QF 67/68 - SYD - DEL - SYD Cancellations

[somebol]

Anyone know why QF67 / 68 flights are being cancelled?
So far I have noticed cancellations on 14/1, 16/1 & 17/1.




We are due to fly back on QF68 on 21/1, now not sure if this will go ahead or be cancelled (2 x J cash + 2 x J awards).
Will QF move us to QF70 DEL-MEL if QF68 gets cancelled? Not many options available for us to get back to oz if QF decides to cancel our flight.

Should I contact QF to proactively move us to QF70?
Appreciate tips and suggestions on what I can do. We are getting very nervous

 

[henrus]

I wouldn't get too stressed at all. QF still have other services such as to MEL and other days to SYD.

This seems to be a planned move (potentially due to lower than expected demand).

https://www.qantas.com/agencyconnect/au/en/agency-news/agency-news-january-22/commercial-policy-.html

Worth noting they're not going to "proactively" move you if the flight you're booked on is still operating.

 

[somebol]

I wouldn't get too stressed at all. QF still have other services such as to MEL and other days to SYD.

This seems to be a planned move (potentially due to lower than expected demand).

https://www.qantas.com/agencyconnect/au/en/agency-news/agency-news-january-22/commercial-policy-.html

Worth noting they're not going to "proactively" move you if the flight you're booked on is still operating.

Not sure what to make of it. EF is showing all classes as 0 till Feb 1, for both QF 68 & 70.
My main concern is about the 2 J awards, will they open up space on alternate flights if our flight ends up being cancelled.

 

[henrus]

My main concern is about the 2 J awards, will they open up space on alternate flights if our flight ends up being cancelled.

Yes, the same policy applies to redemption and cash tickets when they're both booked via QF on QF metal flights.

 

[blacksultan]

Are Syd flights more likely to be cancelled as opposed to mel flights ? Someone said qf staff mentioned all flights are cancelled until Feb although there is no announcement . What is EF ?

 

[somebol]

EF shows both syd & mel flights 0 availability till Feb 1. However seat maps are only 50% full.

Both syd and mel started off with 3 x week frequencies. But syd moved to daily from last week of December.

 

[henrus]

Are Syd flights more likely to be cancelled as opposed to mel flights ?

Guess it depends on load and crew.

Someone said qf staff mentioned all flights are cancelled until Feb although there is no announcement

I'd find that hard to believe. QF69 is currently in the air to DEL and is expected to turn around tonight.

What is EF ?

Expert Flyer, it's a paid subscription to a website that provides tools for searching flights.

Five Useful Expert Flyer Features

Expert Flyer is one of the most useful online tools for frequent flyers. The many Expert Flyer features can help to secure an upgrade, find award

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[henrus]

EF shows both syd & mel flights 0 availability till Feb 1. However seat maps are only 50% full.

Both syd and mel started off with 3 x week frequencies. But syd moved to daily from last week of December.

Seat maps are a terrible indication of how busy a flight is (unless checked very close to actual departure time when everyone has been assigned a seat). Airlines like Qantas are even worse as some fare types charge extra for seat selection meaning people won't bother paying for and selecting a seat until check in.

To me it sounds like QF could be looking to consolidate flights over that time period (eg combine the SYD/MEL flights on a given day). In order to do this successfully they often zero out availability so that the consolidation efforts aren't stuffed up by new bookings. I've had this happen on a few QF international flights in the last 12 months so my only advice is to just wait a few days and see what happens.

 

[docjames]

Qantas had been stating how well these flights had sold.

Also the Indian government stiffened entry requirements after these flights were launched so that may have stifled demand somewhat.

 

[Rangalad]

EF shows both syd & mel flights 0 availability till Feb 1. However seat maps are only 50% full.

Both syd and mel started off with 3 x week frequencies. But syd moved to daily from last week of December.

IIRC Both SYD and MEL crew have to slip (overnight) in ADL due to the ADL-DEL block time.

 

[ritub]

Anyone know why QF67 / 68 flights are being cancelled?
So far I have noticed cancellations on 14/1, 16/1 & 17/1.

View attachment 269077


We are due to fly back on QF68 on 21/1, now not sure if this will go ahead or be cancelled (2 x J cash + 2 x J awards).
Will QF move us to QF70 DEL-MEL if QF68 gets cancelled? Not many options available for us to get back to oz if QF decides to cancel our flight.

Should I contact QF to proactively move us to QF70?
Appreciate tips and suggestions on what I can do. We are getting very nervous

I am flying on 3rd Feb. Thanks for this thread. Not sure whats happening here.

 

[ritub]

Anyone know why QF67 / 68 flights are being cancelled?
So far I have noticed cancellations on 14/1, 16/1 & 17/1.

