iexaltu

I'll be taking SYD-LAX in a few months and I have to say this thread has me worried. I can't afford to be more than a few hours late. It might be time for me to look at another carrier

cssaus

I know how you feel! This year I've started flying Virgin Australia to the US and don't regret the change.

Asuka

863 is doing the leg SYD-MEL so MEL customers are going to get to SYD, which flight it turns into at SYD who knows.

Edit: 840 SYD-LAX gets the chop Friday.

Aspen

Where will the aeroplane Friday July 13 UA839 LAX-SYD come from ? Or perhaps Wednesday night's (July 11) cancelled flight will be serviceable by then ?

Maybe some pax flying SFO-LAX on Friday will get a pleasant surprise if they board a 747

flyerbjorn

If it makes you feel any better, I've flown the route many times and not once arrived late. If anything, the flight arrives early most of the time.

Asuka

If they can't fix it they will send another plane and ferry the broken one to SFO for fixing.

The website reports returned to gate, 23:07 - 01:12, so maybe it didn't even make it into the air at LAX.

Given the fuel load, I wonder if they can drain the fuel or if it will sit all day with a full load of fuel.

Aspen

If it made it into the air it would have had to dump fuel because even being diverted to HNL once meant the aeroplane landed slightly overweight (a few years ago)

I am guessing the aeroplane is topped off to make it all the way to Sydney at this time of year to then sit all day in the sun with chock-o-block fuel tanks could be a problem as well.

Another interesting aspect of all of this would be: What does it mean to the crews pay etc? i.e. cabin crew were expecting to get paid for two long haul flights ( having to perform a minimum of hours every month) and flight crew have to perform a certain number of take offs and landings - this crew missed out on two (maybe three if they were scheduled to do the SYD-MEL-SYD tag) take offs and landings which are probably pretty infrequent if exclusively flying ultra long haul - they too have to maintain a monthly (yearly) minimum ?

Glad I'm not running an airline

Asuka

Not sure if they are paid the full amount during a MX on long haul flights.

The LAX-SYD-MEL schedule is a 6 day turn with 2 crews, LAX-SYD-Break-SYD-MEL-Break-MEL-SYD-Break-SYD-LAX. It's one of the most sought after (Bidding) routes, hence the seniors always on this route.

Pretty good job if you ask me, have run into a number of the crew in Melbourne and had coffee during their time off, since I do the flight so often, they almost seem like a 2nd family to me One lady (crew) I actually flew with her for 3 years, as luck has it we just had the same schedule. It was nice to see her smile on boarding, just made the 14 hours fly by.

Little things like Lindt Chocolates goes a far way to keeping the crew happy and it's nice to board with a "Welcome Back" or taking the time out to just chat on a flight.

The crew really love the coffee bags we have in AU, Robert Timms, as yet I can't find anything close in the US (no tea-bag like coffee)

Most of them just work because they love to travel and their pensions were cut during the bankruptcy. I wouldn't like to see a FA 3 months after retiring from long haul flights, they would be itching to fly again

flyinbob

Delta and Qantas both have earlier flights to LAX, get in about 6am, and I think a better on time record. Delta is a 777, Qantas is a 747. If you fly MEL to LAX nonstop you can get Qantas 93, an Airbus 380.

Asuka

839 left 2 hours late, it did return to the gate although, 863 on time for landing.

Gate return 23:19 - 23:32, departed 01:07

United can't get a break on this route

Edit: UA839D is about to arrive, D for delayed?

Edit2: changed to UA1760

Aspen

Looks like all those crew members will get their hours after all.
I wonder where the extra aeroplane will be flying back to in California LAX or SFO?

flyinbob

Saturday's UA 840 SYD-LAX is already on 2 hour departure delay.

Asuka

Delayed - Airport Conditions preventing departure

Pull the Other one United!

jofegan

Why would UA change the name of this flight from UA839 to UA1760? I can't think of any good reasons......


Thanks in advance.

--j

Asuka

Lie for the reason of the delay, we are now CO, they would beg/cheat out of anything.