Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

In more on 19 June 2023, QF104 from HNL should arrive with A333 VH-QPB in SYD at 2020 hours, 100 minutes late, as this 1200 'high noon' Sunday 18 flight ex HNL didn't become airborne until 1346. Yet it had arrived HNL at 1040, only 15 late. The 95 minute timetabled 'reversal' in Honolulu is almost never met: often it takes ages more. QF104 is terrible re timekeeping.

 

[789nerd]

Still on 19th and away from my usual interests, the 19:55 QF781 MEL-PER (A332 VH-EBG) was delayed 99 minutes to 21:14 with all passengers aboard during the delay. Apparently had to be de-iced. (Have 2 sets of family members coincidentally on board). Perth arrival currently shown as delayed 78 minutes.

 

[jackster]

How often is QF35 delayed? Today it was 4 hours! We have a flight booked to leave Singapore to Dubai in J with Emirates at 9.40 pm and starting to wonder if I should change the Mel to Singapore QF35 flight to EK405 which leaves Melbourne 2.25am and gets in to Singapore at 8.15am. If we have a delay like today, I’ll miss my Emirates flight. The flights out of Singapore are pretty full so we could get stuck even if Emirates are happy to help us out. I though 3 hours 40 mins was plenty between flights but I under estimated the potential for Qantas delays!

 

[Melburnian1]

How often is QF35 delayed? Today it was 4 hours! We have a flight booked to leave Singapore to Dubai in J with Emirates at 9.40 pm and starting to wonder if I should change the Mel to Singapore QF35 flight to EK405 which leaves Melbourne 2.25am and gets in to Singapore at 8.15am. If we have a delay like today, I’ll miss my Emirates flight. The flights out of Singapore are pretty full so we could get stuck even if Emirates are happy to help us out. I though 3 hours 40 mins was plenty between flights but I under estimated the potential for Qantas delays!

Good point: I had thought it was better, but FlightStats gives it a 'very poor' rating with 'on-time' (probably defined as 'less than 15 minutes late arriving at gate at SIN') was only 41 per cent between 1 April and 31 May 2023, with a third of flights of 'the 35s' either 'very late' or 'excessively late'. The latter may mean more than an hour or two hours late but FG doesn't seem to define these terms.

If I were you and seats were available, I'd switch to Emirates. Perhaps next time, don't fly Qantas: its punctuality is poor compared to the majority of competitors. On this route, SQ beats it hands down for timekeeping and frequency.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Tuesday 20 June, QF94 (QFi's newest aircraft, B789 VH-ZNM) is arriving at gate shortly at 0731 hours, 46 minutes late.

The overnight delayed QF2 (A388 VH-OQK) did somewhat better than expected, arriving SIN on 20 June at 0458 hours, 688 minutes late.

A333 VH-QPD on yesterday's SYD-MNL QF19 arrived at 1856 hours, only six minutes tardy, but its return as QF20, the redeye, hasn't been as smooth, with takeoff at 2224 last night suggesting gate arrival on Tuesday at about 0748 hours this morning, 68 minutes behind schedule.

 

[Melburnian1]

The delayed QF35 is planned to form QF52 tonight, which is now delayed to a 23.15 departure.

QF52 (A332 VH-EBO, the 2315 hours SIN down to BNE on Monday 19 June) was in the sky on Tuesday 20 at 0013, so BNE arrival should be about 0911 hours, 151 minutes behind schedule.

 

[jackster]

Good point: I had thought it was better, but FlightStats gives it a 'very poor' rating with 'on-time' (probably defined as 'less than 15 minutes late arriving at gate at SIN') was only 41 per cent between 1 April and 31 May 2023, with a third of flights of 'the 35s' either 'very late' or 'excessively late'. The latter may mean more than an hour or two hours late but FG doesn't seem to define these terms.

If I were you and seats were available, I'd switch to Emirates. Perhaps next time, don't fly Qantas: its punctuality is poor compared to the majority of competitors. On this route, SQ beats it hands down for timekeeping and frequency.

Thanks Melburnian1. I’d change to SQ but no seats.

 

[Melburnian1]

The overnight delayed QF1 (A388 VH-OQK) managed to depart SIN at 0645 hours, so arrival will be earlier than I'd suggested, at approximately 1555 hours this afternoon, 645 minutes late. So on the entire journey - blocks off to on - it'll have gained a net 24 minutes on the schedule if the '1555' prediction proves accurate.

This morning's QF11 (A388 also - formed by the delayed '2') - remains advertised as an 1815 hours early evening departure instead of the usual 1020 hours. In such circumstances, does the menu change to reflect 'dinner' instead of 'lunch'? (Mind you, these meals can be swapped by name only if that's easier for the airline, and food perhaps kept the same, as it's 'breakfast' instead of 'lunch' or 'dinner' that's the significant step-change).

