Santiago to Sydney today - bit of a winge!

[Chrisd26]

Flew QF322 LAN Codeshare from Santiago to Auckland
Arrived Auckland 3.15AM - International Transfer Desk CLOSED until 4AM!!! Sheesh - do they sleep in??
Had to stand around for 45minutes waiting for it to open and listen to some loud annoying chant over PA system!

We were warned there would be delay due to strike in Sydney but why nearly 6Hrs?
Should have arrived into Sydney 7.10AM - arrived 1.00PM?? What time did strike start and end?
Other Qantas flights were leaving Auckland on time!

Luggage also decided to stay in Santiago - but that's another story!

Qantas lounge nice and empty!

 

[TonyHancock]

Flew QF322 LAN Codeshare from Santiago to Auckland
Arrived Auckland 3.15AM - International Transfer Desk CLOSED until 4AM!!! Sheesh - do they sleep in??
Had to stand around for 45minutes waiting for it to open and listen to some loud annoying chant over PA system!

Did the flight get in early to AKL? I thought it is scheduled for 4:00 AM?

 

[ozmille]

Flew QF322 LAN Codeshare from Santiago to Auckland
Arrived Auckland 3.15AM - International Transfer Desk CLOSED until 4AM!!! Sheesh - do they sleep in??
Had to stand around for 45minutes waiting for it to open and listen to some loud annoying chant over PA system!

We were warned there would be delay due to strike in Sydney but why nearly 6Hrs?
Should have arrived into Sydney 7.10AM - arrived 1.00PM?? What time did strike start and end?
Other Qantas flights were leaving Auckland on time!

Luggage also decided to stay in Santiago - but that's another story!

Qantas lounge nice and empty!

The strike started at 7 this morning but I fail to see why your flight wouldn't be able to come in...


Sent from my iPad using Aust Freq Fly app

 

[Lendav Orav]

I was on that flight too but luckily just from AKL and they called me the night before to inform so had a nice sleep in! Changing my QF connection was another story (separate booking)- was on hold with LA forever while they tried to sort it out. Eventually just rang QF direct and they did it for me, no charge and even converted a J seat into U so I could keep my upgrade.

 

[docjames]

This happens all the time when that flight gets in earlier than scheduled - you end up sitting on the ground or standing at the entry waiting to "transit". Happened to us back in 2008 so nothing new unfortunately. The flight really works against the time zone issue - departure is near midnight, and it's still a 4am arr into AKL. Push it later and it's crazy late to leave ex-SCL, and then having to factor in slot timings in SYD is another.

 

[Chrisd26]

This happens all the time when that flight gets in earlier than scheduled - you end up sitting on the ground or standing at the entry waiting to "transit". Happened to us back in 2008 so nothing new unfortunately. The flight really works against the time zone issue - departure is near midnight, and it's still a 4am arr into AKL. Push it later and it's crazy late to leave ex-SCL, and then having to factor in slot timings in SYD is another.

Re luggage issue: Delivered to home 5PM Friday after being left in Santiago Sunday night!
I was grumpy with courier as they were very late - he explained they have 30 drivers working 6AM to 3AM - 7Days to deliver 'lost' Qantas?? luggage!
He said I was lucky - latest delivery he had seen was 3 months after the flight!

Is lost luggage common? My last was more than 10years ago.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Re luggage issue: Delivered to home 5PM Friday after being left in Santiago Sunday night!
I was grumpy with courier as they were very late - he explained they have 30 drivers working 6AM to 3AM - 7Days to deliver 'lost' Qantas?? luggage!
He said I was lucky - latest delivery he had seen was 3 months after the flight!

Is lost luggage common? My last was more than 10years ago.

It is with SAA. I went through three large storerooms of it in JNB, as I refused to give up on my lost luggage.

Found some others guys bag there as well and rang him!!

As a percentage no it's not common, as a number yes it's high and it's mightily inconvenient when it happens to you!!

What happens if you have something to declare to QCIS and you're not there?

 

[milehighclub]

he explained they have 30 drivers working 6AM to 3AM - 7Days to deliver 'lost' Qantas?? luggage!

Is lost luggage common? My last was more than 10years ago.

Lost luggage is certainly not an uncommon thing.

In regards to how much lost luggage the couriers deliver from Qantas. Qantas is responsible for all luggage (if they are the last airline to handle the bag) even if the bag went missing somewhere else because of another airline. This is industry standard that the last airline to fly the passenger has to find, and return the bag at their expense regardless of who is at fault.

So while Qantas may be sending out a lot of lost bags, they may not necessarily be at fault.

Don't forget Qantas is a ground agent for a lot of other airlines that fly into Australia. They would be responsible for lost bags to be delivered and the couriers may think it is a Qantas lost bag but it could be another airline that they are sending it on behalf of.

 

[Canny man]

This can be a really tricky connection. There is an issue with the LAN crew who run the risk of exceeding their allowed work hours. This happened to me last year and we had to wait an additional 3 hours before crew was rested/replaced (I can't recall which). As this was at the end of a trip from Lima and took total travelling time from Lima to home to 37 hrs I wasn't too impressed.

According to the Flounge this delay happens regularly. I therefore always try and change plane to fly QF on the last leg.

At least the Flounge is open when you arrive at 4am and has a pretty good breakfast buffet.

 

[TonyHancock]

At least the Flounge is open when you arrive at 4am and has a pretty good breakfast buffet.

...or not if you were flying AKL-SYD on 22nd September!. The lounge dragon turned up to open the lounge at 4:12. I know it is only 12 minutes, but there was no apology or explanation to the queue of 10+ people waiting.

 

[Canny man]

...or not if you were flying AKL-SYD on 22nd September!. The lounge dragon turned up to open the lounge at 4:12. I know it is only 12 minutes, but there was no apology or explanation to the queue of 10+ people waiting.

That's shabby.
At 4am, most people in the lounge have been travelling for a long time, are out of their time zone and appreciate the chance of a shower and bit of hot food.
When it is open, however, it's one of my favourite little lounges. Comfortable, well catered, interesting wines and never too busy.