QF1 from SIN diversion to Baku, Azerbaijan (GYD)

[RooFlyer]

If so I also wonder if some intrepid travellers would have taken the opportunity to visit the country.

Doesn't require much intrepid-ness to visit Azerbaijan, much less Baku, which IIRC Joanna Lumley likened to Paris in one of her TV series.. See TR

Uncorking the Caucasus. EY F Apartment to Georgia (birthplace of wine) & Azerbaijan

Re: Uncorking the Caucasus. EY F Apartment to Georgia (birthplace of wine) & Azerbaij On to that night's accommodation - the Schuchmann winery and Chateau, a German-Georgian venture. Like Pheasants Tears (Georgian-American-Swedish), they make a lot of 'European style' as well as traditional...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[RooFlyer]

It is in the news.com article which has been linked a couple of times. By a Qantas spokesperson.

Right. I've re-read it now, thanks. So, a Qantas supplied time-line.

That leads me to Mr Cherry, on-line, was seeking news but was happy with the result.


And he led me to Mr Ward, who was also a passenger, on-line, and was pleased to find the rescue flight on an app, after 'no official word' at about the time the timeline 6:30 am communication from Qantas was sent



I can hear the eye-rolls out there but an airline's statement that "we informed passengers like this" should be taken with a grain of salt, especially as to its effectiveness. Using a megaphone is ineffective if the recipient is deaf (say, electronically). Not saying there was necessary any better solution, but they are entitled to complain or at less express grievance if a media person asks.

 

[mrsterryn]

But isn't a mobile number taken at booking for contact ? If there is an issue with the flight home , how are people contacted (in response to people who say they don't take electronic devices for contact )

 

[SYD]

But isn't a mobile number taken at booking for contact ? If there is an issue with the flight home , how are people contacted (in response to people who say they don't take electronic devices for contact )

Email and phone number(s): Home, Work, Mobile, Destination contact number. I put my mobile in for all those.

 

[Quickstatus]

Azerbaijan

I note that there is an Airservices agreement between Azerbaijan and Australia penned in 2017: (Adelaide Darwin and Hobart seems to have been excised from Australia for inexplicable reasons).

 

[drron]

But surely some and possibly the majority were able to receive an SMS. Surely with 350+ people in the airport someone would have spread the word. Were those complaining asking others if they had any information?
And how else But email and SMS would QF had contacted passengers? The only QF employees on the ground were the crew and I imagine they were being questioned by QF on what had happened.

 

[antycbr]

I note that there is an Airservices agreement between Azerbaijan and Australia penned in 2017: (Adelaide Darwin and Hobart seems to have been excised from Australia for inexplicable reasons).

View attachment 312940

OT: Australia offers other countries unlimited capacity to regional ports aside from SYD/MEL/BNE/PER for the purposes of bilaterals. Only the four main international gateways count for this purpose.

 

[Quickstatus]

Yes I know but thx

 

[Quickstatus]

possibly the majority were able to receive an SMS.

A reasonable passenger would be checking their phones regularly during this period. I can’t imagine anyone who won’t have any connectivity. QF used multiple modes of communication. Not sure what else could have been done.

Though I agree that sending a message or communiquè does not automatically mean it was received.

As I understand no one got left behind due to miscommunication and everyone was picked up by QF1D.

 

[RooFlyer]

But surely some and possibly the majority were able to receive an SMS. Surely with 350+ people in the airport someone would have spread the word. Were those complaining asking others if they had any information?
And how else But email and SMS would QF had contacted passengers? The only QF employees on the ground were the crew and I imagine they were being questioned by QF on what had happened.

All good until they went to their hotels, probably multiple, across the city. At the hotel point, messages under the door would 'almost' guarantee receipt. In fact, there WAS a 'hard copy' letter delivered later in the peace (according to the Qantas time-line), so maybe Qantas recognised the limitations of electronic communications.