 

[Melburnian1]

In more on 20 June, A333 VH-QPE on QF80 from HND, the redeye down to MEL arrived at 0915 hours, 40 minute stardy, as last night it didn't take off until 2218 compared to its advertised pushback time of 2105 mid evening. This flight normally has excellent punctuality.

Because the SIN-BNE QF52 came in so late this morning at 0923, later than the prediction above, and 163 minutes behind schedule, its next flight, QF119, the 0910 hours BNE-AKL is delayed, with departure showing as 1100 hours. Often this then forms later in the day QF126, the mid afternoon 1530 hours AKL back to BNE. The allowed turnaround time is 70 minutes between 'the 119' and 'the 126' so hard to reduce that.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF2D is about to pull up stumps in SYD on Tuesday 20 June (A388 VH-OQK) at about 1551 hours, 641 minutes late. The race is on to depart as the much delayed QF11, normally 1020 hours midmorning SYD-LAX.

Amusingly, if one drew a straight line on a map, QF2 incoming very late was at about North Ryde while QF1. running slightly early (1510 hours SYD-SIN-LHR), up up and away at 1533 hours) gained altitude over Wetherill Park, NSW.

 

[789nerd]

Tuesday's QF7 SYD-DFW (B789 VH-ZNG) is shown as delayed 4 hours 5 minutes for an early evening departure at 19:45 AEST. Revised arrival into Dallas is shown as 19:40 CST Tuesday, 3 hours 35 minutes late. This should not affect the return QF8, despite eating into the normal 6 hour 25 minute layover.

 

[Melburnian1]

It's a similar result, 789nerd, with the much delayed QF11 on Tuesday 20 June, which had to wait for A388 VH-OQK to arrive in SYD with the overnight delayed QF2D, and form 'the 11'.

This 1020 hours scheduled departure for LAX has appeared on FR24's map of Sydney Airport at about 1825 hours, ten minutes after its supposed revised departure time. It departed at 1822 hours, 482 minutes late.

The good news is that provided significant/time consuming maintenance isn't required on the A380 when it's in Los Angeles, the very generous turnaround time should mean a normal departure for Tuesday 20's late night 2340 hours ex LAX QF12 (back to SYD), unless other things go awry.

 

[milehighclub]

In such circumstances, does the menu change to reflect 'dinner' instead of 'lunch'? (Mind you, these meals can be swapped by name only if that's easier for the airline, and food perhaps kept the same, as it's 'breakfast' instead of 'lunch' or 'dinner' that's the significant step-change).

You are correct - lunch and dinner would be in name only. The catering would be the same. Supper flights don’t have entrees so for if it was late enough to be that it would actually gain service. Breakfast is tricky and depending on the time can be hard to change but not an issue for that flight. That would’ve been for the QF1 potentially an issue but given the time they knew a breakfast could’ve been subbed in.

 

[Melburnian1]

Breakfast is tricky and depending on the time can be hard to change but not an issue for that flight. That would’ve been for the QF1 potentially an issue but given the time they knew a breakfast could’ve been subbed in.

While flight caterers - airline-operated or contracted - have years of experience and are adept mass producers/formulators of what they (and many passengers including me) would say can be quality food and beverages given alleged limitations of serving or our tastebuds at altitude, it must be stressful having to alter menu items at short notice. Perhaps their definition of the latter differs from those outside the subsector. One hopes unpunctuality (not just from QFi!) doesn't lead to a rise in wasted food.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF11 on 20 June (A388 VH-OQK) ended up taking off at 1853, with LAX same day arrival suggested at gate as 1450 hours mid afternoon, 465 minutes behind schedule.

In the last few weeks, the 1345 hours SYD-CGK QF41 has had good timekeeping. Monday 20 June is an exception, with A332 VH-EBA perhaps having substiuted for an unavailable sister plane, as it took off from MEL as empty working QF6002 at 1359 and very expeditiously arrived in SYD at 1504 hours. It then became airborne as QF41 at 1707 hours, so CGK at gate arrival should be about 2139 hours tonight, 174 minutes behind schedule. QF42 back should be able to depart at around 2320, so if airborne by 2345, it may be in SYD by 0850 hours if everything goes swimmingly. That would be 145 minutes tardy.

A333 VH-QPI on 'the 35' today (1200 'high noon' SYD up to Lion City) took off at 1244 hours, arriving SIN at 1831, 31 behind.

