Imagine the excitement and anticipation of finally reuniting with loved ones after years of being apart. That was the reality for Elana Greeff, a 61-year-old mum from Kiama, Sydney, who booked Qantas tickets for her father, brother, sister-in-law, and two nieces.

However, her joy quickly turned into disbelief when the tickets vanished into thin air due to an alleged 'error' on Qantas' part, just one night before their scheduled flight.

Ms Greeff had spent months planning this long-awaited family reunion and had even booked her 87-year-old father's ticket six months prior through the Qantas website. However, when she tried to book her brother's family tickets through the same site, she was met with a frustrating 'error' message repeatedly.

So, she contacted Qantas customer service and managed to book the tickets over the phone. But to her surprise and dismay, the tickets were never ticketed, leaving her stranded and out of pocket by a staggering $17,000 - nearly $6,000 more than what she initially thought she had paid.

A Qantas customer was left in disbelief when their tickets had seemingly 'disappeared' the night before the flight. Credit: Instagram/heavier.than.air.

What happened?

Ms Greeff booked four economy and premium economy tickets for her family from Johannesburg to Sydney, but according to her, their tickets 'vanished' without warning.

Ms Greeff had received a booking number and an itinerary that confirmed the booking was all set. She had even managed to pick the seats and enter their passport details online, assuming that everything was taken care of.

However, the night before the flight, Ms Greeff was shocked to find that the tickets had been cancelled due to an alleged 'error' or 'glitch' in the system, leaving her and her family stranded.

When she contacted Qantas customer service, they told her that the system 'does that sometimes', and went on to apologise. Despite paying approximately $11,000 for the tickets, Ms Greeff later discovered that the funds were never debited from her account.

She was forced to pay another $17,000 for four new tickets on the same flight, but without the premium tickets she had initially paid for.

Key Takeaways

• Elana Greeff's booking for family flights with Qantas was cancelled the night before the flight.
• She claims she had tried to book her brother's family's tickets but the website showed an 'error' message.
• She was forced to pay a total of around $17,000 for four new tickets which didn't include the premium tickets she originally thought she paid for.

'We sincerely apologise to Ms Greeff for this experience and have contacted her to refund the fare difference,' a Qantas spokesperson said.

After months of communication with the airline, Qantas eventually offered her 3000 points, which she estimated to be worth about $20.

'I am quite disappointed. We have always flown Qantas,' Ms Greeff added, expressing her dissatisfaction with how the situation was handled. It remains unclear whether Ms Greeff will continue to fly with Qantas in the future.

Consumer Champion representative, Adam Glezer, who assisted Ms Greeff in her communication with Qantas, described her as 'distressed' by the situation. He noted that she had to pay an increased amount for her tickets, and some tickets were even downgraded from premium economy to economy.

In response to the situation, a Qantas spokesperson stated that the airline is introducing new technology and processes to direct complex customer requests to more experienced agents to resolve issues more quickly. It remains to be seen how these new measures will impact customers.

While the situation experienced by Ms Greeff is unfortunate, it highlights the importance of being vigilant when booking flights and checking that all details are correct and tickets have been properly issued. It is also important to keep track of payments and to follow up with airlines if any issues arise.

These stories are reminders to always be vigilant when booking travel plans. Credit: Unsplash/Killian Pham.

As a lesson for our Seniors Discount Club members, it is always a good idea to double-check all aspects of a booking and to seek assistance from experienced agents if necessary.

Also, feel free to share this article with family and friends to help spread awareness about the importance of being informed and prepared when it comes to airline travel!

What are your thoughts on this story? Let us know in the comments!

 

[Woodcutter]

After several bad experiences with Qantas over a period, I have refused to fly with them ever again. The sooner they get rid of that Irish CEO the better.

 

[tomtom]

Hey Woodcutter, I totally agree about getting rid of that Irish CEO - he has been taking Qantas for a ride for years !!!!!!!

 

[Alexander]

Imagine the excitement and anticipation of finally reuniting with loved ones after years of being apart. That was the reality for Elana Greeff, a 61-year-old mum from Kiama, Sydney, who booked Qantas tickets for her father, brother, sister-in-law, and two nieces.

However, her joy quickly turned into disbelief when the tickets vanished into thin air due to an alleged 'error' on Qantas' part, just one night before their scheduled flight.

Ms Greeff had spent months planning this long-awaited family reunion and had even booked her 87-year-old father's ticket six months prior through the Qantas website. However, when she tried to book her brother's family tickets through the same site, she was met with a frustrating 'error' message repeatedly.

