Qantas to allow free changes, cancellations to Classic Flight Reward bookings to 30 September 2022

[Seat0B]

Agreed that the award flight free cancellation is a good offer that I have taken advantage of four times now, but don't hold your breath waiting for the refunds. The points came back within 14 to 24 days however the $$ took more than 40 days on both occasions. There isn't any real reason for this other than the conscious decision by Qantas to hang onto your cash and also to provide lousy customer service. Hire some people Qantas and provide refunds in a timely manner!!!!!!!!

Thanks @Greg555, I've had a similar experience, but regard the fees etc as small beer compared to the points, so happy-ish to wait.

 

[sudoer]

The fuss free cancellation for award flights is what tipped me over into making a booking today. It would be great if they would implement the same approach for paid flights too. It is a confidence issue, along with minimising hassle, for me that does actually encourage me to finally give it a go after a whole year of going nowhere.

I've been solely booking classic awards for the same reason. Did weekends in Dubbo and Melbourne in Nov and early Dec, and have a full week in Byron next month. Depending on how borders are looking towards the end of Feb, I might even swap that week in Byron for the NT or QLD...

 

[Greg555]

My return of points for a classic award cancellation done online from 22 Dec is still pending. I called on 16 Jan and was told it will take 10 weeks for the refund. I said in my recent experience I get the points back in 2-5 days and the taxes refund a few weeks later, to which she replied that she could see my points balance and then stated that as as I have plenty of points I don't need a refund any time soon (!)

Doesn't this just epitomise the Qantas attitude to customer service these days.....

 

[sudoer]

Extended again:

Dear sudoer,
This year, we're making 50% more Classic Flight Reward seats available to popular destinations across Australia.^ Book your trip by 30 April 2021, and have confidence knowing that you'll be able to change the date or cancel your booking, free of charge until 31 January 2022.

 

[jeza]

When cancelling Classic Award bookings are people still receiving emails confirming that the booking has been cancelled?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Extended again:

Guess it's a way to transfer money from QFFF to QF?

 

[AIRwin]

When cancelling Classic Award bookings are people still receiving emails confirming that the booking has been cancelled?

No but the booking disappears from my app...

 

[jeza]

No but the booking disappears from my app...

Thanks

Hopefully the points will return in a few weeks so I know something is happening, waiting on the phone to QF or for a callback is not my idea of fun.

 

[Familyman1]

The policy states: "When you use Qantas Points to book a Classic Flight Reward seat on any Qantas or Jetstar flight, you'll be able to change the date or cancel your booking, free of charge until 31 January 2022.^ That's for Classic Reward bookings for travel up to a year away."

I want to make a classic award booking for March 2022 (over a year from when this was announced). Can I still cancel for free until 31 January 2022?

 

[Mattg]

The policy states: "When you use Qantas Points to book a Classic Flight Reward seat on any Qantas or Jetstar flight, you'll be able to change the date or cancel your booking, free of charge until 31 January 2022.^ That's for Classic Reward bookings for travel up to a year away."

I want to make a classic award booking for March 2022 (over a year from when this was announced). Can I still cancel for free until 31 January 2022?

Yes.

(However I think it's likely that Qantas will extend the free cancellation period anyway, so it may well cover up to your travel dates by the time we get to next year.)

 

[turtlemichael]

Life dealing with Qantas was never meant to be easy. I cancelled a domestic classic award flight 3 weeks ago and the points came back to my account yesterday. Woohoo! Well, to be strictly accurate the booking on one PNR was for two pax and the points came back for one pax! No sign of the fees of course! Should I join the phone queue to follow up the missing points?

 

[sudoer]

Life dealing with Qantas was never meant to be easy. I cancelled a domestic classic award flight 3 weeks ago and the points came back to my account yesterday. Woohoo! Well, to be strictly accurate the booking on one PNR was for two pax and the points came back for one pax! No sign of the fees of course! Should I join the phone queue to follow up the missing points?

I had the exact same thing happen overnight - two pax on booking cancelled on 2 Mar, only one pax worth of points were refunded to my account this morning.

If you do call can you let me know what they say? I'm in no rush for the points so I figured I'd wait a few weeks and see what happens.

 

[turtlemichael]

I had the exact same thing happen overnight - two pax on booking cancelled on 2 Mar, only one pax worth of points were refunded to my account this morning.

If you do call can you let me know what they say? I'm in no rush for the points so I figured I'd wait a few weeks and see what happens.

They are expert at complicating life. On the basis it happened to someone else too, I'll sit pat for a week or two to see if they fix it. I don't need the points immediately either.

 

[Mattg]

Life dealing with Qantas was never meant to be easy. I cancelled a domestic classic award flight 3 weeks ago and the points came back to my account yesterday. Woohoo! Well, to be strictly accurate the booking on one PNR was for two pax and the points came back for one pax! No sign of the fees of course! Should I join the phone queue to follow up the missing points?

This kind of thing is exactly why I'm still hesitant to book new flights, even though I know I can change or cancel for free.

I don't consider spending hours on the phone and waiting months for the refund to come through to be "without penalty".

 

[muppet]

This kind of thing is exactly why I'm still hesitant to book new flights, even though I know I can change or cancel for free.

I don't consider spending hours on the phone and waiting months for the refund to come through to be "without penalty".

My last few cancellations have actually posted quite quickly.

The points from a flight cancelled on Friday (online 2 hours before departure), have returned to my account this morning with an email notifying me.

 

[sanne]

Life dealing with Qantas was never meant to be easy. I cancelled a domestic classic award flight 3 weeks ago and the points came back to my account yesterday. Woohoo! Well, to be strictly accurate the booking on one PNR was for two pax and the points came back for one pax! No sign of the fees of course! Should I join the phone queue to follow up the missing points?

This has been happening for years. Qantas knows about it and nothing is done. It’s happened to me several times.

I suggest you contact them as soon as you can because that is the only way the points will be refunded.

 

[jakeseven7]

This kind of thing is exactly why I'm still hesitant to book new flights, even though I know I can change or cancel for free.

I don't consider spending hours on the phone and waiting months for the refund to come through to be "without penalty".

I've moved / rearranged loads of QF flights, online with no need to call..... so far so good. Don't talk to me about the nightmare of VA2's travel bank though grrrr

 

[Danger]

This kind of thing is exactly why I'm still hesitant to book new flights, even though I know I can change or cancel for free.

I don't consider spending hours on the phone and waiting months for the refund to come through to be "without penalty".

That's a very good point.

 

[sudoer]

@turtlemichael I happened to be on the phone with QFF about another issue this morning, so I raised this.

The person I was spoke with was well aware that a recent batch of multi-pax cancellations had only refunded one adult's worth of points. Suspect they've had plenty of other calls about it. They popped me on hold for a few minutes and the missing points were showing on my activity statement before the call ended. I didn't bother asking about taxes as I knew I'd get the 8-12 weeks spiel...

 

[Mattg]

@turtlemichael I happened to be on the phone with QFF about another issue this morning, so I raised this.

The person I was spoke with was well aware that a recent batch of multi-pax cancellations had only refunded one adult's worth of points. Suspect they've had plenty of other calls about it. They popped me on hold for a few minutes and the missing points were showing on my activity statement before the call ended. I didn't bother asking about taxes as I knew I'd get the 8-12 weeks spiel...

@sudoer Did they mention whether those incorrect multi-passenger refunds would be automatically corrected or should people proactively contact Qantas if they've been dudded?