The dreaded happened... I became one of those "urgently paging failed to board passengers"

[jpp42]

Can't believe I ended up in this situation. Flying JQ536 last night (18 Dec) from MEL-SYD with my partner, arrived plenty early and proceeded to QF lounge in T1. About 3 hours before the flight I had looked up the status on the Melbourne airport web site (which I've always found to be accurate, I use this as I like to see what else is departing around the same time), and departure was shown as delayed from 20:55 to 21:25. Looked to be tight to make SYD curfew, but still doable. Kept tabs on this via JQ app as well, and boarding time in the app was accordingly shown as 21:00 for the 21:25 estimated departure. We left the lounge at around 20:30 to make our way to T4, no wait at security, found the flight marked as "Gate Closed" on the departure board which was odd but not concerning. Reached the gate lounge area at 20:50, after the schlep down the T4 concourse, still 10 minutes before we expected boarding to start... only to find the gate agent making that dreaded announcement! Fortunately we were allowed on, with our own escort across the tarmac, and had to do the walk of shame to our seats, which of course the aisle seat had already been opportunistically occupied by another passenger. Happy that at least we only had small bags and didn't need to cause a fuss with overhead space. At least we were still technically at the gate and on the plane before the originally scheduled departure time.

Of course, it's totally understandable that JQ wanted to depart this flight as early as they could with the SYD curfew looming, but very strange that this delay was posted in the JQ app and then apparently rescinded a bit later. My one consolation is that we weren't the only person - another woman was also using the Jetstar app and was just as late as we were, thinking boarding was at 21:00. (I asked the flight attendant if they had been running late on the previous flight and she said no - they were on time into Melbourne and didn't know why there was a delay posted.)

Lesson learned - Jetstar can actually "make up time" and claw back time from projected delays... yes we got 30 minutes extra of lounge time but it wasn't really worth it for the embarrassment and stress of this situation!

 

[Sprucegoose]

Lesson learned - Jetstar can actually "make up time" and claw back time from projected delays... yes we got 30 minutes extra of lounge time but it wasn't really worth it for the embarrassment and stress of this situation!

I would say you were right to rely on the information in the public domain, and at least JQ did act appropriately and boarded you..

There was a time I only boarded following an urgent announcement; like you said it's too stressful, so best avoided.

See the 'walk of shame' as a personal growth opportunity!

 

[harvyk]

It's happened to the best of us. Not only did I get the PA, QF also called my mobile as I was running towards the gate.

Had a few other close calls as well. This is despite the fact I tend to be at the gate quite a few minutes early.

 

[Sprucegoose]

It's happened to the best of us. Not only did I get the PA, QF also called my mobile as I was running towards the gate.

Had a few other close calls as well. This is despite the fact I tend to be at the gate quite a few minutes early.

CX had perfected 'hunt down the missing passenger' scenario with ruthless efficiency....when they had frequent flyers!

 

[Brissy1]

Thanks for sharing, I'm always sus of any process that uses extra links in the chain than is necessary, so trust the display board most. But even then have, almost (...did the "walk of shame") been caught out when even it was wrong (wasn't in au)

 

[Sprucegoose]

Thanks for sharing, I'm always sus of any process that uses extra links in the chain than is necessary, so trust the display board most. But even then have, almost (...did the "walk of shame") been caught out when even it was wrong (wasn't in au)

The link between (ultra) frequent flyers and airlines is a fine line that says we love you but......

No difference with any tempestuous relationship ........ hug the line.......be happy

 

[RooFlyer]

Not only did I get the PA, QF also called my mobile as I was running towards the gate.

My one and only attempt to drive to the airport (HBA) and walk smoothly to the gate & board HLO nearly came undone when some roadworks delayed me. I was running by the time I reached security, where my phone rang going through the ex-ray machine. Missed call. Another 100m to the gate where the sign said 'Gate closed'. "Are you Mr RooFlyer?' "Yes - am I too late?" "We've been calling you - I think we can re-open the flight and let you aboard." They did - phew. Fortunately I was in J so I did my best DYKWIA impression

I'm always sus of any process that uses extra links in the chain than is necessary, so trust the display board most.

I agree with that reasoning, but don't trust display boards. Check Flight Aware/ FlightRadar 24 to see where plane actually is & when arrived from prior flight to estimate when boarding might reasonably start; use TripIt which often gets gate and time changes before display boards etc. TripIt seems to tap the same source as the display boards but updates quicker. There is one airport which is notorious for inaccurate display boards - forget which, but they are regarded as an approximation at best.

 

[Must...Fly!]

CX had perfected 'hunt down the missing passenger' scenario with ruthless efficiency....when they had frequent flyers!

Nice reminder of this in Vancouver a few weeks ago. CX staff briskly walking down the terminal shouting for anyone going to Hong Kong!

 

[SYD]

I had a surreal experience years ago flying SYD-CBR on AN (Kendall now Rex? operated). Flight was something like 7:30am boarding at 07:10. Collected BP from the counter and breezed through T2 security just before 7am and thought I’d pop into the AN lounge and grab a quick coffee. Before I’d walked a step. “Passenger SYD travelling to CBR please proceed immediately to Gate X your flight is ready for immediate departure”. WT…?!?

