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Qantas blames Coldplay for airfare surge

Qantas has blamed Coldplay's sell-out Australian tour for a surge in airfares, after new data revealed that prices on some routes doubled after Rex Airlines went into administration in July. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission released their latest report on domestic airline competition on Tuesday, and found the demise of Rex on capital city routes had an almost instant effect on airfares. “The recent spike in airfares corresponds with a less competitive domestic airline sector after Rex’s exit from 11 of the 23 services between metropolitan cities,” ACCC commissioner Anna Brakey said. “While we also typically see a seasonal peak in air travel in September due to major sporting events and school holidays, there were additional pricing pressures this year. "Passengers were no longer able to access the lower fares that Rex offered, and airline seating capacity decreased following Rex’s exit. This in turn has contributed to higher airfares.” One of the largest price increases was on flights from Adelaide to Melbourne, which went up 95 per cent to $296 one-way for discounted economy fares between July and September. Prices on the Melbourne to Gold Coast route increased by 70 per cent to $432 and Canberra to Melbourne by 54 percent to $298. The ACCC report added that prices of domestic flights might not come down until a new third airline comes in to challenge the duopoly that is Qantas and Virgin Australia. Qantas, which also owns Jetstar, and Virgin carried 98 per cent of domestic passengers, according to the ACCC. “The exit of Rex as a third competing airline group on services between metropolitan cities may have significant longer-term impacts on the domestic aviation sector,” Brakey said. However, Qantas Domestic chief executive Markus Svensson criticised the report, saying it only showed "a snapshot of the lowest fares available to purchase on a particular day", without taking into account events, like the Coldplay concert, "which may impact demand and fares." The airline said the day chosen for the latest report was October 31, when Coldplay had their show in Melbourne. “As such, demand was significantly higher on flights into Melbourne, which means lower fares were snapped up early and the fares left available to purchase three weeks out were higher than usual. The average fare increase on these routes between July and October was significantly lower,” Qantas said. The claimed that their airfares from July to September had increased in line with inflation from the same period in 2023. While domestic airfares are going up, international flights are coming down, with data from Flight Centre showing the cost of an international economy airfare falling by 5 to 10 per cent from the July to September period last year to the same time this year. Image: Claudio Veneroni/IPA/ Shutterstock Editorial

Domestic Travel

Anthony Albanese under fire over free Qantas upgrades

A journalist's new book has claimed that Anthony Albanese has been scoring free flight upgrades with Qantas for over 15 years. According to AFR journalist Joe Aston's new book The Chairman’s Lounge, the PM and his family received upgrades from Qantas over his time as Transportation Minister and Opposition Leader between the years of 2007 and 2019. Aston's investigation allegedly found that Albanese had used his relationship with former Qantas CEO Alan Joyce to secure free upgrades to business and first-class flights on at least 22 occasions. “According to Qantas insiders, Albanese would liaise with Joyce directly about his personal travel,” Aston wrote. Albanese has defended these upgrades by stating they were all “declared as appropriate”, saying, “From time to time, members of parliament receive upgrades. What’s important is that they are declared. All of mine have been declared." “I note that a range of them go back a long, a long period of time and that they have all been declared as appropriate.” Despite claiming that the upgrades were all above board, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton called the perks “a bit strange.” “I think it is a bit strange that Mr Albanese is contacting the CEO of an airline when he is the shadow minister or minister for transport,” said Dutton. “I very strongly believe in the need for people to declare their interests, and sometimes there are oversight and human error involved, but when you’re talking about having a personal phone call to ask for an upgrade, as the transport minister or shadow transport minister, then I presume the prime minister will answer questions about that.” Image credits: Shutterstock/LUKAS COCH/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Editorial

Travel Trouble

Qantas faces the music for selling seats on cancelled flights

Qantas has been fined a whopping $120 million for purposefully misleading customers on flight bookings for several years. After being sued by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) over dishonest conduct relating to the sale of tickets on cancelled flights, the airline admitted they were deceiving travellers by continuing to sell tickets on flights that had already been cancelled. On Tuesday, Justice Helen Rofe formally ordered Qantas to pay a $100 million fine for their conduct, and another $20 million to travellers who were affected. Qantas agreed to pay $225 to affected customers on domestic flights and $450 on international flights. "This is a substantial penalty, which sets a strong signal to all businesses, big or small, that they will face serious consequences if they mislead their customers," ACCC chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said in a statement following the court orders. Earlier this year, Cass-Gottlieb described Qantas’ conduct as “egregious and unacceptable”, after data showed that between May 2021 and August 2023, the airline sold tickets on cancelled flights to more than 86,000 customers. In addition to cancelling the flights, the airline also failed to inform travellers that their flights were no longer going ahead as scheduled. ACCC barrister Christopher Caleo claimed that some senior airline managers knew about different aspects of the issue, including the fact that cancelled flights were not removed from booking pages or that customers could still book those flights, but no single manager was aware of the severity of the issue. "Qantas was aware of deficiencies in their systems," Caleo said. "Despite their awareness, it persisted over an extended period of time and affected a large number of consumers." Caleo added that the sizable fine presented to Qantas was required in order to deter them from any further devious conduct. "A penalty must send a signal to other companies in Australia, particularly to other large companies, that contraventions of Australian consumer law will not be tolerated," he said. "It must sting and must not be an acceptable cost for Qantas for failing to have systems in place." Qantas said it has made changes to its systems and agreed to notify customers of cancelled flights no longer than 48 hours from cancelling a flight and stop selling tickets for those journeys within 24 hours, with these changes also taking effect with subsidiary Jetstar. "The fact that Qantas made these changes makes it clear that Qantas wants to avoid the matter from occurring again," barrister Ruth Higgins said. Image credits: Shutterstock

