also be badly delayed.

I just need to vent that I am pretty furious with JF and QF. I honestly have never flown Qantas much domestic or international. Jetstar cancelled my flight to CGK 23 hours before departure, I had exit row booked on a dreamliner MEL-SIN-CGK and I had to pay double to start my holiday with Qantas going MEL-SYD-CGK. Lucky I bought a lounge invite on Ozbargain, because I was stuck in lounge for 9 hours.

Flight didn't actually depart until 2110, seat was so cramped and I didn't get to hotel until 3am. My body clock is totally stuffed up, it has ruined my entire flow even the next day, I'm awake at 3am.

In Europe they have rules around giving compensation back for delays, and I wish the politicians would implement that here.

So kindly F Jetstar and Qantas both, and I don't mean First Class.

 

[Melburnian1]

I just need to vent that I am pretty furious with JF and QF. I honestly have never flown Qantas much domestic or international. Jetstar cancelled my flight to CGK 23 hours before departure, I had exit row booked on a dreamliner MEL-SIN-CGK and I had to pay double to start my holiday with Qantas going MEL-SYD-CGK.

I assume there were spare seats on QFi's QF41, so it's unfortunate that JQi wouldn't transfer you at no charge to the delayed QFi flight.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Tuesday 31 May, QF121, the 0930 hours SYD - ZQN is expected to depart 140 minutes late at 1150 hours while the 0940 hours SYD - WLG QF161 should be 110 minutes tardy pushing back at 1130.

 

[milehighclub]

I believe SYD is going to single runway today so this could cause some delays and cancellations, particularly for domestic sectors (for all airlines).

 

[Melburnian1]

I believe SYD is going to single runway today so this could cause some delays and cancellations, particularly for domestic sectors (for all airlines).

Thanks! While perhaps due to fog earlier today, QF1410, the 0930 hours midmorning BXG - SYD took off at 1224 hours and is arriving at 1352, 152 minutes late with Q300 VH-SBG.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with Tuesday 31 May, B738 VH-VZZ arrived from DPS in SYD seven minutes early as QF44 at 0613, and then formed QF161. This 0940 hours SYD - WLG flight did not take off until 1235 so arrival was at 1719, 149 minutes tardy. The 1545 hours WLG back to SYD QF164 was airborne at 1831 so expected arrival at gate at 1943 will be 133 late.

Colleague VH-XZI on QF121 (0930 hours SYD - ZQN) was up up and away at a very similar 1232 hours with arrival becoming 1706 hours, 156 late. The return flight, QF122 (the 1520 hours) took off at 1824 so at gate arrival is predicted as 1917, 157 minutes tardy.

Yesterday (30 May) QF75 (1925 hours SYD - YVR, B789 VH-ZNC) was in the sky an hour later, arriving same day at 1807, 37 minutes behind schedule.

 

[Quickstatus]

QF122

Via CHC for a splash and dash

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on Tuesday 31 May, QF7 (1540 hours mid afternoon SYD up to DFW) did not take off until 1653. The B789 is VH-ZNA that arrived as QF64 from JNB in SYD at 1447 hours, 82 minutes late.

A333 VH-QPF on QF81, the normally punctual 1110 hours SYD - SIN was airborne at 1249 so arrival is suggested as 1857 hours, 67 minutes tardy. It may be replacing a failed colleague as it was previously operating QF511, the 0840 hours BNE - SYD that arrived at 1029 hours, 14 minutes late, with the aircraft then having to transfer to the international terminal.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Monday 30 May 2022, QF1652 from PER was badly delayed (A320 VH-VQS), with this 0730 hours flight airborne at 1125, arriving BME at 1346, 221 minutes late. QF1653 on the return took off from BME at 1516 hours, arriving at 1739, 139 minutes tardy.

The next PER - BME (the 1035 hours, QF1654, also A320 but VH-VQU) was in the sky at 1234, arriving at 1502, 112 minutes late. On its return working (QF1655, the 1355 hours in the sky at 1543 arrived at 1803, 93 minutes tardy.

There were long queues in the terminal with apparently one Swissport contracted girl trying to manage the two A320s. A staff member said to my informant that QFd had cut staffing to the bone, and at least one flight attendant a week was leaving QFd from its Perth base due to the low salaries (no or few overnights) and 'abuse from passengers'.

Passengers for QF1655 were not allowed to walk on the tarmac until the other flight had departed.

Apparently staff on one of the flights were within 30 seconds of being 'out of hours' and having to stay overnight in BME and cancel that afternoon flight back down to Perth, but fortunately it took off in the nick of time.

Throughout, there was no communication from QF (contracted) staff or anyone else.

My informant suggested it was like a third world airline operation. My thoughts ventured to when I flew on now defunct AeroPeru many years ago from LIM and also a provincial city in Peru.

Seems like QFd's cost cutting has reached the more minor parts of 'the network'.

 

[Melburnian1]

The first day of the Australian winter finds QF12 (A388 VH-OQD) arriving from LAX inSYD at 0730 hours, 35 late. QF11 returning to LAX is expected to depart 45 minutes late at 1100.