So, she contacted Qantas customer service and managed to book the tickets over the phone. But to her surprise and dismay, the tickets were never ticketed, leaving her stranded and out of pocket by a staggering $17,000 - nearly $6,000 more than what she initially thought she had paid.

View attachment 15231

A Qantas customer was left in disbelief when their tickets had seemingly 'disappeared' the night before the flight. Credit: Instagram/heavier.than.air.

What happened?

Ms Greeff booked four economy and premium economy tickets for her family from Johannesburg to Sydney, but according to her, their tickets 'vanished' without warning.

Ms Greeff had received a booking number and an itinerary that confirmed the booking was all set. She had even managed to pick the seats and enter their passport details online, assuming that everything was taken care of.

However, the night before the flight, Ms Greeff was shocked to find that the tickets had been cancelled due to an alleged 'error' or 'glitch' in the system, leaving her and her family stranded.

When she contacted Qantas customer service, they told her that the system 'does that sometimes', and went on to apologise. Despite paying approximately $11,000 for the tickets, Ms Greeff later discovered that the funds were never debited from her account.

She was forced to pay another $17,000 for four new tickets on the same flight, but without the premium tickets she had initially paid for.

Key Takeaways

• Elana Greeff's booking for family flights with Qantas was cancelled the night before the flight.
• She claims she had tried to book her brother's family's tickets but the website showed an 'error' message.
• She was forced to pay a total of around $17,000 for four new tickets which didn't include the premium tickets she originally thought she paid for.

'We sincerely apologise to Ms Greeff for this experience and have contacted her to refund the fare difference,' a Qantas spokesperson said.

After months of communication with the airline, Qantas eventually offered her 3000 points, which she estimated to be worth about $20.

'I am quite disappointed. We have always flown Qantas,' Ms Greeff added, expressing her dissatisfaction with how the situation was handled. It remains unclear whether Ms Greeff will continue to fly with Qantas in the future.

Consumer Champion representative, Adam Glezer, who assisted Ms Greeff in her communication with Qantas, described her as 'distressed' by the situation. He noted that she had to pay an increased amount for her tickets, and some tickets were even downgraded from premium economy to economy.

In response to the situation, a Qantas spokesperson stated that the airline is introducing new technology and processes to direct complex customer requests to more experienced agents to resolve issues more quickly. It remains to be seen how these new measures will impact customers.

While the situation experienced by Ms Greeff is unfortunate, it highlights the importance of being vigilant when booking flights and checking that all details are correct and tickets have been properly issued. It is also important to keep track of payments and to follow up with airlines if any issues arise.

View attachment 15232

These stories are reminders to always be vigilant when booking travel plans. Credit: Unsplash/Killian Pham.

As a lesson for our Seniors Discount Club members, it is always a good idea to double-check all aspects of a booking and to seek assistance from experienced agents if necessary.

Also, feel free to share this article with family and friends to help spread awareness about the importance of being informed and prepared when it comes to airline travel!

What are your thoughts on this story? Let us know in the comments!

This is disgusting!!!! What would happen if the client did not have the $17000 to cover all the extras that have been landed on her plate. Moral? NEVER EVER use Quantas. There are several other airlines who offer a much better service and who do not slice a bit off the top to pay the bonus to top executives.

 

[GOM1983]

Imagine the excitement and anticipation of finally reuniting with loved ones after years of being apart. That was the reality for Elana Greeff, a 61-year-old mum from Kiama, Sydney, who booked Qantas tickets for her father, brother, sister-in-law, and two nieces.

However, her joy quickly turned into disbelief when the tickets vanished into thin air due to an alleged 'error' on Qantas' part, just one night before their scheduled flight.

Ms Greeff had spent months planning this long-awaited family reunion and had even booked her 87-year-old father's ticket six months prior through the Qantas website. However, when she tried to book her brother's family tickets through the same site, she was met with a frustrating 'error' message repeatedly.

So, she contacted Qantas customer service and managed to book the tickets over the phone. But to her surprise and dismay, the tickets were never ticketed, leaving her stranded and out of pocket by a staggering $17,000 - nearly $6,000 more than what she initially thought she had paid.

View attachment 15231

A Qantas customer was left in disbelief when their tickets had seemingly 'disappeared' the night before the flight. Credit: Instagram/heavier.than.air.

What happened?

Ms Greeff booked four economy and premium economy tickets for her family from Johannesburg to Sydney, but according to her, their tickets 'vanished' without warning.