Travel Trouble

"Super uncomfortable for everyone": Qantas plays R-rated movie for every passenger

Qantas has issued an apology after an R-rated movie was played for every passenger onboard a flight from Sydney to Tokyo. On Saturday, the flight was delayed by an hour due to problems with the in-flight entertainment system, which resulted in cabin crew only being able to play one film on everyone's individual screens. After requests were taken by passengers, the movie Daddio was chosen. The 2023 drama stars Sean Penn and Dakota Johnson as a taxi driver and his passenger as they discuss their relationships, including an affair Johnson’s character had with a married man. One passenger took to Reddit to share their experience of the flight, saying it was "extremely inappropriate", due to scenes of “graphic nudity and a lot of sexting”. “The kind where you could literally read the texts on screen without needing headphones,” the passenger wrote. “It was super uncomfortable for everyone, especially with families and kids on board.” Another passenger said the airline made the switch to Inside Out 2 followed by a New Zealand nature show after playing “40 minutes of penis and boobs”. “These poor kids and the parents because y’all should’ve heard the audible gasps across the plane,” the passenger said. Cabin crew members attempted to fix the screens of those who didn't want to watch the R-rated film, but when this didn't work, resorted to switching the movie entirely. “The movie was clearly not suitable to play for the whole flight and we sincerely apologise to customers for this experience,” a Qantas spokesperson stated. “All screens were changed to a family-friendly movie for the rest of the flight, which is our standard practice for the rare cases where individual movie selection isn’t possible." “We are reviewing how the movie was selected.” Image credits: Shutterstock

Travel Trouble

"No show": Wild reason couple denied refund on flights scheduled during Covid

A Melbourne couple, who had booked flights with Qantas during the state's fifth lockdown, were left furious after they were told they were ineligible for a refund because they were a "no show". Kieran McGregor told news.com.au that he and his partner had originally booked the flights to Darwin for July 18, 2021 through travel giant Expedia. When the number of Covid cases started rising, he moved the flights forward to fly out on the 16th of July, hoping that they would be able to get out before another lockdown, but the day before their flight, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced the state's fifth lockdown. Three years later, McGregor was still stuck between trying to get the refund from Expedia, who said Qantas had the money, and Qantas, who said the travel agent had it. Last year, McGregor contacted Expedia on their X account to try to resolve the issue, but the company said: “We just got off the phone with the airline, and as per advised, the ticket shows suspended on their end due to a no show." “Your ticket is no (sic) eligible for a refund, and has no value as per the airline. We apologize for the inconvenience.” He was "incredulous" when he received the message. “How could I fly if the state of Victoria was in lockdown and I couldn’t move more than 5km from the house?” he told news.com.au. When he contacted Qantas, the airline claimed “the funds will still remain with the agency that you’ve booked with” and to contact them directly for a refund. McGregor told news.com.au the ordeal was “utterly disgraceful” and that he was unaware if the flight went ahead or not. The publication reportedly contacted Expedia and Qantas and on Tuesday morning they finally said that a refund would be issued, but McGregor said he was yet to be contacted. “For flight bookings at Expedia, we generally follow the policies of our travel partners, so any refund is determined by the airline,” an Expedia spokeswoman said. “We have looked into this case with Qantas, and we will be contacting the traveller to process the refund.” While a Qantas spokesman said: “We apologise for the extended delay in resolving this issue and are processing a full refund for their bookings.” It is unclear which company held McGregor's funds, which was reported to be around $2,500. Adam Glezer from Consumer Champion told news.com.au that McGregor came to him recently when he felt he had nowhere else to turn. He said that these situations were quite common. “What Kieran has gone through with Expedia and Qantas is extremely common where the third party says the airline has the money and the airline says the third party has the money. I call it the blame game and there’s only one loser out of it and that’s the customer," he said. “Transparency in these situations is of utmost importance and unfortunately it just doesn’t exist.” Images: news.com.au/ DLeng / Shutterstock.com

