Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[jb747]

That explains why QF11/QF12 are not operating across the USA on Tuesday 14 March, although - in theory- QF93 from MEL and QF15 from BNE are on time.

Have a look at the weather in NY. It was supposed to be pretty bad.

Yep, appalling.

TAF: KJFK 140856Z 1409/1512 04020G28KT 1/2SM SN FZFG VV006 FM141100 04026G34KT 1SM -FZRAPLSN BR OVC007 FM141300 05031G41KT 2SM -RA BR OVC008 FM141800 01024G33KT 2SM -RA BR OVC008 FM142000 36027G36KT 4SM -FZRAPLSN BR OVC015 FM142200 30024G37KT P6SM VCSH SCT030 BKN045 FM150200 29021G31KT P6SM VCSH BKN035 FM150500 29017G25KT P6SM SCT035 BKN060

LA
TAF: KLAX 140918Z 1409/1512 00000KT 1/4SM FG VV002 FM141500 VRB03KT 1/2SM FG VV003 FM141700 VRB03KT 2SM BR VCFG SCT003 FM142000 25010KT 4SM HZ FEW004 FM150200 23006KT 1SM BR OVC003 FM150700 VRB03KT 1/2SM FG OVC002

And Ontario, which is the nearby alternate, is okay.

TAF: KONT 140520Z 1406/1512 27003KT P6SM SKC FM142100 25011KT P6SM FEW250 FM150300 24004KT P6SM SCT250

 

[Himeno]

That explains why QF11/QF12 are not operating across the USA on Tuesday 14 March, although - in theory- QF93 from MEL and QF15 from BNE are on time.

NYC and much of the North East is under blizzard watch with up to 2 feet of snow expected in areas between New York and Boston.

 

[Melburnian1]

NYC and much of the North East is under blizzard watch with up to 2 feet of snow expected in areas between New York and Boston.

Thank goodness for the USA's major rail operator, Amtrak. It's still operating with east coast trains largely punctual and some of the long distance trains also on time. No wonder it has such a good market share between New York and Washington.

When flights like QF11 and QF12 are cancelled, apart from the effect on passengers, what happens to the freight? Is its typical delay just a few hours, or a day or more, particularly if space is not available in the hold of other transcontinental aircraft? Or does QF simply hold it and transfer it onto the next day's QF11 or QF12 - assuming they operate?

 

[coriander]

We're currently in DC, booked to fly to LAX tomorrow morning. DC has "only" 3-6" snow, but temp will rise above freezing today, turning snow to slush. A superfreeze expected tonight Tuesday local time is expected to turn this to ice, rendering roads impassable. We may not even be able to get to DCA. OTOH, it's 93°F in PHX today.

Fun and games as we need to connect to QF12 Wednesday evening. And of course on separate PNRs. Time to read the fine print in the TI PDF.

C.
(concerned)

 

[Wanderlust_tim]

Slight delay for QF422 this morning but for what I thought was interesting reason. Gate staff announced the delay was due to crew being on a late inbound flight.

Maybe I am naive but I was amazed that Qantas have crew switch planes on a shift.

 

[Melburnian1]

Maybe I am naive but I was amazed that Qantas have crew switch planes on a shift.

Any medium sized transport operator - surface or air - may do this, particularly if they have a complex network. There will be numerous reasons including hours of duty and perhaps even 'variety', although obviously cost effectiveness is a major consideration as are flight plans for the next day, as loadings in any passenger transport business vary from day to day. QF like most airlines may rarely operate an identical number of flights from day to day across its QFd network in totality. Staff can go off sick, affecting availability.

One further example of a crew switch may be if a freeway, tollway or rail line leading to the airport was closed suddenly (or there were major delays) and hence one crew complement was delayed in signing on to start a shift. Another 'purloined' crew may need to operate a flight that was not in their roster. And if that inbound flight is itself late (but not as delayed as the crew stuck in cars or on an airport train), that means a late departure such as you experienced.

Remember also that planes of the same model and configuration can themselves sometimes be substituted for one another to try to maximise on time running, so it's not just the crews.

