Qantas is rolling out an increase in the cost of changing or cancelling domestic flight bookings. The increase will see change fees increase from $99 to $119 across a range of fares.
At the moment, Qantas charge a $99 fee if you want to change an Economy Red e-Deal ticket. These changes include changing the date or time of the flight. In addition, there’s also a $99 fee if you want to cancel an Economy Flex ticket for a refund.
The new fees will come into effect on bookings that are made on or after from October 9 2024.
The situation is a little more complicated if you buy a ticket prior to 8 October, and change it after 9 October. In that case, the original change fee will still apply – at least for the first change you make. If the first change results in a ticket re-issue after 9 October. the new fee will apply to any further changes.
The Changes
The change will affect both Economy and Premium Economy fares. Not that there are many premium economy fares available on domestic sectors. It does not affect Business class fares.
For the most part, it means Economy fares. There are just a couple of services on offer between Sydney and Perth associated with the international services onto Europe.
If you are on a red-e-deal fare (the cheapest ones):
- Change: you will be up for $119 to change the time or date of your flight. This will be in addition to any fare difference.
- Cancel: when you cancel a red-e-deal, it is converted to a credit. When you redeem this credit for a new flight, a charge of $119 will apply
Go up a notch to a flex fare, and the $119 will apply in the following cases
- Name Change: This will require a $119 fee
- Cancel: While you can convert to a credit for no charge, if you want a refund that will cost $119
For premium economy, on the handful of routes this applies to
- Change: a $119 fee will apply for changing the date or time of the flight
- Name change: a $119 fee will apply
- Cancel: a $119 fee will apply
Qantas previously increased the change fees from $88 to $99 in 2017.
