Qantas flight cancellations. How to cancel flights and what happens after

Booked to fly with Qantas but need to cancel? In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to cancel flights with Qantas.

We delve into details regarding cancellation fees, how to lodge a refund request and what to do if the airline unexpectedly cancels your flights.

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Qantas cancellation policy. Can you cancel flights with Qantas?

Yes, Qantas generally permits cancellations for ticketed bookings. However, it should be noted that like all airlines, the conditions surrounding cancellation may vary.

This means that while you may be permitted to cancel, fees and restrictions may also apply depending on the booked fare type.¹

How to cancel flights with Qantas

To cancel flights booked directly with Qantas, you’ll need to retrieve your booking on their website using the booking reference number provided with your tickets.¹

This will give you access to the ‘Manage Booking’ dashboard. From here you then need to¹:

1. Select the red 'cancel/voucher' button in the Flights panel
2. Select the option to create a Flight Credit or refund

Qantas advises that should the ‘cancel/voucher’ button not be visible, you will need to call Qantas customer service to assist.

For Qantas Frequent Flyer or Qantas Business Rewards members, you can also cancel bookings once logged into your account by clicking on ‘Manage’.

Didn’t book directly? We’ll cover what to do in this scenario further on.

Refund of ticket price when you cancel your flight

Qantas offers a variety of fare types both refundable and non-refundable. We’ve outlined how refunds work below for each of these.

Non-refundable tickets

For non-refundable fares, typically this means that should you need to cancel your flight you will forfeit the entire ticket price and only the taxes will be refunded.¹

There are some instances where you may still be able to secure a refund or credit from Qantas on these tickets such as:

• If you cancel by midnight on the day of booking
• If you cancel your flight due to an event outside of your control and can provide evidence of this to the airline²

It’s important to note that any offer of a refund or credit for a non-refundable ticket remains entirely at the discretion of the airline.

Refundable tickets

For refundable tickets, the amount refunded to you by Qantas will depend on whether a cancellation penalty applies for the fare type booked.

Should cancellations be allowed at zero penalty, the entire fare plus taxes will be refunded. Any add-ons such as seat selection fees or carbon offset costs will not be refunded even if booked against a refundable ticket.¹

Where a cancellation penalty is enforced, your refund will be made up of the original ticket price plus taxes, less these fees. We’ll look at what these fees entail next.¹

Fees for cancelling flights with Qantas

Qantas does not levy a set cancellation fee for flight cancellations. Instead, the fee is determined based on your point of origin and destination.³ Additionally, fees may be higher or lower depending on your fare type or class of travel.

For instance, economy sale fares may include higher penalties for cancellation than a flexi business class ticket. You can read more about specific fare types and their penalties on the Qantas website.

Tickets bought via booking/travel agencies

Where you have purchased your tickets through a third party such as a travel agency or online provider, Qantas asks that you contact them to manage any cancellation requests.¹

If this is not possible, your local Qantas customer service centre may be able to assist, however, they advise service fees may apply.

Cancellations of flight by the airline. What happens?

Should Qantas cancel your booking, you’ll generally be given two options⁴:

1. Accept Qantas rebooking onto the next available flight (where possible) at no charge to you.
2. A choice for a refund or flight credit (where applicable) with no change fees or cancellation penalties regardless of original fare rules.

NB: Should you accept a credit and later decide a refund is preferable as you now need to cancel, penalties may then apply as per your original fare rules.⁴

A quick word on flight credits with Qantas

Should you be offered a flight credit for the value of your unused ticket, it pays to be aware that terms and conditions will also apply for redeeming this in future.

As per Qantas⁵:

“Different conditions apply depending on when your booking was made, the type of booking you held, and why that credit was issued. You should always refer to the fare rules of your original booking, as well as the  terms and conditions applicable for your travel credit.”

Change fees and fare differences (the increase between the original value of your ticket and a new ticket) may also be payable. Credits must also be redeemed by the expiry date provided at the time of issue.

What else to keep in mind about flight cancellations with Qantas

Should you need to cancel a flight with Qantas, we advise also keeping in mind the following:

• If you cannot travel, be sure to advise the airline well in advance - if you simply don’t show up, a no-show fee may be charged, even on fully refundable fares
• Wherever possible, cancellations should be made more than 24 hours prior to booked travel
• Where a Qantas credit is issued for a booking held with a third party, this typically means it must also be redeemed by that agency or provider
• To protect yourself against loss, getting travel insurance at the time you make a booking is recommended

Contacting Qantas

Should you need to speak with Qantas regarding a change or cancellation to your booking before departure, you can contact them 24/7 via:

• 13 13 13

If overseas, please check the Qantas website for your nearest local support number as Qantas has dedicated customer care offices in multiple regions across the globe.

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Sources:

1. Qantas - Cancellations
2. Qantas - Conditions Of Carriage
3. Qantas - Schedule Of Fees
4. Qantas - Flight Changes By Qantas
5. Qantas - Travel Credits

Sources checked on: 26 June 2024