Why does the Qantas website block VPNs?

[Mattg]

Has anyone ever noticed that the Qantas website simply doesn't work if you have a VPN switched on?

I'm genuinely interested in the logic as to why Qantas would do this (assuming it's intentional).

 

[Pushka]

It's been working for me. I'm using Express VPN.

 

[kpc]

I just turned on my VPN...Qf app still works normally.

 

[Be.au]

Perhaps Qantas has received a lot of DDoS traffic from customers using your VPN?
Perhaps Qantas has had a large number of fraudulent transactions from customers using your VPN?
Perhaps Qantas sees a lot of automated/bot activity from behind that VPN?

Which VPN service is it?

 

[transpactraveller]

Just tried with my (paid) VPN and seems to work (but haven't tried to do anything other than visit the homepage)

I would assume it's not intentional, they probably use some outsourced AI security now which made a mistake and thought you were a bot.

 

[Himeno]

I'm currently using surfshark. I've had issues when I'm connected via the Melbourne server, not just on Qantas, but the problems go away if I change to another server.

 

[Warragul]

I've had issues with the website using Express VPN, but none with the App on my phone with the same VPN. Sometimes changing to a different server in the same city resolved the issue, sometimes not.

 

[funnymummy]

I have Nord and cannot sign in unless I pause it. So annoying

 

[ChrisMars]

Chances are some aggressive web scraping were running via that vpn, and Qantas blocked the ip address or ip address range used by that vpn.

 

[Pushka]

Sometimes websites block certain locations. One website I couldn't access using Victorian site but NSW worked fine. I think it was Foxtel or Netflix while overseas.

 

[SYD]

Working for me using a McAfee VPN.

I vaguely recall have some issues while OS and probably got it to work by just forcing the VPN to Oz.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

I frequently access the QF website using IPVanish VPN to pretend I am in France.
I do this to avoid the site defaulting to Australia/English and giving me me warnings about being on the French site and paying in euros every time I search for flights departing Paris.
I haven't been blocked.

 

[Berlin]

Nord is one of the ones that Qantas blocks but I’ve gotten rid of that now. I found that generally, the more known the VPN is, the more likely their servers get black listed.

 

[QfHrGr]

Nord is one of the ones that Qantas blocks but I’ve gotten rid of that now. I found that generally, the more known the VPN is, the more likely their servers get black listed.

I'm a long term Nord user & I have not experienced any blocks from Qantas. If you find certain servers are getting blocked, just change the server for one that is clear. Woolworths does this with some Sydney servers but most are ok. That's probably why theses VPNs retire servers from time to time. Give feedbacks so they may keep ahead of the game.

 

[serfty]

I have experienced blocking from Qantas on searches, even when not using VPN.

It normally happened when I have done a dozen or more searches in quick succession.

I just change from Wi-Fi to Mobile data and continue.

 

[ols]

Express VPN is working fine on Qantas.
Though I reckon it really slows down Virgin and Virgin Velocity sites.

 

[Seat0B]

I have Nord and cannot sign in unless I pause it. So annoying

That's weird! I also have Nord and just signed in completely fine. Maybe it depends where you have it set to? Mine is currently set to Sydney. I have used it from a number of different servers without any issues at all.

@Berlin, just edited to add you after I saw your post above. Where did you have yours set to?

 

[PERLHR]

I have Nord and cannot sign in unless I pause it. So annoying

Likewise....and they say Nord is actually the best. (Maybe it is though as probably thinks QF web is fraudulent)!!!

That's weird! I also have Nord and just signed in completely fine. Maybe it depends where you have it set to? Mine is currently set to Sydney. I have used it from a number of different servers without any issues at all.

@Berlin, just edited to add you after I saw your post above. Where did you have yours set to?

Usually mine is set to UK. So if set to Aussie probably fine ...

 

[esseeeayeenn]

I doubt any VPN service is banned per se.
It is more likely to be particular IP addresses, corresponding to particular VPN servers.
So if two users of the same VPN service connect to different servers, they would get different results.

 

[Dvg]

I find that it’s intermittent, my VPN is pretty much always on. However sometime the app works and sometimes it doesn’t and same when I log in to the website. I just put it down to “oh that’s just Qantas” lol.