Qantas Grounded

[John the Traveller]

Hi all,
as of 8pm Monday 31/10/11 Australian Eastern Daylight Saving Time domestic and foreign flights by Qantas Airways are grounded for the immediate future. In reality this grounding takes effect from today 29/10/11 at 5pm Australian Eastern Daylight Saving Time. This has been ordered by the Ceo of Qantas in reply to industrial action by three unions.
I would encourage any expat booked on a Qantas flight to imediately look for alternate seats. See the news report below. Regards,
John

    7 News Australia

Qantas is grounding its entire fleet and locking out its staff in response to unions' industrial action.

The airline is fighting with its pilots, ground staff and engineers over pay, conditions and the outsourcing of jobs overseas.

Qantas boss Alan Joyce as of 8pm (AEDT) Monday, but the fleet would be grounded immediately.

Both the international and domestic fleet have been grounded indefinitely.

"We are locking out until the unions withdraw their extreme claim and reach an agreement with us," Mr Joyce said.

"It's an unbelievable decision, it's a very hard decision ... we have no alternative. This is the fastest way to ensure the airline gets back in the air."

Mr Joyce said his hand had been tipped by the impossible demands of three unions.

"They are trashing our strategy and our brand," he said.

"They are deliberately destabilising the company and there is no end in sight."

The move comes as a result of a long-running industrial impasse between Qantas and three unions: the Australian and International Pilots Association (AIPA), the Transport Workers Union (TWU) and the Australian Licenced Aircraft Engineers Association (ALAEA).

Mr Joyce said if the industrial action continued, Qantas would have no choice but to shut down its business "part by part".

QantasLink and Jetstar will not be grounded.

Government concerned

The Federal Government was told about Qantas' plan for the first time this afternoon.

Transport Minister Anthony Albanese has expressed frustration, saying the Government is extremely concerned about the future of Qantas, its workforce, and also the travelling public.

Mr Albanese says he is disappointed by Qantas' decision "made on a Saturday morning with notice to the Government mid-afternoon, one day after an annual general meeting."

"I would hope the parties to this dispute act like adults," he told a press conference this afternoon.

"[The Government] remains of the view, that with a little bit of commonsense and acknowledgment that there is a common interest between management and employees a solution can be found."

Mr Albanese says the Government played a role in facilitating discussions between Qantas and the employees, but at no stage has there been a request for government intervention.

[Paddyram]

Just heard from a Travel Agent friend of mine.   Full Qantas international schedule expected to be back in operation within 24 hours.  In Any case, grounded flights can be re-booked up to 15th Nov.

[Paddyram]

Waiver of Conditions due to Thailand Flooding
The following commercial policy options are available to Qantas customers holding a valid Qantas (081) ticket issued on/before 11 October 2011 for travel to/from Bangkok in Thailand, who wish to make changes to their booking for travel up to and including 15 November 2011.
Passengers may, without fee:
•   Rebook to alternative Qantas flights (including QF Codeshare flights operated by BA).
•   Re-route travel
- Via the most direct routing using Qantas.
- Return to the origin port via the most direct routing using Qantas.
- Bypass Bangkok as a stopover point and continue to the next ticketed destination via the most direct routing using Qantas.
•   Change destinations. The value of the existing ticket can be used towards the purchase of a new ticket. If the new fare is more expensive than the existing ticketed fare, the fare difference is payable by the passenger. Applicable taxes may apply.
•   Retain the value of the ticket in credit for future travel within 12 months from the original ticketed date of departure. If the new fare is more expensive than the existing ticketed fare, the fare difference is payable by the passenger. Applicable ticket taxes may apply.
Conditions
•   Changes permitted to tickets issued on/before 11 October 2011 for travel up to and including 15 November 2011.
•   For new travel dates on/before 21November 2011, If the same booking class is not available, the lowest booking class within the same cabin may be booked (eg First, Business, Premium Economy or Economy).
•   For new travel dates on/after 22 November 2011 the new flight must be for the same cabin and class of travel.
•   New travel dates must be within ticket validity.
•   If the same booking class is not available, the lowest booking class within the same cabin may be booked (eg First, Business, Premium Economy or Economy).
•   Any third party costs/penalties, such as hotel or other ground operator fees incurred will not be waived by Qantas.
•   All other rules and conditions of the ticket remain unchanged.
•   This policy also applies to customers who are booked on Codeshare flights operated by Qantas.
Un-ticketed bookings
For un-ticketed bookings, flights can be rebooked subject to availability and tickets issued in accordance with fare conditions.
Tickets validated to another carrier (non 081)
•   Rebook to alternative Qantas flights (including QF Codeshare flights operated by BA).
•   Re-route travel
- Via the most direct routing using Qantas.
- Return to the origin port via the most direct routing using Qantas.
- Bypass Bangkok as a stopover point and continue to the next ticketed destination via the most direct routing using Qantas.
Frequent Flyer Redemption Tickets
Passengers booked on Qantas flights (including Qantas codeshare flights operated by Jetstar) who are travelling on Qantas & Partner Classic Award and Qantas & Jetstar Any Seat Award tickets are entitled to the same options and conditions as listed above.
Note: Passengers on partner airline services are able to re-book or re-route subject to redemption seat availability only.