Volcanic Ash flight disruptions June 2011

[pauly7]

Yes, and I think it would definitely be an opportunity for a Qantas bashing, so I think that's why they've taken the most conservative approach.

Many have said VA made a commercial decision to keep flying, rather than a safety decision, but ultimately I think with their reputation playing a big part in QF's decision, their's is therefore just as much a commercial decision not to fly. After all, an incident would have irrepairable damage to their brand and bottom line.

It's very interesting from a marketing POV, we discussed it at an industry function tonight....

The general perception is that VA are taking a calculated risk flying.

QF Group are playing it very safe.

TT are probably losing less money grounded than in the air


In a few months when this has blown over (no pun) what will consumers/general public remember....: QF didn't take any chances, VA took a considered punt.

Not a great look for VA. At all.

Doesn't matter what the facts are. Will be interesting to watch...

PS ABC24 just aired a rumour that VA need the cashflow.... That's something VA PR need to stomp on pretty quickly!

 

[Nigelinoz]

In a few months when this has blown over (no pun) what will consumers/general public remember....: QF didn't take any chances, VA took a considered punt.

You may be right but from conversations I have had over the last few days there is as much chance that some
people will remember that QF left them stranded while VA got them from A to B.
That is especially the case for one of my relatives who had to get from HBA to MEL for chemo,no chance with
QF but no problem with VA.
VA took a commercial decision based on the best advice it had access to,QF did the same but took a play it safe approach,to be honest
I'm not going to criticise either airline but some people have longer memories.
Cheers
N'oz

 

[markis10]

In a few months when this has blown over (no pun) what will consumers/general public remember....: QF didn't take any chances, VA took a considered punt.

Unless you were a customer of either airline flying to/from one of the affected cities, in which case your perception will be very much different I suspect.

Neither DJ or QF flew into an area of dust as forecast by VAAC AFAIK and I had quite a few hours to watch activity in MEL airspace Monday night, so I am still not sure what calculated risk they took, while I personally saw a JQ flight do so as it maintained a normal climb profile while the preceding DJ plane flew at FL200, obviously the JQ crew had access to updated VAAC info that the DJ crew and myself did not .

 

[pauly7]

Unless you were a customer of either airline flying to/from one of the affected cities, in which case your perception will be very much different I suspect.

Neither DJ or QF flew into an area of dust as forecast by VAAC AFAIK and I had quite a few hours to watch activity in MEL airspace Monday night, so I am still not sure what calculated risk they took, while I personally saw a JQ flight do so as it maintained a normal climb profile while the preceding DJ plane flew at FL200, obviously the JQ crew had access to updated VAAC info that the DJ crew and myself did not .

Like I said doesn't matter about the facts, it's all about perception and how thoughts are formed.

All your info is interesting to me though

 

[kamchatsky]

I will fly SYD-ADL return on DJ over the weekend, hopefully there will be no new ash clouds affecting my journey ...

 

[yohy?!]

If it were just DJ that was continuing to fly I think there might be 'perception' issues that they made a commercial decision - however with everey other international carrier operating flights I doubt QF are going to be vindicated in the future.

 

[pauly7]

If it were just DJ that was continuing to fly I think there might be 'perception' issues that they made a commercial decision - however with everey other international carrier operating flights I doubt QF are going to be vindicated in the future.

Again that has been scarcely reported because it ruins the story

Very interestingly there is already a brief out to a research agency to investigate this question we have been discussing.

 

[markis10]

The latest VAAC forecasts make for interesting conjecture in terms of the weekend, the cloud has got bigger and gone lower, if it moves north and east then it could be a very quiet weekend for travellers from PER to possibly SYD and all ports south!

 

[Demon62]

Correct, do NOT head to the airport for rebooking, there are limited staff that are trained in ticketing/sales and the general wait yesterday was probably over 2 hours.

Just to respond to this - the line at the airport in AKL was half an hour - the staff were exceptional in attempting to deal with each passenger in a compassionate manner well done to all the team there i really think that they resurrected in travellers minds tthat with some compassion and ingenuity, they will try to get people into the air on other airlines. The wait was considerably shorter (read more than 3 hours) less than the phone lines, with staff who don't give a flying F and who hang up when you ask questions.

On a plus side the J lounge and flight 10G was sensational, staff attentive, flight on time no issues.

Also, a big thankyou to the girls at flight centre in AKL - Shortland Street - who worked wonders getting us onto the flight.

 

[yohy?!]

Now DJ on FB are saying all trans tasman AKL flights cancelled due to ash, no word from NZ though - looks like my trip may be off.

