ACCC Seeking $600m+ from Qantas for Selling Tickets to Already Cancelled Flights. Agree?

ChickenTalon on 01/09/2023 - 10:29
Last edited 01/09/2023 - 10:43

From the ACCC
https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/accc-takes-court-actio…

The ACCC today launched action in the Federal Court of Australia alleging Qantas Airways (QAN) engaged in false, misleading or deceptive conduct, by advertising tickets for more than 8,000 flights that it had already cancelled but not removed from sale.

Reporting:
The Guardian
SMH
ABC
news.com.au

ACCC is seeking a record $600m fine to act as a deterrence from other companies doing similar. Absolutely agree, needs to hit them hard so that it's more than just the cost of doing business.

an example from the ACCC

Qantas sold 21 tickets for QF73 from Sydney to San Francisco scheduled to depart on 29 July 2022 after it had cancelled the flight, with the last ticket being sold 40 days after cancellation.

Can you imagine buying your ticket, then booking hotels, organising leave from work etc. Only to be sold a ticket to a flight that was canceled over a month ago. It's nuts! I hope these people impacted also organise their own class action.

No wonder Qantas have chosen this day to remove the expiry from the $570m in travel vouchers people are holding. Which they should have done anyway.

I guess Qantas and Alan Joyce have form in this area. Let's never forget this little episode where Qantas grounded its entire fleet with no-notice as a way of negotiating with the unions. Doing it immediately when they could have given people more notice.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-10-29/qantas-locking-out-st…

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Comments

  • Seraphin7 on 01/09/2023 - 10:43
    +43

    Good.

    I have no idea why the population seems to be so happy to prop up and make excuses for Qantas. The things this outfit gets away with would be howled down if they were a fraction of the scale by any other outfit.

    Buses run five minutes late … someone must be hanged! Qantas routinely runs 45+ minutes late … well, they have to make sure the plane's OK to fly.

    Ripped off 75 cents on your mortgage … I need compensation! Give your money to Qantas and the flight gets cancelled … here, have a credit to use within a fixed timeframe with all sorts of conditions and hurdles attached.

    Why? Because they make tear-jerker ads that make us feel homesick even when we're sat at home watching them? Puh-lease.

    • pharkurnell on 01/09/2023 - 11:15
      -8

      I have no idea why the population seems to be so happy to prop up and make excuses for Qantas

      Cause in 30 odd yrs of travelling for work I've rarely had a cancelled flight with them…. wish I could say the same for $2.00 airlines.

      • GG57 on 01/09/2023 - 11:27
        +4

        …advertising tickets for more than 8,000 flights that it had already cancelled but not removed from sale…

        If you rarely had a cancelled flight, it would appear you were very, very lucky.

        • pharkurnell on 01/09/2023 - 11:56

          Just booked another flight Friday next week and returning Tuesday next week for work… we shall see.

          • GG57 on 01/09/2023 - 13:32
            +1

            @pharkurnell: I highly doubt that Qantas are still undertaking this practice.

      • MrHyde on 01/09/2023 - 12:11
        +2

        I've had similar experience. I don't think I've ever had a cancelled flight. Have had a few delayed flights, especially the ones at the end of the day and a few missed connections which were quickly rebooked onto next flight.

        Have also had many many flights where they've put me on earlier flights when I showed up at the airport early.

        • pharkurnell on 01/09/2023 - 12:46

          Have also had many many flights where they've put me on earlier flights when I showed up at the airport early.

          Same.

      • mikekiwimike on 02/09/2023 - 08:15
        +2

        Agreed, after 12 years flying extensively with Qantas I too have never had a cancelled flight. Qantas gold FF for 6 of those 12 years ….. post Covid have only just started travelling too much again and also life time silver so I have flown a little bit.

        I have flown with Jetstar and had flights cancelled delayed to the point where I will not fly them.

        No excuse for Qantas though as their behaviour is disgusting.

        I have found that flying mostly through SEA that I now just use the major carrier of their country, typically a good service and no complaints, saves money and Qantas only deserve my employers money because I get FF points to buy things with :)

    • Dslrfirst on 02/09/2023 - 09:56

      "…the plane's OK to fly. Could be "…the plane's full."

  • djsweet on 01/09/2023 - 10:47
    +8

    Maybe they should seek a $726M fine to claw back the COVID hand out. Seems like Alan has been astute enough to pass the baton before the tidal wave hits the company. What a gentleman.

    • happydude on 01/09/2023 - 12:14

      The ACCC are asking for $250m.

  • Trying2SaveABuck on 01/09/2023 - 10:50
    +4

    needs to be 3x that and id be happy

  • GG57 on 01/09/2023 - 10:58

    Where does the fine go to?

    • ChickenTalon on 01/09/2023 - 11:00
      +1

      To the govt under general revenue.

      • CheapandUsed on 01/09/2023 - 11:03

        Ahh interesting.. so they don't need to repay the covid bailout, but might potentially be fined about 80% of it..

        Better than nothing I suppose.

        • holdenmg on 01/09/2023 - 11:12
          +2

          The fine hasn't been imposed (yet).

          Good luck getting money out of (or back from Qantas).

          Fine = Higher Fares?

    • PensionerXXL on 01/09/2023 - 11:22

      they use the money from the fine to backfill the hole the govt made by paying fake gst payments to scammers

  • holdenmg on 01/09/2023 - 11:06
    +1

    With a duopoly such as Qantas/Jetstar v Virgin, isn't it the case that this price ramping also could negatively impact those that Booked with Virgin. Did Virgin (or Jetstar) charge more "because Qantas were charging X".

