Qantas Fleet Grounded 29/10

[777]

As I am stuck in NZ atm, does anyone have some inside info as to when the Kangaroo will be flying again??

My flights back to Oz were tomorrow (31/10). There are plenty of flights from NZ at present, but I'm not sure whether to re-book or just hold out for a speedy resolution of the current situation, at least.

Any advice appreciated. Ozi

I'm also in NZ but flew over with the other mob. Jetconnect are still flying as i understand it so you should have no problem getting back as long as you don't need a connection when you get back.

PS could we change the title of the thread to something about the fact the ENTIRE AIRLINE HAS BEEN GROUNDED. That seems to be the substantive issue not the press conference.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Please either put up, or go back to running your online parody airline and leave the discussion to those more adult.

I thought the addage here is "play the ball not the man". Hasn't Jack got as much right to voice his comment as any of us? Should any of us not like his comment, ignore it! Can't be much simpler than that, surely?

 

[monoccular]

So the "urgent" convening of Fair Work Australia has, like the redhead who last night announced just how proud she is of FWA, achieved absolutely nothing - maybe FWA should be renamed SFA. What a disaster. All the talk is about tourism and the bloody Melbourne Cup - nothing of the FIFO health workers who provide so many remote communities with their vital health care.

 

[dfcatch]

Both Albanese and Gillard said that Joyce had not made any contact with them. All Joyce had to do was ask. You can't expect the PM to ask every single CEO, "hey, do you need me to hold your hand through this?"

Maybe in the case of Joyce the petulant kid, she should've. With other Chief Executives, you would expect that they'd talk to the government first before chucking a hissy fit.

IMHO - this is an incredibly naive comment and view that shows you have absolutely no understanding of how government or IR works.

Whilst it may seem "simple" to you - it isn't. And it just doesn't work the way you suggest it would.

Whether the government should have intervene earlier or not is a separate question.

But the question of whether AJ should have picked up the phone and officially requested intervention prior to this drastic action is a flawed understanding of politics and government.

BTW - you do realise that the Trade Unions actually comprise 40% of the structural make up of the ALP. I don't mean 40% of ALP members are unionists, I mean the unions themselves ARE 40% of the Party.

That means you don't get preselected or given a front bench position without the agreement of the relevant union factional heads.

And if this is new to you and you don't believe it - http://www.alp.org.au

 

[RSD]

My sister is supposed to be flying DPO - MEL today at lunchtime on QFlink then connect to QF mainline to ADL - is she expected to fly the first sector as QFlink are still flying and then get stranded in MEL or will they credit her entire airfare? Its all booked on the same booking.

 

[dfcatch]

My sister is supposed to be flying DPO - MEL today at lunchtime on QFlink then connect to QF mainline to ADL - is she expected to fly the first sector as QFlink are still flying and then get stranded in MEL or will they credit her entire airfare? Its all booked on the same booking.

I would assume she can cancel/defer the entire trip.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

This has nothing to do with AJ's nationallity, and you should be ashamed of yourself.

QF is stuffed (I say this as a long suffering shareholder and a WP - that I pay for, not a company).
QF's biggest problem is the Aussie staff that behave like a lot of overpaid underproductive Aussie public servants. The sooner we have a bunch of polite folk as cabin crew the better - we'll probably have to source them from Singapore, because Australians are far to important and too far full of themselves to even consider providing borderline average service.

I reckon if QF was liqudated tomorrow, my shares might even come "into the money".

Australian used to be a lucky country run by second rate people. Now we have to find first rate people from overseas and what do we do - typical Aussie fashion, cough on thier heads.

This is our problem, our making. I hope we have the fortitude to solve it.

It is a long time since QF was great - we've been sitting on the laurels for so long, the branches and leaves are coming out of out mouths!

Methinks that history will be very kind to AJ - it's about time the union movement got a short sharp - they consume more value than they create!

There have been a lot of varying views and posts about this bemusing course of action at Qantas (that's bemusing, not amusing), but this one I find to be obnoxious and degrading. A quick visit over to the Virgin Australia discussion boards will find that most people have been very happy with the DJ crew politness and manors........aren't they Australian?

The declining level of service accepted at QF starts with the management, not the workers. The very same management who now choose to kill an Australian iconic brand and one of the worlds best recognised airlines and it's done not by an Australian, but a foreiger. AJ had to swear allegiance to Australia and then proceeds to distroy one of Australias successes. Being Australian is more than just a bit of paper.

Yes..........someone should be ashamed of themselves, but it isn't the person you were directing your comment at!

 

[VHOEJ]

Jetconnect still flying so if you are in NZ, you should be fine (unless you are on QF25, or some of the flights to SYD).

I feel for all the passengers but it is amazing how many are interviewed don't prepare for the worst. Running out of medication for example - if there was another Chile volcano, what would they do? No one prepares for the worst case scenario or even think about it. To those who are at home, just delay your trip, you are lucky. A holiday can always be delayed - things like funerals, visiting sick people are more important.

 

[wonk]

My sister is supposed to be flying DPO - MEL today at lunchtime on QFlink then connect to QF mainline to ADL - is she expected to fly the first sector as QFlink are still flying and then get stranded in MEL or will they credit her entire airfare? Its all booked on the same booking.

I'm currently stuck in Toronto after I was supposed to fly today with an AA (QF codeshare) flight to LAX connecting to a QF flight back to Australia. Qantas are rebooking entire trips and as a result are keeping me in Toronto until Nov 1st, which is the earliest date they can rebook to at the moment.

Be prepared for long hold times if you call them - it was around 90 minutes from me plus a further 15 minute discussion with the agent about alternate flight arrangements.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

The fact that I live about 3 hrs from that 'home airport' so it's also cost an expensive hotel room

Hasn't Qantas stated they'll foot the accomodation tab?

