When is Qantas going to cancel November flights?

[MickyS]

Qantas has still only cancelled its international flights until the end of October 2020.

We have flight bookings in early November that we're unable to use, but we need to wait until Qantas cancels them, otherwise we will be charged cancellation fees.

We find it strange that Qantas is not making any decisions yet around flights that are less than 2 months away.

This is what they say about this on their website:

"Our regular pre-COVID-19 international network is unlikely to return until at least July 2021. Because the situation is constantly evolving and may change rapidly, we haven't, at this stage, made a decision to cancel international flights after October 2020."

Does anyone have any idea how Qantas will be dealing with this? Are people expecting them to announce cancellations on a monthly basis, maybe, or only for certain flights or destinations?

We'll continue to wait and monitor the situation, but was wondering if anyone here might have any insight into this.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Another one, who might have got a cancellation notice today for their flight to NZ in November

Qantas network changes - booking cancellation

Just received this from Qantas for flights booked (with QFF points) to SYD -> AKL on November 12 for my import/export business. Hello, Important Information about your flight In response to Coronavirus and various government travel restrictions, we've had to make further changes to our...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[AIRwin]

Hope you get through, then the 10-12 week wait starts.

The premium line answered after 1.5 hours on hold and offered me double status credits, double points or 10% extra credit...

 

[pagingjoan]

The premium line answered after 1.5 hours on hold and offered me double status credits, double points or 10% extra credit...

Commiserations!
You got the "or" not the "and" package.
I must say that I was fortunate in waiting no more than a minute or so for my call to the premium line to be answered.

 

[AIRwin]

I must say that I was fortunate in waiting no more than a minute or so for my call to the premium line to be answered.

What time and are you Platinum?

 

[DC3]

P1 probably went straight to the top of the queue

 

[mrsterryn]

I finally contacted Qantas on Thursday about my rewards flight being cancelled
No issues , points are back in my account today. Not sure about the taxes when they will be returning.
There was no discussion about the return of the taxes just everything was being refunded no penalty

 

[pagingjoan]

What time and are you Platinum?

Sorry!
Missed your post. Focussed on the football.
(To no avail.)
Mid afternoon, as I recall.
And P1, as DC3 said.

 

[Happy Trails]

My November 3rd, SYD-HKG, booking disappeared this morning.
It was an AA award so the refund process will be painless.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

My November 3rd, SYD-HKG, booking disappeared this morning.
It was an AA award so the refund process will be painless.

Just seeking clarification

SO an American award but a Qantas metal, Qantas flight number or American codeshare?

 

[Happy Trails]

Just seeking clarification

SO an American award but a Qantas metal, Qantas flight number or American codeshare?

QF127, Qantas metal & flight number.

 

[DC3]

I finally contacted Qantas on Thursday about my rewards flight being cancelled
No issues , points are back in my account today. Not sure about the taxes when they will be returning.
There was no discussion about the return of the taxes just everything was being refunded no penalty

Similar experience with points. Back within 3 days. Taxes took about a week.

 

[kpc]

My Syd - Jnb flight in mid Nov got cancelled today. Phone call to Plat line answered in 20 secs, and cancellation took 30 secs. Pts will be back in 2-3 days, surcharges up til 12 weeks!!

 

[RAM]

Two important (& useful) bits of information.

1) Q has 'officially' cancelled all (except NZ flights I believe) international flights through until March 28th, 2021. So everyone is now entitled to a full cash refund no matter what airfare you purchased, including a non-refundable one.

2) That is what the ACCC have said (from their web site):

Qantas offers refunds for flight cancellations

The ACCC says it is pleased Qantas has begun contacting its customers to tell them they are entitled to a refund for domestic or international flights cancelled or suspended due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.

www.accc.gov.au

Some on AFF have been discussing that this 'full cash refund' is restricted to only certain tickets under Q's T&Cs. The ACCC disagrees and states that ALL tickets are elligible for full cash refund.

Qantas’ terms and conditions state that customers with fares booked on any of its domestic and international flights are entitled to have their fare refunded if Qantas makes a significant change to their flight, and Qantas cannot offer another booking which is acceptable to the customer.

