Beware Aussies: Qantas drastically changes policies affecting you!
By
Gian T
- Replies 7
As we all know, the freedom to explore our beautiful country and beyond is one of the great joys of the Australian lifestyle, especially for those who have more time to travel in our later years.
However, a recent announcement from Qantas may have some of us rethinking our travel plans.
The national airline carrier, Qantas, has made a quiet but significant change that will impact many Australians' wallets.
Starting from 9 October, the cost of changing or cancelling bookings for domestic flights will rise from $99 to $119.
This increase will affect fare types, including 'Red eDeal' economy tickets, name changes and cancellations for economy 'Flex' flights, and all changes and cancellations for premium economy 'Saver' tickets.
This change applies to group tickets acquired through Qantas Business Rewards and tickets purchased or issued from 9 October onwards.
While other fare conditions will remain the same, this fee hike should be considered when planning your next trip.
It's important to note that Qantas has remained the same since 2017; this time, they chose a low-key update.
Last Friday, the airline updated its FAQ section with the new information, preceding a formal announcement.
According to the FAQ, 'Qantas continuously monitors its fares, surcharges, and operating costs and has, as a result, adjusted these...fees.'
This news comes shortly before Qantas released its annual and sustainability reports, highlighting a $2.08 billion pre-tax profit for the 2023-24 financial year.
Amidst this financial success, the airline has also announced changes to its executive remuneration framework, aiming to make executive bonuses more transparent and closely tied to customer outcomes and brand reputation.
Qantas chairman Richard Goyder stated, 'Qantas has made significant progress over the past 12 months, but we know there's a lot more to do to restore trust with our customers.'
‘We've seen a strong improvement in on-time performance, customer satisfaction and reputation for both Qantas and Jetstar, and the Group is performing strongly financially.’
‘It's this financial strength that means we're able to continue investing in new aircraft, improving the experience for our customers and our people.’
'The board has listened to feedback on the pay structure for our executives and have made a series of changes which we are confident will encourage better outcomes for our stakeholders.'
Have you been affected by airline fee changes in the past? How do you think this increase will impact your travel plans? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.
However, a recent announcement from Qantas may have some of us rethinking our travel plans.
The national airline carrier, Qantas, has made a quiet but significant change that will impact many Australians' wallets.
Starting from 9 October, the cost of changing or cancelling bookings for domestic flights will rise from $99 to $119.
This increase will affect fare types, including 'Red eDeal' economy tickets, name changes and cancellations for economy 'Flex' flights, and all changes and cancellations for premium economy 'Saver' tickets.
This change applies to group tickets acquired through Qantas Business Rewards and tickets purchased or issued from 9 October onwards.
While other fare conditions will remain the same, this fee hike should be considered when planning your next trip.
It's important to note that Qantas has remained the same since 2017; this time, they chose a low-key update.
Last Friday, the airline updated its FAQ section with the new information, preceding a formal announcement.
According to the FAQ, 'Qantas continuously monitors its fares, surcharges, and operating costs and has, as a result, adjusted these...fees.'
This news comes shortly before Qantas released its annual and sustainability reports, highlighting a $2.08 billion pre-tax profit for the 2023-24 financial year.
Amidst this financial success, the airline has also announced changes to its executive remuneration framework, aiming to make executive bonuses more transparent and closely tied to customer outcomes and brand reputation.
Qantas chairman Richard Goyder stated, 'Qantas has made significant progress over the past 12 months, but we know there's a lot more to do to restore trust with our customers.'
‘We've seen a strong improvement in on-time performance, customer satisfaction and reputation for both Qantas and Jetstar, and the Group is performing strongly financially.’
‘It's this financial strength that means we're able to continue investing in new aircraft, improving the experience for our customers and our people.’
'The board has listened to feedback on the pay structure for our executives and have made a series of changes which we are confident will encourage better outcomes for our stakeholders.'
Key Takeaways
- Qantas has increased fees for changing or cancelling domestic flight bookings, affecting various fare types from 9 October.
- The fee for changes and cancellations will rise from $99 to $119, impacting 'Red eDeal' economy, 'Flex' economy, and premium economy 'Saver' tickets.
- The change was made quietly, with Qantas updating their FAQ section without a formal announcement before their annual and sustainability reports release.
- Qantas is also implementing changes to executive remuneration and tying bonuses more closely to customer outcomes and brand reputation.