  • DashCam AKA Rolts on 01/09/2023 - 11:24
    +25

    My experience:
    Booked Qantas return flights to San Francisco for 2 - meeting family there, booked, accommodation & hire car.

    Qantas email (weeks later): please contact us, flights changed.

    Called:
    C.S. :"No longer flying into San Francisco, flight now to Los Angeles".
    "That doesn't work with our planned trip".
    C.S.: "All right, we'll fly you to Dallas."
    "That doesn't work with our planned trip".
    Two hours back and forth before they would refund.

    Rebooked with United out of Sydney, at less than half Qantas's fare.

    Two months later, Qantas was still advertising return flights to San Francisco, even though they were not flying there at that stage.

    Have not flown Qantas since.

  • jv on 01/09/2023 - 11:30
    +15

    Agree?

    Yes, and 12 months jail for the CEO.

    • JIMB0 on 01/09/2023 - 12:18
      +6

      He might enjoy jail.

      • holdenmg on 01/09/2023 - 12:26
        +1

        CEO will escape that or be in one of those Special 5 Star jails that makes the Qantas Chairman's Lounge look like a cheap hotel.

        • KaTst3R on 01/09/2023 - 13:04
          +1

          You dont get the joke….

        • JIMB0 on 02/09/2023 - 08:42
          +1

          His husband will miss him and possibly get jealous.

    • theHMASfriendship on 01/09/2023 - 13:01

      What is the charge?

      • jv on 01/09/2023 - 13:02
        +1

        fraud.

  • capslock on 01/09/2023 - 12:24
    +1

    Qantas will just claim that they would have gone under had it not been for the extra cash raised from ghost flights and that Qantas going under would not be in the national interest. Case closed and the price gouging and dishonest practices continues.

  • KaTst3R on 01/09/2023 - 13:03
    +1

    That is one way to get interest free working capital…

  • GordonD on 01/09/2023 - 13:09
    +3

    You all are cruel.

    Look at all the things Qantas has done in the national interest.

    Like flying the referendum Yes people around the country for free - at the same time they kept their fares as high as possible for the rest of us to pay for it - and holding a big press conference with Albanese there to announce it and get Yes publicity. You'd think Joyce was just trying to ingratiate himself to Albanese to get favorable decisions.

    And giving Albanese's son membership of the Qantas Chairman's Club. See previous.

    And carrying most people in and out of the country, rather than that onerous load being shared with other competing airlines. See previous.

    And now the ACCC has ruined all that good political PR Joyce has done.

    • KaTst3R on 01/09/2023 - 13:23

      And giving Albanese's son membership of the Qantas Chairman's Club.

      Blatant corruption. Oh wait, no cash benefit involved. No corruption then.

      • jackspratt on 02/09/2023 - 13:33

        Is Nathan Albanese an MP or Senator?

        If you want to express your outrage, perhaps it should be pointed first at those who are in a position to influence what happens to Qantas (and Virgin).

        Failing that, shoot your allegation off to the shiny new NACC - that's what it was established for.

    • gidxg03 on 02/09/2023 - 07:37
      +6

      Add to this the knock back Qatar have had from the federal government to the request to put on addition flights which would bring down the price of international airfares. One of the reasons given by the minister was that we need to ensure our national carrier is profitable. What utter BS. At the expense of Australian consumers to keep a commercial business making significant profits.

  • randomusername2017 on 01/09/2023 - 13:25
    +1

    Sort of balances the jobkeeper ledger ..

  • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 01/09/2023 - 13:55
    +3

    Good. (profanity) 'em.

  • afah0447 on 02/09/2023 - 08:07
    +2

    Just making Qantas give back the billions of dollars taxpayers gave them for free during Covid-19 would be punishment enough.

    This will never happen though and the fined levied on Qantas will only be about $10m. Far less than Joyce's annual salary.

  • Sinnerator on 02/09/2023 - 08:28

    we should all revolt by taking opened bottles of water on the flight

  • FranGC on 02/09/2023 - 09:39

    And now just saw Alan Joyce is receiving a $10 million dollar bonus 🤬

  • 2esc on 02/09/2023 - 10:20

    I havent flown in15 plus years but good. Their actions can knowingly stuff up peoples plans. Time is valuable.

  • bamzero on 02/09/2023 - 15:35

    Bad enough that they seem to be the only industry here that can not provide the service you paid for and isn't required to give you a refund.
    Continuing to sell already cancelled flights, that's just taking the piss…

  • Roney on 02/09/2023 - 16:42

    I recently took Qatar for Europe trip not only because the fare was always cheaper ($500 pp less) but for the peace of mind with no ubiquitous flight schedule change, cancellation etc. It's hard for us to forgive and forget what the Qantas had done to us.

  • this is us on 02/09/2023 - 17:10

    Again, although it might be important and strategic to count on a "national carrier" and blah blah blah… Qantas has been disgusting and financially benefiting from covid-19, and continues to use that to screw us over again and again.

    As a citizen, I want more and more competition and fair fares, and I want Qatar, Singapore, and any other airline providing more and more competition.

    As the government is always interested in knowing what we think about important decisions, they could make a referendum for us to decide if Qatar and other airlines should be allowed to increase flights in Australia.

    • bamzero on 02/09/2023 - 19:15

      That's just it isn't it, they needed all that extra money for the lobbying they were doing to keep Qatar out…

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