Qantas Fleet Grounded 29/10

[coyote25]

All flights grounded.
Only option that Qantas feels it can take under Fair Work Act.

Well this will definitely force a government response.

This is huge. I doubt DJ can handle the extra passengers. Huge effect on business travelers, holiday travelers will need insurance.

Government definitely needs to step in. Sounds like they are trying to break all the unions. Seems like there can only be one winner now or maybe none at all. Unions can't win this one without Government taking over which wont happen - huge gamble by QF management for long term

I'm guessing I'll have to cancel work meetings / events next week.

 

[markj23]

Locking out pretty much the entire staff, jesus! I trust Alan Joyce will be giving up his massive salary in solidarity with the employees whose income he's just cut off?

Only those in the unions will be locked out and not paid - i dont see why he should share anything with them?

 

[Kendall Roy]

On 2nd thought, perhaps Joyce is simply expediting the process given it was always his intention?

 

[moa999]

channel ten totally misses it. brief message at 5.22 well after joyce had finished despite leading with a prerecorded piece at 5.05

 

[pauly7]

On 2nd thought, perhaps Joyce is simply expediting the process given it was always his intention?

Yawn so funny...

Right, now it's time to smash these unions for good. Just landed realized my flight sneaked out one of the last to go!! Phew. And all flights QFLink for a while.

Hope they don't pull the QFLink regionals off to serve the cap cities!

 

[Red Roo]

Hi All,
We really regret this action has become necessary and apologise sincerely to all affected.
Customers booked on Qantas flights should not go to the airport until further notice. A full refund will be available to any customer who chooses to cancel their flight because it has been directly affected by the grounding of the fleet. Full rebooking flexibility will be available to customers who wish to defer their travel.
Assistance with accommodation and alternative flights, as well as other support, will be offered to customers who are mid journey.
Monitor qantas.com for latest updates. Facebook and Twitter accounts will also have the latest posted.
Only customers traveling within next 24 hours should call Qantas contact centers (on 131313).
Jetstar flights, QantasLink flights and Qantas flights across the Tasman operated by Jetconnect will continue.
Red Roo

 

[Verde]

This is huge. I doubt DJ can handle the extra passengers. Huge effect on business travelers, holiday travelers will need insurance.

Government definitely needs to step in. Sounds like they are trying to break all the unions. Seems like there can only be one winner now or maybe none at all. Unions can't win this one without Government taking over which wont happen - huge gamble by QF management for long term

I'm guessing I'll have to cancel work meetings / events next week.

Even worse are those who are overseas!

I just shudder to think what a position I'd be in if I had been holidaying somewhere and now was totally left in the lurch because of an insane CEO (disclaimer: I am not a psychiatrist, but I see no way a rational/reasonable person would have taken this course of action).

I hope some lawyers get together to sue Qantas for the impact it has on people (and I'm sure some people will have been badly affected - children separated from parents - maybe the loss of the unaccompanied minor was just a practice run for losing kids this afternoon! Families stuck in separate locales, staff unable to get back for work etc).

At least the unions gave warning so people knew it was coming up.

Alan Joyce needs to go and I for one won't be buying another Qantas ticket until he has gone, regardless of how this plays out.

For someone paid millions to fail to resolve this and then escalate it in such an ugly way is woeful - they could have had a kindergarten kid stuff this up for no pay!

Maybe Virgin needs to make another status match offer (I am just lucky I already got matched to Plat, guess I'll be flying Virgin a lot more from now on!).

 

[codash1099]

Now referred to Fair Work Australia. Albanese thinks it was a premeditated action and talks about a breach of faith with the Government by QF not giving advance notice. Thinks that you can't organise something like this overnight.

 

[Red Roo]

Hi All,
We really regret this action has become necessary and apologise sincerely to all affected.
Customers booked on Qantas flights should not go to the airport until further notice. A full refund will be available to any customer who chooses to cancel their flight because it has been directly affected by the grounding of the fleet. Full rebooking flexibility will be available to customers who wish to defer their travel.
Assistance with accommodation and alternative flights, as well as other support, will be offered to customers who are mid journey.
Monitor qantas.com for latest updates. Facebook and Twitter accounts will also have the latest posted.
Only customers traveling within next 24 hours should call Qantas contact centers (on 131313).
Jetstar flights, QantasLink flights and Qantas flights across the Tasman operated by Jetconnect will continue.
Red Roo

 

[GladstoneTim]

The thought that Joyce is a tool comes to mind. But the same must be said of the QF board to endorse such an action.

