Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

The delayed QF93D (A388 VH-OQD) departed at 2012 this evening (Sat 24 October 2015) and is due at LAX at 1645, nine hours and 35 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

For the second consecutive day, QF93 has been late. This morning (Sunday 25 October) it departed MEL 64 behind at 1154, with arrival in LAX forecast at 0750 hours, 45 minutes late.

This may delay QF11, the B744 that has come from BNE and is going to JFK, although perhaps QF simply rebooks any connecting passengers from MEL on AA flights if they have spare seats.

 

[Melburnian1]

A332 VH-EBF departed MEL 64 minutes late this morning (Monday 26 October 2015) on QF775, the 0700 to PER but is expected to arrive the latter at 0840, 35 minutes late. This looks to be forming the 0915 QF642 from PER to SYD that is not showing as 'late' but which almost certainly will be delayed in its departure.

 

[Himeno]

For the second consecutive day, QF93 has been late. This morning (Sunday 25 October) it departed MEL 64 behind at 1154, with arrival in LAX forecast at 0750 hours, 45 minutes late.

I departed LAX this morning to MIA. As we took off (0900), there was 1 QF A380 at TBIT, 1 747 at TBIT and 1 747 parked by the hangers.

 

[Melburnian1]

Talking of QF747s, the normally punctual (like most of QF's relatively small number of international flights ex BNE) QF15 from BNE to LAX this morning was timetabled out at 1000 but at 1119 appears not to have yet departed. This will mean a LAX arrival at 0700 or later today local time and will delay the so-called 'tag' flight QF11 which with the northern hemisphere time change is scheduled as an 0820 departure to JFK.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

As always though, better that any faults be repaired on the ground rather than a problem detected once the plane is at XX000 metres.

Slightly OT, but it's amazing how airlines can get some passengers to be 'grateful' that their flight is delayed with the 'aren't we being good and proactive fixing this now instead of having a major issue in the air'.

The reality is, no self respecting pilot, crew, or airline would take off in an airliner they know to be unsafe. The airline isn't doing us a 'favour' by deciding to fix the problem on the ground. Everyone is entitled to a safe plane.

But some passengers accept the spin. Just like they wholly accept a delay 'due to the late inbound aircraft'. The real question is what caused the inbound to be late in the first place!

EU261 makes very few exception for maintenance issues. Maintenance is part of running an airline, and in the case of the QF93 there may have been 600 euros on the way to every person affected had the flight been leaving from London.

Things go wrong with planes. It shouldn't be for the passenger to closely examine the fleet utilisation of an airline to see if there is sufficient time in between flights to allow for maintenance.

 

[JohnPhelan]

Talking of QF747s, the normally punctual (like most of QF's relatively small number of international flights ex BNE) QF15 from BNE to LAX this morning was timetabled out at 1000 but at 1119 appears not to have yet departed. This will mean a LAX arrival at 0700 or later today local time and will delay the so-called 'tag' flight QF11 which with the northern hemisphere time change is scheduled as an 0820 departure to JFK.

I think you're forgetting to take daylight saving into account.

It pushed back at 10.46 AEST (11.46 AEDST).

 

[Melburnian1]

MEL_Traveller, while wary of going off topic too long, your sentiments will be shared by many of us but we do need airlines to be profitable and hence QF's increased utilisation hours per day is good for it and shareholders, but as you suggest, not always good for passengers.

In writing the above comment I was wary of reaction from one of AFF's more esteemed contributors who tends to take the QF side of the argument not passengers' - which is understandable.

It always surprises me how travellers complain about 10 minute delays to their suburban or country train, ferry, tram or bus - and for good reason, since users are often in a hurry to get to work and they've left the absolute minimum amount of time to get there - but with airline delays that stretch into hours (and hours), few complain. Perhaps they are wary that airline staff may unfairly call in the Federal Police or simply deny them boarding if they vociferously complain, even if no epithets are uttered and a respectful distance is kept from the staff concerned by the annoyed passenger(s)?

With the northern hemisphere time change over the weekend, QF has slowed some of its Oz to LHR or back flights so that (in theory) should mean better timekeeping. I have not compared the new elapsed journey times between MEL and SYD, and LHR, but previously if a traveller wanted the fastest point to point times, he or she should look to SQ, which also happens to be the market leader in so many other ways.

JohnPhelan. no I was reading from the QF website but in the end, QF15 had departed at 1046 - 46 late - and is due in LAX at 0650, 50 minutes behind time.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF35 is delayed departing MEL from 1220 to an expected 1315, with QF forecasting a SIN arrival at 1810 in lieu of 1725 hours.

QF29 departed MEL for HKG 48 minutes late at 1213 but presumably with some assistance from favourable winds is due in HKG only 10 minutes late at 1805 this evening (Monday 26 October.)

UPDATE: The delay to QF35 has extended to an expected hour and 25 minutes, meaning a 1345 departure with arrival in SIN predicted at 1840 hours, 75 minutes late. This A330 normally forms the 2050 hours QF52 to BNE ex SIN so at this stage the latter ought be able to depart on time.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF581, the 1030 from SYD to PER on Monday 26 October is being operated by A332 VH-EBL. It took off at 1335 and is therefore due in PER at 1447 this afternoon, 142 minutes late.

QF582, the 1330 hours from PER to SYD eastbound has been cancelled. Advice from AFFers booked on that flight as to how you will now be travelling to SYD would be interesting.

Not a good day for QF on the important transcontinental routes, although VA had a six hour delay ex MEL as well so it hardly came up smelling as roses to use that old fashioned term.

