Consolidated "United SYD/MEL Flight Delays or Cancellations" [2015]
Jan 6, 2015, 6:19 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SYD
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Consolidated "United SYD/MEL Flight Delays or Cancellations" [2015]
SYD-SFO is cancelled today (Wed Jan 7) due to aircraft maintenance.
Luckily, I bought my tickets late and had to choose Air Canada instead to find a reasonable Z class ticket. This could have been my first flight cancellation is almost half a million miles
Luckily, I bought my tickets late and had to choose Air Canada instead to find a reasonable Z class ticket. This could have been my first flight cancellation is almost half a million miles
Jan 6, 2015, 7:01 pm
#2
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 4,771
UA98 LAX-MEL Jan 5 departure 11 hours delayed.
Jan 7, 2015, 2:41 am
#3
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: SMF
Programs: UA 1K MM, AA EXP
Posts: 1,537
BAD DOG UNITED!
Lurker
Jan 8, 2015, 10:34 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SYD
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Posts: 1,419
I chatted to some passengers that had been accommodated on QF via YVR.
Apparently, the Dreamliners have had problems taking off in MEL (because it was too hot?) for 4 days. Some passengers were transferred to SYD on QF on Wed and then the SYD-SFO flight was cancelled on Wed as well. 1K and GS passengers were automatically rebooked first. Availability on UA flights out of SYD is close to 0 for the next few days.
I met one 1P+ passenger who was re-accommodated in Y on QF and had to pay $700 bag fees for his three heavy bags. Ouch.
Apparently, the Dreamliners have had problems taking off in MEL (because it was too hot?) for 4 days. Some passengers were transferred to SYD on QF on Wed and then the SYD-SFO flight was cancelled on Wed as well. 1K and GS passengers were automatically rebooked first. Availability on UA flights out of SYD is close to 0 for the next few days.
I met one 1P+ passenger who was re-accommodated in Y on QF and had to pay $700 bag fees for his three heavy bags. Ouch.
Jan 8, 2015, 12:26 pm
#5
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
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Looking at the performance charts for the 787, at sea level (MEL is 132 metres AMSL) and at 100F they are slightly restricted in terms of weight, but more importantly the runway length needed increases to longer than MEL has, so there would be an even further weight restriction to comply with that.
Still doesn't sound like a good reason to actually cancel though - a fuel stop at HNL would seem to make more sense...
Jan 8, 2015, 1:06 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SYD
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The only days where heat might have been an issue were last Friday and Saturday, both days got to around 100F. Fridays flight went out OK, but Saturday was canceled "due to aircraft maintenance".
Looking at the performance charts for the 787, at sea level (MEL is 132 metres AMSL) and at 100F they are slightly restricted in terms of weight, but more importantly the runway length needed increases to longer than MEL has, so there would be an even further weight restriction to comply with that.
Still doesn't sound like a good reason to actually cancel though - a fuel stop at HNL would seem to make more sense...
Looking at the performance charts for the 787, at sea level (MEL is 132 metres AMSL) and at 100F they are slightly restricted in terms of weight, but more importantly the runway length needed increases to longer than MEL has, so there would be an even further weight restriction to comply with that.
Still doesn't sound like a good reason to actually cancel though - a fuel stop at HNL would seem to make more sense...
Jan 8, 2015, 1:15 pm
#7
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Colorado
Programs: UA Gold (.85 MM), HH Diamond, SPG Platinum (LT Gold), Hertz PC, National EE
Posts: 5,656
I believe the reason for the cancelation last Saturday was because one of the engines wouldn't start. Aircraft 3951 eventually flew back to LAX and has been sitting since then.
Jan 19, 2015, 1:09 am
#8
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: SYD; Central Coast, NSW
Programs: UA, 1K 2MM
Posts: 947
18/1/15 UA839 LAX-SYD Cancelled (Flightaware)
I am out of SYD tomorrow on UA870 (SYD-SFO) and just doing my routine check of flight status. According to FlightAware, UA839 (LAX-SYD) has been cancelled tonight which means likely that UA840 departing SYD tomorrow (20/1/15) is also cancelled unless UA switches the game plan. Not sure what the problem was but despite changing equipment from 744 to 777 the run of cancellations and delays on the SYD route continues.