Now, I'm not saying that SMS etc wasn't a reasonable way to go, at least initially, but Qantas quoting a time line of messages sent out, mostly electronically, is not the end-of-story as to effective communication. But like said upthread, everyone got on board the new flight, so all good

 

[ayebee]

I wonder if pax were given their luggage during the short stop in Baku?
If so I’d have been working out how to get my golf sticks and I to Dreamland golf club (walk outside and find a taxi) just south of the airport! Free stopover!

Was wondering that myself.
I did read somewhere (was it on this thread??) that initially the plane was not unloaded as the local staff did not have necessary training. OK seemed reasonable, but then also read the luggage was transferred to the rescue plane for the flight to LHR.
That made me wonder if some staff with necessary qualifications came from Sydney or London to handle it.
Also, as the luggage was "transferred" to the new plane I assume it did not get to the passengers and re-checked.

 

[antycbr]

All good until they went to their hotels, probably multiple, across the city. At the hotel point, messages under the door would 'almost' guarantee receipt. In fact, there WAS a 'hard copy' letter delivered later in the peace (according to the Qantas time-line), so maybe Qantas recognised the limitations of electronic communications.

Now, I'm not saying that SMS etc wasn't a reasonable way to go, at least initially, but Qantas quoting a time line of messages sent out, mostly electronically, is not the end-of-story as to effective communication. But like said upthread, everyone got on board the new flight, so all good

Pretty sure some pax would be in for a shock as Azerbaijan wouldn’t be included in most carriers day pass schemes.

 

[transpactraveller]

Pretty sure some pax would be in for a shock as Azerbaijan wouldn’t be included in most carriers day pass schemes.

Yeah I was just looking at mine with Optus and it's a Zone 5 country, so I wouldn't want to enable roaming there!

 

[Lynda2475]

Enabling telephony roaming costs nothing, receiving sms (text messages) uses telephone network not data so is free no matter which country you are in (only costs if you send/reply).. Data roaming is different, although not needed if you connect to wifi to check that email.

I wonder if those who claim not to receive messages actually had correct contact detils in their APIS and on their FF profiles. Even if you prefer not to use your device overseas usually, common-sense would be to check your messages in this type of event.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Also, as the luggage was "transferred" to the new plane I assume it did not get to the passengers and re-checked.

I pack hand carry that will be good for three days - about right in this case

 

[Quickstatus]

Pretty sure some pax would be in for a shock as Azerbaijan wouldn’t be included in most carriers day pass schemes.

Not included in a day pass - Telstra

Azerbaijan:
Zone 7 roaming calls are $4.50/min
Receiving SMS free
Sending SMS $0.75

Not a biggie for a couple of days. Just turn off mobile data when roaming.

Prepaid plans do not have international roaming.

Baku airport has free wifi.
Marriott will have free wifi

Anyone not wanting to turn on their post paid phone while stuck in Baku is really cutting their nose to spite their face.

 

[Lynda2475]

Receiving SMS free

All that is needed, no one is going to read/respond to replies to these sms, they are intended to be 1 way.

 

[Quickstatus]

Also, as the luggage was "transferred" to the new plane I assume it did not get to the passengers and re-checked.

Possibly but I have not found any comments in the media of complaints re inaccessible luggage including that chestnut “my medicine/insulin is in the checked luggage”

 

[SYD]

All that is needed, no one is going to read/respond to replies to these sms, they are intended to be 1 way.

OT, but you also hear of peeps on these forums complaining about not being able to access this or that OS because of 2FA. Turn in your phone! It’s free to receive an SMS.

I saw first hand once someone so concerned about ”bill shock” OS, they took their SIM card out and left it at home…! No one could call, let alone text for 6 weeks…

 

[transpactraveller]

OT, but you also hear of peeps on these forums complaining about not being able to access this or that OS because of 2FA. Turn in your phone! It’s free to receive an SMS.

I saw first hand once someone so concerned about ”bill shock” OS, they took their SIM card out and left it at home…! No one could call, let alone text for 6 weeks…

One of my work colleagues took his wife and kids SIM cards out of their phones for a holiday because they apparently couldn't be trusted to resist the urge to turn on data roaming to check social media!