Travel Trouble

"Just magical": Aussie Olympians return home in triumph

Australia’s Olympians returned home to a heroes' welcome after the most successful Olympic campaign in the nation’s history. Touching down early Wednesday morning, the athletes were greeted with cheers and applause, marking the end of an extraordinary journey from Paris. The first group of Olympians, including gold medal stars pole vaulter Nina Kennedy and boxer Charlie Senior, landed in Perth to an enthusiastic crowd of family, friends and fans. Kennedy, who secured her gold medal in Paris, expressed her joy, stating, "There is one thing on my list of things I always wanted to do was become Olympic champion...No one can take it away from me." Senior, who won bronze, was equally thrilled, saying, “Coming home is the best feeling out of it all." The celebrations continued on the east coast as another plane full of Australian athletes, adorned with "Go Australia" written in green and gold, arrived in Sydney. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese personally welcomed the team, and popstar Jessica Mauboy, along with The Qantas choir, performed to honour the athletes. Among the first to disembark were dual gold medal canoeist Jessica Fox and swimmer Kaylee McKeown, who made history by becoming the first Australian to win four individual Olympic gold medals. Emotional reunions followed, with McKeown embraced by her family and Today host Sarah Abo, and swimmer Ariarne Titmus shedding tears as she reunited with her parents. Titmus, who played a key role in Australia’s success, shared her excitement for the future, saying, "I think the country just revels in the Olympic experience...I'll enjoy that. Forget about something for a while and just spend some time with my friends and family." The athletes, including young talents like 14-year-old skateboarder Arisa Trew and BMX gold medalist Saya Sakakibara, were praised for their incredible performances. Retired Olympic swimmer Giaan Rooney spoke at length on the significance of their achievements, calling the homecoming "monumental" and "magical". "It was just magical. Paris was magical," she said. "Our athletes were incredible. But really I need to tell you, this is enormous because I came home on the charter flight in 2004 after the Athens Olympics, and back then there wasn't social media or anything like that. You didn't understand the enormity of what you had done or what it meant to be an Aussie at that point, until you landed on this charter flight. So for these athletes, this is just going to blow their minds. "Seeing their family, their friends, everyone that's here to support them after what they've done, it's just going to be magical. It was monumental." Australia's medal tally from the Paris Games was nothing short of historic, with 18 golds, 19 silvers and 16 bronzes, making it the country’s most successful Olympics ever. The 18 gold medals surpassed the previous record of 17 from both the 2004 Athens Games and the Tokyo Olympics three years ago. The total of 53 medals also set a record for an away Games, second only to the 58 medals won at the Sydney 2000 Games. Australia’s success spanned across 14 sports, with five athletes defending their Olympic crowns, including sailor Matt Wearn, paddler Jessica Fox, skateboarder Keegan Palmer and swimmers Kaylee McKeown and Ariarne Titmus. As the nation celebrates these incredible achievements, the athletes look forward to a well-deserved break, surrounded by the love and support of their families and fellow Australians. Their remarkable performances in Paris have not only made history but also inspired a new generation of sporting men and women across the country. Images: Today

International Travel

Former Qantas CEO to have bonuses slashed

Former Qantas CEO Alan Joyce is set to have his bonuses slashed by $9 million. The decision comes after the airline pledged to implement all 23 recommendations made in its review of key governance matters, which were revealed in an update on 2023 financial year executive remuneration. Joyce, who left his role as the Qantas CEO in September 2023, will have his last annual salary with the airline cut by $9.26m, leaving him with $1.8 million. His hefty bonuses were withheld amid mounting pressure from investors following a string of controversies, including the illegal sacking of 1,700 workers, the selling of tickets on already cancelled flights and allegations of anti-competitive behaviour. Qantas released a statement on Thursday saying Mr Joyce's whopping salary led to a number of mistakes that lead to “considerable harm” across multiple areas of the company. “The events that damaged Qantas and its reputation and caused considerable harm to relationships with customers, employees and other stakeholders were due to a number of factors,” the statement read. Following a settlement with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), the airline admitted to “misleading customers in relation to flight cancellations processes” and with the approval of the Federal Court, will pay a $100m penalty on top of also agreeing to a $20m customer remediation program. Incoming Qantas chairman John Mullen said it was important that the board learns from previous mistakes. “It’s important that the board understands what went wrong and learns from the mistakes of the past as it’s clear that we let Australians down,” he said. “As the national carrier it is our duty to make sure we always act in the best interest of stakeholders and hold ourselves to the highest level of accountability.” Image credits: Getty Images