Jan 19, 2015, 1:21 am
#9
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
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I am out of SYD tomorrow on UA870 (SYD-SFO) and just doing my routine check of flight status. According to FlightAware, UA839 (LAX-SYD) has been cancelled tonight which means likely that UA840 departing SYD tomorrow (20/1/15) is also cancelled unless UA switches the game plan. Not sure what the problem was but despite changing equipment from 744 to 777 the run of cancellations and delays on the SYD route continues.
Jan 19, 2015, 2:52 am
#10
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: SYD; Central Coast, NSW
Programs: UA, 1K 2MM
Posts: 947
Yes, UA870 was already full with only a few seats left in E+. It's not going to be a pleasant day for UA or the passengers at Kingsford-Smith tomorrow. Likely, UAs SYD ambassador extraordinaire Annie will be summonsed to work the front lines.
Last edited by IainC; Jan 19, 2015 at 2:55 am Reason: correct typo
Jan 19, 2015, 5:49 am
#11
Join Date: Jun 2008
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2UA840/20JAN«
UA RESPONSE
0840/20JAN
N SYD/LX MAINTENANCE
N LAX/LX MAINTENANCE
SKED SYD ORIG 1140A GTD SHIP 2817
LAX 630A TERM GTA
Jan 19, 2015, 6:48 pm
#12
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: SYD; Central Coast, NSW
Programs: UA, 1K 2MM
Posts: 947
Arrived at Kingsford-Smith International (SYD) today expecting chaos following the cancellation of UA840 (SYD-LAX). Surprised to find all calm and quiet, in fact Mrs IainC and I only ones checking in at 11:30 am for our UA870 (SYD-SFO) flight. Asked the agent what gives for the passengers from the cancelled UA840 and she indicated that they had all been accommodated on other flights. That's great for the UA840 passengers, I guess UA here in SYD has plenty of experience now at dealing with these episodes and helped by the fact that the UA SYD-MEL-SYD flights no longer operate.
Jan 19, 2015, 7:35 pm
#13
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Colorado
Programs: UA Gold (.85 MM), HH Diamond, SPG Platinum (LT Gold), Hertz PC, National EE
Posts: 5,656
Arrived at Kingsford-Smith International (SYD) today expecting chaos following the cancellation of UA840 (SYD-LAX). Surprised to find all calm and quiet, in fact Mrs IainC and I only ones checking in at 11:30 am for our UA870 (SYD-SFO) flight. Asked the agent what gives for the passengers from the cancelled UA840 and she indicated that they had all been accommodated on other flights. That's great for the UA840 passengers, I guess UA here in SYD has plenty of experience now at dealing with these episodes and helped by the fact that the UA SYD-MEL-SYD flights no longer operate.
Feb 2, 2015, 5:11 pm
#14
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: NYC
Posts: 1,082
UA840 (SYD-LAX) Diverted to HNL (2/2)
Does anyone know what happened?
Feb 2, 2015, 5:25 pm
#15
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: EWR, BDL
Posts: 4,471
Planned Fuel Stop:
0840/02FEB
P SYD/OUT 1141A L00.01 ☨
P SYD/OFF 1208P
P HNL/ON 1242A
P HNL/IN 1249A
P HNL/OUT 142A
P HNL/OFF 200A
P LAX/ON 829A
P LAX/IN 840A L02.10 ☨
D FCF/FSTOP HNL ENRT SYD-LAX A/PLANNED FUEL STOP
D HDQ/HNL LAX PROT UNDER GG CN2 Q62☨
D HDQ/HNL LAX PROT UNDER GG CN2 Q62
SKED SYD ORIG 1140A GTD 51 SHIP 2792
LAX 630A TERM GTA TBIT
0840/02FEB
P SYD/OUT 1141A L00.01 ☨
P SYD/OFF 1208P
P HNL/ON 1242A
P HNL/IN 1249A
P HNL/OUT 142A
P HNL/OFF 200A
P LAX/ON 829A
P LAX/IN 840A L02.10 ☨
D FCF/FSTOP HNL ENRT SYD-LAX A/PLANNED FUEL STOP
D HDQ/HNL LAX PROT UNDER GG CN2 Q62☨
D HDQ/HNL LAX PROT UNDER GG CN2 Q62
SKED SYD ORIG 1140A GTD 51 SHIP 2792
LAX 630A TERM GTA TBIT