QF9 / 10 retiming in November 2014

[Virgin Bart]

Well it is giving notice, even if it's non-specific.

But it allows for absolutely no advanced planning.

 

[mannej]

But it allows for absolutely no advanced planning.

Of course it doesn't.

 

[Melburnian1]

Has anyone recently specifically contacted QF by telephone or email to register a complaint that you have a booking but still do not know the specific changed timetable?

Did you receive a substantive response?

Perhaps an even better method is to wriite (not merely send an email) to QF at its head office in Coward Street, Mascot 2020 (although it probably has a PO Box). Letters tend to at least be given a glance or two because it takes extra effort to print, pop in an envelope and purchase a 70 cent stamp.

 

[anna2103]

maybe we could organise a petition!! would add their intentions re HGK ( and whether the rumour to downgrade to A330 is true, thus removing F class is true) Red Roo - will this have any effect?

 

[tridentina]

Has anyone recently specifically contacted QF by telephone or email to register a complaint that you have a booking but still do not know the specific changed timetable?

Did you receive a substantive response?

Perhaps an even better method is to wriite (not merely send an email) to QF at its head office in Coward Street, Mascot 2020 (although it probably has a PO Box). Letters tend to at least be given a glance or two because it takes extra effort to print, pop in an envelope and purchase a 70 cent stamp.

I am flying out with my family on 23 December with Qantas first-classreturn from Melbourne to London. Like many others I cannot make any onward plans.

I have telephoned Qantas numerous times since March and 95% of the staffhave no idea that Qantas actually made an announcement that flights from Melbourneto London return were going to be retimed from November.

I e-mailed Qantas "customer help" on 30 March andsaid in my initial e-mail "I refer to the two booking references that Ihave with Qantas xx_xx_ and xx_xx_ flying from Melbourne to London on23 December 2014 and returning from London to Melbourne on 23 January 2015.Qantas announced over a month ago that they are retiming these flights. Forpeople like myself with families and many others that have already booked ourflights we are paralysed by Qantas in making any onward bookings because ofyour failure to release the new timings. I cannot begin to tell you howoutrageous and arrogant I find Qantas. As you can see from my booking I'm goingto Europe for Christmas. The extraordinary thing about this is that when I havetelephoned to enquire about the pending changes no one has any idea what I'mtalking about let alone knowing that there was actually a media release from Qantasat the end of February about these flights being retimed. Any loyalty I had toQantas fast evaporated over the last month. Qantas you treat frequent-fliermembers and the travelling public with absolute contempt. Please release theretimed schedules for our flights so that we can make the appropriatearrangements so that we can get to our destinations in Europe on time forChristmas day."

Qantas replied on 1 May

"Dear xx_xx_X, Thank you for taking the time to write to us.Operating a worldwide timetable means that despite our best planning, we areoccasionally forced to change our schedules for a variety of reasons, mostlyoperational, a situation encountered by all airlines. As a change to schedule forms part of ourconditions of carriage to which passengers are bound at the time of ticketpurchase, we are unable to guarantee this will not occur on any reservation.

These changes certainly challenge our planning and we know they can bevery disruptive to our customers, so we commit to informing our customers assoon as we are aware of any impending change.

If you require further assistance please contact Qantas Telephone Saleson 131313 in Australia, or your local Qantas office.

Regards

Allison

The Qantas Team

 

[Mattg]

I am flying out with my family on 23 December with Qantas first-classreturn from Melbourne to London. Like many others I cannot make any onward plans.

I have telephoned Qantas numerous times since March and 95% of the staffhave no idea that Qantas actually made an announcement that flights from Melbourneto London return were going to be retimed from November.

I e-mailed Qantas "customer help" on 30 March andsaid in my initial e-mail "I refer to the two booking references that Ihave with Qantas xx_xx_ and xx_xx_ flying from Melbourne to London on23 December 2014 and returning from London to Melbourne on 23 January 2015.Qantas announced over a month ago that they are retiming these flights. Forpeople like myself with families and many others that have already booked ourflights we are paralysed by Qantas in making any onward bookings because ofyour failure to release the new timings. I cannot begin to tell you howoutrageous and arrogant I find Qantas. As you can see from my booking I'm goingto Europe for Christmas. The extraordinary thing about this is that when I havetelephoned to enquire about the pending changes no one has any idea what I'mtalking about let alone knowing that there was actually a media release from Qantasat the end of February about these flights being retimed. Any loyalty I had toQantas fast evaporated over the last month. Qantas you treat frequent-fliermembers and the travelling public with absolute contempt. Please release theretimed schedules for our flights so that we can make the appropriatearrangements so that we can get to our destinations in Europe on time forChristmas day."