Money & Banking

Qantas slashes cost of more than 450,000 airfares

Qantas has slashed the price of more than 450,000 airfares as part of its latest sale. The airline announced the week-long sale on Tuesday, with more than 120 routes abroad included, and almost 30 overseas destinations. Return economy flights from Sydney to New York is being offered for $1,699 and Sydney to London for $1,799. Flights from Melbourne to Los Angeles are also part of the offer, going for $1,099, while Brisbane to Seoul return economy fares are available for $949. Sydney to Port Vila is $699 and Brisbane to Queenstown is $619. Premium economy return sale fares include Sydney to Los Angeles for $3,199, Melbourne to London for $3,899 and Brisbane to New York for $4,199. For those wanting to travel in business there also return sale fares for Melbourne to Auckland for $1,199, Brisbane to Tokyo for $4,999 and Sydney to London for $8,999. Return Classic Plus fares include Melbourne to Los Angeles in economy from 73,900 points plus $360, Brisbane to New York in premium economy from 236,300 points plus $684, and Brisbane to Tokyo in business from 303,900 points plus $470. The sales will run until 11.59pm AEST on Monday, August 5, unless sold out prior, for travel dates between August and June 2025. Image: Shutterstock

Travel Tips

"I want her parents to know": Fellow Qantas passenger reveals final moments of young woman

The passenger who was seated next to the woman who tragically <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/travel/travel-trouble/young-woman-dies-on-qantas-flight" target="_blank" rel="noopener">died</a> after boarding a Qantas flight has broken his silence on her last moments. Ravinder Singh was seated next to Manpreet Kaur, who passed away shortly after boarding a flight from Melbourne to Delhi on June 20th. The 24-year-old student, who had dreams of becoming a chef, was travelling to see her parents in India for the first time in four years, but did not make it to her destination. Now, Ravinder Singh has shared details on her final moments in the hopes it will bring her grieving parents some comfort. “I was sitting next to her on the Qantas flight from Melbourne to Delhi and was actually the last person to talk to her,” Ravinder Singh exclusively told <a href="https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/incidents/passenger-speaks-after-woman-dies-next-to-him-on-qantas-flight/news-story/24e8396d8eb3a1d35aea4a4291b847ba" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news.com.au</a>. “When I boarded the plane, she was already seated in the aisle. I was in the window, so I asked if she could please get up so I could occupy my seat. “I noticed that she began scrolling through photos on her mobile phone and stopped at a photograph of an elderly couple. I asked if they were her parents. She smiled and nodded and kept staring at it.” Mr Singh, who had been in Australia to visit family, said that everything seemed fine and the plane eventually began moving towards the runway, ready for take off. He explained that Ms Kaur had then put her phone down and rested her head on the seat in front, when he realised something was not right. “She was wearing her seatbelt and leaned forward to rest her head on the seat in front. As the plane was preparing for takeoff, I wanted to alert her to sit upright,” he shared. “But the plane jerked and I expected her to wake up. But instead, her head just moved towards me." “I got the attention of a flight attention and told her that this woman does not seem very well. She checked her pulse and after that, the reaction of the cabin crew was very commendable." “They tried their best to revive her. She was then evacuated by medical staff.” The retired army officer said the incident still “haunts him” and he wants her parents to know that she “left the world peacefully”. “The incident has been etched in my memory for life,” he said. “It is very difficult to digest that a young girl with whom you were just interacting with has passed away in front of your eyes." “Her innocent face stills haunts me and I want her parents to know she loved them a lot. She left this world peacefully looking at their photograph." “My heart breaks for her family who would have been looking forward to seeing her after a long time.” It is understood that Ms Kaur had been feeling "unwell" when she arrived at the airport and boarded the plane with no issues, with reports suggesting she died of tuberculosis. Image credits: news.com.au

Caring

Young woman dies on Qantas flight

A young woman has tragically died onboard a Qantas flight from Melbourne to the Indian city of Delhi. Manpreet Kaur, 24, boarded the international flight to visit her family for the first time in four years, but she never made it to her destination. According to a close friend, the student reportedly “felt unwell” hours before arriving at the airport but managed to board the flight without any issues. However, when she went to put on her seatbelt, Ms Kaur apparently fell to the floor and “died on the spot”. The plane was still grounded when Ms Kaur collapsed, as cabin crew and emergency services rushed to help her. “When she got on the plane, she was struggling to put her seatbelt on,” her friend Gurdip Grewal told the <a title="www.heraldsun.com.au" href="https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/tributes-flow-for-student-who-died-on-qantas-flight-at-melbourne-airport/news-story/aaa561d3d6ab09d15bcf3533312abdab" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-tgev="event119" data-tgev-container="bodylink" data-tgev-order="aaa561d3d6ab09d15bcf3533312abdab" data-tgev-label="news" data-tgev-metric="ev">Herald Sun.</a> “Just before her flight started, she fell in front of her seat and died on the spot.” According to reports from the Herald Sun, it is believed Ms Kaur died of tuberculosis, an infectious disease that mostly affects the lungs. Her roommate, Kuldeep, said Ms Kaur had worked at Australia Post while studying cooking, with dreams of one day becoming a chef. “She was kind and honest,” she told the publication. “She loved to travel with her friends around Victoria.” A <a title="www.gofundme.com" href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/smksq-manpreet-kaur" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoFundMe</a> page has been created for Ms Kaur to help her family, as the fundraising page reads, “Our dear friend Manpreet left us too soon, leaving a void in our lives that can never be filled.” “As we grieve her passing, we want to come together to honour her memory and support her family in their time of need." “As we say our final goodbyes, every contribution, big or small, brings us closer to our goal. Your support means the world to us and Manpreet’s family.” A Qantas spokesperson told <a href="https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/incidents/woman-dies-on-international-qantas-flight/news-story/41934ac049c5f9712e37f3a2680b1e2a" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news.com.au</a> that their “thoughts are with her family and loved ones”. Image credits: GoFundMe

