When is Qantas going to cancel November flights?

[MickyS]

Qantas has still only cancelled its international flights until the end of October 2020.

We have flight bookings in early November that we're unable to use, but we need to wait until Qantas cancels them, otherwise we will be charged cancellation fees.

We find it strange that Qantas is not making any decisions yet around flights that are less than 2 months away.

This is what they say about this on their website:

"Our regular pre-COVID-19 international network is unlikely to return until at least July 2021. Because the situation is constantly evolving and may change rapidly, we haven't, at this stage, made a decision to cancel international flights after October 2020."

Does anyone have any idea how Qantas will be dealing with this? Are people expecting them to announce cancellations on a monthly basis, maybe, or only for certain flights or destinations?

We'll continue to wait and monitor the situation, but was wondering if anyone here might have any insight into this.

 

[kpc]

My Syd - Jnb flight in mid Nov got cancelled today. Phone call to Plat line answered in 20 secs, and cancellation took 30 secs. Pts will be back in 2-3 days, surcharges up til 12 weeks!!

 

[RAM]

Two important (& useful) bits of information.

1) Q has 'officially' cancelled all (except NZ flights I believe) international flights through until March 28th, 2021. So everyone is now entitled to a full cash refund no matter what airfare you purchased, including a non-refundable one.

2) That is what the ACCC have said (from their web site):

Qantas offers refunds for flight cancellations

The ACCC says it is pleased Qantas has begun contacting its customers to tell them they are entitled to a refund for domestic or international flights cancelled or suspended due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.

www.accc.gov.au

Some on AFF have been discussing that this 'full cash refund' is restricted to only certain tickets under Q's T&Cs. The ACCC disagrees and states that ALL tickets are elligible for full cash refund.

Qantas’ terms and conditions state that customers with fares booked on any of its domestic and international flights are entitled to have their fare refunded if Qantas makes a significant change to their flight, and Qantas cannot offer another booking which is acceptable to the customer.

The ACCC was concerned that Qantas’ communications to customers between 17 March 2020 and 31 May 2020 did not adequately inform them of their right to receive a refund.

In some cases, the ACCC considers Qantas’ emails may have encouraged these customers to cancel bookings themselves in order to receive a credit when many would have been eligible for a refund.

“We want to ensure that customers are aware that when Qantas suspends or cancels flights due to travel restrictions and fails to provide them with an acceptable alternative flight, they are entitled to a refund,” ACCC Chair Rod Sims said.
....

“From our perspective, from the outset, Qantas did not communicate clearly with customers about their rights and, in a large number of cases, simply omitted they were entitled to a refund,” Mr Sims said.

Good luck!

 

[serfty]

I suspect Qantas is waiting for as long as possible because the 10 week refund clock starts ticking.

They want to hold on to the dollars as long as they can. .

 

[AIRwin]

I'm also waiting for my flights over Christmas to be cancelled...

 

[Seat0B]

And I’m waiting for January 2021 flights to be cancelled...

 

[RosieD]

When I was arranging a refund for cancelled Oct flights, I asked about our Dec international flights and the agent told me that they are doing cancellations in 'blocks'. And, she seemed to think Nov, Dec, Jan flights probably won't be cancelled until late Oct.

 

[AIRwin]

And, she seemed to think Nov, Dec, Jan flights probably won't be cancelled until late Oct.

Oh I was expecting later this month at the end of the first 6 months of international border closure...

 

[MickyS]

When I was arranging a refund for cancelled Oct flights, I asked about our Dec international flights and the agent told me that they are doing cancellations in 'blocks'. And, she seemed to think Nov, Dec, Jan flights probably won't be cancelled until late Oct.

Oh wow, I would find it pretty stressful if my early November flights remained active until the end of October!

I'm hoping they'll cancel flights at least a month in advance.

 

[Seat0B]

Oh wow, I would find it pretty stressful if my early November flights remained active until the end of October!

I'm hoping they'll cancel flights at least a month in advance.

I know it is stressful, but I am pretty confident that your flights will be cancelled based on everything that has been publicly stated by Qantas (such as the quote in your initial post and the fact that the travel ban on leaving the country remains in place. I think they are playing chicken - if you blink first and cancel, then you will lose the cancellation cost. If they blink first, they have to give you a full refund. If the cancellation cost doesn't bother you, and you want peace of mind, cancel now. Otherwise, I think it's worth waiting a bit longer.

 

[AIRwin]

Yes it's all a waiting game and I even have a Qantas price promise on my flight booking...

 

[vmile]

If you cancel your November flight now, you have to pay the cancellation charge. Ok
But would you get your money back immediately or do you still have to wait the 10 weeks???

 

[Seat0B]

If you cancel your November flight now, you have to pay the cancellation charge. Ok
But would you get your money back immediately or do you still have to wait the 10 weeks???

You will still have to wait the 10 weeks from the time you cancel. Ie you will get the refund, less the cancellation costs, when they process them which is at least 10 weeks according to other AFFers.

 

[gazzab]

Hi guys, had a message yesterday to ring Q re upcoming flights, we were going to Maldives in November, Qantas have not cancelled but Sri Lanka has for the Sri Lanka to Male leg so offered voucher or refund, took the later but offered 10% on top of voucher or double status points - no thanks. I have a trip to Auckland in November and asked if cancelled but not yet.

 

[AIRwin]

Hi guys, had a message yesterday to ring Q re upcoming flights, we were going to Maldives in November, Qantas have not cancelled but Sri Lanka has for the Sri Lanka to Male leg so offered voucher or refund, took the later but offered 10% on top of voucher or double status points - no thanks.

Were the QF flights between Australia and SIN?

 

[gazzab]

Were the QF flights between Australia and SIN?

Yep.

 

[woodyren]

I have a Qantas flight to Singapore in late Oct that has not been cancelled as yet.

 

[gazzab]

I have a Qantas flight to Singapore in late Oct that has not been cancelled as yet.

Mine was cancelled as the Sri Lanka leg was cancelled by Sri Lanka. G

 

[AIRwin]

I have a Qantas flight to Singapore in late Oct that has not been cancelled as yet.

Applied for your travel exemption yet?

 

[mrsterryn]

My Nov flight QF1 has been cancelled and I have been advised