Was this a case of WP Treatment? (QFLink delayed flight into QFLink Connection SYD)

beardoc · May 25, 2013

I had a fantastic experience on Friday on QANTASLink (Eastern Australian Airlines) - was flying TMW-SYD-GLT (on the direct SYD-GLT flight run by Eastern). TMW-SYD (QF2005 scheduled 13:40-14:35) was delayed by an over an hour and then was kept on the tarmac at Sydney without a gate assigned, such that I arrived at the SYD T2 entry baggage claim area at 15:50, which is the departure time of SYD-GLT (QF2128, 15:50-18:15).

Amazingly, as I was getting off the plane, there was a QANTASLink agent calling me out by name - she then escorted me through the crew security on the arrivals level, reopened the departure gate to let me on, and I found that they had held the plane for me beyond the departure time - according to my friends I met on board, boarding had completed 10 minutes earlier. We departed around 4pm. Which is good as I noticed that at that time, I would not have been able to make Gladstone that night any other way - any other routing would have failed MCTs in Brisbane.

I'm going to write to QFF and thank them for doing what they did.

I'm just wondering now whether this was a case of them doing this because I am WP or whether QFLink have a tendency to do this for any passenger when things are running late. Did I get the WP treatment yesterday? If they wouldn't do this for anyone and only did it because I was WP, then that alone is reason enough to maintain WP for me.

(PS: Bags didn't make it but since I'm here, I don't mind that!)

lukaboy · May 25, 2013

Re: Was this a case of WP Treatment? (QFLink delayed flight into QFLink Connection S

I had a similar experience last month travelling tsv-cns-mel with the tsv-cns leg being on qantaslink. Delayed over an hour out of tsv due to storms and late arrival of incoming a/c. My arrival time was estimated to be after scheduled departure of the cns-mel flight, however we made good time and landed right on departure time for the next flight, other passengers were held on the a/c while I was whisked off, onto a buggy, my bags found and driven across the Tarmac to the stairs for the b738. My boarding pass taken by ground staff I was in my seat all within 10 minutes of landing. Great service! But to answer your question I'm not sure if this only happened to me as a WP. We also made it into Mel before schedule.

JohnK · May 25, 2013

Re: Was this a case of WP Treatment? (QFLink delayed flight into QFLink Connection S

I have been on aircraft where we waited after boarding completed (one time it was ~30 minutes ) for connecting passengers.

I think Qantas has a policy to wait for any connecting passengers where the delay is not going to be significant.

jimmyk · May 25, 2013

Re: Was this a case of WP Treatment? (QFLink delayed flight into QFLink Connection S

Had this happen to me too when flying from BNE to CBR via SYD. Flight was late getting into Sydney and they said that people on connecting flights go to such and such gates for their respective flights. Connecting flights were to CBR, PER and somewhere else. No special treatment and no status at the time.

QFflyermelbourne · May 26, 2013

Re: Was this a case of WP Treatment? (QFLink delayed flight into QFLink Connection S

In my experience they try and hold the departing aircraft if there are connecting passengers who will be stuck without a connection that day otherwise. It happened to me the other night on the final BNE-MEL for the day where they kept us for around 15 mins at the gate to wait for a late arriving CNS-BNE flight which had about 10 folks continuing to Melbourne who I guess Qantas would have otherwise been forking out for hotels on. In most cases there is enough meat in the schedule for the pilot to floor it and make up the time by arrival anyway.

chrisb · May 26, 2013

Re: Was this a case of WP Treatment? (QFLink delayed flight into QFLink Connection S

A few years back QF delayed SYD-CHC for 45mins due to late inbound PER-SYD. Granted, there were 45 people connecting onto that 737 from PER so it would have left fairly light if it didn't wait. It's also the only flight of the day.

I also had QF close the door behind me on a HKG-PER after a late connection but I don't recall how late we were (I was in too much of a hurry to care). Although I was looking forward to a free overnight in HK when i noticed we were delayed.

harvyk · May 26, 2013

Re: Was this a case of WP Treatment? (QFLink delayed flight into QFLink Connection S

That's just standard treatment when the booking is on one PNR.

I've had it before on a PER-xSYD- CBR they held my cbr flight, the mrs has had it for an AirNZ to UA flight in SFO-LAX complete with escort through customs and security and it was the first time she'd flow either of those airlines and she was in Y.

Pushka · May 26, 2013

Re: Was this a case of WP Treatment? (QFLink delayed flight into QFLink Connection S

This has happened with us too. Same PNR and no later flight that day. We've also waited for other flights to connect with us. Many times.

Red Roo · May 27, 2013