It interesting that airlines like QANTAS say they are providing even more flexibility to customers wishing to change their travel plans, now allowing unlimited flight date changes until at least January 2022, with QANTAS saying that the change coincides with a nationwide domestic sale, with more than 1 million seats on sale to 55 destinations starting from $99 and a boost to the premium-service offered on-board.
On the face of it, excellent, but I do wonder if QANTAS is really doing what it can to drive domestic holidays, or is this like its competitor Virgin Australia, merely a desperate attempt to sell more seats, as they are way behind on their sales and income estimates, with their desperation disguised as that they are doing Australians a favour with cheap flights when it is not that at all?
In addition and I believe a key issue, I have asked QANTAS a number of times if all the funds that were spent by Australians and others on international and even domestic flights and QANTAS Holidays packages that were cancelled due to COVID-19 have now been refunded for flights and holidays cancelled as a result of COVID…and I do not seem to be able to secure a cohesive and comprehensive reply only PR spin and nothing concrete, when a Yes or No would do!
I even asked their media office again on this Sunday afternoon and even though their spokesperson was lovely, very professional and very helpful, they could not answer that question but have promised to get back to me, so let’s wait and see!
The reason I keep asking this and in this context in particular of their appearing to try to get Aussies to spend on holidays in Australia is that if I had spent say $10,000 or $20,000 or less or more on a trip to Asia, Europe or USA or even in Australia with a large part of that a QANTAS flight and holiday and may be paid by credit card and had not received a refund or even flight credits, I think most Aussies would be hard pushed to be in a position to book a replacement domestic holiday.
In addition, even if I had been given $10,000 or whatever of flight credits, how would I actually spend say $10,000 or $20,000 on domestic flights – that is a lot of flights to Ballina for example!
In the release they sent today, Qantas Group Chief Customer Officer, Stephanie Tully, said with international borders closed, the best way to drive tourism is by making it even easier for Australians to explore their own backyard, adding, “To help manage the uncertainty’ adding, “As the national carrier, [GTM comment: which they are not!] we have an important role to play in helping the industry recover from COVID-19, and we know that given the right opportunity, people are keen to travel” adding, “Customers have told us that sudden changes to border restrictions by state governments are giving them second thoughts about going on holidays or taking a business trip,” and “We’ve introduced the highest level of flexibility in the market so people can plan their next trip with confidence”, and “By giving customers unlimited flight date changes for almost a year, we think it will encourage more people to book, helping to boost tourism which is so vital to local economies and businesses around the country.”
The release says that the updated “Fly Flexible” policy applies to all new domestic flight bookings for Qantas and QantasLink and Trans-Tasman services booked from today until at least the end of April and the flight date can be changed to any available for sale at the time (up to 355 days in advance). Qantas will waive the change fee (a fare difference may apply). Customers could previously make one flight change, for travel until the end of June.
What it does not say though is whether flight credits can be use, so I must ask that question!
So, let’s see if they get back to me with the answer to my questions and let’s hope for good news – I will let you know!
A report by John Alwyn-Jones
.jpg){kind=tracking}
… i don’t understand why i cant help raising eyebrows /almost involuntarily now..lol/ everyrtime i read a qantas report by john alwyn jones… let’s hope it’s not personal…. but it seems qantas has yet to reply to the author’s legit query …. or was the author a victim of qantas’ unrefunded cancelled flights… or both… oh well… let’s just hope for the best… lol
Hi gnits – thank you for your comments – greatly appreciated.
Of course nothing I write is personal but I do like to raise issues that concern me and should be of concern to others including yourself.
There appears to me to be rather a lack of clarity in this world of media and PR and I often simply say it the way it is or as it appears to me to be!
You see I hate smoke and mirrors and releases that are not clear and that is not just an issue wth QANTAS but many others including their competitors and others I raise the same sorts of questions about them too!
I called and asked QANTAS the question about refunds and was told they would get back to me but no reply as yet, so isn’t reasonable to conclude that they may not want to talk about it?
No I was not the victim of QANTAS unrefunded cancelled flights, but many are and will always try and do what I can for the under dog!
Thx.
J