Beware of inaccurate airport sites regarding timeliness of flights

[sanchdog]

Last night I flew SYD-OOL. Apparently there was a problem with the plane in OOL before it headed for SYD causing a delay. The delay was 1 hour 10 minutes. Just up until the time of landing apparently the OOL site showed that the plane was on time (which would have meant that it would have landed well over an our previously). Despite the plane not leaving until approximately 1800 the only food on the QF flight was a "snack", a few measly crackers and cheese.

 

[AIRwin]

Did you receive an SMS flight update alert from QF?

 

[sanchdog]

No I didn't get an SMS from them. It didn't phase me too much as I was already at the airport but the family at the other end had to rely on my updating them as to departure times as the site was so inaccurate.

 

[AIRwin]

I always track the outbound aircraft where I can - although that may be easier for international flights. Once I was booked on an A380 flight from SIN to SYD (when QF still operated between SIN and LHR) and I noticed that the outbound flight from SYD to LHR was running 12 hours late. There was no way it could turn around at LHR to make it to SIN on time for my flight. The airport website for SIN still showed the flight was on time and when I called QF, they didn't even realise that there was going to be a flow on effect from the outbound delay until I pointed it out to them...

 

[docjames]

The risk in following inbound aircraft and thus not heading to airport is if there is an aircraft substitution / swap you could be in strife.....

 

[AIRwin]

Good point, so I called QF just in case they replaced it with a B744 (that was when the A380 was 1st launched and I wanted to try it out)... I was told I didn't have to head to the airport in the morning as originally scheduled and could even get my meals for the day reimbursed when I checked in at the airport later that night for the delayed service.

 

[jetlagger]

Last night I flew SYD-OOL. Apparently there was a problem with the plane in OOL before it headed for SYD causing a delay. The delay was 1 hour 10 minutes. Just up until the time of landing apparently the OOL site showed that the plane was on time (which would have meant that it would have landed well over an our previously). Despite the plane not leaving until approximately 1800

Occurs on a regular basis at OOL airport for all airlines.
Whoever is monitoring the flight arr/dep is very notably lax at also updating the terminal info boards & website.
Amidst other issues such as lack of air bridges, slow baggage processing & the (every inclement weather day)- topic of ILS & lack thereof.

 

[docjames]

Good point, so I called QF just in case they replaced it with a B744 (that was when the A380 was 1st launched and I wanted to try it out)... I was told I didn't have to head to the airport in the morning as originally scheduled and could even get my meals for the day reimbursed when I checked in at the airport later that night for the delayed service.

I think that's the point - you need to contact the airline rather than just show up late!

Good outcome.

 

[AIRwin]

I think that's the point - you need to contact the airline rather than just show up late!

Good outcome.

The worst was yet to come - but that has been the subject of other threads (SYD international to domestic transfers)...

 

[Awesom Andy]

The risk in following inbound aircraft and thus not heading to airport is if there is an aircraft substitution / swap you could be in strife.....

It depends on where you are and the timing. e.g. if you are at an out port, with only 1 flight per day by the airline, you know a 744 probably isn't going to magically appear to take you home on time.