Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[geordieladinoz]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

The Wednesday 20 May QF12 departure ex LAX (A388 VH-OQL) looks to have diverted to HNL where it spent almost three hours. As a result it is not expected to arrive in SYD until 0922 in lieu of the normal 0610. Was the diversion due to a medical emergency on board?

Reported elsewhere as so.

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Despite QF10 only arriving 10 minutes late tonight (Friday 22 May) in MEL at 2105, the return QF9 to DXB and LHR is forecast to not depart until 2355, an hour behind time.

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

QF128 was 45 minutes late last night departing HKG but is not expected into SYD this morning (23 May 2015) until 0835, 75 minutes late. The weather in HKG has not been kind with delays to flights.

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

With continuing bad weather in HKG, today's QF127 only departed SYD 16 minutes late at 1021 - nothing to worry about - but arrived HKG at 1903, 103 minutes behind the timetabled 1720 hours arrival. Many other flights have been delayed into and out of HKG so QF128 is likely to be late arriving in SYD tomorrow although this is as yet not shown on the QF website.

Similarly QF29 from MEL to HKG departed only four minutes late this morning, practically on time, but was 41 minutes late arriving HKG at 1841 on Saturday 23 May 2015. QF97 managed to depart BNE eight minutes early at 1042, but this turned out to be little help as it was 48 minutes late into HKG at 1848 - not QF's fault, simply an example of the many delays. In the last 24 hours there has been 56 millimetres of rain in Hong Kong (probably a city not an airport reading) with thunderstorms predicted to last until Monday 25 May, so intending passengers ought to brace for further flight delays, not just to and from Oz but from many compass points connected by air to HKG.

For internal travel within China (including ex or to HKG), a high speed CRH train may be a better option if travellers can obtain a seat.

UPDATE: QF98 from HKG to BNE has been delayed from 2045 to an expected 2200 departure. QF30 is delayed from 2030 to 2130, about now, while QF128 is forecast to be delayed from 2015 to 2230, the longest delay.

 

[RickyT84]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Due to bad weather in HKG, QF98, the 2045 hours to BNE did not depart until 2107 but may have incurred ATC delays prior to taking off as it is not due into BNE this morning (Thursday 21 May) until 0849, 74 minutes late.

Was on the QF128 to SYD which was also delayed due to severe thunderstorms in HKG which closed the airport and halted operations for a while. Whilst we were an hour later in push back and didn't take off for another 30mins, we made up quite a lot of time and eventually arrived 31 mins late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Thank you RickyT84. QF127 today (SYD - HKG) operated by B744 VH-OJU departed SYD at 1011, only six minutes behind the timetable, but is diverting to MNL where it is estimated to only stay 45 minutes from 1825 to 1910 prior to arrival in HKG at a suggested 2100 hours, three hours and 40 minutes late. However at 1820 it overflow MNL and is in a queue of five or six waiting its turn to land, so it will not be on the ground by 1825 MNL (and HKG) time.

From what I can see on FR24, the aircraft was within approximately 200 kilometres of HKG in a holding pattern but then the Captain must have decided to turn back southeast to MNL, possibly the closest practical airport suitable for landing a B744 that while suffering delays of its own might not be quite as badly affected as nearby mainland Chinese airports by holding pattern delays. Presumably MFM was also ruled out.

While perhaps not an initial consideration, Australians being allowed a 30 day visa waiver for entry into Philippines minimises problems if the worst happens and the crew runs out of hours and passengers - unlikely as it might be - had to overnight in MNL.

This is interesting in light of jb747's oft repeated comments about the "very" finite nature of how much extra fuel can be carried on long range aircraft.

I surmise that the continuing delays into and out of HKG meant that QF127 would have insufficient fuel on board for the resultant holding pattern. Some planes seem to have 'lost' an hour between close Asian origins such as TPE and HKG today of which some may be due to being in a holding pattern.

Given the continuing delays at HKG, it would be surprising if QF127 could fly gate to gate between MNL and HKG in an hour and 50 minutes as the QF website forecasts. CX flights today have typically been taking two and a half to an unusual four hours on this sector, with one flight diverting to TPE.

QF128 is still shown on the QF website as departing at 2015 for SYD - on time - but this surely is a myth.

