Qantas is rolling out an increase in the cost of changing or cancelling some domestic flight bookings. The increase will see change fees increase from $99 to $110 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 30 July 2025.
The situation is a little more complicated if you buy a ticket prior to 29 July, and change it after 30 July. 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 only a couple of domestic Premium Economy routes – those 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 $110 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 $110 will apply
Go up a notch to a flex fare, and the $110 will apply in the following cases
- Name Change: This will require a $110 fee
- Cancel: While you can convert to a credit for no charge, if you want a refund that will cost $110
For premium economy, on the handful of routes this applies to
- Change: a $110 fee will apply for changing the date or time of the flight on Premium Economy Saver
- Name change: a $110 fee will apply
- Cancel: a $110 fee will apply
Qantas previously increased the change fees from $88 to $99 in 2017. It is worth noting that Qantas originally proposed a change in fees last year. For whatever reason, they did not happen last year, but it looks like it is happening this time around.
You can view the fees associated with each domestic fare type on the Qantas website.
