Hi all,
I always fly GA from PER-DPS on the 8am flight over and the 2330 flight back to Perth. I always prefer this flight due to the times in getting to and leaving Bali. Last night (June 26th) I had the misfortune of flying GA726 DPS-PER.
This flight is operated by a Boeing 737-400 series aircraft which is a small single aisle aircraft that is made mainly for short domestic trips. Including reserve fuel to be able to land in Kalgoorlie if needed this aircraft is on its weight limit. This time of year there is sometimes fog at Perth Airport and they close the airprot and aircraft have to circle or divert to another airport. This means that we needed more fuel so they took half of the bags off the plane so they could fit more fuel on it without making the plane overweight.
90 passengers on this flight had to line up at the Qantas baggage services desk and leave our names and addresses for our bags to be delivered tonight sometime. The guy at the desk said that it has happened the last 3 nights with GA726. The Air Paradise plane that arrived in Perth 2 hours early would never have this problem because it is a larger Airbus A300 with double the range of the 737 hence being able to hold lots more fuel without compromising baggage.
I know safety is first always and I respect that but the fact the for 3 nights in a row half the people on GA726 have not go their luggage for another 24 hours isnt the greatest customer service going around. Especially when there is a Air Paradise flight which is a bigger longer range aircraft sitting their. GA need to put back the bigger A330's on the route as the 737-400 is too small!!
Obviosuly in summer GA do not have this problem as there is no risk of fog in Perth.
Just sharing my experience lastnight. After 14 years of flying and lots of round the world trips in dodgy places this is the first time I didnt get my bag.
Cheers
Tim / Perth