Travel Trouble

Disabled man slams Qantas after they damaged his wheelchair

An Australian man has called out Qantas for damaging his wheelchair during a flight, and then offering him a slim compensation package that wouldn't cover the cost of the repair. Queensland wheelchair athlete Timothy Lachlan was travelling from the USA to Sydney when he claims Qantas luggage handlers broke his wheelchair as it was being loaded onto the plane. Like many Australians living with a disability, Lachlan described his wheelchair as "his legs". "This wheelchair is basically my legs — Qantas has basically broken my legs," he told 7News of the custom chair he's owned for more than a decade. "If you go up the slightest incline, the chair just tips back." Lachlan now can no longer use the chair and says the saga has cost him work as an occupational therapist. He's currently borrowing a friend's chair to get around and says though he did try to fix his chair, he wasn't able due to the extent of the damage. <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C7Q68PmJYXV/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C7Q68PmJYXV/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by 7NEWS Queensland (@7newsqueensland)</a> </div> </blockquote> He was then locked in a bitter compensation battle with the airline for several months, which resulted in Lachlan being offered a mere $3,500, which he claims won't "even cover a set of wheels", let alone repair the entire chair. As part of the settlement agreement, which was described by Lachlan as a "signed confidential settlement", he claims he was forced to stay quiet about the amount he was offered by the airline. However, instead of staying quiet, he decided to do the opposite and call out the airline, which has taken a large hit to its reputation in recent years. In a statement provided to <a href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/qantas-offers-disabled-aussie-3500-to-stay-quiet-after-damaging-his-wheelchair-225833471.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yahoo News Australia</a>, a Qantas spokesperson said they "sincerely apologise to Mr Lachlan for the damage caused to his wheelchair". "We have offered him compensation and are waiting to hear back," a spokesperson said. Lachlan said he would like the incident to serve as a reminder to Qantas, and airlines in general, to be more respectful when it comes to transporting mobility aids. "I am more than happy to meet with them, I invite the CEO of Qantas to jump in this chair and tell me it doesn't need to be replaced," he said. Image credits: 7News

Travel Trouble

Qantas apologises after rejecting cancer patient's refund request

Qantas has issued an apology for rejecting a cancer patient's refund request after his case allegedly did not qualify based on “compassionate reasons”. Neil Ross, 62, decided to book a holiday to Cairns with his wife for a couple of weeks, but two weeks later he was diagnosed with face cancer. “It hit me like a rock,” Mr Ross told news.com.au. “I wasn’t in the life of me, expecting that news.” The Brisbane local was initially told he had Bells Palsy, but was later diagnosed with cancer and had to undergo a 13-hour operation to remove the tumour, causing the right side of his face to be significantly disfigured. He underwent radiation almost every day for six weeks saying it “knocked him to no end”. “I was very thankful that my wife had helped me and still is helping me to get through this.” Ross is yet to be given the all-clear and is still undergoing treatments, including rehab following the loss of muscle mass. He will also undergo plastic surgery to reconstruct the right side of his face. “I had notified Flight Centre that I needed to cancel my flight due to finding out that I had cancer and that l needed treatment urgently,” he said. “As I said to the girl at Flight Centre – ‘look at my face, do you think I want to get a refund for the hell of it? I rather be healthy and go on holiday.” Ross said that the airline issued him a credit note until April 22 of this year, but with his current circumstances, he was unable to travel before that date and applied for a full refund. He also claims that despite sending two medical certificates - the first which stated that Ross was unfit to fly for 12 months, and the second which included detailed information about his condition - it “did not meet requirements on compassion”. “I thought ‘what the hell, what more can I do?’ This has done nothing but cause me a great deal of stress that I don’t need," he said. Ross submitted two different refund requests, one on March 20, which was rejected on the fourth of April, and another on April 9 which was rejected two weeks later. The email from a Flight Centre representative reportedly said: "They have advised that ‘the attached medical certificate does not fit into the GF guidelines for a refund due to compassionate reasons’." According to news.com.au, Qantas has since contacted Ross and issued a refund, after an error was made in processing the supplementary material, by not connecting it to the earlier application. “We apologise to Mr Ross for this experience and have let him know we’re processing a refund for him.” They have also reportedly apologised for any distress they may have caused and are investigating how the error occurred so that it doesn't happen again. Images: news.com.au/ Getty

