Qantas Revenue booking cancellations (under covid19)

[sxc]

Yes you can, as long as the new fare amount is equal to or higher than the original fare amount (i.e. the new fare is more expensive than the old).

Apparently Qantas is changing this to allow multiple bookings from a credit voucher.

$1.5m ‘Noah’s Ark’ flight to get pets home — Herald Sun

Americans who were forced to leave Australia after COVID-19 claimed their jobs and visas could fork out $1.5 million for a Noah’s Ark-style charter flight to get their pets home.

apple.news

“We have listened to feedback from customers and are making changes to our back end systems so these vouchers can be used multiple times,” he said.


“This provides more flexibility in how these vouchers are used.


“A customer could use the travel credit from a cancelled flight to London to instead go on several interstate holidays over the next 18 months or so.

 

[Virgin Bart]

Apparently Qantas is changing this to allow multiple bookings from a credit voucher.

$1.5m ‘Noah’s Ark’ flight to get pets home — Herald Sun

Americans who were forced to leave Australia after COVID-19 claimed their jobs and visas could fork out $1.5 million for a Noah’s Ark-style charter flight to get their pets home.

apple.news

“We have listened to feedback from customers and are making changes to our back end systems so these vouchers can be used multiple times,” he said.


“This provides more flexibility in how these vouchers are used.


“A customer could use the travel credit from a cancelled flight to London to instead go on several interstate holidays over the next 18 months or so.

This is the main reason I demanded a refund. Great news. Nothing on Qantas site as far as I can see.

 

[Virgin Bart]

"
Using flight credits and multi-use functionality

We're working hard to improve the conditions applicable to our flight credits. If your original booking was made before 30 April 2020, and you were due to travel on a Qantas flight between 31 January and 30 September 2020, your flight credit can be used across multiple future bookings. This will be updated in our system from June 2020. Further details will be provided shortly.

"

From Booking changes and other options | Qantas

 

[Rosecat]

Qantas has just announced that all international flights are now grounded until end of July.

"All Qantas and Jetstar scheduled international flights, except for flights between Australia and New Zealand, are suspended until at least the end of July 2020, due to government restrictions. "
See: Coronavirus travel update | Qantas
They also released a market update this morning:

Qantas | Investors - ASX Announcements

investor.qantas.com

Like a few other people on the forum, I was playing refund chicken with QF. I had an overseas flight booked for July and didn't accept a voucher due to the many restrictions on use (which they now seem to be changing), and the likelihood that international flights would remain grounded. I have been waiting for this news!

Hope this helps.

PS. Trans-tasman flights suspended until end of June.

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

Very good change. Too little too late for many, but still a positive.

A refund still seems better on its face (having added a small % to the voucher value would have helped a lot to tip that balance), but this is a massive and necessary improvement.

I'm sure QF is wishing they'd been less greedy originally but what's done is done and it's not without any benefit: I for one had one Qantas trip purchased via Expedia and the additional hurdles of getting a refund over a credit don't excite me, so I'll probably leave it the way it is now, knowing I can use it more than once.

 

[Walloper]

A ready reckoner from Thrifty Traveler for flight refunds with particular emphasis on flights to/from the USA and Europe. Again, no new information for AFFers but a handy reminder as to what we might be able use in the voucher v refund issue.

Getting a Refund: Which Regulations Apply to Your Flight?

It seems (from this and other reports) that Air Canada is challenging the US DoT rules on refunds for flights in/out/transiting the USA. Other international airlines could try it on soon as well!

 

[Walloper]

"Using flight credits and multi-use functionality

We're working hard to improve the conditions applicable to our flight credits. If your original booking was made before 30 April 2020, and you were due to travel on a Qantas flight between 31 January and 30 September 2020, your flight credit can be used across multiple future bookings. This will be updated in our system from June 2020. Further details will be provided shortly.

From Booking changes and other options | Qantas

Qanta$ seems to be moving in the right direction - although still not close to a "like-for-like" voucher.

I'm afraid that the devil will be in the "further details". Will these new conditions apply retrospectively to vouchers already issued??

Don't forget that Qanta$ has baulked at refunds on now cancelled flights that vouchers were "voluntarily" issued prior to actual cancellation.

I think FlyingKangaroo alluded to this sort of behaviour by Qanta$ in the very good post at page 39.

 

[CaptJCool]

Don't forget that Qanta$ has baulked at refunds on now cancelled flights that vouchers were "voluntarily" issued prior to actual cancellation.

I had 3 cancelled flights for 7 May, mid May and 6 June for which all were cancelled by Qantas and the mid May was the only one where an automated voucher was issued with the big red button. Which by the way is still on the credit voucher.

I did screenshot the conversation because I got the “highly suggest” hold the booking with a credit voucher with an expiration
Until 31st December 2021”

Both bookings Qantas had cancelled but not attended to nor bothered to send email notifications. Now after having “got sorted” one booking “vanished” and the other while accessible tells me “your trip is completed”

no emails nor vouchers nor refunds have shown up...... sounds like I need to call up to find out what on earth went on.... it’s annoying to say the least seeing they cancelled and now I got 9 vouchers of which only 5 appear on the bookings list.... as a customer, it’s not my problem that their internal systems are incapable SNAFU but it does mean the customer suffers the effect and is expected to clean up their mess for free.

 

[rogerkambah]

I had a booking for 16/17 May 2020 and asked for a refund on 07 April. I did this on-line through MMB.
Money is back on Qantas Premier card today.