On another note, does travel insurance pay in the event of an airline closing it's doors (for whatever reason)?

 

[Cynicor]

Oh well, stuck in Sydney now, seems Perth is the hardest to reach capital in oz right now. Have rebooked my 7pm flights with QF to Tuesday, should I book virgin for Tuesday too?

At least I have insurance. I don't even go to the toilet without my annual worldwide policy. Next stop, Expedia.

Edit: stuck in Sydney?
Sofitel have their premium club suite at only $225/night on Expedia, same rate as their base room.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Certainly brinkmanship going on. Need to be careful guys.

Yes indeed. The trouble with brinkmanship, is often one player lets their balls rule their brains and takes that one step too many....... straight over the brink.

I hope AJ has read your warning!

 

[Sprucegoose]

Both Albanese and Gillard said that Joyce had not made any contact with them. All Joyce had to do was ask. You can't expect the PM to ask every single CEO, "hey, do you need me to hold your hand through this?"

Maybe in the case of Joyce the petulant kid, she should've. With other Chief Executives, you would expect that they'd talk to the government first before chucking a hissy fit.

The CEO has a responsibility to the Board. He will have consulted the board on this, so we can depersonalize this particular action.

I am not clear on the CEO/Boards role to consult the Minister/PM/Cabinet in this case,it is a commercial issue with defined boundaries.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Hasn't Qantas stated they'll foot the accomodation tab?

On another note, does travel insurance pay in the event of an airline closing it's doors (for whatever reason)?

Accom paid for commenced journeys. Bill needs to commence his journey by traveling three hours.

Lucky we all got our VA status matches!

 

[zinkle]

It looks like someone up high really loves Virgin - maybe it's in the name.......

They came on to the Australian scene 10 years ago and have watched their major competition effectively self destruct, giving them one of the best opportunities to capitalise on the mess.

First Ansett in September 2001
Now QANTAS in October 2011

Maybe others would like to shed any light if any precedent like this has happened in any other industry.

A lot can be said about being there at the right place at the right time, Virgin has an amazing strike rate!!!

I'm not a very frequent flyer, and the happenings of the last few weeks with QANTAS has spooked me. I'm seeing very little value in my QFF points at the moment

 

[Febs]

Certainly interesting times. Qantas (note, "Qantas", not "AJ" - he clearly didn't make this decision alone) can't have entered into this decision lightly. Let's just hope for a speedy resolution.

FWIW, Virgin might be offering 20% discounted fares for stranded passengers, but their regular domestic flights still seem very pricey. $299 for a non-flex MEL-SYD? Granted, peak time, but is that the usual price for a Virgin fare? Lucky to get it I guess...

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[esquire]

Oh well, stuck in Sydney now, seems Perth is the hardest to reach capital in oz right now. Have rebooked my 7pm flights with QF to Tuesday, should I book virgin for Tuesday too?

At least I have insurance. I don't even go to the toilet without my annual worldwide policy. Next stop, Expedia.

Edit: stuck in Sydney?
Sofitel have their premium club suite at only $225/night on Expedia, same rate as their base room.

I'm stuck in Ayers Rock! With the next "other airline" flight not available until Thursday............QF put me on a flight to Alice Springs today (they also offered Darwin or Perth on QFLink!, although all the DJ flights are sold out for days) where there would be more opportunties for flights to the east "when they resume"....
:shock:

They did advise that I have lots of spending money now so "spend up"

 

[winfred]

Funny funny stuff! You claim to be a QF WP NZ G etc...

If Qantas has it's way you can wave goodbye to your nice little lounges, business class and extra baggage allowances and say hello to Jetstar


Qantas are the ones to blame for this 100%

So if the unions get their wishes we would get the lounges, biz class and extra bags?

So you work for the unions?

 

[Deleted member 29185]

It looks like someone up high really loves Virgin - maybe it's in the name.......

They came on to the Australian scene 10 years ago and have watched their major competition effectively self destruct, giving them one of the best opportunities to capitalise on the mess.

First Ansett in September 2001
Now QANTAS in October 2011

Maybe others would like to shed any light if any precedent like this has happened in any other industry.

Competition is often quoted as being healthy. QF has been a glowing example of this. Since Ansett departed (at the hands of foreign interests) QF grew fat, lazy and complacent. DJ came in to start a new venture......the LCC market, which was no dream run, remember Compass Mk 1 and Mk II both failed trying to do the same thing. DJ have recently seen another opportunity, which was also no easy task. Give credit where credit is due. They are, right now, the business flyers most stable choice!

 

[BensAdventures]

I've skimmed through this thread (I might have missed a few comments) but not enough focus is being put on the inadequate industrial relations framework now in Australia. Whilst I agree with most that WorkChoices went too far in terms of support for employers, but the Gillard - Fair Work Australia model has swung the pendulum way to far the other way. What options did Qantas have? Without possible Government support and constant snap strikes coming into Christmas, bringing it to a head now was essential.

From a work perspective I've been working on getting 100's of Aussies to the USA for some major events in the coming week, this is a disaster as many were flying QF, so I'm making the above statement with a clear mind, but a I'm VERY concerned if it isn't resolved in 24 hours or so!

Also I'm glad a few people have acknowledged that this is not a decision made by AJ, it was a board endorsed decision, he was the the primary spokesman, but not the sole decision maker!

My last statement is directed at the union workers.... QF believe you are paid adequately, you believe otherwise, so.... do what everyone else does if they're not happy at work, leave and get a different job! Might sound simplistic, but seriously how many of those on this forum believe they are paid sufficiently for the real work they do? And how many strike because of it?

Written and authorised by B.Adventures for the "So When's My Flight Leaving?" Party - Melbourne, Australia!