View attachment 269077


We are due to fly back on QF68 on 21/1, now not sure if this will go ahead or be cancelled (2 x J cash + 2 x J awards).
Will QF move us to QF70 DEL-MEL if QF68 gets cancelled? Not many options available for us to get back to oz if QF decides to cancel our flight.

Should I contact QF to proactively move us to QF70?
Appreciate tips and suggestions on what I can do. We are getting very nervous

Hi,
Did you manage to find out further regarding the reason for cancellation? I have been calling the customer care but no luck.

 

[somebol]

Hi,
Did you manage to find out further regarding the reason for cancellation? I have been calling the customer care but no luck.

I think they are consolidating flights because of loads, specially when QF68 & 70 operate on the same day.

Given Indian now has a mandatory 7 day quarantine for all arrivals, the demand would have gone down.

 

[ritub]

I think they are consolidating flights because of loads, specially when QF68 & 70 operate on the same day.

Given Indian now has a mandatory 7 day quarantine for all arrivals, the demand would have gone down.

Ya might be. I am not able to figure out if they will put in the passengers in another flight if flight gets cancelled.

 

[jpp42]

Ya might be. I am not able to figure out if they will put in the passengers in another flight if flight gets cancelled.

Yes they certainly will. You may be routed via the other city (e.g. to Melbourne if the Sydney flight is cancelled - not sure if you've said where your origin is). You may be delayed a day or two. This is all normal and Qantas will automatically book you on alternate flights and send you a notice about this via SMS. You can also see the new itinerary once it's assigned in the Qantas app, and will be given the opportunity to accept it (which you should likely do unless something is drastically wrong, as changing it via the call centre will be difficult due to long wait times). Ensure you have flexibility in your plans at DEL, such as changeable domestic flights, to allow for this.

 

[ritub]

Yes they certainly will. You may be routed via the other city (e.g. to Melbourne if the Sydney flight is cancelled - not sure if you've said where your origin is). You may be delayed a day or two. This is all normal and Qantas will automatically book you on alternate flights and send you a notice about this via SMS. You can also see the new itinerary once it's assigned in the Qantas app, and will be given the opportunity to accept it (which you should likely do unless something is drastically wrong, as changing it via the call centre will be difficult due to long wait times). Ensure you have flexibility in your plans at DEL, such as changeable domestic flights, to allow for this.

Thanks a lot mate. Things make sense now. But I must say the customer service is pathetic. I was in queue for 1.5 hours and finally gave up.

 

[somebol]

Looks like QF67/68 is cancelled for wednesday 19/1.
Interestingly nothing on QF commercial policy site

 

[astrosly]

Thanks a lot mate. Things make sense now. But I must say the customer service is pathetic. I was in queue for 1.5 hours and finally gave up.

Have a look at this thread and try the number ending in 318.

Qantas Call Centre Long Wait Times

My understanding (from unofficial sources) is that there is a pool of priority phone numbers that airport staff give to passengers which rotates every few weeks. I will attempt to publish the currently active number(s) in this post: 1300 304 318 1300 659 161 1300 025 396 1300 659 116 1300 024...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[TheInsider]

Looks like QF67/68 is cancelled for wednesday 19/1.
Interestingly nothing on QF commercial policy site

Commercial policies are for a range of flight, not just the one off.

 

[Ade]

I was in queue for 1.5 hours and finally gave up.

Welcome to Qantas, have a nice day (lol) <tongue in cheek>

This has been the trend in the recent CoVID years... It is understandable that there are a lot of pax worried about their plans and calling up the airline and hence the queue is getting longer & longer ... It helps a bit if one has got Platinum or more with QF, then the waiting times are little shorter

It has been my experience that I get through quickly if I called early in the morning or late at night ... I remember once I called at 11 PM and got connected fairly quickly. But do note that you might not get AU based staff, probably South Africa or Philippines based CC. IME, I have been calling up QF fairly regularly for domestic travel needs/changes etc, and on average, my waiting time has been 15 mins or so ... There was one instance where it took me over 30 mins, but it was just that one instance ...

I am not able to figure out if they will put in the passengers in another flight if flight gets cancelled.

As mentioned by @jpp42 , pax will be moved to different flights in the case of a cancellation. The pax will also be given the choice to accept/reject the choice offered. You may also be able to call up the airline (which, we have already established, isn't as easy as it sounds) and ask for a different option. You may also choose to fly out of a different city in India (say, BOM, BLR, HYD or MAA) which are well connected with DEL domestically.

I can understand how frustrating & helpless one might feel when stuck overseas during a pandemic, with the airline playing the cancellation game. I had a mate who was going to be on the QF67 and is still here in AU due to cancellations. I guess, in this instance, the name of the game is "waiting" and unfortunately, it's not a nice game ...

btw, Welcome to AFF Glad to have you here