 

[dk4]

Some back-room discussion, within the insurance industry, about whether a "Qantas clause" may need to be added to travel policies. These people are experts at managing risk, and while they wait for claims to come through, they are disturbed at the prospect of an airline cancelling flights due to "safety", when the industry in general feels it is "safe to continue flying, with some minimal routing alterations".

 

[serfty]

Now DJ on FB are saying all trans tasman AKL flights cancelled due to ash, no word from NZ though - looks like my trip may be off.

Air NZ have now cancelled some flights:

Ash - Important Information - Air New Zealand - New Zealand Site

16 June 2011, 07:30 (NZT)

The New Zealand Metservice has advised that low areas of ash down to 10,000ft continue to cover parts of the east coast of the South Island affecting flights into and out of Invercargill, Dunedin and Christchurch only. A total of eleven services were cancelled yesterday evening into and out of these airports as a result.

“Since areas of ash arrived in our airspace on Sunday, Air New Zealand has been working closely with CAA and Metservice to ensure flight paths continue to avoid areas of ash, however ash at these new low levels gives us no choice but to cancel some services this morning,” says General Manager Airline Operations and Safety and Chief Pilot Captain David Morgan.

All domestic services up until midday today are cancelled to and from:

* Invercargill
* Dunedin
* Christchurch

Trans-Tasman services from Christchurch up until midday today are on hold - this affects the following flights:

* NZ895 Christchurch-Melbourne which was due to depart at 0900
* NZ803 Christchurch-Brisbane which was due to depart at 0910

 

[yohy?!]

Air NZ have now cancelled some flights:

Ash - Important Information - Air*New*Zealand - New Zealand Site

Another update is due in 20mins, any wagers on remaining flights NZ being cancelled?

 

[pyffii]

Does anyone know if there is a site that tracks or predicts the path of the Ash Cloud for the next 7 days as we are due to fly out on QF29 next thursday..Thanks

 

[Justinf]

Does anyone know if there is a site that tracks or predicts the path of the Ash Cloud for the next 7 days as we are due to fly out on QF29 next thursday..Thanks

I have been searching for the same thing, but can't find anything.
I am due to fly QF MEL-BNE tomorrow at 6pm and being the cough-retentive that I am, I would like to keep up to date on what may or may not happen.

 

[Austman]

Unless you were a customer of either airline flying to/from one of the affected cities, in which case your perception will be very much different I suspect.

That would be me.

I originally planned to travel home on Monday 13th June, Wellington to Melbourne. Qantas cancelled Sunday then Monday, then Tuesday, then Wednesday and now even Thursday while Air New Zealand continued to fly each day.

There were quite a few people at my hotel who were in the same position. It was common discussion point in the club lounge each night. Some of us, me included, gave it a couple of days, saw that Air NZ was flying each day and then decided to buy Air NZ tickets. Qantas had advised some not to fly Air NZ due to safety concerns. But they offered no assistance other than to re-book to the next day each time. The local press thought that Air NZ was wining much passenger appreciation for their handling of the situation.

I came back yesterday on Air NZ. The flight was full and the ticket (because it was purchased the day before) was expensive.

The flight was interesting - flying at about 8,500m due west until about half way across the Tasman when we aimed to Sydney for a while. At about Wollongong we headed south to Melbourne. It was a nice flight - smooth and with what looked like crystal clear air (at 8,500m). Just after push back in Wellington the plane waited on the tarmac for a time while some fuel was burnt off - the plane was accidentally too heavy for Wellington take-off, announced the pilot.

I'll try claiming the two extra nights I had to say at my hotel, meals and the extra cost of the air ticket on my travel insurance (credit card by Zurich). I'm not sure how I'll go - the 12 page claim form has lots of parts "to be completed by the travel agent". Travel agent?? I haven't used one for years!

 

[markis10]

The various forecast models used by VAACs across the world simply do not allow for greater than a 24 hour window with any accuracy, if you have been following the forecasts you would see they change a bit even within that 24 hours.

 

[pyffii]

The media has been speculating about another dense plume in the Indian ocean and I guess I would like to know whether or not Melbourne might be impacted and if so over what time frame....And yes, I accept the point regarding inaccuracy

 

[ric_melb]

Qantas website shows all flights to and from Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney are operating as scheduled on Friday 17 June.
Let's hope so; I am on the 11am MEL/BNE flight.

 

[nlagalle]

Qantas website shows all flights to and from Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney are operating as scheduled on Friday 17 June.
Let's hope so; I am on the 11am MEL/BNE flight.

The latest QF update shows all domestic flights will operate as scheduled on Friday and Saturday..