Consolidated "United SYD/MEL Flight Delays or Cancellations" [2015]
Apr 23, 2015, 8:49 am
#46
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 363
Today 4/23...UA98 LAX MEL was switched from a 789 to a 788
There will be a loss of 12 BF seats. What do they do with the pax already booked and upgraded ? I am hoping that they will do the same for tomorrow, so I can hope for the downgrade to cancel my whole itinerary.
Apr 24, 2015, 9:59 pm
#47
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: United, Marriott, Hilton, Starwood
Posts: 27
How do DL and QF divert their flights (from LAX and DFW) and refuel promptly and then continue on to SYD?
Is it because they stop short in BNE rather than MEL?
UA seems to go to MEL. Is it because their operation there? If so, is the extra time causing them to time out in a way QF/DL do not or is it typical UA inefficiency or tighter union rules?
Is it because they stop short in BNE rather than MEL?
UA seems to go to MEL. Is it because their operation there? If so, is the extra time causing them to time out in a way QF/DL do not or is it typical UA inefficiency or tighter union rules?
Because there is no staff in BNE, it was a mess. First we had the plane sprayed with insecticides and had to wait an hour on the smelly plane for an hour before would could get clearance to deboard. The delay may have been since there was no gate for United. The United staff left immediately after the last passenger got off. Because United does not have staff in BNE there was thus no guidance on where to go or what next steps were. Passengers was gathering in the terminal and asking each other if they were in the correct spot. It took another 1/2 hour before an announcement was made that a further announcement would be made about when our flight would depart and that food vouchers would be issued later.
Passengers with their final destination of BNE were required to go to SYD to pick up their luggage and find another connecting flight back since there were no United folks to get the luggage off the plane and no way for United to get the luggage back to BNE since United doesn't fly to BNE.
There was no United staff to authorize food vouchers beyond the 20 Australian dollars received for an 11 hour delay. We had to wait in line for 45 minutes for the vouchers since the airport had one person filing out the name of each passenger by hand on the voucher and checking passports.
There was no staff to service the plane which meant that the plane was not cleaned and no food or drink was provided (except for 1/2 glass of water in Business First) on the eventual flight to SYD. There was no lounge access due to overcrowding.
However, Business First passengers were provided a $200 voucher which more than made up for the inconvenience. LOL
Apr 24, 2015, 10:21 pm
#48
Join Date: May 2001
Location: RNO, NV, USA.
Programs: UA 2MM
Posts: 5,063
My SYD flight was diverted to BNE. I asked why didn't they divert to MEL since United has staff in MEL.
Because there is no staff in BNE, it was a mess. First we had the plane sprayed with insecticides and had to wait an hour on the smelly plane for an hour before would could get clearance to deboard. The delay may have been since there was no gate for United. The United staff left immediately after the last passenger got off. Because United does not have staff in BNE there was thus no guidance on where to go or what next steps were. Passengers was gathering in the terminal and asking each other if they were in the correct spot. It took another 1/2 hour before an announcement was made that a further announcement would be made about when our flight would depart and that food vouchers would be issued later.
Passengers with their final destination of BNE were required to go to SYD to pick up their luggage and find another connecting flight back since there were no United folks to get the luggage off the plane and no way for United to get the luggage back to BNE since United doesn't fly to BNE.
There was no United staff to authorize food vouchers beyond the 20 Australian dollars received for an 11 hour delay. We had to wait in line for 45 minutes for the vouchers since the airport had one person filing out the name of each passenger by hand on the voucher and checking passports.
There was no staff to service the plane which meant that the plane was not cleaned and no food or drink was provided (except for 1/2 glass of water in Business First) on the eventual flight to SYD. There was no lounge access due to overcrowding.
However, Business First passengers were provided a $200 voucher which more than made up for the inconvenience. LOL
Because there is no staff in BNE, it was a mess. First we had the plane sprayed with insecticides and had to wait an hour on the smelly plane for an hour before would could get clearance to deboard. The delay may have been since there was no gate for United. The United staff left immediately after the last passenger got off. Because United does not have staff in BNE there was thus no guidance on where to go or what next steps were. Passengers was gathering in the terminal and asking each other if they were in the correct spot. It took another 1/2 hour before an announcement was made that a further announcement would be made about when our flight would depart and that food vouchers would be issued later.
Passengers with their final destination of BNE were required to go to SYD to pick up their luggage and find another connecting flight back since there were no United folks to get the luggage off the plane and no way for United to get the luggage back to BNE since United doesn't fly to BNE.
There was no United staff to authorize food vouchers beyond the 20 Australian dollars received for an 11 hour delay. We had to wait in line for 45 minutes for the vouchers since the airport had one person filing out the name of each passenger by hand on the voucher and checking passports.
There was no staff to service the plane which meant that the plane was not cleaned and no food or drink was provided (except for 1/2 glass of water in Business First) on the eventual flight to SYD. There was no lounge access due to overcrowding.
However, Business First passengers were provided a $200 voucher which more than made up for the inconvenience. LOL
Apr 24, 2015, 11:58 pm
#49
Join Date: Mar 2012
Programs: Mileage Plus 1K; Marriott Platinum; Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,355
Apr 25, 2015, 3:19 am
#50
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: SYD
Programs: QF WP/LTG | UA P
Posts: 13,530
This vindicates my decision to fly AC YVR-SYD instead of UA (I don't care about the extra distance). Their 77L can at least stay in the air longer and seems a far more reliable way to go. Now, I expect I'll be proved very wrong in the next couple of months and wish I never said this!
