Shocking: Qantas allegedly overcharges traveller $6,000! Are you also paying too much?
- Replies 8
We all know that life has become a lot more expensive nowadays, between the cost of everyday items like food and electricity and those pesky petrol prices going up again. Now more than ever, we need to be smart about how we spend our hard-earned money, and this goes particularly when it comes to travelling.
Gold Coast businesswoman Samantha Cardone, founder of travel pillow brand Plane Pal, was charged a whopping $6,000 after she alleges she was overcharged by Qantas while trying to book flights to a popular holiday destination using travel credits.
She had accumulated some travel credits through the Qantas Pass, a type of loyalty wallet that stores credits. Unbeknownst to her, these credits weren't being used to pay for her ticket, and she was being charged the full amount on her credit card.
According to her, a customer service team spent weeks looking into the issue and was told she had to re-book her flights out-of-pocket to redeem the travel credits and at an even higher fare given the prices had soared over the period.
Unfortunately, even these ended up for nothing.
'I then followed up with them again and was told the only way to resolve it was to cancel everything, again. Then I was told that the price had gone up–again! So, as you can imagine, I was pretty furious,' Cardone said.
At the end of it all, she was able to rebook, but forced to pay an extra $1000 for the same tickets she bought in the first place.
'Glitches happen. But a month later to still be fighting about it, and to charge me the price difference from then to now, that's the bit that really just got me over the line. It's a bit rich,' she said.
In July, the national flag carrier and its budget arm Jetstar called on patrons to make use of the remaining $400 million unused travel credits, which are set to expire at the end of 2023.
A draft report from the Airline Customer Advocate (ACA) showed that the carrier had a staggering 6,918 reports made against them in 2022–and it doesn't seem to be getting any better. Complaints against Qantas in 2022 had surpassed levels before the pandemic despite having a lower number of passengers.
So how can you ensure you stay on top of your finances when booking flights to your dream destination? Below are some tips!
First, consider booking directly through the airline's official website. While third-party booking sites may seem convenient, they are not always transparent about the final fare. Hidden fees can soon add up, making your flight not so affordable after all. Stick with official sources, and you're less likely to incur surprise charges.
Second, always double-check the price breakdown before entering your credit card details. Look carefully for additional fees such as (but not limited to!): baggage charges, taxes, and even 'convenience fees'.
Third, be on the lookout for dynamic pricing. It's a sneaky trick many companies use today, not just airlines. The premise is that prices will fluctuate based on demand, time of day, and even the device you're using! If the price suddenly jumps up, try clearing your browser cookies or switching to a different device before you give up entirely.
Finally, create a paper trail. Whether by taking a screenshot of the final price or emailing yourself confirmation of the charges, always ensure you have proof of what you agreed to pay. In the unfortunate event of an overcharge, this evidence will be your best friend when negotiating with customer service.
If you experience any issues when booking, always contact the customer service department as soon as possible to try and resolve the situation.
In summary, be meticulous, take time, and challenge anything you feel is amiss. Take these tips to heart, and don't let the airlines play you. Stay sharp and fly smart, folks!
Sharing is caring–if you have any tips on booking the cheapest flight tickets, share them with us in the comments section below!
Gold Coast businesswoman Samantha Cardone, founder of travel pillow brand Plane Pal, was charged a whopping $6,000 after she alleges she was overcharged by Qantas while trying to book flights to a popular holiday destination using travel credits.
Samantha Cardone was charged a whopping $6,000 while trying to book a flight using her travel credits. Image source: Qantas (left) / stocking on Freepik (right)
She had accumulated some travel credits through the Qantas Pass, a type of loyalty wallet that stores credits. Unbeknownst to her, these credits weren't being used to pay for her ticket, and she was being charged the full amount on her credit card.
According to her, a customer service team spent weeks looking into the issue and was told she had to re-book her flights out-of-pocket to redeem the travel credits and at an even higher fare given the prices had soared over the period.
Unfortunately, even these ended up for nothing.
'I then followed up with them again and was told the only way to resolve it was to cancel everything, again. Then I was told that the price had gone up–again! So, as you can imagine, I was pretty furious,' Cardone said.
At the end of it all, she was able to rebook, but forced to pay an extra $1000 for the same tickets she bought in the first place.
'Glitches happen. But a month later to still be fighting about it, and to charge me the price difference from then to now, that's the bit that really just got me over the line. It's a bit rich,' she said.
In July, the national flag carrier and its budget arm Jetstar called on patrons to make use of the remaining $400 million unused travel credits, which are set to expire at the end of 2023.
A draft report from the Airline Customer Advocate (ACA) showed that the carrier had a staggering 6,918 reports made against them in 2022–and it doesn't seem to be getting any better. Complaints against Qantas in 2022 had surpassed levels before the pandemic despite having a lower number of passengers.
So how can you ensure you stay on top of your finances when booking flights to your dream destination? Below are some tips!
First, consider booking directly through the airline's official website. While third-party booking sites may seem convenient, they are not always transparent about the final fare. Hidden fees can soon add up, making your flight not so affordable after all. Stick with official sources, and you're less likely to incur surprise charges.
Second, always double-check the price breakdown before entering your credit card details. Look carefully for additional fees such as (but not limited to!): baggage charges, taxes, and even 'convenience fees'.
Third, be on the lookout for dynamic pricing. It's a sneaky trick many companies use today, not just airlines. The premise is that prices will fluctuate based on demand, time of day, and even the device you're using! If the price suddenly jumps up, try clearing your browser cookies or switching to a different device before you give up entirely.
Finally, create a paper trail. Whether by taking a screenshot of the final price or emailing yourself confirmation of the charges, always ensure you have proof of what you agreed to pay. In the unfortunate event of an overcharge, this evidence will be your best friend when negotiating with customer service.
If you experience any issues when booking, always contact the customer service department as soon as possible to try and resolve the situation.
In summary, be meticulous, take time, and challenge anything you feel is amiss. Take these tips to heart, and don't let the airlines play you. Stay sharp and fly smart, folks!
Sharing is caring–if you have any tips on booking the cheapest flight tickets, share them with us in the comments section below!
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