It will be interesting to see if QF127 can be in and out of MNL as quickly as the QF website suggests.

This example of an unplanned diversion must cost many thousands of dollars which while tiny in terms of QF's total revenue must nonetheless not be welcomed by the beancounters.

UPDATE: QF127 landed in MNL at 1847 but is not now expected to depart until 2000, meaning a claimed arrival in HKG of 2200 tonight. QF128 is estimated by QF to depart at 2330 for a 1035 arrival in SYD on Monday 25 May instead of the timetabled 0720 hours. My guess is that these times are over optimistic given the problems in HKG.

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

The Sunday 24 May delayed QF127 departed MNL at 2034 and arrived HKG at 2302, taking longer than QF predicted. QF128 then departed HKG this morning (25 May) at 0124 with a forecast SYD arival of 1155, four hours and 35 minutes behind time.

Due to QF presumably still not having a spare B744 in SYD, Monday 25's QF127 is forecast not to depart SYD until 1400 hours, five minutes shy of four hours late with arrival in HKG around 2100 tonight, three hours and 40 minutes late. This will delay QF128, the 2015 from HKG tonight back to SYD but once again the QF website has yet to be updated for this schedule change. Expect QF128 to be around three hours late departing HKG and hopefully somewhat less late into SYD on Tuesday 26 May if it has a reasonable run out of the Asian Harbour City.

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

A330 VH-EBN operating QF400, the first of the morning's many flights from MEL to SYD has only just taken off at 0805 while QF414, the 0800 departure has been cancelled. Probably no connection between the two as other flights are on time.

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Finally, QF has publicly acknowledged that QF128 from HKG to SYD will be late, departing at an estimated time of 0035 for an arrival in SYD on Tuesday 26 May of 1120, four hours late. Although QF127 is expected today to reach HKG at 2200, the longer than possible turnaround time (nominally 2100 to 0035 - three hours thirty five minutes) may be to do with how many hours staff have had off in HKG due to Sunday's flight being diverted via MNL northbound to take on fuel - see above.

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

B744 VH-OJU did not depart SYD on QF127 until 1445 for HKG, so is not due there until 2150 local time tonight rather than the 2100 hours originally forecast. QF128 is still shown as departing HKG at 0035 on Tuesday 26 May.

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Sunday 24 May's QF10 was only 15 minutes late departing LHR but became progressively more tardy and did not land in MEL tonight (Monday 25 May) until 2221 hours, 86 minutes late. QF9 has enjoyed a few days of punctual or close to it operation but with departure delayed tonight until a forecast 0015 on Tuesday morning, that will not be the case tonight, at least in the initial MEL to DXB sector.

In the other direction, Sunday 24 May's QF9 departed MEL 87 minutes late and after spending an overtime three hours plus in DXB is at least an hour and 50 minutes late on the way to LHR. It has also been relatively punctual in the last few days so this sort of late running will not be welcomed by QF staff who must deal with the requests or demands from LHR managers for QF to improve its punctuality into and out of 'The City' given the 'enhanced' QF1/2/9 and 10 timetables that have improved aircraft utilisation but led at times to tardiness as far as passengers are concerned.

 

[pagingjoan]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

A friend here for dinner, prior to departure on QF9. Message from QF around 7pm, re the delay. Still showing 00.15am but we shall see.

 

[Shan Man]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Been sitting in the Wing F for the last few hours with a 4.5hr delay to QF128 tonight. QF127 was late landing so can only presume that its follow on from a delay elsewhere in the network.

I did notice QF128 last night (24/5) was late leaving and arriving in SYD.

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

QF127 lost a bit of time to HKG yesterday and arrived ex SYD 36 minutes late at 1756. However QF128 may have broken down in HKG as it did not depart until 0504 today (Wednesday 27 May), almost nine hours late, and is hence not due in SYD until 1539 this afternoon, doubtless with some extremely tired travellers. Were patrons accommodated in an hotel for a few hours such as Regal?

As there is no QF63 operating today (this may have been cancelled due to QF's B744 and A380 shortage due to planned maintenance and unscheduled repairs), it does not appear if any outgoing flights to locations such as SCL at 1125 hours (QF27) or the 1740 hours QF17 to LAX will be affected.

