Query regarding cancelling booked flights (with points)

[Keasm]

Hi
Long time lurker, first time poster. In a fit of foolish optimism, I booked my wife & family on a number of international flights back in April this year using our Qantas points for travel (on both Qantas and Oneworld airlines) in March 2021. With Qantas now cancelling international flights until at least July 2021, what's the best way to cancel my bookings (and at the least get the $ spent on taxes, etc reimbursed)?

I confess I've never had to cancel flights before so - Is it better to wait until Qantas pulls the pin and cancels everything, or is it a simple matter of calling the help desk and working through it with them (and perhaps incurring the 6,000 point penalty per flight)?

If anyone has gone through this process already, their advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[I love to travel]

Just wait until Qantas cancel but you will need to be patient as they wont proactively do it for a while.

 

[cjd600]

If they're Classic Award bookings it's a simple matter of calling up.
They are currently waiving the points fee for changes or cancellations for Classic Awards up until 31 October. After which usual 6k pp penalty will apply to cancel.
So if its a Classic Award, you can do it now for full points refund + taxes/charges refund

Flexible Classic Flight Rewards | Qantas Frequent Flyer

Book an eligible Classic Flight Reward using your points, we’ll waive any change or cancellation fees until 31 October 2020.

www.qantas.com

 

[Battymum]

or just do it on the website through "manage my booking"
Be prepared to wait - I only just got mine refunded after cancelling on the 8th of May, and I did have to follow it up last week.
But you should get all your points and taxes back. (I lost about $40 on exchange rates), it will be credited back to the card you originally used to pay.

 

[Keasm]

Thanks everyone for their comments; I'll wait until mid-October I guess to see how things have gone (hopefully improved), but again - cheers & thanks