QF35 from MEL to SIN departed at 1421, 121 minutes late, and is forecast to have a SIN arrival at the gate at 1915, an hour and 50 minutes late. Assuming all is well, this should not delay QF52 back to BNE. VH-QPI is the relevant A333.

 

[Himeno]

With the northern hemisphere time change over the weekend, QF has slowed some of its Oz to LHR or back flights so that (in theory) should mean better timekeeping.

UK returns to UTC from BST this week. US returns to standard time next weekend.

I have not compared the new elapsed journey times between MEL and SYD, and LHR

I did when QF shifted to DXB. 90-120 mins longer for DXB compared to SIN.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF5 (A332 VH-EBG) departed SYD on Monday 26 October 2015 109 minutes late at 1904. QF suggests that it will arrive BNE at 0025 on Tuesday morning (27 Oct), an hour and 55 minutes late. QF6 tonight is expected to depart at 0135 on Tuesday morning instead of 2350 this evening for a SYD arrival at 1235 instead of 1055 hours. Subject to change, it looks like the aircraft is then doing another QF5/QF6 rotation ex SYD on Tuesday, so (touch wood) that 1715 hours departure from the Harbour City should be OK as far as departing on time goes.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF94 departed LAX 61 minutes late on Sunday 25 October at 2316 hours but made up time to MEL, arriving this morning (Tuesday 27) at 0832, just 27 minutes behind time.

However once again QF93 has been delayed from its timetabled 1020 departure (bearing in mind that a one hour 48 minute turnaround is achievable: the best I have noted QF doing recently for an A388 was an hour and 41 minutes) until a forecast 1110, with predicted arrival in LAX also 50 minutes late today at 0725 hours.

 

[cmon0005]

Anyone know what is happening with QF35 today? delayed till 14:10?

 

[Melburnian1]

cmon0005, yes it is and it's the second day in a row for this A330 flight.

Meanwhile QF93 from MEL to LAX (A388 VH-OQB) departed 89 minutes late at 1149 and is forecast to arrive in the 'City of Angels' at 0810, 95 minutes behind the schedule. This flight does not have a disastrous punctuality record but there sure have been some problems in the last few days, annoying connecting passengers for JFK or other USA cities.

 

[cmon0005]

cmon0005, yes it is and it's the second day in a row for this A330 flight.

Is it a tech issue that you know of?

 

[Melburnian1]

Whatever the cause, QF35 did not depart from MEL until 1452 hours this afternoon - two hours and 32 minutes late. QF suggests it will be in SIN at 1950 tonight, picking up just seven minutes on the schedule. QF52 back to BNE ex the Lion City is highly likely to be delayed as it is due to depart at 2050 and is normally formed by QF35. Operating aircraft is A333 VH-QPI.

 

[cmon0005]

Whatever the cause, QF35 did not depart from MEL until 1452 hours this afternoon - two hours and 32 minutes late. QF suggests it will be in SIN at 1950 tonight, picking up just seven minutes on the schedule. QF52 back to BNE ex the Lion City is highly likely to be delayed as it is due to depart at 2050 and is normally formed by QF35. Operating aircraft is A333 VH-QPI.

Just hope the people onboard make their connecting flights, I have a family member onboard with a QF codeshare connection now with only 10-15 mins connection time, I just hope the other airline waits!

 

[Melburnian1]

If it is an official codeshare and their luggage is booked through to the final (or next) destination, that should assist.

I have found that it can also depend on the number of connecting passengers. If your family member is the sole connecting passenger, holding a flight is probably unlikely because of the expense per minute to the (second) airline, but if there are say five or more, the chances of that increase.

It also might depend on how frequent flights of the codeshare partner are to the next destination. For instance, there are lots of flights from SIN to KUL or CGK, a good number to MNL but fewer to SGN or some European destinations. There is also more competition than in Oz - SIN to MNL has four competing carriers, SIN to KUL six or seven - so the number of daily flights per carrier may not be as high as one might think.

There is no guarantee that luggage 'will make it' even if passengers manage to board the connecting flight. Airlines then courier the luggage to you but this can be difficult if a passenger's itinerary has him or her moving around, especially if accommodation is not prebooked. I had a friend who was travelling around Europe recently: the airline's courier eventually returned his luggage 10 days later after it went missing, and he was two or three countries away from where he had been conveyed by air.

If we are to assume that both airlines are 'legacy' and not low cost carriers - and obviously QF35 isn't in that LCC category - then in theory depending on the changed connection (if the original connecting flight is missed), hotel and meals should be at airline expense. Again, this depends on airline policy, availability of hotel rooms and the time period before the rescheduled connection.

Simply for interest, please keep us all informed as to what the connecting passenger receives, and whether they make the connection.

May I ask to where the family member is travelling and on what airline? Is the scheduled time of departure 2005 or so?

 

[cmon0005]

If it is an official codeshare and their luggage is booked through to the final (or next) destination, that should assist.

I have found that it can also depend on the number of connecting passengers. If your family member is the sole connecting passenger, holding a flight is probably unlikely because of the expense per minute to the (second) airline, but if there are say five or more, the chances of that increase.

It also might depend on how frequent flights of the codeshare partner are to the next destination. For instance, there are lots of flights from SIN to KUL or CGK, a good number to MNL but fewer to SGN.

There is no guarantee that luggage 'will make it' even if passengers manage to board the connecting flight.

May I ask to where the family member is travelling and on what airline? Is the scheduled time of departure 2005 or so?

9W11 to BOM QF3951 19:25 scheduled departure

QF35 due to land approx 19:20

Yesterdays 9W11 departed 20 mins late with the late arrival of QF35. so there is still hope!