Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[kevrosmith]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Sitting in the Flounge in MEL right now waiting to board QF9. Looks like it's going to be a long night - the plane is surrounded by fire trucks, an unknown substance has been spilled in the hold. My connection in DXB will almost certainly be missed - flying in to CDG and then on to CPH. This is going to be very messy as the plan was to join Mrs Cat and Kitten minor in Paris and travel via SAS to CPH. OW have looked after me very well in the past with missed connections as I'm WP, but no status at all with SA. Bummer...

Does EK fly to CPH? See if they can put you on the direct to there...?

 

[JessicaTam]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Sitting in the Flounge in MEL right now waiting to board QF9. Looks like it's going to be a long night - the plane is surrounded by fire trucks, an unknown substance has been spilled in the hold. My connection in DXB will almost certainly be missed - flying in to CDG and then on to CPH. This is going to be very messy as the plan was to join Mrs Cat and Kitten minor in Paris and travel via SAS to CPH. OW have looked after me very well in the past with missed connections as I'm WP, but no status at all with SA. Bummer...

I think you had better get comfortable. It may take a while to resolve the incident.

 

[scaredeycat]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Unfortunately it's a bit like watching paint dry. Lots of firies, a few Hazmat guys but they're all on the tarmac. No one has gone anywhere near the hold yet. God knows what was in that pallet...

 

[scaredeycat]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

There's movement at the station!

 

[SeatBackForward]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Does EK fly to CPH? See if they can put you on the direct to there...?

Yes, even as a QF codeshare.

 

[geordieladinoz]

General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Oops, MEL airport app saying a 3pm departure today for QF9, 16 hour delay. Another A380 scheduling nightmare ensues!

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

As a consequence, QF is already showing on its website that the Friday 2125 hours departure of QF2 from LHR to DXB and SYD has been put back to 0830 on Saturday 4 July, with the DXB stop - in theory - to be from 1815 to 1950 and the Sydney arrival at 1525 on Sunday 5 July instead of the timetabled 0510, so more than 10 hours late. One of QF1, QF7 or QF11 on Sunday may then be late departing from SYD but this is yet to be confirmed, understandable because it's always possible that QF2 picks up a bit more time and hence if forming QF1 on Sunday is not overly late.

Although the LHR arrival on Saturday of the much delayed QF9 is expected at 0500 hours and the plane can in practice be turned around in as little as an hour and 43 minutes, QF has elected (or perhaps been 'forced' by slot restrictions) to not plan the departure to SYD until 0830, a three and a half hour suggested turnaround. At least this means Sydney bound passengers won't have to get up at some shocking hour such as 0300!

geordieladinoz, never a truer word was spoken.

 

[jb747]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Although the LHR arrival on Saturday of the much delayed QF9 is expected at 0500 hours and the plane can in practice be turned around in as little as an hour and 43 minutes, QF has elected (or perhaps been 'forced' by crew hour or slot restrictions) to not plan the departure to SYD until 0830, a three and a half hour suggested turnaround.

You have a bit of a thing about 'crew hours'. Think about it. Why would there be a restriction on this particular departure from London?

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Thank you, jb747: I have removed those couple of words from my post above.

In circumstances where (say) a 'suspicious' substance leaks from palletised goods out of the small aircraft size container (ULDs if I'm not mistaken) into the hold, who is liable: QF, the consignor or the forwarding agent who arranged the shipment? Or is it just an unfortunate 'accident' that adherence to dangerous goods regulations, packaging and so on has not prevented?

While some of these instances must go unreported because they occur on freighter aircraft and so often do not affect passenger plane scheduling, thankfully they seem relatively rare.

This must be costly for QF, although not material for a company earning billions of $A annually.

 

[defurax]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Or is it just an unfortunate 'accident' that adherence to dangerous goods regulations, packaging and so on has not prevented?

I'm not aware that the substance leaking was in fact classified as dangerous goods, but if it were the case then there are easy steps to find if the DG were packed according to IATA regulations. There are 3 packing groups for DG (I, II, III) and corresponding packaging instructions. ALL containers (metal or plastic) and cardboard boxes are specifically designed to meet UN regulations. If the sender abides by all IATA regulations why would they be responsible for a leak?

 

[scaredeycat]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Back in the Flounge. Had to exit via Customs (no Express Pass service, sadly), then pick up my checked in luggage. For some reason the travellator going upstairs was out of order, so it was a choice of dragging 3 bags (including golf clubs) up the slope or waiting ages for a lift. The first option won. Upstairs was a huge queue of people waiting to get taxi vouchers and hotel rooms. Fortunately a lounge angel recognised me and took me aside; within minutes I had a hotel room and taxi voucher. WP benefits!
By this stage it was about 3 am.The taxi drivers exploited the situation to the max - I shared a maxi cab with 6 other people and we were told as he drove off that he was only charging us 75% of the normal fare each. When I checked the receipt it looked like he had charged everyone with a cab charge voucher full fare. Pretty cheeky. No one was in the mood to argue at 330 am.
Good news re Copenhagen. QF have rebooked me on an Emirates flight from DXB to CPH. 8 hour layover in DXB, so they have also kindly provided a hotel room there. Not a bad result.

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

scaredeycat, while I appreciate that it will be the last thing on your mind now (enjoy the QF lounge's lunch!), when you return you might be kind enough to contact the Taxi Services Commission and (using your receipt) lodge a complaint about what may have been blatant multiple overcharging by the taxi driver:

Contact us | Taxi Services Commission

QF has 'plenty of money' but someone (in this case QF) has to pay for these costs and it is not right that taxi drivers (who constantly complain of 'unfair competition from Uber') should be allowed to effectively rip QF off in this instance.

Fair enough if there were seven separate taxis, but you state that this was not the case.

You may also wish to patronise Uber or similar competitors for your next half a dozen trips, or use public transport, to ensure that the taxi industry does not benefit from your travel as much as it has in this incident a few hours ago.

 

[scaredeycat]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

I certainly intend to let Qantas know they've been ripped off - will be sending them an email to that effect.

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

The much delayed QF9 from last night (operating as QF9D given that there are now two departures of the nominal QF9 today) took off from MEL at 1522 so let's see how it goes en route to LHR. Perhaps jb747 is at the helm.

scaredeycat, complaining to QF will be good - adding a complaint to Victoria's TSC would be even better, as that can give the taxi driver concerned 'double trouble.' He deserves it!

 

[jb747]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Perhaps jb747 is at the helm.

No..got back a couple of days ago.

 

[pagingjoan]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

No..got back a couple of days ago.

Hi JB,
Were you at the wheel of QF10, with the medicos attending on arrival at MEL?

 

[jb747]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Hi JB,
Were you at the wheel of QF10, with the medicos attending on arrival at MEL?

Yeh...what a pita that was.

 

[pagingjoan]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Yeh...what a pita that was.

So I hear!
Especially when combined with three hours on the tarmac at LHR (as reported to me), on the initial leg, for a series of technical issues.

 

[Ansett]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Hi JB

In your opinion is Qantas experiencing more or less issues with its A380 fleet compared to say the 747 at the same age and or in comparison to other operators of the A380 with similar fleet age and size?

 

[JessicaTam]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

I'm not aware that the substance leaking was in fact classified as dangerous goods, but if it were the case then there are easy steps to find if the DG were packed according to IATA regulations. There are 3 packing groups for DG (I, II, III) and corresponding packaging instructions. ALL containers (metal or plastic) and cardboard boxes are specifically designed to meet UN regulations. If the sender abides by all IATA regulations why would they be responsible for a leak?

My understanding is that it was not as bad as first thought. But definitely better to be safe than sorry.