Ms Greeff had received a booking number and an itinerary that confirmed the booking was all set. She had even managed to pick the seats and enter their passport details online, assuming that everything was taken care of.

However, the night before the flight, Ms Greeff was shocked to find that the tickets had been cancelled due to an alleged 'error' or 'glitch' in the system, leaving her and her family stranded.

When she contacted Qantas customer service, they told her that the system 'does that sometimes', and went on to apologise. Despite paying approximately $11,000 for the tickets, Ms Greeff later discovered that the funds were never debited from her account.

She was forced to pay another $17,000 for four new tickets on the same flight, but without the premium tickets she had initially paid for.

Key Takeaways

• Elana Greeff's booking for family flights with Qantas was cancelled the night before the flight.
• She claims she had tried to book her brother's family's tickets but the website showed an 'error' message.
• She was forced to pay a total of around $17,000 for four new tickets which didn't include the premium tickets she originally thought she paid for.

'We sincerely apologise to Ms Greeff for this experience and have contacted her to refund the fare difference,' a Qantas spokesperson said.

After months of communication with the airline, Qantas eventually offered her 3000 points, which she estimated to be worth about $20.

'I am quite disappointed. We have always flown Qantas,' Ms Greeff added, expressing her dissatisfaction with how the situation was handled. It remains unclear whether Ms Greeff will continue to fly with Qantas in the future.

Consumer Champion representative, Adam Glezer, who assisted Ms Greeff in her communication with Qantas, described her as 'distressed' by the situation. He noted that she had to pay an increased amount for her tickets, and some tickets were even downgraded from premium economy to economy.

In response to the situation, a Qantas spokesperson stated that the airline is introducing new technology and processes to direct complex customer requests to more experienced agents to resolve issues more quickly. It remains to be seen how these new measures will impact customers.

While the situation experienced by Ms Greeff is unfortunate, it highlights the importance of being vigilant when booking flights and checking that all details are correct and tickets have been properly issued. It is also important to keep track of payments and to follow up with airlines if any issues arise.

View attachment 15232

These stories are reminders to always be vigilant when booking travel plans. Credit: Unsplash/Killian Pham.

As a lesson for our Seniors Discount Club members, it is always a good idea to double-check all aspects of a booking and to seek assistance from experienced agents if necessary.

Also, feel free to share this article with family and friends to help spread awareness about the importance of being informed and prepared when it comes to airline travel!

What are your thoughts on this story? Let us know in the comments!

Similar things have happened to our family over the years. Has cost us thousands. On one occasion the person I was dealing with face to face at their airport counter was trying to help me, recognizing that it was not my fault. He even phoned his senior manager and they refused to do anything to help. So, he proceeded to process the much higher priced tickets, and said that he could see that his manager was watching him remotely do this on screen to make sure that he didn't try to give me a discount etc. Unbelievable. We never use Qantas anymore unless we have no choice.

 

[riskydave]

Imagine the excitement and anticipation of finally reuniting with loved ones after years of being apart. That was the reality for Elana Greeff, a 61-year-old mum from Kiama, Sydney, who booked Qantas tickets for her father, brother, sister-in-law, and two nieces.

However, her joy quickly turned into disbelief when the tickets vanished into thin air due to an alleged 'error' on Qantas' part, just one night before their scheduled flight.

Ms Greeff had spent months planning this long-awaited family reunion and had even booked her 87-year-old father's ticket six months prior through the Qantas website. However, when she tried to book her brother's family tickets through the same site, she was met with a frustrating 'error' message repeatedly.

So, she contacted Qantas customer service and managed to book the tickets over the phone. But to her surprise and dismay, the tickets were never ticketed, leaving her stranded and out of pocket by a staggering $17,000 - nearly $6,000 more than what she initially thought she had paid.

View attachment 15231

A Qantas customer was left in disbelief when their tickets had seemingly 'disappeared' the night before the flight. Credit: Instagram/heavier.than.air.

What happened?

Ms Greeff booked four economy and premium economy tickets for her family from Johannesburg to Sydney, but according to her, their tickets 'vanished' without warning.

Ms Greeff had received a booking number and an itinerary that confirmed the booking was all set. She had even managed to pick the seats and enter their passport details online, assuming that everything was taken care of.

However, the night before the flight, Ms Greeff was shocked to find that the tickets had been cancelled due to an alleged 'error' or 'glitch' in the system, leaving her and her family stranded.

When she contacted Qantas customer service, they told her that the system 'does that sometimes', and went on to apologise. Despite paying approximately $11,000 for the tickets, Ms Greeff later discovered that the funds were never debited from her account.

