Jetstar Delays/Cancellations

[Quickstatus]

JQ110 0725 Perth to Denpasar Sunday 28 April has been cancelled. From Jetstar (email at 0442): “Due to crewing requirements your flight JQ110 28/04/2019 from Perth to Denpasar has been cancelled”

It seems that it is still operational. Maybe as a ferry empty of passengers or with reduced number of passengers to comply with regulations regarding passenger to crew ratios and minimum crew to door requirements which also affects passenger per door requirements

 

[joe7238]

It seems that it is still operational. Maybe as a ferry empty of passengers or with reduced number of passengers to comply with regulations regarding passenger to crew ratios and minimum crew to door requirements which also affects passenger per door requirements

Yes very strange. Still showing as cancelled but we can see it on flight radar....

More details: JQ110 was scheduled to depart 0725. At 0442 received email from Jetstar advising flight has been cancelled. Email offered 1) overnight accommodation if Perth was not home airport, and I was already at the airport, 2) if I wasn’t already at airport and perth wasn’t home airport reimbursements up $150 for hotel plus $30 meals/other, transport to/from airport by bus/train. We live in Perth so these did not apply. Email said to check alternative flight options online using link. 0446 received SMS saying flight has been cancelled go to website for options. We called Jetstar and they said next available flight was in 24hrs. All remaining flights today are booked out. They kept our return flight the same, but I explained we would be losing our holiday and wanted to return a day later, after seeking authorisation they agreed.

I think it’s incompetent that they can’t manage their own crewing- they need more standby crews. Too many cancellations it seems if you do a quick search.

 

[Melburnian1]

...I think it’s incompetent that they can’t manage their own crewing- they need more standby crews. Too many cancellations it seems if you do a quick search.

Terrific contribution. I'm not defending JQ: everything you say may be true, but some of its cancellations are because B788 VH-VKJ remains inoperable, impounded, in KIX (Oaska, Japan) due to engine problems on approach on Friday 29 March 2019. So today it's been unavailable for a month, which is creating all sorts of havoc for JQ passengers as the company cannot fully operate its published timetable. (However, JQ110 is an A320, so in theory this B788 problem ought not affect an A320-rostered flight).

Meanwhile, JQ64 from SGN to MEL (B788 VH-VKG) is arriving on Sunday 28 April at 1256, 166 minutes behind schedule.

JQ405 (1130 hours late morning OOL down to SYD that took off at 1242 hours) should arrive at 1333, 33 late with A320 VH-VGV.

 

[Quickstatus]

I think it’s incompetent that they can’t manage their own crewing- they need more standby crews. Too many cancellations it seems if you do a quick search.

It’s a LCC with foreign crews sources via a labour hire company. So any standbys cost them money. They probably can’t use Aussie domestic crew due to contractual arrangements (Aussie domestic hw crew are not contracted to do international sectors)

 

[Melburnian1]

It’s a LCC with foreign crews sources via a labour hire company. So any standbys cost them money....

Stanbys may well have to be based overseas (such as in Thailand or Japan) and so might not always solve a sudden problem in Australia if a cabin crew member went off sick with gastro, but that aside, JQ is paying far lower than Australian award rates for these staff ('contractors'), so it can well afford to have more as joe7238 suggests. These foreign-based hirees may also have far less generous other conditions of employment (leave of all sorts) than applies under Oz employment laws (that arguably have swung too far in favour of employees).

 

[Quickstatus]

It’s still a cost unfortunately and LCC have a severe allergic reaction to costs. One of the unintended consequences of separating the A320 crew to domestic only and international only (though they have snuck these crew onto some domestic sectors) is the lack of flexibility

 

[Melburnian1]

As JQ67 on Saturday 27 was tardy, the same applies to the CGO - MEL JQ68 that on Sunday 28 is arriving at 1442 hours, 97 late with B788 VH-VKI.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Monday 29 April 2019, JQ2 from HNL down to MEL should arrive at 1527, 32 late with B788 VH-VKG.

VH-VKJ remains on the ground in Osaka, where it has lain since 29 March 2019. 31 days and counting.

 

[Melburnian1]

Later on 29 April, JQ768 (A320 VH-VGO, the 1555 hours afternoon SYD - ADL airborne at 1635) was holding northwest of ADL as at 1743 CST, so arrival should be at about 1805, half an hour late. It may simply be that I miss it, but I don't normally see holding into Adelaide's airport. Perhaps AFfFer Pushka has experienced it many times?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

JQ 7 MEL-SIN on Sunday 28 April cancelled due to “engineering requirements”. Pax offered various alternatives (QF35 - which disappeared quickly - and QF37 plus options on JQ via DPS +/- a day ). Or cancel/reimbursement.

Sometimes you win some or lose some, this was a win for me, having changed plans I’m already back in SIN, and was trying to work out when to move my Plus fare to, so just took the refund instead.

