Intoxicated Passenger Denied Boarding on Domestic Flight

[Aeolus]

QF693 this afternoon, while at the aerobridge, I noticed a male and female pax looking pretty unhappy talking to the CSM (in the corner close to where the headphone trolleys were located). Overheard that the female pax was intoxicated and was denied boarding (well within Qantas’ rights). After some time, when everyone had boarded, about 10 passengers decided to leave the plane (they must be travelling in a group). Then came the announcement from the flight deck that there were 20 bags to offload (Ready for Take Off film crew would have had a field day on this one!) Overall about 50 mins delay on the tarmac. I thought the situation was handled professionally and the ground team did quite well to locate 20 bags in that time.

Which got me thinking, what is Qantas’ obligation to those passengers who were not intoxicated but chose to not fly due to one of their friends being denied boarding? Also, what about their intoxicated friend - should/would Qantas need to accommodate her on another flight? IMO, I think each of them should be responsible for their own decision to leave the plane and Qantas should not be bending over backwards to accommodate them. Everyone else on the plane had been inconvenienced by their actions. Anyway, interested in AFF’s thoughts on this on this matter.

 

[eminere]

Also, what about their intoxicated friend - should/would Qantas need to accommodate her on another flight?

Clause 10.1 of the conditions of carriage states that if you are drunk or under the influence of alcohol or drugs QF may remove you from a flight, even after you have boarded, without any liability on their part, and cancel any subsequent flights on the Ticket.

 

[Sdtravel]

QF would not be responsible for the intoxicated friend or have any obligations for the 10 friends who decided to get off. They chose not to travel.
QF could rebook them at no cost if they were wanted but they dont have to and wouldnt be required to at all. Finding 12 extra seats is a big ask and it was their choice to all get off. They already cost the airline a pretty penny with the delay and offloading.

 

[opusman]

The implication on RFT with the drunk American woman was that the pax were put on the same flight the next day. No mention of having to pay again for them.

 

[Sdtravel]

Would they mention that though?
Could also be QF comp'd the fees in exchange for allowing them to be filmed. We just don't know.

 

[RichardMEL]

re the group members who weren't denied getting off.. I think QF owes them nothing - it was a voluntary decision to not take the flight.. probably be considered a cancelled sector and pax would have to pay for new tix (unless QF decided to be generous and just rebook them which is likely what happened)

 

[dajop]

Does anyone consider it extremely inconsiderate that the 10 friends also disembarked and caused longer delays to a plane load of pax? I assume it must have been a hens party and the bride-to-be was the one denied boarding.

 

[RichardMEL]

Does anyone consider it extremely inconsiderate that the 10 friends also disembarked and caused longer delays to a plane load of pax? I assume it must have been a hens party and the bride-to-be was the one denied boarding.

Whatever the group was there for why would they care about others? Clearly they didn't have to get wherever they were going in a hurry and they wanted to "walk out" with their friend as it were. Reminds me a bit of the recent "fans vs. FFA" situation with fans walking out at half time in games because the others were banned.

It is absolutely inconsiderate to cause delay and stuff that's why if I was at QF I'd charge them all extra to rebook etc ut of course we really don't know what occurred.

 

[Aeolus]

I didn't see any film crew around. The average age in that group would be in the 50's and I did pick up some foreign accent as well so they must've come from somewhere else which also explained the 20 odd luggages the poor ground crew had to offload. I don't think QF should bend over backwards for them; except for 1, the others left the plane at their own will.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I didn't see any film crew around. The average age in that group would be in the 50's and I did pick up some foreign accent as well so they must've come from somewhere else which also explained the 20 odd luggages the poor ground crew had to offload. I don't think QF should bend over backwards for them; except for 1, the others left the plane at their own will.

So probably not a hens party then
Back on topic I don't think QF should do anything at all for them.
I hope they paid handsomely out of their own pockets for the onwards flight thanks to that little stunt.

 

[Awesom Andy]

I hope they paid handsomely out of their own pockets for the onwards flight thanks to that little stunt.

Hopefully any other charges related to the delay can be added too, e.g. fees for extended parking time at the airport gate. The fares I pay should not be used to cover for someone else's poor behaviours.

 

[Benno]

If you've ever been on a flight where some idiot who can't handle the grog chunders everywhere, the delay caused by unloading bags is a small price to pay.

 

[Anna]

I wonder how many of the friends would have disembarked if QF had said 'your bags will NOT be offloaded'.