Did you get the CC fee back too?

 

[CaptJCool]

I will add on Qantas Facebook page are what seems like endless questions, comments about “missing refunds,bookings, vouchers and email notifications” and enormously long time delays between verbal promises and any results - that’s if you can actually get off of hold - much consternation about not being able to get through to speak with anyone!

seems like an absolute dogs breakfast

 

[TehEks]

First post - thought I'd share a datapoint for those still waiting on their refunds.

Flight was cancelled/converted to a voucher by Qantas on the 25th March.
I requested a refund a couple of days later.
Email received 29th April confirming processing of refunds had been completed.
Funds showed up in credit card accounts (Split payment) on the 1st and 2nd of May.

It seems that my early cynicism on the credit restrictions may have been unfounded - however, I still think that as of today, I'd be waiting for Qantas to blink (so I could request a refund) instead of opting for a voucher. Not quite enough incentive for me to park my money there just yet.

A guarantee that I could book the same tickets at no extra cost to me, at a later date would have probably got my attention. Alas, I've just bought a new coffee machine instead

 

[MEL_Traveller]

As a lawyer who prefers to spend my time being an av-geek, the answer to your last question is "maybe"...

Perhaps I was being a bit flippant. I think they could have played this two ways... given the 'free' legal advice up front and potentially gained customers down the track. Or come out with the advice now and make money off a potential class action. I would have preferred the former.

Waiting for the ACCC? I dunno. I didn't particularly agree with the ACCC's assessment from the beginning. It was too generic, didn't examine contractual issues, and potentially cost some customers their right to a refund. Thankfully that has been reversed with FC saying they will back date claims.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Very good change. Too little too late for many, but still a positive.

Agree.

A like for like voucher would be even better... Turkish announced them today... you can either change the date of your ticket now OR open date your ticket for travel into 2022. Fare paid now will be honoured if you wish - which is great news for folk on the USD1700/220 fares to the USA ex MNL/DPS

 

[Hvr]

Did you get the CC fee back too?

No, but I wasn't expecting to,

 

[fifo]

No, but I wasn't expecting to,

Is that not illegal?

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

New email.

AUSTRALIAN DOMESTIC AND TRANS-TASMAN TRAVEL

Australia and New Zealand have done an amazing job of flattening the curve, and we’re optimistic that with encouraging results and the easing of some government restrictions, some travel may return soon.

We want to assure you that when we do start flying we are committed to offering our customers great deals to visit loved ones, get back to business, and support our regional communities and the tourism industry.

We are still flying a small number of international, domestic and regional services for essential travel, as well as rescue flights on behalf of the Australian Government to bring those stranded overseas, back home. And when restrictions are eased, we will be ready to put on more services.

Until then, while passenger demand remains low and government restrictions remain in place, we have extended our existing Australian domestic and trans-Tasman flight cancellations to theend of June 2020. If your flight is impacted we will contact you as soon as possible.

OTHER INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL

With the exception of New Zealand, international travel restrictions are likely to remain in place for a while longer. As such, we have extended our other international flight cancellations to theend of July 2020. Again, customers impacted by these changes will be contacted as soon as possible.

QANTAS FLIGHT CREDITS CAN BE USED ON MULTIPLE BOOKINGS

Following customer feedback, our team has been working hard to improve the conditions on our flight credits. Due to coronavirus, many of our customers now hold a flight credit. If your original booking was made prior to 30 April 2020, and you were due to travel on a Qantas flight between 31 January 2020 - 30 September 2020, your flight credit can be used across multiple future bookings. This will be updated in our system from June 2020. We have also extended the expiry date, with any existing unused credits issued after 1 January 2019, now valid until 31 December 2021, giving our customers more time, flexibility and choice.

 

[ambrosia]

"
Using flight credits and multi-use functionality

We're working hard to improve the conditions applicable to our flight credits. If your original booking was made before 30 April 2020, and you were due to travel on a Qantas flight between 31 January and 30 September 2020, your flight credit can be used across multiple future bookings. This will be updated in our system from June 2020. Further details will be provided shortly.

"

From Booking changes and other options | Qantas

Hmm. Yet you still have to pay change fees.

• When you’re ready to rebook, you’ll need to cover any change fee and any fare increase in your new booking.

Will this be for every booking you choose to use your “credit” for?
Could get expensive quickly.
Looks like a iron fist in a velvet glove....

 

[Port Power]

Hmm. Yet you still have to pay change fees.

• When you’re ready to rebook, you’ll need to cover any change fee and any fare increase in your new booking.

Will this be for every booking you choose to use your “credit” for?

The credit vouchers we were given are not charging change fees, even when we chose to cancel flights before Qantas did. So no change fees when we rebook. So no problem for the consume. Obviously any fare increase has to be paid for.

 

[oz_mark]

The credit vouchers we were given are not charging change fees, even when we chose to cancel flights before Qantas did. So no change fees when we rebook. So no problem for the consume. Obviously any fare increase has to be paid for.

They changed the wording around change fees at the start of the month. Generally, if you took a voucher by April 30, then there was no change fee to be levied. That changed on May 1, although I understand some people on May 1 still got the no change fee version.

 

[Dambo]

I have a business class sale fare for Japan at the end of June. With the announcement yesterday from Qantas that international flight cancellations will be extended until July, should I now be able to ask for a full refund or do I have to wait until I get notification on my specific flights?
If so, is it best to call the Premium number (only took me 5mins to get through last week) or use the “magic” forum email address?