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

With QF412 not departing MEL this morning (27 May 2015) until 0940, two hours and 10 minutes late and therefore not arriving in SYD until 1112, the 1010 QF581 ex SYD to PER QF581 has been delayed until 1200. In turn, this will mean transcontinental QF582 from PER to SYD is delayed this afternoon.

QF416 departed MEL almost two hours late and is not now to arrive in SYD until 1218, two hours and 23 minutes late.

 

[whughes3]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

QF416 departed MEL almost two hours late and is not now to arrive in SYD until 1218, two hours and 23 minutes late.

Tell me about it! I was on it: the original plane apparently had some dire fault discovered after boarding, so we had to disembark and re-board another plane requisitioned for the purpose. We eventually got to SYD about 1145; I was connecting to QF19 (dep 1210), so I arrived at the gate just in time to have the door slammed in my face. They have re-booked me on CX departing 2155 this evening, so I have ~9 hours to kill in the F lounge...quelle horreure!

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

And all perhaps unnecessary, whughes1, not that I am trying to rub salt into the wound. QF19 departed SYD nine minutes late at 1219 but at this stage (subject to air traffic congestion necessitating being in a holding pattern over MNL) it is due 15 minutes early into MNL at 1815, so in theory the plane could have waited an extra three or five minutes for you (and any others: there must be multiple connecting passengers ex MEL for MNL every day this flight runs, although admittedly some or most may come on an earlier or a different flight.) Still, at least you experienced the great QF customer "service" first hand!

The good news for you is that CX139, the 0900 HKG to SYD is running a forecast 15 minutes early and should be in SYD at 1945 tonight, in plenty of time for your 2155 departure. Many other CX SYD and MEL flights have been badly late due to really bad weather some days in HKG and inability to get back on time for much delayed aircraft. You may be lucky tomorrow, but routes out of HKG including the shorter ones to BKK, MNL and TPE to name some have also been running late on many occasions in the last few days.

Your rebooking is one of the disadvantages for airlines that do not offer a daily or better frequency on a route. When things go awry, it is hardly acceptable (in this case) to make you wait until Friday for the next QF flight on that route. Enjoy the lounge and have an extra wine or beer for all of us!

If you'd travelled on the PR210 Wednesday MEL - MNL flight, you'd have been in the latter an expected (though not always so due to ATC congestion) 39 minutes early at 1501 this afternoon, instead of sometime tomorrow late morning.

 

[whughes3]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

If you'd travelled on the PR210 Wednesday MEL - MNL flight, you'd have been in the latter an expected (though not always so due to ATC congestion) 39 minutes early at 1501 this afternoon, instead of sometime tomorrow late morning.

But I would have been travelling on Philippine Airlines...been there, done that...

I can only observe that in the past, I have experienced many occasions when QFi flights were slightly delayed in departing to allow for late arrivals of connecting domestic pax. Now that the nominal turnaround time in MNL is a fairly generous 2h20m, I would have thought that this would be more likely; apparently not!

But I have just had a delightful massage in the F lounge spa, and I am feeling extremely mellow...

 

[docjames]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Did you have checked luggage or carryon only? May have been a factor in door slam......

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

docjames, a fair point. Bearing in mind that it may differ for domestic flights using containers (A330s as an example) or using individual loading via a conveyor belt (B738s and others), what is the minimum time that QF (which like a lot of airlines can be quite efficient at this) needs to transfer bags across from the SYD domestic terminal to an international flight? I'm guessing from when the chocks go on to having it in a container for the A330, B744 or A388 running the international flight we might be talking 35 minutes because apart from anything else the trolley of luggage have to travel probably three kilometres, plus handling time at each end. The container then has to go on the scissor lift and be placed in the international aircraft's hold.

For the purpose of my example let's assume that the bags are for one flight only (QF19 in this example) although in practice multiple bags for multiple international flights may be making the trip across the tarmac, and they cannot all be simultaneously unloaded if just one tug pulls the trolley(ies.)

On international flights with other airlines I've had a tight connection and made it but my bags have come on the next flight (several hours away) and were then delivered to me by courier. (Whether QF is happy to separate passenger and bag as other airlines seem to is a moot point in the current security environment.)