She was forced to pay another $17,000 for four new tickets on the same flight, but without the premium tickets she had initially paid for.

Key Takeaways

• Elana Greeff's booking for family flights with Qantas was cancelled the night before the flight.
• She claims she had tried to book her brother's family's tickets but the website showed an 'error' message.
• She was forced to pay a total of around $17,000 for four new tickets which didn't include the premium tickets she originally thought she paid for.

'We sincerely apologise to Ms Greeff for this experience and have contacted her to refund the fare difference,' a Qantas spokesperson said.

After months of communication with the airline, Qantas eventually offered her 3000 points, which she estimated to be worth about $20.

'I am quite disappointed. We have always flown Qantas,' Ms Greeff added, expressing her dissatisfaction with how the situation was handled. It remains unclear whether Ms Greeff will continue to fly with Qantas in the future.

Consumer Champion representative, Adam Glezer, who assisted Ms Greeff in her communication with Qantas, described her as 'distressed' by the situation. He noted that she had to pay an increased amount for her tickets, and some tickets were even downgraded from premium economy to economy.

In response to the situation, a Qantas spokesperson stated that the airline is introducing new technology and processes to direct complex customer requests to more experienced agents to resolve issues more quickly. It remains to be seen how these new measures will impact customers.

While the situation experienced by Ms Greeff is unfortunate, it highlights the importance of being vigilant when booking flights and checking that all details are correct and tickets have been properly issued. It is also important to keep track of payments and to follow up with airlines if any issues arise.

View attachment 15232

These stories are reminders to always be vigilant when booking travel plans. Credit: Unsplash/Killian Pham.

As a lesson for our Seniors Discount Club members, it is always a good idea to double-check all aspects of a booking and to seek assistance from experienced agents if necessary.

Also, feel free to share this article with family and friends to help spread awareness about the importance of being informed and prepared when it comes to airline travel!

What are your thoughts on this story? Let us know in the comments!

Wouldn't worry Qantas, they are an embarrassment to this country now. Quicker Allan leaves the better, he has ruined a once great airline for his own benefit.

 

[Tipsy]

Imagine the excitement and anticipation of finally reuniting with loved ones after years of being apart. That was the reality for Elana Greeff, a 61-year-old mum from Kiama, Sydney, who booked Qantas tickets for her father, brother, sister-in-law, and two nieces.

However, her joy quickly turned into disbelief when the tickets vanished into thin air due to an alleged 'error' on Qantas' part, just one night before their scheduled flight.

Ms Greeff had spent months planning this long-awaited family reunion and had even booked her 87-year-old father's ticket six months prior through the Qantas website. However, when she tried to book her brother's family tickets through the same site, she was met with a frustrating 'error' message repeatedly.

So, she contacted Qantas customer service and managed to book the tickets over the phone. But to her surprise and dismay, the tickets were never ticketed, leaving her stranded and out of pocket by a staggering $17,000 - nearly $6,000 more than what she initially thought she had paid.

View attachment 15231

A Qantas customer was left in disbelief when their tickets had seemingly 'disappeared' the night before the flight. Credit: Instagram/heavier.than.air.

What happened?

Ms Greeff booked four economy and premium economy tickets for her family from Johannesburg to Sydney, but according to her, their tickets 'vanished' without warning.

Ms Greeff had received a booking number and an itinerary that confirmed the booking was all set. She had even managed to pick the seats and enter their passport details online, assuming that everything was taken care of.

However, the night before the flight, Ms Greeff was shocked to find that the tickets had been cancelled due to an alleged 'error' or 'glitch' in the system, leaving her and her family stranded.

When she contacted Qantas customer service, they told her that the system 'does that sometimes', and went on to apologise. Despite paying approximately $11,000 for the tickets, Ms Greeff later discovered that the funds were never debited from her account.

She was forced to pay another $17,000 for four new tickets on the same flight, but without the premium tickets she had initially paid for.

Key Takeaways

• Elana Greeff's booking for family flights with Qantas was cancelled the night before the flight.
• She claims she had tried to book her brother's family's tickets but the website showed an 'error' message.
• She was forced to pay a total of around $17,000 for four new tickets which didn't include the premium tickets she originally thought she paid for.

'We sincerely apologise to Ms Greeff for this experience and have contacted her to refund the fare difference,' a Qantas spokesperson said.

After months of communication with the airline, Qantas eventually offered her 3000 points, which she estimated to be worth about $20.