Travel Trouble

Outraged Qantas flyer captures "absolutely unacceptable" act

Qantas staff have been condemned for leaving a pet crate abandoned on a Sydney tarmac in torrential rain. An outraged passenger captured the moment she saw the pet carrier, and a trolley full of suitcases, left in the rain at Sydney Airport on Friday, and shared it to social media. Sydney was hit with heavy rain on Friday, with some parts of New South Wales recording a month's worth of rainfall within a single day. After passengers had been loaded onto the Qantas aircraft, the concerned traveller noticed the animal had been abandoned in the rain. "Unfortunately the weather was unavoidable, but this luggage was left out in the open in Sydney for 30 mins and the animals for 15 minutes — one facing the rain," the furious passenger wrote on Facebook. Travellers on the same flight were quick to comment on the woman's post, saying their luggage had arrived soaking wet. "[I was on] on same flight, my luggage came home wet. Thinking a cover in these conditions would be nice," they wrote. Others expressed their concerns for the animal left in the crate in the rain, saying it was "animal abuse" to leave a furry friend in those conditions. "Those poor fur babies," one person wrote. "I'd report this if I saw it. Should have brought this to the attention of ground crew ASAP." A third added, "I'm unimpressed by the luggage but those pet carriers out there is absolutely unacceptable. I'd be fuming if my boy was stuck on the tarmac in a cage in torrential rain, making an already stressful situation even worse." "Disgusting to leave those fur babies out in the rain. Almost animal abuse," another said. A spokesperson from Qantas told <a href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/qantas-photo-catches-airline-in-unacceptable-act-id-be-fuming-222149288.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yahoo News</a> that they are investigating the incident and that the airline "takes the safety and welfare of pets travelling with us very seriously". Image credits: Facebook

Travel Trouble

Qantas announces massive overhaul of frequent flyer program

Qantas, Australia's flagship airline, has unveiled significant changes to its frequent flyer program in response to ongoing feedback from millions of members. The announcement, made at the airline's headquarters in Sydney, marks one of the most substantial expansions in the 35-year history of the Qantas Frequent Flyer program. During the event, Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson, alongside Andrew Glance, the newly appointed Loyalty boss, outlined the updates to both the media and select members of the frequent flyer program. These changes aim to address longstanding concerns and enhance the overall experience for loyal customers. A key highlight of the overhaul is the introduction of Classic Plus Flight Rewards, providing members with access to an additional 20 million reward seats for booking flights. Vanessa Hudson said that this expansion is a direct response to member feedback. “The Qantas Frequent Flyer program is an integral part of Qantas and has always been about recognising our customers for their loyalty," Hudson said. "We’ve spent a lot of time listening to members about how we can better reward them . . . We’re adding over 20 million new flight rewards with the launch of a new type of reward seat called Classic Plus. It’s one of the biggest expansions we’ve made to the Frequent Flyer program in its 35-year history." With Classic Plus Flight Rewards, frequent flyer members can now access sought-after destinations such as London, Tokyo, New York and Singapore with greater ease, even during peak travel periods. This substantial increase in available seats – 20 million annually compared to the previous 5 million – represents a significant advantage for members seeking to redeem their points for travel. However, it's important to note that while Classic Plus Flight Rewards offer increased availability, they will require more points to book compared to the original program. This announcement follows recent speculation about a major revamp of the frequent flyer program, with Qantas hinting at changes aimed at allowing customers to maximise the value of their points. These changes come in response to feedback from program members, some of whom have voiced frustrations about the devaluation of points and difficulties in securing rewards seats. Qantas' announcement of sweeping changes to its frequent flyer program signals a significant step in the airline's ongoing efforts to prioritise customer satisfaction and loyalty. Images: Qantas

Money & Banking

Qantas connects two destinations for the first time in 50 years

Qantas has announced a new international route that will see Aussies connected to a popular holiday destination for the first time in 50 years. Two return flights will operate each week between Sydney and Papua New Guinea's Port Moresby, adding to the service already running to the island nation from Brisbane. “These flights will meet the growing demand from the business community for travel between Australia and Papua New Guinea,” Cam Wallace, CEO of Qantas International and Freight, said. “Our new Sydney service will save customers at least three hours in travel time on return trip by avoiding a stopover in Brisbane.” The route is the latest international service to be added to Qantas’ network out of Sydney, with the airline suggesting it will support both business and trade between Australia and Papua New Guinea. Trailing behind island nations such as Fiji and Indonesia, Papua New Guinea's tourism industry is steadily growing in popularity largely due to containing the world’s third largest rainforest, crystal clear waters, and 45,000km of coral reefs. As the number of annual travellers to PNG increases, so does accommodation options, with Marriott International announcing earlier this year that they would be expanding their accommodation into Papua New Guinea, marketing those wishing to have an “extended stay”. “We are thrilled to establish our inaugural foothold in Papua New Guinea with this milestone opening”, said Sean Hunt, area vice-president of Australia, New Zealand and Pacific for Marriott International, in a statement. “This is also a debut for the Marriott Executive Apartments brand in the region, allowing us to diversify our offering to cater to ambitious and adventurous travellers who seek a premium, trusted extended-stay experience.” While the new tourism initiatives have been put in place to help boost the economy of PNG, Papua New Guinea currently has travel advisory warnings in place, with SmartTraveller urging visitors to “exercise a high degree of caution in Papua New Guinea overall due to high levels of serious crime, with “higher levels” applying in some areas. Image credits: Shutterstock