On a different note, Wednesday 15 March has been extremely wet along the north coast of NSW (but not inland from what I could see) with CFS for instance receiving more than 100 millimetres of rainfall between 0900 hours and mid aftenoon. QF2108, the 1130 jhours SYD - CFS departed at 1220; arrival was at 1336, 51 minutes behind schedule.

QF2006 from SYD to TWM, the 1525 hours, departed at 1630; arrival is predicted at 1749, 69 minutes tardy.

The 1700 QF147 SYD - AKL is forecast to depart 45 minutes late.

 

[JohnPhelan]

Slight delay for QF422 this morning but for what I thought was interesting reason. Gate staff announced the delay was due to crew being on a late inbound flight.

Maybe I am naive but I was amazed that Qantas have crew switch planes on a shift.

Quite a common and regular occurrence.

 

[Wanderlust_tim]

Quite a common and regular occurrence.

I have officially learnt something new today. Thank you both

 

[Melburnian1]

Earlier on Wednesday 15 March, QF79 (0915 hours MEL - NRT) departed at 1005 with arrival suggested as half an hour behind schedule at 1800.

Much later, B738 VH-VXC on QF1360, the 1020 hours DRW - BNE did not take off until 1452. Arrival is expected at 1917 instead of 1450 hours - 267 minutes tardy.

QF2467 from little known MOV to BNE (Q300 VH-TQE, the 1625 hours scheduled departure) took off at a delayed 1759; arrival is forecast for 2000 hours, 95 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF80, the overnight NRT - MEL commenced a holding pattern west of Lethbridge at about 0742 so arrival is predicted on Thursday 16 March at about 0800, half an hour late, matching yesterday's QF79's unpunctuality as above. VH-QPE is the A333.

QF2037 (DBO - SYD, Q300 VH-SBT) is expected to be on blocks in the state capital at about 0831, 51 minutes tardy.

The 0700 SYD down to MEL QF409 (A332 VH-EBS) did not become airborne until 0801 so arrival is not expected until 0926, 51 minutes late. This looks to be forming the 1135 hours to PER in MEL, QF475, which is poor utilisation (a scheduled turnaround of three hours) for a larger domestic plane and perhaps testimony to how demand on the transcontinental routes has reduced.

QF407 (B738 VH-VXA), the 0715 hours from SYD to MEL took off at 0818 and so is similar with arrival predicted at 0940, 50 late. This will then form the 1000 hours back to SYD, QF422 that will be slightly late departing, but is nonetheless better utilisation than for the above A332.

 

[jb747]

Swapping aircraft (especially for the pilots) during a multi sector day is extremely undesirable, but it's forced by innumerable factors.

The turnaround time on a aircraft swap is appreciably longer than if the pilots stay on the same aircraft, so in the planning stage it's avoided as much as possible.

 

[Melburnian1]

Swapping aircraft (especially for the pilots) during a multi sector day is extremely undesirable, but it's forced by innumerable factors...

Our discussion above was more focused on cabin crew, so interesting to know that it also applies to flight crew as well.

On Thursday 16 March, QF511, the 0735 hours peak time BNE down to SYD (B738 VH-XZC) took off at 0825. Arrival should be at roughly 1040, half an hour behind schedule.

QF419 (the 0900 hours mid morning SYD - MEL, A332 VH-EBO) did not take off until 1028, so arrival in the southern state is suggested as 1146, 71 minutes late. This aircraft is forming the 1135 MEL - PER, QF474 at about 1230 as a delayed departure time.

As noted about five posts back, earlier this morning a previous SYD - MEL A332 flight (QF409 with VH-EBS) was showing as the aircraft off on QF475. VH-EBS does not appear to have yet been used on another flight this morning, so perhaps it is inoperable.

QF23 departed 95 minutes late at 1120 from SYD with BKK arrival predicted as an hour behind schedule at 1635.

