Was anybody aboard the cancelled QF93 MEL-LAX on Monday night? It's reported this aircraft waited 6 hours after pushback for a take-off opportunity before being scrubbed. Apparently due to shortened runway (maintenance work), strong winds and GTW. Also being reported no food served, water only and pax kept in seats (if true then for 6 hours that's a disgrace). But there are some aspects that seem odd. Engines idling 6 hours? No consideration of return to gate and disembark until condtions improved? Allowed to pushback when adverse factors for takeoff plain to see? Would love to hear from anyone with personal knowledge.
With the main runway closed for maintenance and the plane overweight to make the leg to LAX with that nights winds, the only thing that surprises me is why they didn't hop over to Sydney or Brisbane to load up on fuel. Potentially crew hours maybe?
The rest just sounds like a media beat up as usual. As for food. if you are given short notice of a take off slot, there wouldn't be time to prep and clear the cabin. It would also mean there wouldn't be meals for the journey and again, there would be a media beat up for that. Catering can't be arranged at the drop of a hat.
Grannular raises the matter of crew hours. That is one of the weakest links in the chain of ultra-longhaul. Almost no wiggle room when things go pear-shaped. Of course MEL-LAX is just longhaul.
With the main runway closed for maintenance and the plane overweight to make the leg to LAX with that nights winds, the only thing that surprises me is why they didn't hop over to Sydney or Brisbane to load up on fuel. Potentially crew hours maybe?
The rest just sounds like a media beat up as usual. As for food. if you are given short notice of a take off slot, there wouldn't be time to prep and clear the cabin. It would also mean there wouldn't be meals for the journey and again, there would be a media beat up for that. Catering can't be arranged at the drop of a hat.
It isn't clear whether it was high winds at MEL making the shorter take-off run insufficient/unsafe or whether it was high winds forecast along the track. The latter would suggest making an immediate departure with a refuel at BNE or AKL, or NAN.
mmmhhh.... I have heard shocking stories about Qantas, but waiting 6 hours after pushback is a bit far fetched to me. If anything, surely no passengers would take this kind of crap. I am nowhere near die hard Qantas fan, but this kind of story does not make sense to me.
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QF93 another shambles?
tommygun
tommygun
Delta Air Lines - SkyMiles
Member since 16 Oct 2017
Total posts 291
Was anybody aboard the cancelled QF93 MEL-LAX on Monday night? It's reported this aircraft waited 6 hours after pushback for a take-off opportunity before being scrubbed. Apparently due to shortened runway (maintenance work), strong winds and GTW. Also being reported no food served, water only and pax kept in seats (if true then for 6 hours that's a disgrace). But there are some aspects that seem odd. Engines idling 6 hours? No consideration of return to gate and disembark until condtions improved? Allowed to pushback when adverse factors for takeoff plain to see? Would love to hear from anyone with personal knowledge.
Grannular
Grannular
Member since 31 Mar 2014
Total posts 284
With the main runway closed for maintenance and the plane overweight to make the leg to LAX with that nights winds, the only thing that surprises me is why they didn't hop over to Sydney or Brisbane to load up on fuel. Potentially crew hours maybe?
The rest just sounds like a media beat up as usual. As for food. if you are given short notice of a take off slot, there wouldn't be time to prep and clear the cabin. It would also mean there wouldn't be meals for the journey and again, there would be a media beat up for that. Catering can't be arranged at the drop of a hat.
tommygun
tommygun
Delta Air Lines - SkyMiles
Member since 16 Oct 2017
Total posts 291
Grannular raises the matter of crew hours. That is one of the weakest links in the chain of ultra-longhaul. Almost no wiggle room when things go pear-shaped. Of course MEL-LAX is just longhaul.
tommygun
tommygun
Delta Air Lines - SkyMiles
Member since 16 Oct 2017
Total posts 291
Originally Posted by Grannular
With the main runway closed for maintenance and the plane overweight to make the leg to LAX with that nights winds, the only thing that surprises me is why they didn't hop over to Sydney or Brisbane to load up on fuel. Potentially crew hours maybe?
The rest just sounds like a media beat up as usual. As for food. if you are given short notice of a take off slot, there wouldn't be time to prep and clear the cabin. It would also mean there wouldn't be meals for the journey and again, there would be a media beat up for that. Catering can't be arranged at the drop of a hat.
RedWood
RedWood
Member since 04 Sep 2019
Total posts 39
who cares about all the noise, how come they spent 6 hours! in a plane, going no where
at what point do you call it, at what point do you start treating people like customers - not cattle in a cattle truck moving from point A to B
quantumreality
quantumreality
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 16 Jan 2018
Total posts 71
mmmhhh.... I have heard shocking stories about Qantas, but waiting 6 hours after pushback is a bit far fetched to me. If anything, surely no passengers would take this kind of crap. I am nowhere near die hard Qantas fan, but this kind of story does not make sense to me.