Qantas Fleet Grounded 29/10

[yohy?!]

We live on the Sydney airport flight path it's been soooo QUIET here today few of the long haul flights taking off it's feels very weird a little like 9/11. Hopefully all those that are stuck here in SYD will be able to enjoy a few extra days here, I know not the best idea... I have put off my meetings and canceled anything with other people that have to travel. Hope you all get to wherever soon:arrow:

Us too it's been like a different city without the roar of the 767s doubling back to Mel after takeoff!

 

[JohnK]

Well I've jsut refunded my flight and submitted a claim for a new flight on Virgin. I take the offer to be that you can fly with virgin and get refunded the fare difference. The refund is done via ticketing and the Virgin fare difference via customer care, according to the CSR. So I paid $319 for a flexi fare and I have asked for a refund of $319-$119. In addition I expect to get my $119 back.

If what you are saying is correct then this would be a good compromise.

The part that confuses me is mentioning that the alternate carrier to have an interline agreement with Qantas.

Hopefully Qantas is back in the air before my Friday flight....

 

[Flashback]

I guess we should also spare a thought for the crews - there would have a lot of them left stranded somewhere other than home by this. I hope JB747 isn't stuck somewhere.

That was one thing I was wondering about, too. Would they have put them on other airlines to get home? That being said, they'll then need crew at the various ports to operate the flights once they are back up and running so maybe they'll just keep them there and put up at hotels, etc. Who knows:?:

 

[FlyboyAl]

If there are to be winners and losers in this whole process, is it fair to say that a termination would be a win for Qantas, whereas suspension would be a win for the unions?

when I was a young brash sales rep (seems like a hundred years ago!!), I had a big issue with one of my managers which I made obvious to other senior execs in the company.
I was quietly taken aside by another manager who I respected and he explained to me that whilst there may be times where you do not respect the person who makes the decision, you should always respect the position they hold.
I say that because I just cannot warm to Joyce - NOT because he is Irish, I just can't put my finger on why. The previous CEO's (Dixon/Strong) had a presence which I just do not see or find in Joyce.
This may seem like a load of drivel, but if I look at the statements he makes as coming from the whole board, then I find it easier to rationalize them.
Personally, I think we will be back, up and flying on Tuesday because no sane judge of the FWA tribunal could let it drag on longer.
I'm now going back to crawl under my bed in case I incur the wrath of too many members!!!!!:mrgreen:

 

[11sjw]

Overall, I think there is little sense coming out on this. Both sides are wrong. But I can't understand Joyce's position. He is locking out staff for some vague "staff" reason - Because his continual "No" will make them "harm" an aircraft? Strange he itself. But then he absolutely refuses anything less than termination of industrial action from FWA. So if he thinks that staff will do nefarious things because he keeps saying "no", but are still engaged in a bargaining process; why would he think they would be happy if denied any voice by terminating all action? I would expect people to be even more frustrated if silenced and marginalised.

It is highly unconstructive. Hopefully this gets to a mediated process and puts a stop to the childishness on all sides.

AJ got what he wanted from it and bought the whole mess to a head. Remember he was dealing with a group whose leader told the travelling public to book elsewhere in the near future. A deliberate attempt at sabotage needed to be met with a like for like type response and what happened is such a response.

Agree that it is a bucket of Fail all round here.

 

[froggerADL]

I've had a good result from Qantas.

I was due to fly SYD-BKK in First on a FASA on Tuesday 1 November, followed by a Y flight to KUL on RJ. I was panicking because I'm meeting someone special in KL who is flyng in on J* from a different state. Her flights are not refundable, and non refundable hotels in KL booked etc.

When this first happened Qantas were only allowing fee-free changes/cancellations for flights booked to 31 October. This morning it changed to 2 November. Phew!

I was about to cancel the QF flight and book a Y- SQ flight but checked the QF disruption conditions again.

To cut a long story short, I rang Qantas and I am now booked on a TG flight in First. No additional cost to me, and if the QF flight happens to fly on Tuesday I'll change back to QF.

So while I still think the little leprechaun (thanks taupekastarhttp://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/members/tuapekastar.html) is a complete tosser and should be sacked immediately, my week in KUL is still happening.

