Qantas Timetable Changes in October

[Albion]

I use Qantas to and from Sydney to Pt Hedland, yes I am a FIFO. Getting to PHE from Sydney the connections are quite good as are the return connections. However come the start of daylight saving the connections go out the window. I know the east west flights must change, normally leaving Perth an hour earlier but Qantas also changes the schedules between Perth and PHE. The result is a missed connection between QF1123 and QF580 of 5 mins, only 35 minutes between arrival of QF1123 and departure of QF580. I sent an email to Qantas Customer Care asking why, I received a reply and a log number (2016/147036). Today an email arrived saying my email had been forwarded onto Telesales, WTF would Telesales know about my problem. It's extremely frustrating to arrive in Perth from PHE on QF1123 and see QF580 sitting there but not being able to book on it due to less than 40 minutes. Their response with be interesting bu t I suppose you can't let passengers get in the way of operational requirements.

 

[N860CR]

I had a similar issue years ago. Qantas rejiggered their inter-Queensland flights (back when I was doing some work up there) and it meant on one day of the week (the day I was in Rocky), the only option to get to Sydney same day was to take a roughly 10am ROK-BNE as the next one at about 5pm missed the window for the last BNE-SYD by 5 minutes.

I had to fight through a few levels at customer care, but they eventually changed the schedule of the ROK-BNE flight to leave 5 minutes earlier.

That was a few years ago, and Qantas customer service does seem to have deteriorated significantly since then, but it's worth pushing.

 

[Albion]

Well, I got a reply which included all the lovely things that Qantas puts in their letters on how you are a valued customer etc and that they would pass my inquiry/request on to the appropriate area. Thought no more of it and wasn't going to go any further with it as I felt I would be banging my head against a brick wall.

Went on on line today to make my November flight bookings and I was suprised to see the flight ex Port Hedland has been adjusted to depart Pt Hedland 5 minutes earlier and now makes a connection in Perth with QF 580 to Sydney saving myself and a number of other passengers a near 3 hr wait in Perth.

I ckecked all the other months during daylight saving and 5 minutes earlier departure applies. Whether it was what I wrote or somebody else also questioning the timetable or just Qantas themselves but whoever is responsible a big thank you from myself and my work colleagues. Job well done Qantas.

 

[N860CR]

Well, I got a reply which included all the lovely things that Qantas puts in their letters on how you are a valued customer etc and that they would pass my inquiry/request on to the appropriate area. Thought no more of it and wasn't going to go any further with it as I felt I would be banging my head against a brick wall.

Went on on line today to make my November flight bookings and I was suprised to see the flight ex Port Hedland has been adjusted to depart Pt Hedland 5 minutes earlier and now makes a connection in Perth with QF 580 to Sydney saving myself and a number of other passengers a near 3 hr wait in Perth.

I ckecked all the other months during daylight saving and 5 minutes earlier departure applies. Whether it was what I wrote or somebody else also questioning the timetable or just Qantas themselves but whoever is responsible a big thank you from myself and my work colleagues. Job well done Qantas.

Good result. I think there is a bit of a disconnect between the people who handle region schedules and the mainline ones. Good to see that you can still achieve some success though. Shame the airline doesn't have the ability to see possible future problems!

 

[Mattg]

Very good outcome!

I'd imagine it's also in Qantas' interests to have schedules that allow for smooth connections. If not, they're doing themselves just as much of a disservice as their passengers.

 

[JohnK]

There are also changes to November schedules BNE-SYD. Some 5 minutes, some 20 minutes. May also be the case for other months too but November are where my bookings end.