A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,413
Could the problem have been that the crew member threatened to refuse to work the flight if his/her family wasn't accommodated? If so, I would hope that this is grounds for termination and that the offloaded revenue passengers (aka customers) pursue this with both QF and the media as well as any applicable regulatory agencies.
It could have been fun if someone at QF had called the crewmember's bluff, allowed the flight to be cancelled, and then suspended/fired the crew member, leaving him and the family stranded.