However, our last 3 (extended) family outings with this Jetstar route - JQ 7/8 - have been problematic - this one cancelled, Sister in laws JQ8 cancelled last August, our JQ8 flight delayed 10 hrs March 2018. Plus last time I took EK MEL-SIN flight in Jan it was chock full because many pax were transferred from JQ7 that was cancelled that morning. By contrast 3 x Scoot on the same route, only problem was a 30min ATC delay into MEL.

I notice the JQ7 from Wednesday 24 April apparently flew on the morning of the 25th. The Sunday flight (28th) cancelled. My flight (17th) went on time, but the passenger next to me said this was the first time they'd actually flown JQ in the last of their three bookings. Each other time they were put on Qantas instead.

So I guess that answers some of the questions regarding rebooking for the JQ7 flights... looks like they are willing to use the QF services. But dunno how that translates... whether JQ business class get QF J, QF PEY, or QF Y.

 

[Melburnian1]

... But dunno how that translates... whether JQ business class get QF J, QF PEY, or QF Y.

As we briefly discussed a small number of weeks ago with what was QF6403/6404 replacing JQ3/4 SYD-HNL and return, calculate 'the numbers' and it can be the case that because of the relative paucity of Y seats on QF's larger planes compared to JQ's B788s, (if JQ flights were full or very close to that) where passengers are upgraded on a QF substitute.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

As we briefly discussed a small number of weeks ago with what was QF6403/6404 replacing JQ3/4 SYD-HNL and return, calculate 'the numbers' and it can be the case that because of the relative paucity of Y seats on QF's larger planes compared to JQ's B788s, (if JQ flights were full or very close to that) where passengers are upgraded on a QF substitute.

I was specifically referencing the JQ7 (MEL-SIN) and accommodation on QF services (either the A380 or later 787). In this case there would be existing QF pax already ticketed, so the difference in seating (as per the QF charters) wouldn't apply. The question is whether it would 'cabin for cabin' (J->J) or 'like for like' (J->PEY).

 

[Melburnian1]

JQ172 (Tuesday 30 April CHC across to MEL with A320 VH-VFH) looks to be arriving 45 minutes tardy at 0845. A holding pattern above Morwell and Warragul has not assisted timekeeping.

JQ502 (A320 VH-VGY, the 0735 hours MEL - SYD) was still as at 0842 waiting for take off clearance. MEL may be down to single runway ops.

UPDATE: JQ502 was in the sky at 0858 hours, so expected SYD arrival is 68 late at 1008.

 

[Melburnian1]

In more on 30 April 2019, JQ524, the 0855 hours MEL up to SYD (A321 VH-VWY) was in the sky at 0947. Arrival should be at 1055, 35 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

JQ29, the 30 April 1305 hours lunchtime MEL up to BKK has been delayed until 2130 tonight in pushing back.

This is yet another delay due to JQ's B788 VH-VKJ remaining impounded on the ground in KIX following its engine failures on approach incident on 29 March 2019.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Re all these 787 delays the result of KIX? If JQ is chartering a 747, that should in theory free up one 787 (accounting for the one grounded?)

These random cancellations were happening long before KIX. I think the fleet is just under resourced?

 

[Melburnian1]

Re all these 787 delays the result of KIX? If JQ is chartering a 747, that should in theory free up one 787 (accounting for the one grounded?)

These random cancellations were happening long before KIX. I think the fleet is just under resourced?

Fair point. You've made it before. Unless we laboriously went through and calculated how many aircraft are required every day of the week for a month, we couldn't be definitive.

Some of the previous cancellations may have been due to low bookings (particularly on twice weekly routes like MEL - SIN JQ7/JQ8).

Continuing with Tuesday 30 April, JQ608 from AVV up to SYD, the very late afternoon 1750 hours was in the sky at 1854 with A320 VH-XJE. Its arrival looks to be 2007 hours, 52 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

The redeye DPS to ADL, JQ128 (A320 VH-JQG) is arriving on Tuesday 2 May at about 0809 hours, 144 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Later on 2 May, yet another B788 transfer flight is operating - empty ('ferry') - with JQ8991 having VH-VKG. It is the 1305 hours SYD - MEL.

JQ43 from MEL to DPS departed at 1049, 94 late this morning.

QF6404 from HNL to SYD today, the hired replacement flight for JQ4 has B744 VH-OEI.

B788 VH-VKJ remains impounded in KIX, explaining some of the above. There does not seem to be any information as to when it may be again available to convey passengers. This is becoming a quite costly - in the early millions by my quick calculations - unexpected incident for JQ. It's not unprecedented for the QF Group to have aircraft suddenly inoperable (unplanned) for more than a month but it's far from an everyday occurrence.

 

[Melburnian1]

Later on Thursday 2 May 2019, JQ661 (A320 VH-XJE, the 1415 hours mid afternoon AYQ across to SYD in the sky at 1524) is arriving at 1847, 62 late.

The DPS - BNE JQ58 should arrive at 2320 late tonight, 65 minutes tardy with B788 Vh-VKB.