QF161 (the 0940 hours SYD - WLG) is predicted to depart at 1030 hours.

B738 VH-XZO on QF151 (0710 hours MEL - AKL) was up up and away at 0849, so expected arrival becomes 1406 hours, 81 minutes late. Timekeeping on QFi's TransTasman flights is very poor. NZ is better, but also not stunningly punctual.

For the second consecutive time in recent days (previous occasion was 29 May) QF41 (1350 hours afternoon flight from SYD up to CGK) is badly delayed with pushback predicted at 1900 early this evening. This will mean an arrival in Jakarta at close to midnight.

 

[Melburnian1]

The redeye QF784 from PER arrived MEL this morning (1 June) at 0606 hours, 51 minutes late with the aircraft then transferring to T2 on a very cold, rainy day to form QF151, the 0710 hours QFi to AKL. This took off at 0849 hours, arriving at 1402, 77 minutes tardy. The aircraft is returning to MEL as QF156, the 1340 hours. It was airborne at 1529 so arrival at gate should be at about 1711, 76 late.

Colleague VH-VYZ was worse. It must be operating for a failed sister aircraft, as it initially this morning was on QF672 from ADL, the 0720 hours that was just 12 minutes late arriving in MEL at 0907 hours. It then had to switch terminals, running QF133, the 0720 hours MEL - CHC that was in the sky at a much delayed 1122, and likely to arrive in the South Island major centre at 1627, 227 minutes behind schedule.

Thankfully QF171 (VH-XZC, the 0940 hours MEL - WLG) was up up and away and 1045, arriving 46 minutes late at 1601 hours. Not ideal, but better than the AKL and CHC-bound offerings.

The relatively new QF335 this morning (B738 VH-XZF) initially was the 0610 hours SYD - BNE airborne at 0656, arriving at 0817 hours, 37 minutes tardy. It then continued, taking off from BNE at 0947 hours and arriving at TBU (in Tonga) at 1637 hours, 47 minutes past the timetable.

B738 VH-VZV on QF119 (0915 hours BNE - AKL) took off at 1041 hours with arrival becoming 49 late at 1514 hours mid afternoon in the Shaky Isles.

QFi underestimated the delay to QF11 (1015 hours SYD - LAX, Wednesday 1 June) as instead of departing at 1100, it took off at 1229. Arrival for A388 VH-OQD should be roughly 0830 hours, 90 late.

B738 VH-VZZ was also more tardy than anticipated as QF161 (0940 hours SYD - WLG). This was airborne at 1132 so arrival at about 1621 will be 91 late.

The 0950 hours SYD - BKK is still not a daily runner despite the pre-COVID popularity of Thailand as a tourism destination. Today A333 VH-QPE was airborne at 1137 hours so expected arrival becomes 1817 hours, 97 late. This means the return 1810 hours redeye QF24 has every chance of departing at least 75 minutes late, but may pick up some time on its southeast journey. This A333 had overnighted in Sydney after arriving on QF104 ex HNL, so perhaps the delay was due to slow security, or insufficient baggage handlers.

QF19, the 1230 hours lunchtime SYD - MNL has A333 VH-QPF. This aircraft had been inSydney since 0640 this morning (10 minutes ahead of the timetable) as QF82 ex SIN, and wasn't expected to be late on 'the 19', but the latter was in the sky at 1336 with suggested arrival tonight 1934, 44 minutes behind the timetable.

QF121, the 0930 hours SYD - ZQN has been frequently late: today was no exception, but stranegly the QF website shows this flights as 'delayed' and likely to depart at 1030 (almost three and a half hours ago). I can't see that it has, yet it's not officially 'cancelled'.

In contrast, QF55, the 1000 hours BNE up to LAX has generally excellent timekeeping but today it took off at 1052 with suggested arrival at 0702 (same day) to be 32 minutes tardy.

Similarly QF51 (1055 hours BNE - SIN, A332 VH-EBQ) is normally a reliable performer punctuality-wise but yesterday it arrived SIN at 1750, 40 late with colleague EBV and today is suggested as far worse, mooted arrival becoming 1832, 82 minutes late.

 

[levelnine]

QF9 delayed from 15:15 until 21:00 tonight. Not a nice text message to receive while having lunch in the First lounge and getting ready to board!

 

[Melburnian1]

QF9 delayed from 15:15 until 21:00 tonight. Not a nice text message to receive while having lunch in the First lounge and getting ready to board!

QF41 (see above) from SYD to CGK was expected to be delayed from 1350 hours in pushback to 1900 hours, but this has suddenly become 2130.

Amazing that QFi has so many delays when most foreign airlines (obviously not based here) manage to operate in and out with minimal serious late running and few cancellations. Even accounting for QFi's greater number of scheduled flights, it's still a bad look. The only 'foreigner' that comes remotely close is NZ, but typically it's subject to fewer such annoyances than QFi.