International Travel

Qantas announces major price hike

Qantas customers have been warned that they will see a significant increase in price to the airline’s domestic club lounges from next month. For the first time in seven years, the airline will charge Qantas Club membership holders 17 per cent more to access their lounges, with price changes set to be made from April 18. The increase coincides with Qantas' plans to renovate 24 of their domestic lounges over the next year, with the carrier spending an estimated $100 million on renovations. This means that annual fees for new members will increase from $699 to $828, including the $129 joining fee. For current members looking to renew, their annual fees will rise from $540 to $629. “This is the first time the Qantas Club membership fees have increased in seven years and will help cover cost increases passed on from a range of suppliers over that time. This follows a reduction in the membership fees for several years during the pandemic,” a spokesperson told news.com.au. They added that these changes will not affect Qantas Frequent Flyers members who will continue to receive complimentary access to the Club through Points Club Plus or their Gold, Platinum or Platinum One status. Members can also avoid the price hike if they renew their membership before April 18. Image: Getty

Money & Banking

Qantas unveils tribute to Luke Davies

Qantas has unveiled how they will be honouring their slain colleague Luke Davies at the annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. The bodies of Luke Davies and his boyfriend Jesse Baird were found buried in the NSW Southern Tablelands earlier this week, as police officer Beau Lamarre-Condon has been charged with two counts of murder over their deaths. Now, on the eve of the Mardi Gras parade that takes over Sydney's Oxford Street every year, Qantas has shared how they will honour Davies' life on the Flying Kangaroo float. Davies' name will be front and centre of the float, while Mardi Gras organiser Brandon Bear said this year’s festival would be a time for both celebration and mourning. “Mardi Gras is a multiplicity of things and we come together not just to celebrate, but also to spark conversation to make change and this year, there’ll be an element of us coming together to mourn,” he told ABC News. “We’re certainly working with the community (to recognise the couple) and we know our partners are working to use their parade float to talk to the lives and the memory of those young men.” The conversation around the death of Baird and Davies just before Mardi Gras has sparked a lot of debate, with Mardi Gras reaching an agreement with NSW Police saying they would be allowed to march in the parade, as long as they are not in uniform. A silent vigil is set to be held on Friday evening in the Sydney suburb of Darlinghurst to honour the lives of Luke and Jesse, with the public invited by their families to join them in mourning. Image credits: Facebook / Qantas

Caring

“Disappointing”: New inflight Qantas video slammed for “missing the mark”

A new inflight safety video from Qantas has been widely panned for being “elitist” and “sexist”, while skimming over vital safety information. The new video, which is set to replace an earlier retro video released in 2020 that marked the airline’s 100th birthday, features frequent flyers and Qantas staff delivering the pre-flight safety announcement from their favourite “magic places” around the world. The video features destinations such as Litchfield National Park near Darwin and Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia, as well as international places such as Lapland in Finland and Marrakesh in Morocco. After the video was shared by the airline, members of the Flight Attendants Association of Australia were quick to express their feelings. Flight Attendants Association of Australia national secretary Teri O-Toole told <a href="https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/health-safety/new-qantas-safety-video-panned-as-sexist-and-elitist/news-story/078aa2c55cf48e6551a40ad4c0c56011">news.com.au</a> the video was “disappointing” for a lot of different reasons. <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C2dPrw_BNqf/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C2dPrw_BNqf/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Qantas (@qantas)</a> </div> </blockquote> “Not one Australian-based international crew member was used,” she said. “There are no cabin crew in uniform and there are no shots of the interior of an aircraft which are all important factors for non-English speaking passengers and those that need to know who is in charge.” “Not once does it say ‘follow the directions of your crew member’, which you would’ve thought would be the focus of a safety video.” She also questioned why a female pilot appeared in a swimsuit, suggesting that sort of depiction took women in the workplace took the airline “back 20 years” “I didn’t see a male pilot in a pair of budgie smugglers,” she said. She went on to describe the video as “great marketing”, but totally “misses the mark” in terms of a safety video, while also adding “elitist” to focus on frequent flyers during a cost of living crisis. Social media users were equally scathing. “I’d prefer just focus on, oh I dunno, in flight safety during the in-flight safety video?,” one wrote. “Why do we need a long video with all this added stuff?” Another described it as “slow, long, tedious and boring. I couldn't make it through the entire thing”, while a third person labelled it “absolutely awful”. Qantas chief customer officer Catriona Larritt defended the video insisting safety was the number one priority across the Qantas Group, and the in-flight video together with cabin crew, plays a key role in capturing the attention of travellers to watch and listen to the critical information. “First and foremost, the video is about familiarising our customers with safety procedures and we try to make it as engaging as possible, in particular for regular flyers who might otherwise tune out,” she said. Image credits: Qantas

