No show on A380 between checking in with luggage and boarding

[cove]

With a laden A380 at LAX we have a no show. Attempts are made to locate the passenger without success and then there is checked in luggage to offload. We end up taking off more than an hour off schedule as the queue to takeoff has grown.
What I really would like to know is will this no show get banned from flying with Qantas if the passenger has no valid reason for going missing the short walk to gate 130 and joining several hundred of us travelling to Sydney?
We missed our A330 connection to Perth and Qantas put us on a 737-800 2 hours later. Great recovery by Qantas but we were scheduled to have a family reunion lunch which we missed.
I saw others going to Perth,Adelaide and probably Brisbane in the lounge all held up for the next available flight to their destination.

 

[jb747]

I’ve always wondered just where these people disappear to. Perhaps it’s proof of the existence of wormholes.

The most hated though, is the person who knows we can’t go with their luggage, and so figures they can spend a couple more minutes in duty free. They then calmly walk to the aircraft, even though it’s after the departure time.

 

[SeatBackForward]

I’ve always wondered just where these people disappear to. Perhaps it’s proof of the existence of wormholes.

The most hated though, is the person who knows we can’t go with their luggage, and so figures they can spend a couple more minutes in duty free. They then calmly walk to the aircraft, even though it’s after the departure time.

Airlines are too nice.

Everyone should have to drag their baggage with them, right into the hold! too slow? miss your flight. Might help with the excessive carry-on situation also.

Ok ok bit extreme yes...

 

[jb747]

Ah, that fits in with my theory on reducing cabin luggage. Simply ban everything with wheels!

 

[JohnK]

Some people lose track of time.

Some people may end up feeling sick and not able to travel.

Some people use hidden city ticketing and don't get on some flights but this is a long flight son don't think that's the reason this time.

Is anyone ever asked why they did not take a flight?

 

[jb747]

Some people use hidden city ticketing and don't get on some flights but this is a long flight son don't think that's the reason this time.

Yes, but presumably they don't leave their luggage to do the sector. If they have no luggage, we won't have to offload it...so no wait.

 

[serfty]

Stuff happens!

Some years a go a Perth domiciled work associate was traveling from Perth to Melbourne with their husband - who was a nervous flyer.

They did a course (not sure about the 'mystery flight') and they thought he was right.

Checked in with luggage, boarded, but he had a panic attack and abandoned his attempt to fly to MEL. She still had to travel but it took an hour before they unloaded his bags and were able to depart.

Another second hand anecdote was one person who hid in the airport toilet as they became suddenly ill - didn't tell anyone until after.

 

[cove]

Illness I can forgive but last minute shoppers need to see a shrink.

 

[Denali]

I know the duty free shoppers are common but many are non English speakers so the signs are confusing or could be stuck at transit security ect.

OP said they were at LAX so if the pax had to swap terms from a connecting, it can be a crazy rush. I recall being bumped to an earlier flight at LAX transit and it was a mad dash through security and to the gate, arriving in a hot, sweaty, out of breath mess.

 

[Altair]

Well some reasons for late or no-show.
Co-worker fell asleep in the lounge and did not hear the announcements.
From personal experience, a very sudden need to change nappies for two littlies necessitated a late show. I went to the gate with 3 peoples' hand luggage, while the mothers did the necessary change, and explained what had happened.
I also hear while sitting in row 1 that the pax had an accident in the airport and the authorities did not notify the airline about what happened, they were more interested in the welfare of the pax than anything else.
As other posters have said things happen from the inconsiderate to the unexpected.

 

[jb747]

There are, of course, lots of reasons. At one extreme is the person who delays the flight intentionally, through the young mum with a couple of kids, the elderly, the sick, and then the non existent (relics of ticketing errors). You'd like to be able to help most, and punish the few...though I can't think of a realistic way of doing so.

 

[get me outta here]

I wonder about people who decide to stay at this destination instead of flying on. It raises the question, do they just get to innocently pick up their luggage from the baggage room?

 

[JohnK]

There are, of course, lots of reasons. At one extreme is the person who delays the flight intentionally....