Apr 27, 2015, 6:33 am
#51
Join Date: Jul 2008
Programs: QF, VN, SQ, SPG, IHG PG
Posts: 453
Wouldn't it be interesting to see UA divert to CNS instead - a current UA destination
Apr 27, 2015, 11:17 am
#52
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Houston
Programs: UA GS 2.6MM & Lifetime UC, Qantas Platinum, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Bonvoy Platinum, HawaiianMiles
Posts: 8,699
Apr 27, 2015, 4:22 pm
#53
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,904
Am I nuts or is this possible?
Does anyone think this is possible?
On the day I'm due to take UA840 it arrives at 6:35am I assume in TBIT.
-I will have checked bags and have Global Entry though my 11 year old doesn't. I figure we could use the entry kiosks though and the bags wouldn't come much quicker.
-We are connecting on a separate ticket to AA at 7:45am on a separate ticket. This short connection is due to a schedule change and UA not having award availability on the domestic segment.
-Will UA tag the bag at SYD to include the separate AA segment LAX-DCA? That would be nice so I could drop it at the recheck at TBIT after customs and not have to worry about the AA bag cutoff.
-I have PreCheck and would check in prior to departure from SYD the AA LAX-DCA flight. My 11 year old could use the PreCheck line with me.
Sometimes I've noticed UA arrives from SYD early though you can't count on it. Is there any chance this is even remotely possible if the full 1 hour 10 minutes is there? I guess it all depends too if UA will tag the bag to include the AA segment and recheck at TBIT is open at 6:35am.
I thought maybe something like this.
6:35am at gate / off aircraft
6:50am through immigration
7:00am get bags
7:10am recheck
7:15am arrive from TBIT to T4 walk
7:20am clear T4 precheck and then run to gate
On the day I'm due to take UA840 it arrives at 6:35am I assume in TBIT.
-I will have checked bags and have Global Entry though my 11 year old doesn't. I figure we could use the entry kiosks though and the bags wouldn't come much quicker.
-We are connecting on a separate ticket to AA at 7:45am on a separate ticket. This short connection is due to a schedule change and UA not having award availability on the domestic segment.
-Will UA tag the bag at SYD to include the separate AA segment LAX-DCA? That would be nice so I could drop it at the recheck at TBIT after customs and not have to worry about the AA bag cutoff.
-I have PreCheck and would check in prior to departure from SYD the AA LAX-DCA flight. My 11 year old could use the PreCheck line with me.
Sometimes I've noticed UA arrives from SYD early though you can't count on it. Is there any chance this is even remotely possible if the full 1 hour 10 minutes is there? I guess it all depends too if UA will tag the bag to include the AA segment and recheck at TBIT is open at 6:35am.
I thought maybe something like this.
6:35am at gate / off aircraft
6:50am through immigration
7:00am get bags
7:10am recheck
7:15am arrive from TBIT to T4 walk
7:20am clear T4 precheck and then run to gate
Apr 27, 2015, 4:31 pm
#54
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NYC (Primarily EWR)
Programs: UA 1K / *G, Marriott Bonvoy Gold; Avis PC
Posts: 9,005
Probably better for the interlining thread, but from what I've been informed by others here on FT, UA will not interline bags between non-partners (even if you call the Premier hotline and they say they do) if they're on a separate ticket.
Apr 27, 2015, 5:02 pm
#55
Join Date: Mar 2012
Programs: Mileage Plus 1K; Marriott Platinum; Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,355
Hopefully American has the equivalent of a flat tire rule that you can invoke to rebook your flight to DCA - perhaps after some time in a LAX hotel day room to freshen up. That's what I'd be aiming for.
Apr 27, 2015, 5:19 pm
#56
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SYD
Programs: UA GS, BA Gold, Marriott Titanium/LT Plat, IHG Gold, National Exec Elite, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,419
According to the AA website, the checkin cutoff at LAX is 45 min before departure. So that timeline isn't going to work.
https://www.aa.com/i18n/travelInform...rivalTimes.jsp
https://www.aa.com/i18n/travelInform...rivalTimes.jsp
Apr 27, 2015, 5:30 pm
#57
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,461
Apr 27, 2015, 9:44 pm
#58
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Houston
Programs: UA GS 2.6MM & Lifetime UC, Qantas Platinum, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Bonvoy Platinum, HawaiianMiles
Posts: 8,699
Apr 27, 2015, 10:42 pm
#59
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,904
Thanks - though not what I wanted to hear!
May 3, 2015, 11:45 pm
#60
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Sydney, NSW Australia
Posts: 895
Sun May 03 UA863 SFO-SYD cancelled
Sun May 03 UA 839 LAX-SYD delayed 1hr 15 min (presumably for pax in SFO to fly SFO-LAX to join 839)
Tue May 05 UA870 SYD-SFO cancelled
Sun May 03 UA 839 LAX-SYD delayed 1hr 15 min (presumably for pax in SFO to fly SFO-LAX to join 839)
Tue May 05 UA870 SYD-SFO cancelled