QF010 SIN-MEL 04/11/2010 Delayed due to engine problems

[JohnK]

I don't know whether this deserved it's own thread but I am sitting in the SIN QF F Lounge after waiting at the gate for a while before being advised by the Captain that they have discovered issues with one of the engines after landing in SIN. The aircraft is serviceable and the engineers will need to replace a valve.

We have been given a new departure time of 23:00 changed from the original departure of 20:20. Qantas has also given everyone SGD20 (simply show your boarding pass) that can be used at the Transit Area buffet, Burger King, Delifrance and Texas Chicken. The lines at each are very long so I will stay in the lounge and go back for some dinner later.

It was also a nice gesture how the captain and crew came out to talk to passengers about the delays and ensure that everyone understood that they could have free dinner.

With 2 incidents in one day in SIN I can imagine Qantas is going to cop further beating in the media. Obviously this is a 747 and not an A380 and I hope the 2 issues are not related.

It will be interesting to see what time we actually get to MEL in the morning and whether I will be able to make my 9:00am connection.

 

[samh004]

It will be interesting to see what time we actually get to MEL in the morning and whether I will be able to make my 9:00am connection.

I’m sure they’ll re-book you on a later flight. Good to hear you’re doing well otherwise!

 

[Sprucegoose]

Arrival is scheduled for 0940 this morning so JohnK won't make his planned connections.

 

[serfty]

Presumably the connection is to SYD, so it's a probably a J lounge snack for JohnK while awaiting the 11:00am/11:30am 73H/763.

 

[JohnK]

The aircraft had further issues once it pushed back last night. Something about upstairs doors not closing and returning to gate for engineers to repair.

Ended up leaving ~midnight and touched down ~9:35am in MEL. Just as well I slept for most of the flight

Apparently I was rebooked on to the 11:30am MEL-SYD flight on a 767.

I feel sorry for all those passengers who missed the MEL-HBA flight and were being herded over to the JQ check-in counters.

 

[serfty]

OGL departed 25 minutes late and arrived into SYD about 13:15pm.

 

[Stealth]

Although I'll bag poor service, we must allow for unpredicatable problems that occur with complex aircraft. The A380 incident was a very rare uncontained hot section failure (excuse me for pre-empting any findings, but its based on sounder knowledge than the channel 7, 9 or 10's cough). If your 747 had problems as descibed, then it may be fair to ask who last did the maintenance on the airframe, but its not the same issue.

The thing that really gets me is the 'operational reasons' or 'late arrival of the inbound aircraft' cough that is far more common reason given for delays. Not long ago I was delayed for a cracked windscreen on a 737-400. Can't say that was predictable, bar the fact that the poor kite is close to retirement.

Its fair to say that as a whole, we get a fairly good service by our main carriers. It only gets dodgy when you're in 30+ year old Pipers and Beechcraft, none of whom were as well built as DC3 and P&W radials.....

 

[JohnK]

OGL departed 25 minutes late and arrived into SYD about 13:15pm.

Yes and first bags did not arrive at carousel until ~13:40.

A somewhat chaotic trip BKK-SIN-MEL-SYD but I was lucky I slept through the last 2 flights. Next time I am seriously considering doing BKK-SYD direct and eliminating pointless transits, reasons for delays and a few measly extra SCs and FF points.

If your 747 had problems as descibed, then it may be fair to ask who last did the maintenance on the airframe, but its not the same issue.

I understand that the 2 incidents are not the same. Maintenance was the first thought that crossed my mind. Has Qantas changed any maintenance contracts recently?

 

[sdhog2002]

Qantas has also given everyone SGD20 (simply show your boarding pass) that can be used at the Transit Area buffet, Burger King, Delifrance and Texas Chicken. The lines at each are very long so I will stay in the lounge and go back for some dinner later.

It was also a nice gesture how the captain and crew came out to talk to passengers about the delays and ensure that everyone understood that they could have free dinner.

I had a similar experience in SIN 22/10 with QF31 delayed. Everyone got a free meal and the cabin staff came to the lounge to check on us all.

Nice going , Qantas.