Qantas Account Suspended

BrunoBear on 15/01/2024 - 22:33
Last edited 18/01/2024 - 01:38 by 1 other user

Hi all, I thought I'd make a post here as a PSA seeing as there is a marketplace for Qantas points on this site.

My Qantas account was recently suspended without notice after I breached their t&cs (multiple times) by booking someone else a reward ticket. Qantas have sent me an email requesting documentation within 14 days to prove the family relationship.

Has anyone else experienced anything similar lately?

I guess Qantas is cracking down now and there is still a risk even if you don't transfer points.

EDIT:
Alright everyone, I had a feeling I would get roasted. Yes I'm aware I may have breached the T&Cs. I made the post as a PSA and to stir up some discussion, not to seek sympathy. Always knew there were risks of booking flights for others, but clearly I've underestimated them.

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  • Tech5 on 15/01/2024 - 22:42
    +11

    That's interesting - would this catch unmarried partners as well?

    I've booked my different last name partner on multiple rewards flights over the last few years

    • Mechz on 15/01/2024 - 22:52

      No because in most cases you'd have the same address.

      • markathome on 15/01/2024 - 23:27
        -4

        No because in most cases you'd have the same address.

        I don't think you can assume that? Although maybe that's what I've been doing wrong all this time.

      • HeWhoKnows on 16/01/2024 - 12:49
        +7

        And as Op clearly admits..

        "I made a booking for someone who wasn't clearly related to me "

        So blatant breach of the rules.

        At least Qantas is giving OP and opportunity to redeem themselves..

        "Qantas account integrity team' have sent me an email requesting documentation within 14 days to prove the family relationship"

        I see nothing wrong with this so far.

        But to cancel all REWARD bookings made before a response is received?????

        This is why Qantas is in so much trouble and loosing customer loyalty and credibility.

        • bobbified on 16/01/2024 - 15:10
          +3

          But to cancel all REWARD bookings made before a response is received?????

          Just throwing out a theory here.. but they've probably sent the initial "show cause" email and then continued looking and found multiple other breaches that were just blatantly obvious.

          • HeWhoKnows on 20/01/2024 - 17:46

            @bobbified: Yes its amazing how many OB posters omit important information that may demonstrate they are guilty or done something wrong that contributed to the problem.
            We dont know
            But actions speak LOUDER than words usually

            The sad thing is…
            if we knew everything factually, then OB posters would get useful advice instead replies of "sympathy".

        • Drakesy on 18/01/2024 - 15:33

          And in the revision history

          I have never made any transfers from this account apart from legitimate ones to/from someone with the same family name and address.

          If anything he was trying to make a case against Qantas and looking for sympathy.

          Not as angelic as it would seem. The OP just got caught out by Ozbargain detectives.

        • unhuman on 18/01/2024 - 16:21
          +1

          Man, good thing that this is happening. People are selling rewards seats to strangers. I have seen this occurring a lot more than pre covid era. The trick is to send cash to someone you know who have points, then they will book the ticket on your name with fake relationship. Not sure why you think Qantas is losing any credibility. There’s no choice if you wanna fly domestically and need a decent lounge access, dedicated terminal on major airport. Plus Qantas is one world, which is far better then other two airline alliances, you don’t really have to fly internationally on Qantas , as status is recognised on emirates, and Qatar plus other one world members. On top of that, even if you don’t fly Qantas internationally but fly with one world , if you can accumulate 14k status credit, you will be life time gold which is pretty sweet spot for many.

    • happydude on 16/01/2024 - 15:03
      +11

      Qantas has a very liberal definition of family. Domestic Partner or De Facto would cover you if living together.

      Husband/Wife
      Parent/Step-parent
      Domestic Partner/De Facto
      Child, including foster and step-child
      Brother/Sister
      Half Brother/Sister
      Grandparent
      Grandchild
      Son/Daughter-in-law
      Brother/Sister-in-law
      Father/Mother-in-law
      Uncle/Aunt
      Nephew/Niece
      First cousin

      OP has triggered something stronger that just a different last name. It is probably a suspicious pattern on the OP account and/or the "buyer's" account.

      • Kingfield on 17/01/2024 - 13:29

        Qantas has a very liberal definition of family

        Is that liberal? It's basically just actual family (up to 2 degrees) + de-facto (which is legally family/married anyways)

        • bobbified on 20/01/2024 - 17:55

          That's pretty liberal. Most of the time, "family" means immediate family such as partner, mother, father, brother, sister, child and grandparents.

    • RTX9090Ti on 16/01/2024 - 23:02
      +9

      Not good for those who changed partners multiple times a year.

      • banana365 on 17/01/2024 - 12:45

        Do you get Frequent Flyers at the hotel for the wedding receptions?

        • mousie on 17/01/2024 - 17:37

          You get free Ansell condoms in the chairman's lounge

        • spedohero on 18/01/2024 - 13:52

          Or having assets halved multiple times.

