After cancelling a Qantas award ticket last week, I noticed a 6,000-point ‘Classic Reward Refund Fee’. This prompted me to dig a bit deeper and see what is was, and if there was a way to weasel out of it.
What is the Qantas Classic Reward Refund Fee?
The Qantas Classic Reward Refund Fee is a fee charged by Qantas when a member cancels or changes a Classic Flight Reward booking. The fee varies depending on the type of booking and the member’s status in the Qantas Frequent Flyer program.
How much is the Qantas Classic Reward Refund Fee?
The Qantas Classic Reward Refund Fee varies depending on the type of booking and the member’s status in the Qantas Frequent Flyer program. For example, for a domestic flight booking, the fee is $40 for Bronze members, $20 for Silver members, and no fee for Gold, Platinum, and Platinum One members.
Can I avoid paying the Qantas Classic Reward Refund Fee?
It is possible to avoid paying the Qantas Classic Reward Refund Fee by cancelling or changing your booking before the specified deadline. For example, if you cancel a domestic flight booking at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time, you will not be charged the fee.
Can I get a refund of the Qantas Classic Reward Refund Fee?
The Qantas Classic Reward Refund Fee is generally non-refundable, even if you cancel your booking due to unforeseen circumstances. However, in some cases, such as when a flight is cancelled by Qantas, the fee may be waived.
How do I pay the Qantas Classic Reward Refund Fee?
The Qantas Classic Reward Refund Fee is typically charged to the member’s credit card on file with Qantas. If you do not have a credit card on file or the payment is declined, Qantas may attempt to charge the fee to your Qantas Frequent Flyer account balance.
The number of points required to cover the Qantas Classic Reward refund fee depends on the type of ticket and the route being refunded.
Generally, for domestic flights within Australia, the refund fee is 6,000 Qantas Points per person. For international flights, the refund fee can range from 18,000 to 36,000 Qantas Points per person, depending on the region and class of travel.
However, it’s important to note that the refund fee is subject to change and may also depend on factors such as the fare rules and terms and conditions of the ticket. It’s best to check the Qantas website or contact their customer service team for the most up-to-date information on the refund fee for your specific booking.
The fee varies depending on the type of membership you have with the airline. Here are some tips to avoid paying this fee:
- Be sure before you book: Try to avoid making a reward booking unless you are absolutely sure that you can use it. This means checking your calendar, and ensuring that you can travel on the dates you have selected.
- Book in advance: The earlier you book your reward flight, the more flexibility you have to make changes without incurring fees. This is because reward seats tend to become scarcer as the travel date approaches, making it harder to change your booking without paying fees.
- Choose flexible fare options: If you’re not certain about your travel plans, consider selecting a more flexible reward fare. Qantas offers flexible fare options, which will give you greater flexibility to make changes to your booking without incurring fees.
- Check your elite status: If you have elite status with Qantas, you may be able to make changes to your booking without paying a fee. This depends on the level of your status, so check with Qantas to see if you qualify.
- Plan ahead: Finally, if you do need to change or cancel your booking, do so as far in advance as possible. This will give you the best chance of avoiding fees and will help Qantas to re-allocate your reward seat to another customer.
