Long wait for refund for cancelled reward flights Qantas - a common experience?

[MPP2768]

Hi All,

Just reviewing out travel plans to Europe booked for May , I have booked my Europe tickets using Qantas points all booked under classic reward flights . There are 3 different booking reference nos. as i booked them as the classic award tickets became available as below
Leg 1 Mel-Sin- Mel
Leg 2 Singapore-Doha- Vienna
Leg 3 Paris-Dubai-Singapore
I understand cancellation charges are 6000 points per passenger , does this mean i will be charged 6000X3 points per passenger or juts 6000 points per passenger for all 3 cancellations.
Can we pay cash instead of points for the cancellations? does anyone know how much do 6000 points translate to in terms of AUD

Thanks

 

[offshore171]

Interestingly I have only received a an email notification for 1 of the 4 itinerary PNR's I cancelled. This came through within a few minutes of cancelling.

The others, nothing at all. They have all disappeared from MMB, but no email.

 

[blacksultan]

I am still waiting more than 12 weeks later

 

[Danger]

I'm at the three-month mark today. I've also so far lost more than 10% in foreign exchange depreciation.

I am dumbfounded that even now people are still being told eight weeks or more for refunds. In March and April I could swallow the argument that systems are complicated and refund volumes are unprecedented, but not today. It's greed, incompetence or laziness.

 

[NoName]

Interestingly I have only received a an email notification for 1 of the 4 itinerary PNR's I cancelled. This came through within a few minutes of cancelling.

The others, nothing at all. They have all disappeared from MMB, but no email.

Me as well. Several bookings cancelled totalling approx 750k points and no notifications for any.

 

[Kangol]

See my earlier posts in this thread.

When Qantas advised free free award cancellations for June flights in early April I cancelled two such bookings online. This was April 5th - a Sunday.

One booking was refunded within 48 hours both points and funds, dated 5th April.

The other took 8 weeks for the points and 10 weeks (and three phone calls) for the funds to be refunded.

Did you make any changes to either booking?

 

[serfty]

Did you make any changes to either booking?

No changes at any stage.

One was QF to SIN and then HND on JL, that took months. The other was QF from HND to MEL via SYD, that was immediately refunded.

 

[JohnM]

Well, miracles can happen.

An email from QF saying that they have processed the $$ refund has just hit my inbox.

The QF email did say:

The nominated bank or financial institution may take some time to process the funds back to this bank account.

That was 16 June; the credit showed in my Amex account on 25 June.

 

[jeza]

I have a diferent refund issue, currently have been refunded the full 280000 points from my part flown Classic OWA. Contacted QF over the phone, via refunds email posted on AFF & through the Contact Us page about the over refund. Guess I will find out how long it takes when the points are supposed to go back.

 

[AussiePom]

Landed on Saturday, missing the credit card charge that I was told would be refunded. I’ll mention this when I call about the missing revenue refunds that I requested 10 weeks ago tomorrow

Did you end up getting the CC Surcharge back?

 

[WLGFlyer]

I just called again about a number of flights that were cancelled back in March. This time I was told that they had "dropped out" of the queue but would be processed manually now. Let's wait and see.

 

[WLGFlyer]

I just called again about a number of flights that were cancelled back in March. This time I was told that they had "dropped out" of the queue but would be processed manually now. Let's wait and see.

Very impressed - received refund email and points within the hour!

 

[bPeteb]

Did you end up getting the CC Surcharge back?

Yes, this one was refunded in full.

 

[NM]

Very impressed - received refund email and points within the hour!

Which just goes to show that it can be done in a reasonable timeframe (same day), but the airline chooses to arbitrarily hold onto our money for months just because they can.

 

[PPOW]

Just a data point

cancelled classic rewards 18/06, points received back 08/07. Now just to wait for the taxes

 

[Maca44]

Yesterday I 'rang QF' and cancelled my award J flights from SYD-HND, and then NRT-SEA on 3SEP and 4SEP respectively. Now that I am retired I do not have any status so had to ring the normal call centre number. Both flights were naturally booked through the QF website to use the points, but on JAL metal. Told that points should be back in account within 5 working days, BUT refund of taxes etc could take up to 8 weeks so I am basically in the same situation as others. Checked my account and booking has been removed. Luckily taxes were less than AU$300.

Qantas points returned to my account yesterday, so that is approx 3 weeks for the points and I assume several more weeks for the taxes etc to be returned.

 

[Sydney BE]

Just got off the phone with qantas about a one world reward booking

Not sure if this will help anyone but here's my time line so far

24th April - recieved email stating reward booking had been cancelled and points and taxes to be refunded in 4 weeks
13th may - points refunded
Early June - contacted qantas as no taxes had been refunded and it was past the 4 weeks they had stated. Told the information was incorrect and it would be 8-10 weeks
Today - 10 weeks and 6 days after cancellation email called them again as no refund has been recieved. Was then told my flight was actually cancelled 13th of May and I had to wait 60 days before they can put me through to finance team to refund and that I am only on day 56 so to call back on 4 days

To say I'm frustrated is an understatement. Now I'll wait on hold again in 4 days and they will probably give me some other excuse for why they can't refund yet.

Thankfully other airlines have been much better with refunds. BA waited on the phone for 10 mins, cash refunded in 2 days. AA short wait on hold cash refunded in 1 week.

 

[offshore171]

I have just cancelled 4 PAX reward seats for 4 separate flights SYD > HND > HEL > HND > SYD, intended for later this year. 16 seats in total. All booked through QFF scheme, but some flights operated JAL (and some QF).

Will report back on how long this all takes.

So that was Jun 18.

One flight got refunded about a week ago. Points first and cash a few days later.

Rest came through today (points only so far)

 

[Mattg]

My SIN-BNE flight for June was cancelled in May. My booking was converted into a flight credit, and I subsequently called up to request a refund instead. Was told that wouldn't be a problem and I would get a refund.

Two months later, I still haven't received a refund but when I log into my QFF account, it says I have 1 flight credit available. It's for the cancelled SIN-BNE booking. Is this normal, or do I need to call again to request they process the refund?

 

[NM]

Just a data point

cancelled classic rewards 18/06, points received back 08/07. Now just to wait for the taxes

Similar. I cancelled a classic award 16 June and points arrived back yesterday (8th July). Also awaiting tax/surcharge refund.

 

[serfty]

.... Is this normal, or do I need to call again to request they process the refund?

I had one like that, called as soon as I saw it. I was told "don't worry" but it disappeared from my bookings after the call. It was eventually refunded, points 7 weeks later and $+++ 9 weeks.

We all look for consistency but in this there really is not.

Best advice is be prepared to play the long game if you can and be patient.