'I am quite disappointed. We have always flown Qantas,' Ms Greeff added, expressing her dissatisfaction with how the situation was handled. It remains unclear whether Ms Greeff will continue to fly with Qantas in the future.

Consumer Champion representative, Adam Glezer, who assisted Ms Greeff in her communication with Qantas, described her as 'distressed' by the situation. He noted that she had to pay an increased amount for her tickets, and some tickets were even downgraded from premium economy to economy.

In response to the situation, a Qantas spokesperson stated that the airline is introducing new technology and processes to direct complex customer requests to more experienced agents to resolve issues more quickly. It remains to be seen how these new measures will impact customers.

While the situation experienced by Ms Greeff is unfortunate, it highlights the importance of being vigilant when booking flights and checking that all details are correct and tickets have been properly issued. It is also important to keep track of payments and to follow up with airlines if any issues arise.

View attachment 15232

These stories are reminders to always be vigilant when booking travel plans. Credit: Unsplash/Killian Pham.

As a lesson for our Seniors Discount Club members, it is always a good idea to double-check all aspects of a booking and to seek assistance from experienced agents if necessary.

Also, feel free to share this article with family and friends to help spread awareness about the importance of being informed and prepared when it comes to airline travel!

What are your thoughts on this story? Let us know in the comments!

you would have to pay me a great amount to fly Qantas. I would rather go Virgin or Air New Zealand

 

[marellep]

Imagine the excitement and anticipation of finally reuniting with loved ones after years of being apart. That was the reality for Elana Greeff, a 61-year-old mum from Kiama, Sydney, who booked Qantas tickets for her father, brother, sister-in-law, and two nieces.

However, her joy quickly turned into disbelief when the tickets vanished into thin air due to an alleged 'error' on Qantas' part, just one night before their scheduled flight.

Ms Greeff had spent months planning this long-awaited family reunion and had even booked her 87-year-old father's ticket six months prior through the Qantas website. However, when she tried to book her brother's family tickets through the same site, she was met with a frustrating 'error' message repeatedly.

So, she contacted Qantas customer service and managed to book the tickets over the phone. But to her surprise and dismay, the tickets were never ticketed, leaving her stranded and out of pocket by a staggering $17,000 - nearly $6,000 more than what she initially thought she had paid.

View attachment 15231

A Qantas customer was left in disbelief when their tickets had seemingly 'disappeared' the night before the flight. Credit: Instagram/heavier.than.air.

What happened?

Ms Greeff booked four economy and premium economy tickets for her family from Johannesburg to Sydney, but according to her, their tickets 'vanished' without warning.

Ms Greeff had received a booking number and an itinerary that confirmed the booking was all set. She had even managed to pick the seats and enter their passport details online, assuming that everything was taken care of.

However, the night before the flight, Ms Greeff was shocked to find that the tickets had been cancelled due to an alleged 'error' or 'glitch' in the system, leaving her and her family stranded.

When she contacted Qantas customer service, they told her that the system 'does that sometimes', and went on to apologise. Despite paying approximately $11,000 for the tickets, Ms Greeff later discovered that the funds were never debited from her account.

She was forced to pay another $17,000 for four new tickets on the same flight, but without the premium tickets she had initially paid for.

Key Takeaways

• Elana Greeff's booking for family flights with Qantas was cancelled the night before the flight.
• She claims she had tried to book her brother's family's tickets but the website showed an 'error' message.
• She was forced to pay a total of around $17,000 for four new tickets which didn't include the premium tickets she originally thought she paid for.

'We sincerely apologise to Ms Greeff for this experience and have contacted her to refund the fare difference,' a Qantas spokesperson said.

After months of communication with the airline, Qantas eventually offered her 3000 points, which she estimated to be worth about $20.

'I am quite disappointed. We have always flown Qantas,' Ms Greeff added, expressing her dissatisfaction with how the situation was handled. It remains unclear whether Ms Greeff will continue to fly with Qantas in the future.

Consumer Champion representative, Adam Glezer, who assisted Ms Greeff in her communication with Qantas, described her as 'distressed' by the situation. He noted that she had to pay an increased amount for her tickets, and some tickets were even downgraded from premium economy to economy.

In response to the situation, a Qantas spokesperson stated that the airline is introducing new technology and processes to direct complex customer requests to more experienced agents to resolve issues more quickly. It remains to be seen how these new measures will impact customers.

