Qantas to recommence A380 services

[straitman]

Good too see that JohnK and markis10 are paying attention.

 

[maninblack]

Strange people.

Just so we are talking real numbers here.
SYD-HNL 9:45 hrs
HNL-LAX 5:10 hrs
SYD-LAX 13:30 hrs
Plus the extra unloading and loading time.

More importantly MEL-HNL 10.15
MEL-HNL via SYD currently about 13.15

 

[maninblack]

QF timetable now showing all direct MEL-LAX flights as 744 through to the end of January.

 

[Aray]

QF timetable now showing all direct MEL-LAX flights as 744 through to the end of January.

Thanks for the update ..

 

[ashsta77]

I received a call from QF this afternoon. I've now been moved to QF107 (SYD-LAX), instead of going SYD-MEL-LAX on the 19th of December. (Original routing was based on a very good fare).-Very happy with this change!
If anyone is able to guest me into the the SYD T1 QP it would be greatly appreciated.
I hope that it is not rude to ask

 

[ab156]

Well, I for one am done with QF for now... one more domestic booking on the 21st which will get used but I have just re-booked my next O/S trip with the other guys. Just returned on QF94, 2.5 hours late, no communication, terrible cabin crew, seating dramas all over the place. It was comical until the bubbles stopped, AirAsia would be ashamed..

Qantas is in a spin at the moment and shows no signs of recovering. I have compassion for an Organization trying to deal unexpected loss of major inventory however after several weeks it's not good enough.

Weighing up the options on the 17hour ordeal to get back it became clear that the Koolaid doesn't taste that good anymore. +1 is only 90 credits short of WP, not going to bother now. Anyone flying out of LA needs to consider why stick with QF when you look at the age and quality of the aircraft - don't even get me started on the "First" Lounge around 9:30pm

Stopping half way doesn't sound like the answer to me. Hopefully long haul will last my generation...

 

[straitman]

Well, I for one am done with QF for now... one more domestic booking on the 21st which will get used but I have just re-booked my next O/S trip with the other guys. Just returned on QF94, 2.5 hours late, no communication, terrible cabin crew, seating dramas all over the place. It was comical until the bubbles stopped, AirAsia would be ashamed..

Qantas is in a spin at the moment and shows no signs of recovering. I have compassion for an Organization trying to deal unexpected loss of major inventory however after several weeks it's not good enough.

Weighing up the options on the 17hour ordeal to get back it became clear that the Koolaid doesn't taste that good anymore. +1 is only 90 credits short of WP, not going to bother now. Anyone flying out of LA needs to consider why stick with QF when you look at the age and quality of the aircraft - don't even get me started on the "First" Lounge around 9:30pm

Stopping half way doesn't sound like the answer to me. Hopefully long haul will last my generation...

ab156,

You sound justifiably peeved off.

What didn't they do that would have helped the situation and have you given feedback to QF :?:

 

[Nigelinoz]

From todays Business Spectator
Rolls Royce to report to Qantas this week: report | News | Business Spectator

Rolls-Royce is due to present Qantas Ltd with a report this week, outlining what needs to be done before Airbus A380 flights can be resumed between Australia and Los Angeles, The Australian Financial Review reports.
"Rolls-Royce are telling us that within a week they will give us a plan about how to be comfortable with flying the LA route again," Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce told the paper.

 

[Aray]

From todays Business Spectator
Rolls Royce to report to Qantas this week: report | News | Business Spectator

"A plan for how to be comfortable .." - WTF ??

It's an engine, its either good to go or its not.

What are they going to suggest, massaging and waving prayer beads over it before each flight ?

Adrian

 

[markis10]

OQD came home over the weekend, however if I was QF I would be very pissed that Airbus only noticed a bad engine on OQG after the flightplan had been lodged for its delivery flight, seems to me without further facts to be a very amateurish thing to happen, or perhaps they just took RRs word that all the engines had been modded on the airframes on the delivery line.

 

[bossreggie]

If I were QANTAS where "Safety is our priority" I would be very concerned with the RR response.

In aviation one would hope that these types of issues would have been sorted BEFORE the aircraft/engine was granted the AWC.

 

[oz_mark]

Keep in mind with OQG that it is not a newly built plane. It has been in storage for over a year.

 

[ab156]

ab156,

You sound justifiably peeved off.

What didn't they do that would have helped the situation and have you given feedback to QF :?:

Nothing special, I have been well treated in the past so I don't feel I deserve anything other than good communication. Ultimately this trip was a mess from the minute the A380 went out of service with poor communication being at the core, to sit on the tarmac for 2 hours with no comms at the end of a long trip was my tipping point.

My issue is that I can understand general chaos in the network for the first few days however after a month my perception is that the airline continues to slide backwards. With no end in sight (i.e. A380 coming back online) I will be taking other options.

Issues...
- Re-booked without consultation, had to ring to get changed back. I know they are shuffling inventory but they created re-work by assuming I would prefer to move my departure city.
- Seating messed up prior to departure, sorted at gate. Same system, appears seating are just swamped at the moment so doing crazy stuff just to get a load then relying on gate agents to resolve.
- Use of equipment with historical significance
- David Blackmore Wagyu Burger was of very poor quality on departure :evil:
- oneWorld Lounge facilities cannot meet demand at LAX. Feedback provided on the spot – only partially QF (3 of the 4 flights…)
- effectively accused of stealing blanket when requesting a replacement for one taken by other passenger. FFS, I paid several thousand dollars for a ticket and you think I am here to steal a $3 blanket... (pretty much the feedback I gave minus the language..).
- faulty equipment - makes one wonder what the minimum turn-around checks are. Final answer was "we rebooted and reset the circuit breaker" .. guess it was fixed by Microsoft :shock:
- we are getting off the plane as it is too hot / don't get off we think it is fixed... reassuring.
- Price... with all of the above the QF "premium" is not justifiable

While I don't necessarily agree with the DYKWIA attitude people with a certain travel history (typically reflected loyalty schemes….) are more likely to appreciate "issues happen" but also are likely to be both knowledgeable about the travel process and have a level of expectation above "we'll get you there". If I was running the Business, I would be motivated to try and maintain a level of service for these customers that is as close to their expectations as possible, especially during time your product is not as competitive. My experience is that this is not happening.

The reality is that the back of the plane will be pretty much full regardless. There is a finite number of seats across all airlines – as a result the "contract" between airline and customer is very simple, it’s a once off, generally best price based purchase to get from A to B. The seats at the front are a different matter.... across all airlines there is an excess of capacity, airlines complete with various scheme to capture and retain these customers. I would not want to risk losing a single customer for a single journey, he/she may never return simply for the sake if a few extra phone calls / call centre staff. Poor vision, poor planning.

A bit of a rant there. The simple answer is better (much better) communication of issues and changes prior and during the booking would have greatly improved the experience. Other issues are really just part of the travel experience.

I’ll leave the couch now, I feel much better!