Travel Trouble

Qantas' big move ahead of record-breaking holiday season

As the festive season approaches, Qantas is gearing up for its busiest Christmas holiday period in years. The airline has taken proactive measures to handle the anticipated surge in passenger numbers, with an additional boost to its international cabin crew. More than 8.5 million passengers are expected to fly on Qantas and Jetstar services in December and January, marking a significant increase from the previous year – and the most passengers since the 2019-20 festive season. To meet the demands of the busy holiday season, Qantas has expanded its international cabin crew team with the addition of 16 new faces. These recruits, having completed an eight-week intensive training program, are set to embark on their first flights just in time for the peak travel period. The new recruits will be contributing to flights destined for key international locations such as Japan (Narita), Hong Kong, and Singapore. Phil Capps, Qantas executive manager for product and service, emphasised the airline's commitment to investing in staff training across all departments, including ground staff and cabin crew. The significant recruitment efforts in 2023, with 991 new international cabin crew and 394 new domestic cabin crew, reflect Qantas's dedication to providing exceptional service during the holiday season and beyond. To ensure operational readiness, Qantas has brought forward maintenance on its aircraft, and up to 13 planes will be on standby as operational spares. The airline has also made a substantial boost to reserve staff to address unexpected sick leave situations. Over the past 12 months, almost 3,300 additional operational employees, including cabin crew, pilots, engineers, and airport customer service staff, have been recruited to enhance overall efficiency. As part of the preparations for the busy travel period, Qantas and Jetstar are urging travellers to check-in online for domestic flights, arrive ahead of schedule, and adhere to baggage limits. The airlines emphasised that bringing excess carry-on baggage could lead to delays and urged passengers to be respectful and patient during the holiday rush. Additionally, Qantas warned about potential delays and cancellations due to bad weather and air traffic control issues. Image: Qantas

Money & Banking

Heartwarming gesture for Qantas' oldest passenger

A 103-year-old passenger has received an emotional welcome onboard her Qantas flight, with the pilot and cabin crew erupting into cheers as she stepped on board. Ngan Chun Kam aka ‘Mamma’, is believed to be the oldest passenger to ever travel with the Flying Kangaroo airline. Mamma was born on January 1st 1920, and Qantas was founded 10 months later in November 1920. After visiting family in Sydney for several weeks, Mamma was returning home to her native Hong Kong when Qantas staff on-board QF127 learned of her age. “It was such an honour to have Ms Kam on our flight to Hong Kong,” Jayson Eng, Qantas customer service agent who was on the November 3rd flight, told <a href="https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/travel-stories/qantas-crews-heartwarming-act-for-103yearold-passenger/news-story/75c4ccb9c1addc2884e7e3063422763b" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news.com.au</a>. “We got her trip off to a flying start with a special welcome announcement from the Captain, which was broadcast throughout the entire aircraft.” Mr Eng said it resulted in a big cheer and a round of applause throughout the cabin. “Our cabin crew loved taking turns to introduce themselves to Ms Kam. We called her Po Po (grandma in Cantonese) as a sign of respect for her. She was such a delight to have on board.” Mamma, who has six children aged 72 to 83, 13 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren, has been visiting Australia once a year since 1979 to visit her eldest son who lives in Sydney. According to Mamma’s daughter-in-law Helen, at first she had no idea why the cabin erupted in a loud cheer as she doesn’t speak English. It wasn’t until a friend who was also on the flight explained it was because she was the eldest passenger they’ve ever flown, and she began to smile. “Everyone was clapping and cheering and she just felt so special,” Helen told news.com.au. The airline also gifted Mamma, who was flying in business class, a goodie bag filled with champagne and merch. <div> </div> “When she got to Hong Kong, she called me saying John (friend on the flight with her) left his bag, thinking it was his,” Helen said. “I told her it’s what the airline gave her as a gift and she said ‘well I don’t drink champagne’ – I told her ‘well in that case bring it back with you to Australia on your next visit, we’ll have it’,” she laughed. Image credits: Courtesy of Qantas <div class="media image" style="caret-color: #000000; color: #000000; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none; box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 24px; display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; width: 705.202209px; max-width: 100%;"> </div>

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