While the situation experienced by Ms Greeff is unfortunate, it highlights the importance of being vigilant when booking flights and checking that all details are correct and tickets have been properly issued. It is also important to keep track of payments and to follow up with airlines if any issues arise.

View attachment 15232

These stories are reminders to always be vigilant when booking travel plans. Credit: Unsplash/Killian Pham.

As a lesson for our Seniors Discount Club members, it is always a good idea to double-check all aspects of a booking and to seek assistance from experienced agents if necessary.

Also, feel free to share this article with family and friends to help spread awareness about the importance of being informed and prepared when it comes to airline travel!

What are your thoughts on this story? Let us know in the comments!

 

[marellep]

How can you not know that $11,000 has not been taken out of your bank account one with think it would be obvious that there was a problem

 

[Staffordshire Whippet]

Lesson: ALWAYS use a travel agent for anything more complicated than a single-sector domestic trip, whether that be by air, train, coach or ship, and ALWAYS take the insurance.

 

[ToniaKisliakov]

Imagine the excitement and anticipation of finally reuniting with loved ones after years of being apart. That was the reality for Elana Greeff, a 61-year-old mum from Kiama, Sydney, who booked Qantas tickets for her father, brother, sister-in-law, and two nieces.

However, her joy quickly turned into disbelief when the tickets vanished into thin air due to an alleged 'error' on Qantas' part, just one night before their scheduled flight.

Ms Greeff had spent months planning this long-awaited family reunion and had even booked her 87-year-old father's ticket six months prior through the Qantas website. However, when she tried to book her brother's family tickets through the same site, she was met with a frustrating 'error' message repeatedly.

So, she contacted Qantas customer service and managed to book the tickets over the phone. But to her surprise and dismay, the tickets were never ticketed, leaving her stranded and out of pocket by a staggering $17,000 - nearly $6,000 more than what she initially thought she had paid.

View attachment 15231

A Qantas customer was left in disbelief when their tickets had seemingly 'disappeared' the night before the flight. Credit: Instagram/heavier.than.air.

What happened?

Ms Greeff booked four economy and premium economy tickets for her family from Johannesburg to Sydney, but according to her, their tickets 'vanished' without warning.

Ms Greeff had received a booking number and an itinerary that confirmed the booking was all set. She had even managed to pick the seats and enter their passport details online, assuming that everything was taken care of.

However, the night before the flight, Ms Greeff was shocked to find that the tickets had been cancelled due to an alleged 'error' or 'glitch' in the system, leaving her and her family stranded.

When she contacted Qantas customer service, they told her that the system 'does that sometimes', and went on to apologise. Despite paying approximately $11,000 for the tickets, Ms Greeff later discovered that the funds were never debited from her account.

She was forced to pay another $17,000 for four new tickets on the same flight, but without the premium tickets she had initially paid for.

Key Takeaways

• Elana Greeff's booking for family flights with Qantas was cancelled the night before the flight.
• She claims she had tried to book her brother's family's tickets but the website showed an 'error' message.
• She was forced to pay a total of around $17,000 for four new tickets which didn't include the premium tickets she originally thought she paid for.

'We sincerely apologise to Ms Greeff for this experience and have contacted her to refund the fare difference,' a Qantas spokesperson said.

After months of communication with the airline, Qantas eventually offered her 3000 points, which she estimated to be worth about $20.

'I am quite disappointed. We have always flown Qantas,' Ms Greeff added, expressing her dissatisfaction with how the situation was handled. It remains unclear whether Ms Greeff will continue to fly with Qantas in the future.

Consumer Champion representative, Adam Glezer, who assisted Ms Greeff in her communication with Qantas, described her as 'distressed' by the situation. He noted that she had to pay an increased amount for her tickets, and some tickets were even downgraded from premium economy to economy.

In response to the situation, a Qantas spokesperson stated that the airline is introducing new technology and processes to direct complex customer requests to more experienced agents to resolve issues more quickly. It remains to be seen how these new measures will impact customers.

While the situation experienced by Ms Greeff is unfortunate, it highlights the importance of being vigilant when booking flights and checking that all details are correct and tickets have been properly issued. It is also important to keep track of payments and to follow up with airlines if any issues arise.

View attachment 15232

These stories are reminders to always be vigilant when booking travel plans. Credit: Unsplash/Killian Pham.

As a lesson for our Seniors Discount Club members, it is always a good idea to double-check all aspects of a booking and to seek assistance from experienced agents if necessary.

Also, feel free to share this article with family and friends to help spread awareness about the importance of being informed and prepared when it comes to airline travel!

What are your thoughts on this story? Let us know in the comments!

