QF flight delay - rebooked and overnight hotel

[smckay]

2 July was the first time I had been on a flight that was delayed and missed the connecing flight so the experience was new.
The East Coast low off NSW delayed the incoming flight ex-Sydney by 3 hours, so QF156 AKL-MEL was predicted to arrive late into MEL -15 minutes after my MEL-HBA flight left. I thank the Qantas app for giving me that level of technical advice.
Knowing that I wasn't going home that day I settled in tpo see how the QF machine dealt with this issue.
On the plane departing, chat was given that QF would monitor connecting flight delays and we'd be given an update closer to landing by the CSM. Most excellent.
Bah baaah. No such advice was given. On landing I switched off flight mode and started getting texts and emails on my delay and new flights. Prepared, I asked the cabin crew where the ground crew where I could expect to see the ground crew to assist. Top of the ramp they said.
And so it was that a lady was there with a boarding pass and a voucher for the Ibis Styles Melbourne airport for a room and a $60 meal allowance for the night, and I was on the 0815 flight the next day. So far so good. Except the 'transfer' to the hotel was turn right out of the door and walk 400 metres to the hotel. Quicker than an Uber for sure.
At the hotel I still had to provide my credit card for any incidentals and was also told that my meal voucher only included food and neither the bar nor the mini bar could be used to buy a calming tonic. Thanks QF, I could have done with a calming night cap.
The room was a regular room, the mini bar was empty of booze and everything else was regular.
Breakfast was $40 - not worth it at all - so I have contributed to QF cost savings by 20 bucks.
Apart from the hassle of another night away, the process was done well, it all was in place before I arrived and the hotel was well aware of the booking type and made it easy. No self check in sir, it won't find your reservation.
All up it was a relatively painless experience for a domestic flight.

 

[ms1]

I thought Ibis Styles hotels had free breakfast as a standard inclusion for all guests.

 

[offshore171]

That’s pretty good considering it was weather related and not the airline’s “fault”!

 

[smckay]

I thought Ibis Styles hotels had free breakfast as a standard inclusion for all guests.

Some rooms had breakfast so it must be the rate they pay. Also no Accor points on this booking.

 

[markis10]

Ibis styles were free breakfast as a brand standard after they were changed from All Seasons but it only lasted for a year or so, around ten years ago now.

 

[muppet]

That’s pretty good considering it was weather related and not the airline’s “fault”!

Genuine question- Is that really the interpretation?

Weather in SYD means no liability for a AKL-MEL flight?

Airlines can’t control the weather, but weather only affected that flight because of the airline’s commercial choices.

I think QF did the right thing by proving accom.

 

[offshore171]

Genuine question- Is that really the interpretation?

Weather in SYD means no liability for a AKL-MEL flight?

Who is suggesting that.

Airlines can’t control the weather, but weather only affected that flight because of the airline’s commercial choices

As you say, they can’t control the weather. And it was a pretty significant weather event that left aircraft and crews out of position.

Seems like a difficult situation, not of their making, that was handled pretty well.

I put “fault” in quotes to differentiate it from a scenario where the airline is directly responsible like a mechanical, overbooking or rostering matter.

I think QF did the right thing by proving accom.

I agree and said I thought it was good.

 

[smckay]

From what I figured, the AKL-MEL flight was serviced by the incoming SYD-AKL plane, whilst the MEL-AKL plane was used for the AKL-SYD flight. Or, they did a triangle from Australia.
So weather did delay it but that's a bit of strategic analysis on my part.
Both flights were delayed but AKL-MEL was the longest delay.
QF3 AKL-NYC was also delayed in arriving and departing, again I guess due to wild weather off Sydenee.

 

[Scooty]

Always a pain in the backside when this occurs. This happens to me at least once every couple of months on the BNE-SYD-Regional NSW (ARM/WGA/ABX/DBO) return route.
It’s rare that you’ll get someone coming to you, I just wait for the texts so I know where to go and when my next flight is. Maybe because mine’s usually a QantasLink connection?
I’m happy with a room and earliest connecting flight in the morning. 95% of the time it’s the SYD-Regional Flight delayed or cancelled.
Always a $50 food voucher at the hotel's restaurant, depending on the time I’ll pick my own food destination.
My tip, never take the “free shuttle” buses from the airport - much quicker and easier for an uber straight to the Stamford/Pullman/Novotel

 

[Beano]

Been there a few times, particularly on WLG-MEL runs. No trouble from Qantas and usually put up in the Crown Plaza (Park Royal). Flying to PER so made an early morning flight and made it to PER in time for meetings. Flew out the same day from PER. Communication was all by text.

Recently, however, offered the Quest and a connection through Sydney to Darwin where I was going. It meant I would be arriving in Darwin in time for my flight to ADL. Decided to cancel my MEL-DRW-ADL flights and stay and do work in MEL. Tried to cancel at the Qantas sales desk but said it was not possible as it had to be done by the TA. Contacted the TA and left a message. Got a room in MEL and a flight to ADL the next day. So far so good. Half way through my stay in Melbourne saw that all my flights had been cancelled, even the new one. The explanation was that I was a no-show of the MEL-SYD-DRW route. Frantic calls later and all was sorted. Completed my trip with no incidents. (MEL-ADL-SYD-WLG). One bonus was that I was upgraded on the ADL-SYD and SYD-WLG sectors. Whether that was because of the mess-up or just my time for an upgrade, I couldn't say.

 

[jpp42]

It does seem QF is more generous than many other airlines, both in AUS and abroad, when it comes to overnight accommodations solely connected to weather delays. It's not guaranteed by the conditions of carriage, but it's something they usually do. At least this is a benefit that passengers are receiving for the higher fares that QF often charges. I think it is helped by the fact that, on the whole Australia has fairly benign weather so it doesn't happen too often. US airlines wouldn't dream of covering accommodation like this, and would make you feel lucky to get a rebooked flight at all...

 

[Beano]

On one occasion the SYD-WLG flight was delayed so long that the flight was going to miss the WLG curfew. The answer was to fly to AKL where they left is in the terminal. It must have been 5 am. They gave us a $20.00 food voucher and left us to ourselves. Not Qantas's best!

Another time the same thing but earlier into AKL so we had time for a sleep in a hotel. The next day we were left to our own devices to find our way to WLG. We had to go to the airport and re-book ourselves. This was when Qantas were still flying domestic in NZ.

In both cases it was storms at SYD.

There are several others from SYD to WLG and one memorable one from LHR to WLG via SYD. Put up by Qantas at LHR and SYD. Arrived home 24 hrs late.