The 2055 hours ex LHR flagship, QF2 on Monday 19 was in the sky at 2240, so today, arrival at SIN was 50 minutes late at 1820 hours, only 20 minutes ago as I tap. The rather optimistic prediction for pushback for the second sector down to SYD is 2000 hours, half an hour behind schedule.

 

[Melburnian1]

Wednesday 21 June 2023 sees QF94 from LAX to MEL (A388 VH-OQL) estimated to pull in to its gate 91 minutes late at 0816 as this 2220 hours flight on Monday 19 did not take off until 2345 hours.

Givenm yesterday's QF41 was badly late, it's no surprise that QF42 from CGK overnight to SYD should arrive (with A332 VH-EBA) at about 0816 this morning, 111 late.

The QF19 to QF20 changeover has again lost time in MNL, with QF19 yesterday (A332 VH-EBR) arriving 31 minutes late at 1921, but the 2035 hours QF20 not airborne until 2304 last night. This morning, it should arrive at gate at 0824 hours, 104 late.

B789 VH-ZNI on 'the 10' from London to Perth should arrive today at its intermediate stop at 1227 hours, 47 late so it will be somewhat tardy in arriving in MEL this evening.

Despite A388 VH-OQK yesterday operating a badly late QF11 from SYD to LAX that arrived at 1439 hours, 454 minutes late, FR24 maintains it's on the same flight today, with pushback suggested as an hour late at 1120 hours. Sometimes FR24 becomes confused.

 

[whughes3]

The QF19 to QF20 changeover has again lost time in MNL, with QF19 yesterday (A332 VH-EBR) arriving 31 minutes late at 1921, but the 2035 hours QF20 not airborne until 2304 last night. This morning, it should arrive at gate at 0824 hours, 104 late.

I was on that QF20 and the problem was that a series of electrical storms hit the airport from around 1800, making a mess of movements generally. I suspect this was also the issue in most or all of the previous recent disruptions to QF19/20.

Just to add to the hassles, when we got to SYD the plane did not go to T1 but was parked near T3, and we had to disembark via stairs and bus it to T1. The stated reason was that a plane had broken down in our intended T1 gate.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with Wednesday 21 June 2023, QF11, the 1020 hours SYD-LAX (A388 VH-OQB) took off at bang on the dot of 1200 'high noon'. Expected same day at-gate arrival becomes 0756 hours, 51 minutes behind.

Earlier, B738 VH-XZH on the QF139 (0920 nicely timed midmorning MEL_AKL) pointed skywards at 1019, so arrival is predicted for 1536 hours mid afternoon, 41 minutes behind the eight ball.

A333 VH-QPE on QF81, the 1150 hours SYD-SIN was airborne at 1238 hours so an 1849 hours arrival (34 minutes behind the timetable) is the anticipated result.

'The 35' (1200 'high noon') is eerily similar, with QPI also expected 34 late into Lion City's gate at 1834.

 

[Melburnian1]

Another late night (or should that be 'early morning') looms for QF139 (1855 hours SYD-CHC evening flight) patrons with departure expected at 2045 mid evening, resulting in likely at gate arrival after 0115 hours NZ time. This flight doesn't have the best TransTasman punctuality record. I feel sorry for those in business who may have a 1000 meeting scheduled in Kiwiland tomorrow morning.

The delay's genesis is due to B738 VH-XZH on the morning (Wednesday 21 June) QF151 (0920 hours MEL-AKL) not in the sky until 1019, with gate arrival 49 late at 1544, and subsequently as QF146 (1605 hours AKL-SYD,, not up up and away until 1848) and hence not expected to arrive until 1955 hours, 125 minutes behind schedule.

A claimed 50 minute turnaround (1955 to 2045) seems extremely optimistic in Oz for an international flight. We'll know soon enough.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF24 from BKK to SYD overnight is arriving on Thursday 22 June 2023 with A333 VH-QPB at 0724 hours, 59 minutes late. Yesterday as QF23 it arrived BKK at 1655, 15 late. This is the second consecutive day that delays on the ground have seen it losing time.

whughes3 said a there had been consecutive nights around 1800 hours of electrical storms in MNL. I wonder if this has also been true of 'across the seas' BKK?

Wednesday 21 saw the often on-time QF71 from PER up to SIN arrive at 1845 hours, 85 minutes behind the timetable, with A332 VH-EBL. The return was similar, with the 1840 hours scheduled QF72 airborne at 2028 hours for Thursday 22 at gate arrival time of 0113, 83 behind.

B789 VH-ZNF on 'the 10' from LHR for the long trip down to PER took off at 1247 hours yesterday, so today its arrival is expected 36 late at 1216 hours.