    • Bunnyburger on 17/01/2024 - 14:11
      +1

      U gotta show them the homemade pornos man

  • HardQuiz on 15/01/2024 - 22:47
    +19

    Additionally all my future reward bookings have already been cancelled even before this 14 day deadline.

    That’s a bit excessive, especially they didn’t give you a chance to prove that relationship.

      • trotsky on 15/01/2024 - 23:39
        +17

        Qantas generally find these instances because someone along the chain makes multiple purchases. People rarely do it once only. Then everyone else who has transacted with this person gets nabbed. You likely won't need to bother proving anything, they already have it from someone who transacted with whoever you transacted with that they've been selling or buying points/reward flights/whatever and you're nabbed regardless.

      • djkelly69 on 16/01/2024 - 00:30
        +7

        I imagine your buyer has already been caught, and they are tracing the other parties involved.

      • RTX9090Ti on 16/01/2024 - 23:03
        -2

        You already made thousands of dollars profit selling points to others, its clearly breached of T&C. Lucky you won't get charged for fraud.

    • jerjergege on 17/01/2024 - 08:47
      +1

      Just say you're a non binary LGBTQI+ in an open relationship and the person you bought the ticket for is a defactor partner.

  • sumyungguy on 15/01/2024 - 22:56

    'Eligible Family Member' is generously inclusive. Did you redeem points for non-qualifying family?

    • BrunoBear on 15/01/2024 - 23:22

      Even if I did, how would they know? They can only suspect. Essentially I've been found guilty before getting a chance to disprove their suspicions.

      • jv on 15/01/2024 - 23:23
        +3

        Essentially I've been found guilty

        Sounds like you have 14 days to prove you are not guilty…

        Otherwise, read the T&Cs of the membership.

      • sumyungguy on 15/01/2024 - 23:38
        +2

        If you're in the right I agree it's an outrageous way to treat a valued customer. How would they know? Social media sleuthing is fairly accessible to office workers.

        • trotsky on 15/01/2024 - 23:40
          +6

          It's not hard.

          Person A sells to Person B.

          Person B buys from Person A and Person C

          Person C sells to Person B and Person D

          one of these people gets caught doing it too often and the rest are all up the creek

          • randomusername2017 on 16/01/2024 - 01:31

            @trotsky: @Adelv

            • [Deactivated] on 16/01/2024 - 01:32

              @randomusername2017: ?

              • randomusername2017 on 16/01/2024 - 01:33
                -1

                @[Deactivated]: Qantas integrity come knocking yet?

                • [Deactivated] on 16/01/2024 - 01:33

                  @randomusername2017: For what?

                    • [Deactivated] on 16/01/2024 - 01:36
                      -2

                      @randomusername2017: I ended up booking a flight with my Krisflyer points.

                      I've never sold QFF points.

                      I was just giving a recommendation for OP, I've had other dealings with him.(Non QFF point related).

                    • BrunoBear on 16/01/2024 - 01:40

                      @randomusername2017: Have never sold airline points or anything of that nature to Adelv

                      • [Deactivated] on 16/01/2024 - 01:44

                        @BrunoBear: Happy to provide Qantas with my bank statements if they ever call up.

                        I mean, other than spending probably $10,000 a year on wine through my QFF account I've never actually ever used my QFF points 😂

                        Last 12 months, I've booked with Krisflyer twice.

                        All my points earns are through CC bonuses and Wine.

                        My mother, has 1.5 million points, so I don't really have a need to buy QFF and I'm confident once they connect our accounts they'll agree.

                        My FF account is over a decade old too, I have no history of transfers, or booking flights for anyone else.

                        I literally have 0% concern 😂

                      • randomusername2017 on 16/01/2024 - 01:46
                        -1

                        @BrunoBear: Hmmn..

        • randomusername2017 on 16/01/2024 - 10:04
          +1

          They value customers like their points…

      • MrFunSocks on 16/01/2024 - 13:32
        +2

        Quick question - are you guilty?

        • sumyungguy on 16/01/2024 - 13:39
          +2

          OP's interpretation of 'Eligible Family Member' sadly doesn't correspond with Qantas' definition

      • happydude on 16/01/2024 - 15:13
        +1

        Do you know the person you booked the flight for?

        Could they have spilled the beans that you are not related? If so, then they don't really need anything further from you.

  • localhost on 15/01/2024 - 23:11
    +28

    You have to marry… quickly.

  • randomusername2017 on 15/01/2024 - 23:32
    +9

    hmmn … get the feeling there's more to this story..

    *edit.. just the highlights in your classified history is enough to flag your accounts.

  • pkjames on 15/01/2024 - 23:35
    +4

    QF doesn't do this often, I redeemed a lot of flights for family. You are likely got caught for donig the actual wrong thing.

  • p1 ama on 15/01/2024 - 23:55
    +89

    What are you on about my friend?

    Your entire post history (https://www.ozbargain.com.au/user/70680/nodes) is literally you selling and buying points and lounge passes and vouchers. You obviously went too far. How did you expect to do it to this degree and not get caught?