Enjoy your trip: you get more hours in the MEL F lounge. I have been in there and it was quite enjoyable, especially the massage and the signature pavlova. (If you have a tight work schedule in Londres or a surface connection such as a train that you'll now miss, you may not be sanguine). The nightmare then would be that you can't depart tonight, but hopefully that doens't occur.

While it would be extremely difficult to do with little notice of delays, does QFi alter the catering in any way when flights are expected to run several hours late, or will your 'dinner' on board simply be delayed from say being served at 1730 to 2230 on the way to PER?

 

[levelnine]

does QFi alter the catering in any way when flights are expected to run several hours late, or will your 'dinner' on board simply be delayed from say being served at 1730 to 2230 on the way to PER?

Not entirely sure, but I assume it is too late to change any catering.

Having followed your thread closely in the previous week to see how QFi was operating, I get the impression they are having some considerable problems with their 787 fleet at the moment. Barely seems a day goes by without a major delay on one of the routes. Que sera que sera!

 

[milehighclub]

While it would be extremely difficult to do with little notice of delays, does QFi alter the catering in any way when flights are expected to run several hours late, or will your 'dinner' on board simply be delayed from say being served at 1730 to 2230 on the way to PER?

It won't change. The only time catering may change is if it's overnight, but generally any delays during the day get the same catering. Dinner would be supper which is almost the same menu anyway without the starter, so better to have the original catering in this instance as you get more.

 

[Melburnian1]

One I missed this morning is QF63 (0935 hours SYD - JNB) that was airborne at 1112 hours with B789 VH-ZNC. Estimated arrival is 1715 hours, 95 late, so this will see QF64 (the return flight) delayed.

B789 VH-ZNE on QF1 (1545 hours SYD - DRW) was in the sky at 1636 so arrival should be 32 late at 2012 hours.

Tonight QF149 (1915 hours early evening SYD - AKL) is expected to depart 80 minutes late; QF103 (1925 hours SYD up to HNL) should be about 70 late pushing back while the identically timed SYD - CHC (QF139) should also be 80 late leaving.

 

[Melburnian1]

Not entirely sure, but I assume it is too late to change any catering.

Having followed your thread closely in the previous week to see how QFi was operating, I get the impression they are having some considerable problems with their 787 fleet at the moment. Barely seems a day goes by without a major delay on one of the routes. Que sera que sera!

levelnine, your 1515 hours QF9 retimed to 2100 may be formed by the QF10 arrival from PER and LHR that's coming in to its gate at a suggested 1834, six minutes early with B789 VH-ZNJ. The gate numbers don't tally but can easily change.

As AFFer 789nerd explained, one B789 was in JNB from 23 to 28 May, having failed, and that hurt timekeeping badly. However this has been rectified, yet quite extensive delays continue.

It's arguable that MEL is especially vulnerable to delays as it's not 'the home of the QFi B789s' and so there's a small percentage of the 11-strong fleet that arrives or departs MEL each day. However 'home base' SYD seems to share the love as regards unpunctuality. Get stuck into a second pav!

 

[Melburnian1]

It won't change. The only time catering may change is if it's overnight, but generally any delays during the day get the same catering. Dinner would be supper which is almost the same menu anyway without the starter, so better to have the original catering in this instance as you get more.

Sensible, and minimises food wastage during a time when some nations' populations (Egypt, Iran and others) are at risk from potential shortages of staples like bread. Not a good look for we affluent, complacent Westerners to be wasting huge quantities of food in any of the economy's subsectors (although airlines would be far from the greatest contributors).

 

[Melburnian1]

Oh dear. Poor AFFer levelnine (and all other passengers).

The QF website states QF9 (1515 hours MEL - PER - LHR) isn't to depart until 0200 hours on Thursday 2 June, 645 minutes late. It should then be in PER from 0400 to 0530 with same day arrival in LHR about 1545 hours.

Perhaps a crew is unavailable till then? While MEL is a 24-hour non-curfew airport, it's an unusual time for an international flight to depart, although IIRC pre-COVID, EK has the infamous 0240 hours or similar from MEL to DXB.

 

[789nerd]

Oh dear. Poor AFFer levelnine (and all other passengers).

The QF website states QF9 (1515 hours MEL - PER - LHR) isn't to depart until 0200 hours on Thursday 2 June, 645 minutes late. It should then be in PER from 0400 to 0530 with same day arrival in LHR about 1545 hours.

Perhaps a crew is unavailable till then? While MEL is a 24-hour non-curfew airport, it's an unusual time for an international flight to depart, although IIRC pre-COVID, EK has the infamous 0240 hours or similar from MEL to DXB.

With today's QF1 (789 ZNE) currently only running 51 minutes late, that 789 will probably operate the return QF10, while the delayed QF9 can bring back QF2. QF9 should have been operated by 789 ZNB - which was only 10 minutes late with QF94 from LAX.

Delays of this magnitude for QF9/QF10 will have more flow on effects once the A380s take over QF1/ QF2 from 19th (operating via SIngapore)