 

[amaroo]

Overall, I think there is little sense coming out on this. Both sides are wrong. But I can't understand Joyce's position. He is locking out staff for some vague "staff" reason - Because his continual "No" will make them "harm" an aircraft? Strange he itself. But then he absolutely refuses anything less than termination of industrial action from FWA. So if he thinks that staff will do nefarious things because he keeps saying "no", but are still engaged in a bargaining process; why would he think they would be happy if denied any voice by terminating all action? I would expect people to be even more frustrated if silenced and marginalised.

It is highly unconstructive. Hopefully this gets to a mediated process and puts a stop to the childishness on all sides.

It was only a week go that the main guy from one of the unions pleaded with QF customers to cease buying tickets and to go elsewhere - well he got what he wanted.

I have zero empathy for these silly unions - I have nothing but empathy for the poor passengers stuck everywhere.

Due to the unions, customers have been massively inconvenienced for the past 8 weeks - better to bring it to a head and jettison this destructive rubbish.

 

[browski]

AJ got what he wanted from it and bought the whole mess to a head. Remember he was dealing with a group whose leader told the travelling public to book elsewhere in the near future. A deliberate attempt at sabotage needed to be met with a like for like type response and what happened is such a response.

Agree that it is a bucket of Fail all round here.

One man's "sabotage" is another man's "eternally grateful heads up".

 

[Simo]

A few weeks ago I had to attend a course and we where advised to book DJ flights and not QF unless there was no options.

All up there was app 3000 people who went through the course over a 6 week period.

We where advised if we missed the course we would not be able to register on a later course at another date.

There was people from all over Aust and also about 200 from Overseas as well.

 

[tuapekastar]

I've had a good result from Qantas.

I was due to fly SYD-BKK in First on a FASA on Tuesday 1 November, followed by a Y flight to KUL on RJ. I was panicking because I'm meeting someone special in KL who is flyng in on J* from a different state. Her flights are not refundable, and non refundable hotels in KL booked etc.

When this first happened Qantas were only allowing fee-free changes/cancellations for flights booked to 31 October. This morning it changed to 2 November. Phew!

I was about to cancel the QF flight and book a Y- SQ flight but checked the QF disruption conditions again.

To cut a long story short, I rang Qantas and I am now booked on a TG flight in First. No additional cost to me, and if the QF flight happens to fly on Tuesday I'll change back to QF.

So while I still think the little Lepricorn is a complete tosser and should be sacked immediately, my week in KUL is still happening.

Glad you are getting a satisfactory alternate flight (should QF not go ahead). Will you get original routing credit - the F SCs and points you would have got on QF, should you fly TG?

Oh and (sorry, can't help it ) - I think you mean leprechaun.

 

[medhead]

AJ got what he wanted from it and bought the whole mess to a head. Remember he was dealing with a group whose leader told the travelling public to book elsewhere in the near future. A deliberate attempt at sabotage needed to be met with a like for like type response and what happened is such a response.

Agree that it is a bucket of Fail all round here.

It was only a week go that the main guy from one of the unions pleaded with QF customers to cease buying tickets and to go elsewhere - well he got what he wanted.

I have zero empathy for these silly unions - I have nothing but empathy for the poor passengers stuck everywhere.

Due to the unions, customers have been massively inconvenienced for the past 8 weeks - better to bring it to a head and jettison this destructive rubbish.

I can't entirely agree that the union guy was pleading for people to fly with the competition. It was wrong to say what he did but it wasn't an overt encouragement. Besides that is the head of one union why drag in the other 2 unions, especially the poor pilots with their red ties. As for outcome, sure it has come to a head, but management industrial action has disrupted vastly more customers than the unions did.

Now if you have to ground all aircraft because of a threat to safety due to a lock out; I still fail to see how that threat will go away if you get all industrial action terminated. (nb not saying that would be a bad outcome) Really just another whole heap of spin, IMO

 

[MatF]

Look on the bright side. At least you don't have to go to Brisbane.

Ha! Very true

 

[oz_mark]

Now if you have to ground all aircraft because of a threat to safety due to a lock out; I still fail to see how that threat will go away if you get all industrial action terminated. (nb not saying that would be a bad outcome) Really just another whole heap of spin, IMO

CASA recently (mid Oct) weighed into the dispute with a letter regarding the effect the dispute was having on safety. I guess they thought it better to ground the fleet rather than risk the regulator coming in and doing it.

 

[Alanslegal]

This makes no sense at all, why put 300 people through turmoil for the sake of 10min. Just shows how cold the decision was by Qantas mgt. perhaps this non negotiable stance was needed, but AJ should try that argument with the pax that were offloaded and still stranded.

