Amerrican
Junior Member
- Joined
- Jun 16, 2006
- Posts
- 28
AO 7882 21 JUN
Since the AO 767's have been pulled from service (repainting, refit with business class), this segment flown with a QF 767, snagged C-class seat although no C-Class service being provided by AO FA's. Didn't care as flight leaves SIN at 10PM for 4 hour run to Darwin, 1 hour chinese fire drill, and then on to CNS.
Arrival at DRW was extremely hard landing on only one set of gear, even though little wind and no crosswind component. Upon disembarking at DRW (where Wifi is broken with no word on repair, what a dump of an airport), noticed large crowd of ground staff on tarmac looking at shredded tire. Then as flashlights pointed up, hole in wing apparent.
30 minutes later pilot comes out and admits what's happened, calls it "fluke", and says plane cannot leave without extensive repair involving parts from America.
This was the last time the truth was told to us that day.
First, DRW-CNS passengers "snuck out" of boarding area to join scheduled QF flight to CNS at 6 AM. Then SIN-CNS passengers told we would go thru customs in DRW, pickup and recheck bags, and go to breakfast at a ludicrously-named motel called the "Airport Resort". Of course all too late for anyone to get on the now-departed QF flight to CNS.
At breakfast, several passengers asked about getting rooms. Told by ground staff "none available", and almost immediately rebuked by hotel staff saying "no, we have rooms". LIE. Passengers, most of whom had already been travelling 20-30 hours (this flight the only Europe connection to Cairns) wanted at least to shower, etc. QF station manager Doug Chan then told passengers at 8:45AM "no time, a replacement 767 and crew have left SYD to pickup passengers, (LIE) please be back at airport by 1:00 PM". Passenger asks "are you telling us that the replacement is IN THE AIR at this moment?" Doug Chan says "Yes" (LIE) but stutters when he says it and several passengers chuckle. Most not FF and not used to QF ground staff lies.
Passengers at airport by 1:00PM, display at gate says "Boarding time 3:15, Departure time 2:30". Pointed out to agent this physical impossibility, and he snaps "you'll get on when it gets here".
Some passengers ask about chits for lunch. New QF station manager Karen Moore says "plane here soon, you'll get meal onboard". (LIE).
AO cabin crew (now off-duty and deadheading on the same flight to CNS) arrive at airport at 3:30PM, ten minutes before QF replacement touches down. Apparently they didn't get the same lies as the passengers. Noted that pilot and copilot not around, probably being beat with rubber hoses for telling passengers truthful story.
Managed to find out from new station manager Paul D'alissio, REAL station manager who wouldn't leave his office during incident. Calls to his office to discuss fiasco go unreturned.
QF flight leaves at 4:15PM, arrives CNS 6:30PM, 10 1/2 hours late.
In USA, an incident of this type allows passengers to invoke Rule 240, and fly on any other carrier to destination. Australia has no such protection, so passengers are force-fed lies and can't access rooms, meals, etc. from these cretins.
BTW, took taxi on my own into Darwin CBD, if you're ever there, give it a pass.
A.
Since the AO 767's have been pulled from service (repainting, refit with business class), this segment flown with a QF 767, snagged C-class seat although no C-Class service being provided by AO FA's. Didn't care as flight leaves SIN at 10PM for 4 hour run to Darwin, 1 hour chinese fire drill, and then on to CNS.
Arrival at DRW was extremely hard landing on only one set of gear, even though little wind and no crosswind component. Upon disembarking at DRW (where Wifi is broken with no word on repair, what a dump of an airport), noticed large crowd of ground staff on tarmac looking at shredded tire. Then as flashlights pointed up, hole in wing apparent.
30 minutes later pilot comes out and admits what's happened, calls it "fluke", and says plane cannot leave without extensive repair involving parts from America.
This was the last time the truth was told to us that day.
First, DRW-CNS passengers "snuck out" of boarding area to join scheduled QF flight to CNS at 6 AM. Then SIN-CNS passengers told we would go thru customs in DRW, pickup and recheck bags, and go to breakfast at a ludicrously-named motel called the "Airport Resort". Of course all too late for anyone to get on the now-departed QF flight to CNS.
At breakfast, several passengers asked about getting rooms. Told by ground staff "none available", and almost immediately rebuked by hotel staff saying "no, we have rooms". LIE. Passengers, most of whom had already been travelling 20-30 hours (this flight the only Europe connection to Cairns) wanted at least to shower, etc. QF station manager Doug Chan then told passengers at 8:45AM "no time, a replacement 767 and crew have left SYD to pickup passengers, (LIE) please be back at airport by 1:00 PM". Passenger asks "are you telling us that the replacement is IN THE AIR at this moment?" Doug Chan says "Yes" (LIE) but stutters when he says it and several passengers chuckle. Most not FF and not used to QF ground staff lies.
Passengers at airport by 1:00PM, display at gate says "Boarding time 3:15, Departure time 2:30". Pointed out to agent this physical impossibility, and he snaps "you'll get on when it gets here".
Some passengers ask about chits for lunch. New QF station manager Karen Moore says "plane here soon, you'll get meal onboard". (LIE).
AO cabin crew (now off-duty and deadheading on the same flight to CNS) arrive at airport at 3:30PM, ten minutes before QF replacement touches down. Apparently they didn't get the same lies as the passengers. Noted that pilot and copilot not around, probably being beat with rubber hoses for telling passengers truthful story.
Managed to find out from new station manager Paul D'alissio, REAL station manager who wouldn't leave his office during incident. Calls to his office to discuss fiasco go unreturned.
QF flight leaves at 4:15PM, arrives CNS 6:30PM, 10 1/2 hours late.
In USA, an incident of this type allows passengers to invoke Rule 240, and fly on any other carrier to destination. Australia has no such protection, so passengers are force-fed lies and can't access rooms, meals, etc. from these cretins.
BTW, took taxi on my own into Darwin CBD, if you're ever there, give it a pass.
A.