 

[ToniaKisliakov]

Qantas should have been onto this straight away after the passenger got the "error" message as Qantas staff member knows about such "errors" Instead they made her pay more. Very bad PR. It is not a company I would ever book with.

 

[lizclarke]

You fly QANTAS you get bitten. People will never learn. It’s the “it won’t happen to me” attitude

 

[Philpy]

Imagine the excitement and anticipation of finally reuniting with loved ones after years of being apart. That was the reality for Elana Greeff, a 61-year-old mum from Kiama, Sydney, who booked Qantas tickets for her father, brother, sister-in-law, and two nieces.

However, her joy quickly turned into disbelief when the tickets vanished into thin air due to an alleged 'error' on Qantas' part, just one night before their scheduled flight.

Ms Greeff had spent months planning this long-awaited family reunion and had even booked her 87-year-old father's ticket six months prior through the Qantas website. However, when she tried to book her brother's family tickets through the same site, she was met with a frustrating 'error' message repeatedly.

So, she contacted Qantas customer service and managed to book the tickets over the phone. But to her surprise and dismay, the tickets were never ticketed, leaving her stranded and out of pocket by a staggering $17,000 - nearly $6,000 more than what she initially thought she had paid.

View attachment 15231

A Qantas customer was left in disbelief when their tickets had seemingly 'disappeared' the night before the flight. Credit: Instagram/heavier.than.air.

What happened?

Ms Greeff booked four economy and premium economy tickets for her family from Johannesburg to Sydney, but according to her, their tickets 'vanished' without warning.

Ms Greeff had received a booking number and an itinerary that confirmed the booking was all set. She had even managed to pick the seats and enter their passport details online, assuming that everything was taken care of.

However, the night before the flight, Ms Greeff was shocked to find that the tickets had been cancelled due to an alleged 'error' or 'glitch' in the system, leaving her and her family stranded.

When she contacted Qantas customer service, they told her that the system 'does that sometimes', and went on to apologise. Despite paying approximately $11,000 for the tickets, Ms Greeff later discovered that the funds were never debited from her account.

She was forced to pay another $17,000 for four new tickets on the same flight, but without the premium tickets she had initially paid for.

Key Takeaways

• Elana Greeff's booking for family flights with Qantas was cancelled the night before the flight.
• She claims she had tried to book her brother's family's tickets but the website showed an 'error' message.
• She was forced to pay a total of around $17,000 for four new tickets which didn't include the premium tickets she originally thought she paid for.

'We sincerely apologise to Ms Greeff for this experience and have contacted her to refund the fare difference,' a Qantas spokesperson said.

After months of communication with the airline, Qantas eventually offered her 3000 points, which she estimated to be worth about $20.

'I am quite disappointed. We have always flown Qantas,' Ms Greeff added, expressing her dissatisfaction with how the situation was handled. It remains unclear whether Ms Greeff will continue to fly with Qantas in the future.

Consumer Champion representative, Adam Glezer, who assisted Ms Greeff in her communication with Qantas, described her as 'distressed' by the situation. He noted that she had to pay an increased amount for her tickets, and some tickets were even downgraded from premium economy to economy.

In response to the situation, a Qantas spokesperson stated that the airline is introducing new technology and processes to direct complex customer requests to more experienced agents to resolve issues more quickly. It remains to be seen how these new measures will impact customers.

While the situation experienced by Ms Greeff is unfortunate, it highlights the importance of being vigilant when booking flights and checking that all details are correct and tickets have been properly issued. It is also important to keep track of payments and to follow up with airlines if any issues arise.

View attachment 15232

These stories are reminders to always be vigilant when booking travel plans. Credit: Unsplash/Killian Pham.

As a lesson for our Seniors Discount Club members, it is always a good idea to double-check all aspects of a booking and to seek assistance from experienced agents if necessary.

Also, feel free to share this article with family and friends to help spread awareness about the importance of being informed and prepared when it comes to airline travel!

What are your thoughts on this story? Let us know in the comments!

My question is, how is it that you pay a fare which gets changed for whatever reason, by the company, and you have to pay the fare again to do the same ? And obviously the points system is inequitable also.

 

[Jest]

Imagine the excitement and anticipation of finally reuniting with loved ones after years of being apart. That was the reality for Elana Greeff, a 61-year-old mum from Kiama, Sydney, who booked Qantas tickets for her father, brother, sister-in-law, and two nieces.

However, her joy quickly turned into disbelief when the tickets vanished into thin air due to an alleged 'error' on Qantas' part, just one night before their scheduled flight.