 

[Pushka]

QF 156 AKL - Mel just announced 3 hour delay now departing 2300 hours. Started this status run with 6am departure this morning from Adelaide. Now not due in until 1am MEL. 5 more hours in Qantas Lounge. Sigh.

 

[Melburnian1]

In further on Thursday 16 March, QF446, the 1600 hours MEL - SYD that was airborne at 1654 (A332 VH-EBR) should arrive at 1822, 57 minutes late as it was in a holding pattern near Goulburn for several minutes.'

B744 VH-OEH from SCL to SYD is likely to arrive at 1815, half an hour late.

 

[Melburnian1]

With the quite often sees air traffic congestion into MEL at around 0900 hours on weekdays a factor, QF152, the Friday 17 March AKL - MEL (B738 ZK-ZQB) should arrive at roughly 0903, 38 minutes tardy. It had been in a hold over Mt Baw Baw, Vic.

Northbound B738 VH-VXA on the MEL - SYD QF410, the 0715 hours did not become airborne until 0826 hours; arrival should be at around 0948, 68 minutes late. Yet VH-VZY on the 0800 departure is ahead of QF410 with QF414 suggested as arriving 20 minutes late at 0945, showing at times what a 'lottery' the timekeeping of particular flights on high frequency routes can be for passengers.

Whether QF and VA persisting with higher frequency B738s on the MEL - SYD - MEL run has been wise given the increasing volume of international air movements into and out of both at peak times is debatable. A 15 minute frequency for QF, and less often for VA, is handy for passengers if all flights operate (but cancellation rates are high) but the prospect of delays increases if more aircraft are vying for ATC attention. The corollary is that if more of these flights were widebodies such as A332s, QF, VA or other airlines would in time soak up the available slots with other flights elsewhere provided air travel demand kept growing (at present, domestically it is quite flat.) One suspects if passengers were asked, many would perceive widebodies as more 'comfortable' even for a shortish flight sector.

QF2104 (0710 hours SYD - CFS that was airborne at 0834, Q300 VH-SBB) should arrive at about 0946 hours, 66 minutes tardy.

 

[Pushka]

Received this email from Qantas addressed personally re 3 hour delay last night:
"We do everything we can to make sure you reach your destination on time when you fly with us, however safety will always be our first priority and this means that occasionally your flight time will change. This was the case with your flight QF156 from Auckland to Melbourne yesterday.

As you know, your flight was delayed as a replacement aircraft needed to be flown in to operate your flight. I recognise the inconvenience this may have caused you and appreciate your patience and understanding throughout this situation

If you have any comments you’d like to share with us about the way we handled this flight, feel free to get in touch using this form.

Thank you again and I hope we have the pleasure of welcoming you aboard Qantas soon."

I was fine in the club but hope those not eligible were given food vouchers as it was originally a dinner flight.

We were also slightly delayed from disembarking as one of the crew was ill so Health people boarded. That also happened on my last International flight.

But overall can't complain. With HLO I was through immigration and into a taxi within 15 minutes. No immigration queues at 1am so now have a spare priority pass as well.

 

[Melburnian1]

in further on St Patrick's Day, A333 VH-QPC on the 1115 hours SYD - SIN (QF81) took off at 1221, about 45 minutes behind schedule, so arrival will be at an estimated 1700 hours, half an hour tardy.

 

[Melburnian1]

Later on 17 March, QF774 (1855 hours ADL across to SYD) took off at 1915 but has lost time with arrival of B738 VH-XZA suggested at 2150, half an hour behind schedule.

 

[Melburnian1]

B744 VH-OEH on QF63 (1135 SYD - JNB, Saturday 18 March 2017) took off at 1254 so arrival is predicted at about 1710 same day, 35 minutes late.

QF93, the 1015 hours long haul from MEL to LAX departed at 1142; arrival should be 65 minutes late behind at 0740 hours.

The 1055 hours QF129 from SYD up to PVG did not commence pushback until 1217, meaning likely arrival tonight at 1926, 56 minutes behind the eight ball.

 

[cove]

Another thick fog in Los Angeles tonight. It starts burning off from about 9 am.