I don't understand why QF would offload passengers that where boarded and doors closed and on the runway ready to depart.

My Cousin is stranded in BKK.

Absolutely makes no practical sense. Qantas should have just declared all planes to be grounded from midnight following that 5pm announcement, that would have given just a bit under seven hours to clear any planes due to take off within those times. This would have importantly reduced the number of inconvenienced passengers, as those already at the airport would have been on their way, and those preparing to go to the airport for the flight would have also been flying. Anyone due to fly after midnight, would more than likely have known and thus could have made alternate plans or at least delay their travel.

In reference to those already on planes, and then being asked to get off, I bet a majority of those passengers would never support Qantas again after that experience.

I've had a good result from Qantas.

I was due to fly SYD-BKK in First on a FASA on Tuesday 1 November, followed by a Y flight to KUL on RJ. I was panicking because I'm meeting someone special in KL who is flyng in on J* from a different state. Her flights are not refundable, and non refundable hotels in KL booked etc.
....

To cut a long story short, I rang Qantas and I am now booked on a TG flight in First. No additional cost to me, and if the QF flight happens to fly on Tuesday I'll change back to QF.

That's a neat outcome.

 

[drron]

Well QF have officially transferred us from QF1 to QF301 on tuesday(BA10).So obviously not completely confident of resolution or freeing up seats for the backlog.
Looking at it it is obvious the AJ does lack commonsense.Imagine if he had got up at the AGM and turned down his increase-he would then have had a fighting chance of winning the PR war.
However on reflection to me the blame for this must also be shared by the government.Julia was the Minister responsible for bringing in the Fair Work Act.Did she not understand the ramifications of her legislation?Surely with the utterances from the union representing the Engineers and the TWU the Government realised that this would be a protracted dispute so Qantas could use the act to do exactly what they have done?Surely the relevant minister should have rung AJ and asked what were the plans?Why did they wait for AJ to make the first move?We will never know.
Although I am no fan of this Government this episode to me proves their lack of leadership.

And to Jack Melon.Sorry your last post re VA lounge access for QF elites is just hot air from VA-QF lounges are still operating.Jetconnect and JQ international flights are still operating along with OW partners CX and JAL.Domestically still QF link and JQ.So on Tuesday I will still be the guest of mrsdrron in the SYD Flounge When we fly to BKK.Wouldn't even consider the VA alternative.

 

[11sjw]

From the Fairfax Media websites (WA Today in Particular):

8:13pm(AEST): Submissions from the various parties have now being heard by FWA. The three judges are now expected to look over what has been said. This process may take up to two hours. We may see an end to the dispute tonight.

Seems like we might hear something before thewinchester goes to bed (assuming he has another crack at 2am!!).

 

[froggerADL]

Glad you are getting a satisfactory alternate flight (should QF not go ahead). Will you get original routing credit - the F SCs and points you would have got on QF, should you fly TG?

Oh and (sorry, can't help it ) - I think you mean leprechaun.

Yes, I will get the original routing credit. I asked the question as it was a major consideration when booking the FASA. I have to request it after the flight.

Thanks for the spell check. That was a shocker. I blame the alcohol :shock:.

 

[amaroo]

I can't entirely agree that the union guy was pleading for people to fly with the competition. It was wrong to say what he did but it wasn't an overt encouragement. Besides that is the head of one union why drag in the other 2 unions, especially the poor pilots with their red ties. As for outcome, sure it has come to a head, but management industrial action has disrupted vastly more customers than the unions did.

Now if you have to ground all aircraft because of a threat to safety due to a lock out; I still fail to see how that threat will go away if you get all industrial action terminated. (nb not saying that would be a bad outcome) Really just another whole heap of spin, IMO

I know memories fade - luckily we have easy access to statements & press releases these days.....this guy is a complete and utter tool.

Don't buy Qantas tickets: union


:mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgreen:

 

[medhead]

If what you are saying is correct then this would be a good compromise.

The part that confuses me is mentioning that the alternate carrier to have an interline agreement with Qantas.

Hopefully Qantas is back in the air before my Friday flight....

I can't see anything about an interline agreement.

 

[11sjw]

I know memories fade - luckily we have easy access to statements & press releases these days.....this guy is a complete and utter tool.

Don't buy Qantas tickets: union


:mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgreen:

Add him and the TWU Rep together and you know why the Pilots Association was keeping their distance.