Who would you say delays a flight intentionally?

- the person using hidden city ticketing? - - the person shopping or losing track of time?
- the person in the lounge losing track of time or too lazy to get to boarding in time?

Are there any other intentional reasons to delay flights?

 

[jb747]

Who would you say delays a flight intentionally?

- the person using hidden city ticketing? - - the person shopping or losing track of time?
- the person in the lounge losing track of time or too lazy to get to boarding in time?

Are there any other intentional reasons to delay flights?

No, the bloke I was thinking of actually did it quite intentionally, as he was being a total cough. He came to my attention before boarding even started (and that takes some effort), so I'd had his luggage removed, just in case. If he behaved it would have taken just a few seconds to put it into the bulk but we were not going to have to search for it. He didn't (behave)...so we just slammed the door and pushed back. Apparently that really set the rage machine in action, and he ended up being arrested by the police.

 

[TomVexille]

No, the bloke I was thinking of actually did it quite intentionally, as he was being a total ****. He came to my attention before boarding even started (and that takes some effort), so I'd had his luggage removed, just in case. If he behaved it would have taken just a few seconds to put it into the bulk but we were not going to have to search for it. He didn't (behave)...so we just slammed the door and pushed back. Apparently that really set the rage machine in action, and he ended up being arrested by the police.

That really deserves more than a like

 

[RooFlyer]

No, the bloke I was thinking of actually did it quite intentionally, as he was being a total ****. He came to my attention before boarding even started (and that takes some effort), so I'd had his luggage removed, just in case. If he behaved it would have taken just a few seconds to put it into the bulk but we were not going to have to search for it. He didn't (behave)...so we just slammed the door and pushed back. Apparently that really set the rage machine in action, and he ended up being arrested by the police.

Sounds like a bonus result to me.

Given that it might take 20 minutes at least to find and offload bags, starting maybe 5-10mins after the 'cut off point' for boarding, and if the pax shows up at any time up to getting the bag off they would call off the search, close the hold and get going, we are not talking about a few minutes here and there. Add the fact that you are told to be at the gate what, 30 mins before departure?, for a pax to be off loaded that means they are maybe 45 minutes late. Sure, there can be extraordinary circumstances and late connections# but shopping, toilet, bar, lounge etc are no excuse. Pax who don't have a superb reason for being so late they are offloaded should be sanctioned by the airline.

# With late connections, in most cases you would be at the gate before the bag, so that wouldn't normally be an 'offloading delay' issue. Also, if the connection is on same ticket, or even, I think an airline with same booking engine, you can be 'seen' by the outbound system and they know whether to delay departure for you or others or not.

 

[BAM1748]

With 300 or more people on a flight I wonder what the stats are someone will trip over and hurt themselves, brusing or strain or possibly even a break. It might be higher than you think

I don't know, I'm asking the question. My two most serious injuries where both from tripping over. Both broken bones. Sounds stupid but it happened.

There are about 130 people where I work and someone requires medical treatment every week for an injury so multiply that by 1000s on an airline each week and could happen more than its evident to us.

 

[Hvr]

and punish the few...though I can't think of a realistic way of doing so.

Maybe a friendly Border Force agent could give them an extra inspection upon arrival?

 

[Moody]

Maybe a friendly Border Force agent could give them an extra inspection upon arrival?

Nice thought ... but most likely the majority just had a "cough happens" moment. In all my flights I have been last to board once, and a no show (with slim chance of bag offload) just one other time. I plead extenuating circumstances for both occasions, but I'm sure we all would, eh?

 

[cove]

My latest carry on has wheels Jb747. I really like the Briggs and Riley model that stops stretching my arms.
It isn’t huge...about the size that Qantas produced for frequent flyers many years ago but with wheels.
I think that a person who is a no show after checking luggage needs to learn a bit of common courtesy and report that they won’t be flying today. I do get it that a gastric attack or a headache from hell could occur but please relay a message to a check in agent as that would save the disruption.This style of delay must make a flight way less profitable for Qantas and upset many passengers plans.