Qantas has started emailing and texting more than one million passengers who may be owed a share of a AUD 105 million settlement over flight credits issued during the pandemic. Court-ordered notices began rolling out on 7 July, and customers must follow instructions to register their claim before funds can be distributed. The class action, run by Echo Law and Piper Alderman, alleged Qantas breached consumer law by failing to provide timely cash refunds for flights cancelled between January 2020 and November 2022. Under the deal, around AUD 68 million will be paid to affected travellers, while the remainder covers legal costs and administration. The airline has extended the expiry date on COVID-era flight credits indefinitely but has not admitted wrongdoing. For mobility managers, the development is a reminder to audit unused corporate credits and ensure eligible employees register for compensation. Lawyers warn that scam messages are circulating; legitimate notices reference a unique claimant ID and do not ask for bank details upfront. The settlement still requires Federal Court approval, expected later this year, with first payments likely by December. Consumer advocates say the case sets a precedent for greater accountability around airline credit policies and may encourage regulators to tighten rules on refund transparency. Travel-policy teams should update advice to employees, keep records of affected bookings and monitor further communications from Qantas as timelines firm up.
Source: ABC News