Boarded a relatively empty flight but no sign of my colleagues. Hmm. Door shut and we took off. I’m thinking, they’ve bumped me to an earlier flight? I’ll have to wait for my colleagues. They’re probably wandering where I am.

Landed in CBR and my colleagues where there waiting for me! WT…?

To this day, I don’t know what or how that all happened…

 

[drron]

Yes CX were wonderful. On either the Circle Asia fare or more recently the BA Asia fare we would fly CX either NRT or KIX to BKK via HKG. There was a 45 or 55 minute transfer at HKG.
Neither us or our bags missed a connection. Once when our incoming flight was 20 minutes late we didn’t think we had a chance. But let off the plane first, ran with the CX agent to a transfer station where there was no one else and fortunately the next gate was opposite to where we emerged from the transfer. And the bags made it as well.

 

[Ade]

I had a surreal experience years ago flying SYD-CBR on AN (Kendall now Rex? operated). Flight was something like 7:30am boarding at 07:10. Collected BP from the counter and breezed through T2 security just before 7am and thought I’d pop into the AN lounge and grab a quick coffee. Before I’d walked a step. “Passenger SYD travelling to CBR please proceed immediately to Gate X your flight is ready for immediate departure”. WT…?!?

Boarded a relatively empty flight but no sign of my colleagues. Hmm. Door shut and we took off. I’m thinking, they’ve bumped me to an earlier flight? I’ll have to wait for my colleagues. They’re probably wandering where I am.

Landed in CBR and my colleagues where there waiting for me! WT…?

To this day, I don’t know what or how that all happened…

A possible time travel scenario where your colleagues went back to catch an earlier flight and you were on the right flight .. they landed before you did and you landed as planned? Orrrrrrr one might have had a crazy previous night and did not recollect what happened?

 

[jpp42]

Yes CX were wonderful. On either the Circle Asia fare or more recently the BA Asia fare we would fly CX either NRT or KIX to BKK via HKG. There was a 45 or 55 minute transfer at HKG.

I had a similar situation with a CX transfer ex-India to connecting to SYD. The flight from India was a bit late, and I was met at the gate by an agent who personally escorted me to the next flight, including going through transfer security, riding the train to the other part of the terminal, etc. There was plenty of time as it turned out, but the fact that they offered this service was great. I was only flying economy (but OWE... and CX always treated OWE's well).

 

[JohnK]

I've had this more times than I care to remember.

I really hate waiting at the gate. And waiting, and waiting.

 

[RooFlyer]

I've had this more times than I care to remember.

I really hate waiting at the gate. And waiting, and waiting.

Ah!, that’s the solution! Make everyone else wait.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Flight Aware/ FlightRadar 24

Agree FA/FR are my usual first port of call. I always enquire at check-in (prefer people) and see what has been going on for the day.....

Sometimes you have to be Clouseau.....

 

[RooFlyer]

Sometomes you have to be Clouseau.....

Or not. No plane at the gate ... in fact on FR24 the plane an hour away, when boards say "go to gate" is a dead give away!!

 

[Sprucegoose]

Or not. No plane at the gate ... in fact on FR24 the plane an hour away, when boards say "go to gate" is a dead give away!!

Indeed ...or even passing the gate and noticing the crew walking away due to a roster or hours stuff - or a hunt for a missing pilot. are decent pointers as to how your day/night will go.

 

[blackcat20]

My one and only attempt to drive to the airport (HBA) and walk smoothly to the gate & board HLO nearly came undone when some roadworks delayed me. I was running by the time I reached security, where my phone rang going through the ex-ray machine. Missed call. Another 100m to the gate where the sign said 'Gate closed'. "Are you Mr RooFlyer?' "Yes - am I too late?" "We've been calling you - I think we can re-open the flight and let you aboard." They did - phew. Fortunately I was in J so I did my best DYKWIA impression




I agree with that reasoning, but don't trust display boards. Check Flight Aware/ FlightRadar 24 to see where plane actually is & when arrived from prior flight to estimate when boarding might reasonably start; use TripIt which often gets gate and time changes before display boards etc. TripIt seems to tap the same source as the display boards but updates quicker. There is one airport which is notorious for inaccurate display boards - forget which, but they are regarded as an approximation at best.

Our recent QF flight to CHC was delayed, but the display boards were not updated, not a single announcement was made, and TripIt didn't become aware of the delay until we were onboard and ready to depart

 

[RooFlyer]

Our recent QF flight to CHC was delayed, but the display boards were not updated, not a single announcement was made, and TripIt didn't become aware of the delay until we were onboard and ready to depart

Wonder if an airline can have a flight delayed, but not tell anyone, except pax when its ready to go, so as not to be counted as a delayed flight in the stats ...

 

[serfty]

Wonder if an airline can have a flight delayed, but not tell anyone, except pax when its ready to go, so as not to be counted as a delayed flight in the stats ...

Not sure about the latter, but definitely have experienced the former several times.

Once I would have missed a flight at MIA if I had relied on Tripit/Flightstats. AA terminal, scheduled gate 2 or something at the far East but showing on those as running over two hours late. I kept my "ear to the ground" and in the end when tripit notified me my flight had "Pulled In(sic)" I was already sitting in my seat after having boarded at gate 45, over half a mile away.

I dontuse flightstats as much these days, as it has removed most of its more useful features.