QF636 SAGA!! How do I ensure this gets looked at?

[basso]

I have to admit this paints a subtly different view on the events. From your recount, it seemed a colossal rag tag turn of events littered with poor reactivity and hopeless lack of coordination. That still doesn't make up for the lack of resolution until now, but so be it.

I hope it was a subtle enough change to let the staff out of the acid bath.

 

[Simo]

The entire situation that happened just blows my mind.

I would be annoyed if it was me travelling but if I was travelling with my family I would have been a massive PITA.

The entire taxi thing was not the crews fault as someone else would have said all organised and the crew is just the mouth piece for the operations centre.

I would guess that this flight flew at a loss due to al the extra expenses due to reuniting people and luggage.

I live over an hour from the Brisbane airport and QF left my bag behind and it had to be delivered by QF to me at home and he also had a bag for Gympie and Noosa for another paxs. Cost to QF would have been more than the tickets probably.

 

[Clivem]

Gee – The Brisbane Courier / Sunday Mail would have absolutely killed for this story if they had gotten wind of it a few weeks back when it all unfolded.

As anybody living in SE Qld (for their sins) knows the Courier / Sunday Mail was a few months ago running a relentless campaign pretty fairly targeting BNE over both the absolute ’hike to the Himalayas’ passenger pick up area debacle and the second runway saga …….Day after day, week after week, half page slabs of pages 3,5 or 7 where devoted to the onslaught ……. Surprisingly that has all gone pretty quiet of late.

One thing you can be guaranteed of is that Rachel Crowley, Corp. Relations Manager (Spin Doctor) and Julieanne Alroe BNE CEO, would of both been sweating bricks along with the Qantas spin doctors if this baby had gotten out in to the public domain a few weeks back ……..

Point is a bit of media attention on what was / and still probably is a legitimate tale of interest for not only the regular flying crowd but general public also would of gone down a treat and you may well have found yourself enjoying limo pick-up service for 12 or 24 months etc. to easy your pain …….

If you have a good story and are able to articulate it well, as clearly you are, … an e-mail to any relevant local newspapers ‘news desk’ or a call to the producer of a local talk back / new radio station can and does work minor miracles. Don’t forget the value of a bit of ‘Social Media Hammering’ can do also these days to get your story out in the public domain.

I would hazard a guess that the Courier/ Sunday Mail would still love to have to have a link to this absolute gem of a thread as it highlights so many issues in one tidy package that it’s a god send.

Robyn Ironside is the reporter who handles a lot of the transport and infrastructure stories at the Courier - Email: [email protected] I’m sure she wouldn’t mind a link to this pearler so she could pull this rabbit out of hat one day at some point.

The attitude I have to air travel is that no matter how basic a trip it is, NOTHING should surprise you – Rule one is expect and be prepared to roll with not only one, but multiple monumental stuff ups one after another, after another, no matter how well the wheels appear to be lubricate at face value. That said, I could see how the turn of events in this case could have, and would have been very disturbing to many involved. –

 

[Steady]

I have been bussed to a closed airport (DPO) in the wee hours of the night twice in the last 3years. (second time under protest as I knew what was going to unfold) We were off-loaded out at the unlit entrance road into the airport with our vehicles stuck behind a locked boom gate resulting in a $150- taxi fare home and then having to return the next day to retrieve cars.
Naively (feeling rather silly now) I didn’t submit a complaint and I honestly expect it to happen again - however having discovered AFF and reading threads like this I know what I will do if it does.

Steady

 

[BD1959]

One thing you can be guaranteed of is that Rachel Crowley, Corp. Relations Manager (Spin Doctor) and Julieanne Alroe BNE CEO, would of both been sweating bricks along with the Qantas spin doctors if this baby had gotten out in to the public domain a few weeks back ……..

I doubt very much they would even be aware that this occurred.

Regards,

BD

 

[Melburnian1]

I live about 1700 kilometres south of BNE but there seems to be some (limited) substitution of OOL in lieu of BNE by some airline passengers: perhaps those who live in the Beenleigh area south of BNE.

With the single runway at BNE causing delays at busier times to both arriving and departing flights, BNE airport management is very sensitive about such 'leakage' of passengers. OOL has lower passenger numbers than BNE, but is growing faster.

There has even been an explanation on the BNE airport website about 'delays', a sure sign that the airport management has been fielding complaints about the situation.

By the way, using social media may get to people under 40, but for many who are 50 and above, 'traditional' media such as radio talkback and newspapers (including the latter's web sites) may be a better way of getting a message out.

 

[TonyHancock]

I live about 1700 kilometres south of BNE but there seems to be some (limited) substitution of OOL in lieu of BNE by some airline passengers: perhaps those who live in the Beenleigh area south of BNE.

With the single runway at BNE causing delays at busier times to both arriving and departing flights, BNE airport management is very sensitive about such 'leakage' of passengers. OOL has lower passenger numbers than BNE, but is growing faster.

There has even been an explanation on the BNE airport website about 'delays', a sure sign that the airport management has been fielding complaints about the situation.

By the way, using social media may get to people under 40, but for many who are 50 and above, 'traditional' media such as radio talkback and newspapers (including the latter's web sites) may be a better way of getting a message out.

I think the OP was on QF636 rather than QF9.

 

[serfty]

I live about 1700 kilometres south of BNE but there seems to be some (limited) substitution of OOL in lieu of BNE by some airline passengers: perhaps those who live in the Beenleigh area south of BNE. ...