The ACCC was concerned that Qantas’ communications to customers between 17 March 2020 and 31 May 2020 did not adequately inform them of their right to receive a refund.

In some cases, the ACCC considers Qantas’ emails may have encouraged these customers to cancel bookings themselves in order to receive a credit when many would have been eligible for a refund.

“We want to ensure that customers are aware that when Qantas suspends or cancels flights due to travel restrictions and fails to provide them with an acceptable alternative flight, they are entitled to a refund,” ACCC Chair Rod Sims said.
....

“From our perspective, from the outset, Qantas did not communicate clearly with customers about their rights and, in a large number of cases, simply omitted they were entitled to a refund,” Mr Sims said.

Good luck!

 

[MickyS]

Original poster of this thread with an update. QF1 flight for 6 November disappeared from our booking over the weekend. Got an email from American Express Travel yesterday (booked via them partly with travel credit) about that flight cancellation, but leaving the Coffs-Sydney leg as a confirmed flight.

I'll contact them on Monday (available business hours only) to say the whole booking should be cancelled and requesting a refund. Anyone know how the $450 travel credit will be treated? The original validity of that has long expired. Will be curious to see if they'll offer an extension, or that money is lost. I have another $450 that's supposed to be used by March, which probably won't be possible. We're not in Australia so can't use it for domestic flights either.

I cancelled the second booking that was part of this trip, reward seats on BA from Singapore to Amsterdam, once I saw that was possible last week, and got our points back the next day. Will patiently wait to get the surcharges refunded.

 

[kpc]

My Syd - Jnb flight in mid Nov got cancelled today. Phone call to Plat line answered in 20 secs, and cancellation took 30 secs. Pts will be back in 2-3 days, surcharges up til 12 weeks!!

Points back yesterday so took 3 days as advised....now to wait for the surcharges to be refunded

 

[RAM]

Original poster of this thread with an update. QF1 flight for 6 November disappeared from our booking over the weekend. Got an email from American Express Travel yesterday (booked via them partly with travel credit) about that flight cancellation, but leaving the Coffs-Sydney leg as a confirmed flight.

I'll contact them on Monday (available business hours only) to say the whole booking should be cancelled and requesting a refund. Anyone know how the $450 travel credit will be treated? The original validity of that has long expired. Will be curious to see if they'll offer an extension, or that money is lost. I have another $450 that's supposed to be used by March, which probably won't be possible. We're not in Australia so can't use it for domestic flights either.

I cancelled the second booking that was part of this trip, reward seats on BA from Singapore to Amsterdam, once I saw that was possible last week, and got our points back the next day. Will patiently wait to get the surcharges refunded.

As details/procedures change every day it seems - this is dated (from Sept 29th).

Same deal with cancelled flights using Amex flight credit on VA (twist vs Q). Told that Amex had extended expiry dates for all travel credits (flight or $value) and it has been updated on the AMEX web site.

It is now possible to have 2 years worth of credits as was my case with cancelled flight being the 2018/19 credit & the 2019/20 credit was due to expire in early October. Shortly I will have 3 years worth to use.

For VA the twist is that VA II is due to re-issue all existing 'credits' etc on or abouts October 22nd. The exception being if you have an existing credit or a due a cancellation credit & want to fly before October 31st - in which case you need to jump through some hoops but can access it.

 

[kpc]

Points back yesterday so took 3 days as advised....now to wait for the surcharges to be refunded

...and taxes / surcharges back today sans credit card fee....not sure if that should be refunded as well but no biggie

 

[RAM]

...and taxes / surcharges back today sans credit card fee....not sure if that should be refunded as well but no biggie

According to the ACCC web site - a full refund includes ALL costs made in the original transaction.

So yes Q needs to refund the CC charge - it gets them back from the card issuer as well as Q holding on to its own 'processing' fees to boot.

 

[Lynda2475]

I was just checking my bookings and noticed my Dec Hawaii flights no longer shows up, but as booked through Amex assuem notice will come from them.

 

[MickyS]

I was just checking my bookings and noticed my Dec Hawaii flights no longer shows up, but as booked through Amex assuem notice will come from them.

For me, it took almost a week after the flight disappeared from my bookings that I received an email about it from Amex. But yes, that's how it works.