 

[chonetsao.co.uk]

One hand I support breaking up of union. One hand I think AJ should forgo his bonus. And then I know my trip in middle of November would be looking bad....

 

[Red Roo]

Hi All,
We really regret this action has become necessary and apologise sincerely to all affected.
Customers booked on Qantas flights should not go to the airport until further notice. A full refund will be available to any customer who chooses to cancel their flight because it has been directly affected by the grounding of the fleet. Full rebooking flexibility will be available to customers who wish to defer their travel.
Assistance with accommodation and alternative flights, as well as other support, will be offered to customers who are mid journey.
Monitor qantas.com for latest updates. Facebook and Twitter accounts will also have the latest posted.
Only customers traveling within next 24 hours should call Qantas contact centers (on 131313).
Jetstar flights, QantasLink flights and Qantas flights across the Tasman operated by Jetconnect will continue.
Red Roo

 

[VHOEJ]

I am stunned but agree with what he had to do.

Joyce should forgo his payrise but even if he did that, it wouldn't change the situation. The "CEO got a payrise' is just a line all the unions keep using to get the public onside.

 

[Mwenenzi]

Bugger.
My 1900 flight to CBR IS ......
not going.
What to do?

Drive ?? You will be the only one

Hundreds of people fly into MEL for the day from SYD & ADL for Derby day. They will be getting to airport about now (last race was about 17:15) They will be camping the airport me thinks (until Cup day).

 

[Red Roo]

Hi All,
We really regret this action has become necessary and apologise sincerely to all affected.
Customers booked on Qantas flights should not go to the airport until further notice. A full refund will be available to any customer who chooses to cancel their flight because it has been directly affected by the grounding of the fleet. Full rebooking flexibility will be available to customers who wish to defer their travel.
Assistance with accommodation and alternative flights, as well as other support, will be offered to customers who are mid journey.
Monitor qantas.com for latest updates. Facebook and Twitter accounts will also have the latest posted.
Only customers traveling within next 24 hours should call Qantas contact centers (on 131313).
Jetstar flights, QantasLink flights and Qantas flights across the Tasman operated by Jetconnect will continue.
Red Roo

 

[elbarto]

So Red Roo, did Joyce and the board plan to do this before the AGM yesterday? Seems a little too convenient that the CEO and senior management approved by shareholders and then ground the airline. Maybe I should just give Alan Joyce my bank account details so he can raid that too, or maybe I should just bend over and let him rape me a bit more. Resignations are wanted on Monday at the latest.

 

[Flying Fox]

I expected this action sooner but after the AGM is probably better timing.

 

[RSD]

OK now I am really pissed with Joyce - in a little over 12 hours I am supposed to be flying out to the U.S. to a black tie awards ceremony to receive one of THE biggest awards in the world for my profession - and now I'm not going to get there.

I don't know why the government is going to Fair Work Australia - I would have thought going to the immigration department to get Joyce deported would be a better move.

 

[Moody]

Is Peter Reith an industrial relations consultant with Qantas now?

Pillocks the lot of them ....

 

[dfcatch]

I support Qantas 100% with this.

Only the unions are to blame for this.

And the unions can resolve this tonight. Take the offer - get the modest increases that were on the table, and get back to work.

Red Roo - I have some legitimate questions which you may not try have the answers:

My parents are in LA due to fly to AKL on Tues 1st. (website only covers till 31st oct at this stage).

They are on a redemption ticket 1-way. (The outbound was also a redemption 1 way).

1/ will they be covered for accommodation even though their outbound/return sectors are on different PNRs?

2/ If I pre-emptively use travel insurance to rebook them onto NZ - will QF still honor the cancellations fee-free even if the dispute is resolved tomorrow?