Qantas replied on 1 May

"Dear xx_xx_X, Thank you for taking the time to write to us.Operating a worldwide timetable means that despite our best planning, we areoccasionally forced to change our schedules for a variety of reasons, mostlyoperational, a situation encountered by all airlines. As a change to schedule forms part of ourconditions of carriage to which passengers are bound at the time of ticketpurchase, we are unable to guarantee this will not occur on any reservation.

These changes certainly challenge our planning and we know they can bevery disruptive to our customers, so we commit to informing our customers assoon as we are aware of any impending change.

If you require further assistance please contact Qantas Telephone Saleson 131313 in Australia, or your local Qantas office.

Regards

Allison

The Qantas Team

Wow, I find that response frankly pathetic and it doesn't even address your question.

I would say that your best bet would be to make plans (if you have to) based on the flight times I posted a few weeks ago. I am 95% sure that these will be the new flight times (give or take a few hours) but if I am wrong, hopefully Qantas will look after you (especially if you're flying first) as the change is involuntary.

(And if I am wrong, please don't shoot me! Haha)

 

[dajop]

I am sure as soon as QF have the operational plans and slots tied town they will load them into the system and notify affected people. Remember the flights include two of the worlds busier airports, and I imagine getting the right slots at LHR and DXB is probably not just a simple exercise ... nowhere as easy as getting slots for example for a flight between ADL and HBA ..... Perhaps QF's mistake was prematurely announce this in the first place.

 

[Himeno]

Getting the slots needed at DXB should be fairly easy (quite telling that QF was able to get slots for all flights when the runways are under repair when every other airline has had to cut back flights).
The biggest issue might be trying to get BA to return one of the leased slot pairs.

One thing I've been wondering is if an 'arrival' slot has to remain an 'arrival' slot. eg, could they use the old QF29 or QF31 arrival slot as a QF10 departure slot.

 

[Melburnian1]

tridentina, please continue to update us so we can all see when QF formally advises you - and how.

 

[Isochronous]

maybe we could organise a petition!! would add their intentions re HGK ( and whether the rumour to downgrade to A330 is true, thus removing F class is true) Red Roo - will this have any effect?

Where is this silly rumour about QF cutting A380/744 services on SYD-HKG from? The A380 is consistently getting high loads, and I am sick of people giving second-rate product to Asian QF routes behind US and ME/EU operations. If they do it might as well be the final straw that sees me switch to BAEC.

 

[pm3207]

Two months now since the announcement and still no schedule update! Not a well handled change from the customer perspective.

 

[anna2103]

On plat line today - asked agent, put on hold for 10 mins (interesting??) told announcement in a month, don't bet on lunchtime departure from LHR.

Cannot vouch for accuracy but at least it was something

 

[JessicaTam]

On plat line today - asked agent, put on hold for 10 mins (interesting??) told announcement in a month, don't bet on lunchtime departure from LHR.

Cannot vouch for accuracy but at least it was something

And better than we have had so far.

 

[docjames]

On plat line today - asked agent, put on hold for 10 mins (interesting??) told announcement in a month, don't bet on lunchtime departure from LHR.

Cannot vouch for accuracy but at least it was something

So what should we bet on then?

 

[markis10]

So what should we bet on then?

Maybe an announcement that they could not get suitable slots so it will terminate in DXB and they will sell the slots to help with the cost reductions.

 

[pm3207]

Maybe an announcement that they could not get suitable slots so it will terminate in DXB and they will sell the slots to help with the cost reductions.

Unfortunately, I think you might be right. Something odd is going on and I suspect it's not positive...

 

[docjames]

Still bookable at old timings out to April 2015.

 

[docjames]

Maybe an announcement that they could not get suitable slots so it will terminate in DXB and they will sell the slots to help with the cost reductions.

Sell or lease?

I'd have thought lease would be better long term option?

 

[markis10]

Still bookable at old timings out to April 2015.

So was FRA when the killed it .

 

[markis10]

Sell or lease?

I'd have thought lease would be better long term option?

They have already leased some, and a lease does not have the balance sheet bonus a sale does.