Of course there is - since QF restarted flying QF metal out of OOL late late year there has been somewhat of a price war on.

e.g. OOL/MEL is sufficiently less expensive then BNE/MEL that the Gold Coast commute can be worth it if you have the time.

 

[Melburnian1]

serfty, that's an excellent point. I was however more focused on geographical considerations rather than the cost of airline fares.

I have old timetables at home but have yet to analyse them. My gut feeling is that if we compared 1983 airline timetables to today's, we might well find that the percentage increase in flights between OOL and SYD or MEL has been far higher than BNE to either SYD or MEL. True, OOL will have started from a much lower base, but it's arguable that BNE with its constricted delay causing single runway must regard OOL (and to a far lesser extent MCY) as a major competitive threat. In turn, that would be lowering the value that banks and other capital managers put on Brisbane Airport Corporation's assets, although I am unsure as to whether that entity is highly geared.

 

[Happy Trails]

By the way, using social media may get to people under 40, but for many who are 50 and above, 'traditional' media such as radio talkback and newspapers (including the latter's web sites) may be a better way of getting a message out.

I'm old enough not to think of radio talkback as traditional.

 

[JohnPhelan]

I have old timetables at home but have yet to analyse them. My gut feeling is that if we compared 1983 airline timetables to today's, we might well find that the percentage increase in flights between OOL and SYD or MEL has been far higher than BNE to either SYD or MEL. True, OOL will have started from a much lower base, but it's arguable that BNE with its constricted delay causing single runway must regard OOL (and to a far lesser extent MCY) as a major competitive threat. In turn, that would be lowering the value that banks and other capital managers put on Brisbane Airport Corporation's assets, although I am unsure as to whether that entity is highly geared.

Oh no .............................................

 

[grussellt]

It's now 16 days since this incident (and four days siince Red Roo came to the party) but Qantas appears stultified. It's bad enough that no attempt was made to placate affected passengers immediately after the problem occurred, or within a day or so. However we're now more than two weeks on and still no word. Come on, Qantas, you can do better than this.

 

[Pushka]

It's now 16 days since this incident (and four days siince Red Roo came to the party) but Qantas appears stultified. It's bad enough that no attempt was made to placate affected passengers immediately after the problem occurred, or within a day or so. However we're now more than two weeks on and still no word. Come on, Qantas, you can do better than this.

I think the OP has already commented that he is satisfied with the outcome and due to privacy we do not know what has happened with the other passengers. I don't think there's any more to come.

 

[grussellt]

I must have missed the post on August 21. I hope other travellers also received appropriate compensation (or maybe an apology).

 

[lukenet]

First of all,

WoW.. You poor buggers..

Second,

Red Roo, What can a pax do in situations like this? Who should they call at your company when things go so wrong? Do you even have anyone to call?

I would be a whole lot more concerned about using your product if you did not have a help/support line in place that can respond 24/7?

It is very clear that the CSM was way out of her depth and was not trained to respond to such a situation. Surely there is someone else?

 

[MelUser]

A similar thing has happened to a relative before on QF - I think she got a $300 travel voucher.

As far as fuel reserves go, QF domestic carries more than required statutory minimum.

VA had a Sydney Adelaide plane that had to declare an emergency over Mildura earlier this year and the plane landed with all pax and crew in "BRACE" position - this plane was out of fuel due to being diverted back from Adelaide (fog).

 

[basso]

A similar thing has happened to a relative before on QF - I think she got a $300 travel voucher. As far as fuel reserves go, QF domestic carries more than required statutory minimum. VA had a Sydney Adelaide plane that had to declare an emergency over Mildura earlier this year and the plane landed with all pax and crew in "BRACE" position - this plane was out of fuel due to being diverted back from Adelaide (fog).

If you are implying that VA weren't carrying the statutory minimum, I'd suggest a rethink and review of the known details at this time is in order.

 

[straitman]

Pretty poor form agreed.
I have read the whole thread and may have missed it, but, this plane the laps of Beaudesert, because it had sufficient reserves of fuel, and they left it there so long that it then had to divert itself due to fuel?
Sorry but ATC need a kick in the nuts as well. QF handled events poorly, but ATC caused the issue
Bloody pathetic

Slightly OT but worth it for a point of clarity.

Saying ATC caused the issue shows a serious lack of understanding of how the aviation system works. Put simply ATC reacts to the a/c that arrive and do the best for them with what is available to them. This varies with runway availability, weather, aircraft performance and fuel reserves of the aircraft concerned. (...and a few more things) Even if they have it all perfectly sorted all that is needed is an aircraft to call an emergency or, for example, a medical emergency aircraft (air ambulance) to arrive and take priority.

Every a/c has different requirements and fuel reserves and every pilot in those a/c will react slightly different to these situations. Like everywhere else some will push their case harder than others and some will be more comfortable to hold a little longer or divert a little earlier. ATC don't just leave a/c in holding they do discuss reserves and needs with the pilots.

 

[Blackbird]

10pm at night and more than one hour holding is not acceptable.
I would suggest people visit BNE and count arrivals.
No where near world best practice on a one runway operation.
ATC must wear SOME of the responsibility.

 

[nlagalle]

10pm at night and more than one hour holding is not acceptable.
I would suggest people visit BNE and count arrivals.
No where near world best practice on a one runway operation.
ATC must wear SOME of the responsibility.

Are you qualified to make that assessment? Know any of the other circumstances that contributed to the delays etc? And please explain your "World best practice"?

Sorry but you are talking cough and with no knowledge about ATC.