Got stung twice with the QantasLink 717's just this past week for CBR-SYD-CBR. Noticed they seem to cram everyone on the 737 that fills in on that route. Even with WP status, still get bumped from a 717 flight to the next one a few hours later.
I concur on CBR - SYD. It's a mess. Every QF flight on that route that I've booked on recently has been cancelled. Got two more coming the next few weeks and expect they will be the same.
Just thought I might add as I live in the west. Now I work for one of the big mining companys and I don't pay for my fare, but it is full flex and very expansive.
1) Reliability. In the 10 years flying with Qantas Link there may be 10 or 12 times a flight has been delayed cancelled or returned due to a problem with the aircraft.
2) Being a full flex fare have had no problems changing to an earlier flight when I have had a chance.
3) In those years had 1 flight with Virgin and the plane faulted at the airport and another had to be flown up to get us home (yes it was a 717)
This actually made the news today... http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/flights-between-canberra-and-sydney-most-likely-to-be-cancelled-new-data-shows-20171026-gz9aak.html
Five further 717 services cancelled over the weekend in and out of Townsville, there is obviously a serious issue with these aircraft, the gradual decline of domestic priority by QF and the withdrawal of domestic capacity overall is of real concern.
You're not kidding. A month or so ago I received about 6 notices of cancellation for upcoming Albury-Sydney rtn bookings. Someone had obviously just taken to the schedule with a razor. Staff at Albury airport have since suggested it's to do with a pilot shortage? You can see it at Sydney airport - watch the gate change announcement s as aircraft are substituted and shuffled around, and roll the dice to see which service ends up cancelled that night. Is it naive to think - at least at the SYD hub - there could be a spare aircraft as a contingency?
Add me to the chorus. Sunday 29/10 was booked at 12:30 to fly OOL to SYD on QF Link in Business. Flight got cancelled and they rebooked me to JQ economy. Got a refund and went over to Virgin.
The September 2017 Domestic Airtime Ontime Performance Report is pretty telling about the issues with the Eastern arm of Qantaslink in regional NSW at the moment.
Overall Qantaslink had an average "Arrivals Ontime" of 82.7% - better than total average of 79.3%.
However, drill into some of the specific Eastern destinations and their Arrivals Ontime:
Albury - 64.0% (v REX 80.4%)
Armidale - 59.1% (v REX 82.7)
Coffs Harbour - 83.1% (v Virgin 86.7%)
Dubbo - 68.3% (v 85.8%)
Port Macquarie - 66.7% (v Virgin 66.7%)
Tamworth - 75.6% (v Virgin 78.7%)
Wagga - 83.8% (v REX 87.5%)
(Moree, Lord Howe not reported).
The cynical side of me doubts these numbers factor in the "rescheduling" of the morning flight time when the previous night flight in is late.
Only Coffs and Wagga are above average - and it's WA and QLD pulling the overall average up with some impressive numbers.
Two more QantasLink Boeing 717 services cancelled in Hobart today. A Sydney flight and a Melbourne flight. When is Qantas going to realise that the unreliability of these services will soon start driving passengers over to VA?
I would hope Qantas would offer to shift passengers onto a Virgin Australia flight in that situation. I fly out of Hobart several times a month on Qantas for work and cannot afford to spend an entire day waiting for a replacement aircraft.
Add me to the chorus. Sunday 29/10 was booked at 12:30 to fly OOL to SYD on QF Link in Business. Flight got cancelled and they rebooked me to JQ economy. Got a refund and went over to Virgin.
And the same flight again cancelled yesterday Sunday 5/11 - OOL - SYD.
flyingchris
flyingchris
Member since 05 May 2014
Total posts 8
Got stung twice with the QantasLink 717's just this past week for CBR-SYD-CBR. Noticed they seem to cram everyone on the 737 that fills in on that route. Even with WP status, still get bumped from a 717 flight to the next one a few hours later.
xtfer
xtfer
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 14 Mar 2017
Total posts 159
I concur on CBR - SYD. It's a mess. Every QF flight on that route that I've booked on recently has been cancelled. Got two more coming the next few weeks and expect they will be the same.
In 3 years of flying VA it never happened once.
ConMon
ConMon
QFF Platinum
Member since 27 Jun 2016
Total posts 4
Just thought I might add as I live in the west. Now I work for one of the big mining companys and I don't pay for my fare, but it is full flex and very expansive.
1) Reliability. In the 10 years flying with Qantas Link there may be 10 or 12 times a flight has been delayed cancelled or returned due to a problem with the aircraft.
2) Being a full flex fare have had no problems changing to an earlier flight when I have had a chance.
3) In those years had 1 flight with Virgin and the plane faulted at the airport and another had to be flown up to get us home (yes it was a 717)
Ryan K
Ryan K
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 30 May 2013
Total posts 161
And this morning's first MEL-HBA QantasLink B717 service also cancelled.
xtfer
xtfer
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 14 Mar 2017
Total posts 159
This actually made the news today... http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/flights-between-canberra-and-sydney-most-likely-to-be-cancelled-new-data-shows-20171026-gz9aak.html
GBRGB
GBRGB
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 21 Jan 2014
Total posts 295
Five further 717 services cancelled over the weekend in and out of Townsville, there is obviously a serious issue with these aircraft, the gradual decline of domestic priority by QF and the withdrawal of domestic capacity overall is of real concern.
tlukec
tlukec
Member since 13 May 2015
Total posts 1
You're not kidding. A month or so ago I received about 6 notices of cancellation for upcoming Albury-Sydney rtn bookings. Someone had obviously just taken to the schedule with a razor. Staff at Albury airport have since suggested it's to do with a pilot shortage? You can see it at Sydney airport - watch the gate change announcement s as aircraft are substituted and shuffled around, and roll the dice to see which service ends up cancelled that night. Is it naive to think - at least at the SYD hub - there could be a spare aircraft as a contingency?
simulate
simulate
Member since 15 Nov 2016
Total posts 5
Add me to the chorus. Sunday 29/10 was booked at 12:30 to fly OOL to SYD on QF Link in Business. Flight got cancelled and they rebooked me to JQ economy. Got a refund and went over to Virgin.
BT74
BT74
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 27 Oct 2017
Total posts 3
The September 2017 Domestic Airtime Ontime Performance Report is pretty telling about the issues with the Eastern arm of Qantaslink in regional NSW at the moment.
Houro
Houro
Member since 19 May 2017
Total posts 1
VAs cancellations are worse than QF on the Cbr-Syd route, running at 10%.
Ryan K
Ryan K
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 30 May 2013
Total posts 161
Two more QantasLink Boeing 717 services cancelled in Hobart today. A Sydney flight and a Melbourne flight. When is Qantas going to realise that the unreliability of these services will soon start driving passengers over to VA?
Ryan K
Ryan K
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 30 May 2013
Total posts 161
3 out of 4 Melbourne-bound QantasLink Boeing 717 services cancelled out of Hobart today. Not a good look.
turner773
turner773
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 03 Mar 2014
Total posts 26
I would hope Qantas would offer to shift passengers onto a Virgin Australia flight in that situation. I fly out of Hobart several times a month on Qantas for work and cannot afford to spend an entire day waiting for a replacement aircraft.
simulate
simulate
Member since 15 Nov 2016
Total posts 5
And the same flight again cancelled yesterday Sunday 5/11 - OOL - SYD.