Ms Greeff had spent months planning this long-awaited family reunion and had even booked her 87-year-old father's ticket six months prior through the Qantas website. However, when she tried to book her brother's family tickets through the same site, she was met with a frustrating 'error' message repeatedly.

So, she contacted Qantas customer service and managed to book the tickets over the phone. But to her surprise and dismay, the tickets were never ticketed, leaving her stranded and out of pocket by a staggering $17,000 - nearly $6,000 more than what she initially thought she had paid.

View attachment 15231

A Qantas customer was left in disbelief when their tickets had seemingly 'disappeared' the night before the flight. Credit: Instagram/heavier.than.air.

What happened?

Ms Greeff booked four economy and premium economy tickets for her family from Johannesburg to Sydney, but according to her, their tickets 'vanished' without warning.

Ms Greeff had received a booking number and an itinerary that confirmed the booking was all set. She had even managed to pick the seats and enter their passport details online, assuming that everything was taken care of.

However, the night before the flight, Ms Greeff was shocked to find that the tickets had been cancelled due to an alleged 'error' or 'glitch' in the system, leaving her and her family stranded.

When she contacted Qantas customer service, they told her that the system 'does that sometimes', and went on to apologise. Despite paying approximately $11,000 for the tickets, Ms Greeff later discovered that the funds were never debited from her account.

She was forced to pay another $17,000 for four new tickets on the same flight, but without the premium tickets she had initially paid for.

Key Takeaways

• Elana Greeff's booking for family flights with Qantas was cancelled the night before the flight.
• She claims she had tried to book her brother's family's tickets but the website showed an 'error' message.
• She was forced to pay a total of around $17,000 for four new tickets which didn't include the premium tickets she originally thought she paid for.

'We sincerely apologise to Ms Greeff for this experience and have contacted her to refund the fare difference,' a Qantas spokesperson said.

After months of communication with the airline, Qantas eventually offered her 3000 points, which she estimated to be worth about $20.

'I am quite disappointed. We have always flown Qantas,' Ms Greeff added, expressing her dissatisfaction with how the situation was handled. It remains unclear whether Ms Greeff will continue to fly with Qantas in the future.

Consumer Champion representative, Adam Glezer, who assisted Ms Greeff in her communication with Qantas, described her as 'distressed' by the situation. He noted that she had to pay an increased amount for her tickets, and some tickets were even downgraded from premium economy to economy.

In response to the situation, a Qantas spokesperson stated that the airline is introducing new technology and processes to direct complex customer requests to more experienced agents to resolve issues more quickly. It remains to be seen how these new measures will impact customers.

While the situation experienced by Ms Greeff is unfortunate, it highlights the importance of being vigilant when booking flights and checking that all details are correct and tickets have been properly issued. It is also important to keep track of payments and to follow up with airlines if any issues arise.

View attachment 15232

These stories are reminders to always be vigilant when booking travel plans. Credit: Unsplash/Killian Pham.

As a lesson for our Seniors Discount Club members, it is always a good idea to double-check all aspects of a booking and to seek assistance from experienced agents if necessary.

Also, feel free to share this article with family and friends to help spread awareness about the importance of being informed and prepared when it comes to airline travel!

What are your thoughts on this story? Let us know in the comments!

one has to be vigilant. Okay. Qantus how about you being vigilant? Not a company that I like to use. Possibly due to the top person. My sympathies lie with this lady.

 

[Catherines]

I tested CoVid positive 10 days before having to travel to a city within Australia. I phoned my booking agent who initially told me I wouldn’t get credit if I hadn’t taken out travel insurance (at what price?) to cover a small fare of $700. However, we were given a credit by Jetstar to be used within 18 months. Many don’t travel with this airline but paying almost one and a half times more to fly with Qantas was just not acceptable. I am grateful to Jetstar for giving us this credit without any problem and I said I would get hospital medical certificates to back me up. I guess they understood the situation was not our fault and by not travelling on the booked date would keep all other passenger’s CoVid free. Thank you Jetstar. We usually try and fly Singapore airlines for overseas trips - their fares are not over priced like Qantas’. How much is Qantas’ CEO going to take away as bonus on his departure? The amount will be sinful especially since the airline has made so much profit and is withholding thousands of customers’ money - illegally, I believe.

 

[LynneM]

I dont know how points system work or anything, but I have traveled overseas with Jetstar on 5 occasions, return, and never had any trouble at all. Will always fly with Jetstar.