More than one million Qantas customers may be eligible for slice of $105m class action claim
More than one million Qantas customers have been notified they may be eligible to receive a share of the $105 million class action claim.
The multimillion-dollar settlement will settle a flight credit class-action lawsuit filed against the airline over scheduled flights canceled during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The class action alleges that Qantas breached consumer law by offering flight credits rather than refunds for flights canceled within a reasonable period of time.
The Federal Court of Australia told customers that Qantas agreed to pay $105 million to settle the class action without admitting wrongdoing.
Customers who booked Qantas flights between 1 January 2020 and 1 November 2022 but were subsequently canceled will be eligible for compensation.
“While the amount of your payment will depend on a number of different factors, under the proposed distribution, a minimum payment of $50 is guaranteed to each group member who meets the following eligibility requirements,” customers were informed.
“Some group members will receive significantly more than this amount.”
Qantas customers who have already used flight credit or received a refund will still be eligible for a settlement payment.
“This is because the lawsuit includes allegations that group members should have received a refund and not a flight credit, that there were delays in refund payments, and that where customers used flight credit, this was not the same as receiving a refund,” the letter said.
Customers must register their claim by 4pm on October 2nd and will receive a minimum payment of $50 if they meet the eligibility requirements.
The Federal Court will decide on approvals and distribution to registered customers.
