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

 

[JohnM]

Sigh, Qantas, your IT remains a marvel of the modern age.

I finally got my refund posted to my account on 20 November. Today, 29 December, I get an e-mail from Qantas happily telling me that my refund for that booking ref has been processed, and it may take some time for it to be credited by my bank.

Plonkers.

Well, you could end up like me who had all refunds from QF accounted for. But, lo and behold, another credit from QF hit my Amex out of the blue recently...

Finders keepers.

But only a couple of hundred bucks.

 

[dylarr]

Well, you could end up like me who had all refunds from QF accounted for. But, lo and behold, another credit from QF hit my Amex out of the blue recently...

Finders keepers.

But only a couple of hundred bucks.

This wasn’t an Amex statement credit perchance? (either the recent spend $300 get $60 or the $450 credit on QF spend).

These look like refunds when posted to your statement and it took me a good few days of scratching my head to connect the dots as to why I had been given free money from Qantas!

 

[PineappleSkip]

just had a look at my AMEX account online and when you expand the $450 credit item the detail includes

AMEX OFFER CREDIT

 

[mrsterryn]

Ten weeks for the taxes to be refunded in mine

 

[JohnM]

This wasn’t an Amex statement credit perchance? (either the recent spend $300 get $60 or the $450 credit on QF spend).

These look like refunds when posted to your statement and it took me a good few days of scratching my head to connect the dots as to why I had been given free money from Qantas!

No. It was an odd amount ($240.03). When expanded, it showed a lengthy reference number that was non-explanatory.

It is possible that it was a very delayed refund that had slipped my memory or follow-up (which I did with some others that were slow coming), but I had been diligent in keeping tabs on all sorts of travel refunds.

 

[jimbo jones]

Never got an answer after waiting one our (gold frequent flyer). Had a return flight from Sydney to Hong Kong cancelled. Tried 5 different times during may - September 2020, waited over an hour (using Hong kong number). Tried calling whist in quarantine December 2020 in Australia - line dropped out.

 

[Scr77]

Qantas must have found some cash behind the sofa. Just received 2 refunds at the 10 week mark.

 

[eminere]

How long are people waiting before they see the points returned to their account?

 

[PineappleSkip]

Mrs Pineapple about 2 days, me 8 months after a lot of chasing.
cheers skip

 

[RAM]

Are there any AFFers still waiting for refunds from international flights that can now be booked once again?

Post automatically merged: Jan 16, 2021

Qantas must have found some cash behind the sofa. Just received 2 refunds at the 10 week mark.

It is after their Dec 31st half year end - so doesn't show in their accounts.

Otherwise they would have had to try & stretch it out post June 30th (I shouldn't give AJ any ideas should I )

 

[Robert K]

wa

No. It was an odd amount ($240.03). When expanded, it showed a lengthy reference number that was non-explanatory.

It is possible that it was a very delayed refund that had slipped my memory or follow-up (which I did with some others that were slow coming), but I had been diligent in keeping tabs on all sorts of travel refunds.

was that the credit card payment fee?

 

[JohnM]

wa

was that the credit card payment fee?

No. I hadn't bought a big enough fare from QF to attract a fee of that magnitude.

It remains a mystery.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Just as a data point - 3 calls needed to get refund

27 Feb - Bought International tickets off QF website, paid by BPay (due to fly 12/12)

Early/Mid Oct - flight cancelled

Next day - 1st call to convert to refund (12 week estimate)

Next day - BPay request form received by email , responded.

Early Jan - 2nd call as passed 12 week mark, needed to give BPay details over phone

That afternoon - processed refund confirmed by email

Two weeks later - 3rd call to confirm refund processed and not returned (advised it can take up to three weeks)

Next day - money in bank account

 

[Craig O'Brien]

Well, I thought I might bump this thread to give an update on my cancellation/refund
Its almost been 12 months since I posed about cancelling my japan trip, back them, the points refunded with about 3 days, but the money took up to 10 week, and probably 3 phone calls.

Now I originally had a ticket to go to Townsville in the first week of March this year.

However been in good old Victoria, we of course had that short lockdown in Mid-Feb, which meant that the other states closed there borders. So I cancelled my flight.

This was a flight where I was able to pay for everything (inc tax and fees) on points. I was expecting a quick refund, since points are not the same as actually money, however it has now been one month, and still nothing....

I was tempted to call, but of course it always takes forever, and I have a funny feeling that they might just give me the "up to 10 weeks" line

I can't see how they can justify it, especially since all over there website, they mention about free change/cancel and how they are been super kind to us to allow us to change flights in a pandemic

So what is everyone's timeframe for points refunds on domestic flights. Should I make the phone call


Thanks. all

 

[Lynda2475]

Make the phone call, the last claasic reward (zero cash component) QF flight I had to cancel due to border closure points were back in my account within 48 hours.

 

[Berlin]

Another bubble delay, another refund: Had a rather pleasant experience on the phone this time around and was told the wait will be around 8 weeks- person on the other end was very polite, spoke proper English and apologetic about the long wait times so exactly as I would hope for (and certainly NOT the norm these days unfortunately). Refund is for one way redemption AKL-BNE and then another one way fully paid J class SYD-AKL.

To my surprise, points for the redemption flight ended up back in my account within two days after the call. Nothing in sight yet in terms of redemption cash component and refund of the fully paid flight back but it's "only" two weeks after the call so I'm not expecting anything before end of May(-ish).

 

[blacksultan]

Anyone have any experience with getting a full refund instead of a jetstar voucher that can’t be used ?

 

[ozflier]

I had an award flight cancellation experience recently .
QFF auto cancelled because my OWA was booked from September this year and was clearly unflyable .
I rang QF to confirm that the points and taxes would eventually find their way back to me - the agent explained that as far as she knew , the booking reference , points and taxes are held in case I wanted to change to a later date.
I had to request them to actually cancel the booking before the refunds occurred.
I did this some weeks ago but nil happened yet but I accept that .
Its handy to know that the process is not automatic if QFF cancels your bookings.

 

[Craig O'Brien]

Well. I did call up today, took about 2 hours before I spoke to a person. I think I went to the South Africa service desk, and the line was quiet poor and I had a bit of a hard time hearing the service agent. Anyway the service agent was very helpful and said there was an error and that she had to speak to the awards team, was put on hold for about 5 minutes, and after that, she said that she can re-cancel it that it should appear in my account within the hour, and true to her word, it was in my account quiet quickly

So if you have a points refund, I think it should appear in your account quickly if you make a phone call...

 

[Danger]

How many airlines require you to re-cancel a cancelled reservation in order to get your money back?