    • sumyungguy on 16/01/2024 - 00:00
      +5

      Great analysis! OP's chickens have come home to roost https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/296365

      • blitz on 16/01/2024 - 06:58
        +46

        I knew someone would look at my post history and make assumptions😅

        We didn't have to assume:

        "Please send me a PM if interested.
        I have had hundreds of successful transactions on here."

        • keejoonc on 17/01/2024 - 17:58
          +2

          LOL this is like the criminals who get caught claiming they are innoncent.

      • ihfree on 16/01/2024 - 09:43
        +7

        Is there a reason your post history isn't relevant to your current issue?

      • p1 ama on 16/01/2024 - 12:24
        +10

        I knew someone would look at my post history and make assumptions😅

        Come on man, that's like posting a classified as a hitman, then being surprised when you get arrested for murder.

    • trotsky on 16/01/2024 - 07:34
      +3

      OP gonna get all those ppl busted too

    • montorola on 16/01/2024 - 09:36
      +10

      Your entire post history (https://www.ozbargain.com.au/user/70680/nodes) is literally you selling and buying points and lounge passes and vouchers.

      K.O.

    • Steve-o on 16/01/2024 - 23:15

      Yeah taking the p!ss for sure

    • Neoika on 17/01/2024 - 09:27

      OP just swapped out his whole QFF pts with no loss on suspension.

  • iforgotmysocks on 16/01/2024 - 00:09
    +5

    Check if this guy ever got an answer https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/784760

  • Sye on 16/01/2024 - 00:42
    +4

    What if OP is an undercover Qantas agent trying to gather Intel on OzBargainers who are cheating the system?

    • [Deactivated] on 16/01/2024 - 00:58
      +7

      No chance

      @BrunoBear just likes playing the game and then whinging when the final boss arrives and crushes him

      Anyone who thinks a consumer facing company from the ASX 100 doesn't have AI fraud detection systems is delusional

  • AustriaBargain on 16/01/2024 - 02:58
    -2

    In some countries it's common to keep your last name when marrying. Just fake a marriage certificate in a country that doesn't exist anymore.

  • DingoBilly on 16/01/2024 - 06:07
    +11

    As others have pointed out, this generally isn't an issue unless you blatantly break the rules.

    OP is trading/selling passes and points every fortnight, or at least monthly.

    If you buy/sell once a year or so you should be fine.

  • avoidfullprice on 16/01/2024 - 07:14
    +21

    I had sympathy for you until other pointed out how many times you breached their t&c by sell/swap

    • Ughhh on 16/01/2024 - 11:30
      +1

      I have never made any transfers from this account apart from legitimate ones to/from someone with the same family name and address.

      Made himself sound legit too. 🙄

  • ukulele on 16/01/2024 - 07:26
    +4

    i stopped using points ages ago, it all became too hard. Just redeem for vouchers now.

  • tanksinatra on 16/01/2024 - 09:44

    Additionally all my future reward bookings have already been cancelled even before this 14 day deadline.

    Geezus… Qantas is taking a pretty hard line.
    Don't trade points - it's not worth the risk imo.

  • Slippery Otter on 16/01/2024 - 10:06

    I got caught during COVID booking flights via Virgin. And all those flights were eventually cancelled, and points were returned to my deleted account. I forfeited (not lost because I immediately accepted fault) 600,000 velocity points and learned a very embarrassing/greedy lesson not to do this with Qantas.

    • jv on 16/01/2024 - 10:26

      I got caught during COVID booking flights via Virgin

      and Qantas cancelled your points in retaliation?

      • Bunnyburger on 17/01/2024 - 21:34

        Dat Dastardly Alan~!

    • Autonomic on 17/01/2024 - 15:00

      How did you get caught? You can use Velocity points to book for friends. Or were you selling points?

      • Slippery Otter on 17/01/2024 - 15:58

        I was buying points to book for friends.

    • djsweet on 16/01/2024 - 11:06
      -2

      Why? I get that it’s against the ts&cs, but it’s becoming increasing common that what is yours isn’t really yours anymore. I don’t think we should be promoting that kind of behaviour from companies.

      • May4th on 16/01/2024 - 11:20
        +4

        what behaviour? enforcing their T+Cs exactly the way they said they would?

        • djsweet on 16/01/2024 - 11:39
          -3

          The behaviour from Qantas that I disagree with is this: having a points scheme where they encourage people to spend extra money with them in order to get/earn/be-rewarded-with points, but make it so the points aren't really yours to do-with-what-you-will. So they points aren't really yours. Its disingenuous. And yes, they can make whatever Ts&Cs they like. But I don't believe we should support companies which choose to make Ts&Cs like that. Just because they can, doesn't mean they should, and certainly doesn't make it right.

          • trotsky on 16/01/2024 - 11:57
            +3

            @djsweet:

            so the points aren't really yours to do-with-what-you-will

            So you want cash? Find an airline that gives cash back for flying with them. There must be heaps to choose from?

            • djsweet on 16/01/2024 - 11:59

              @trotsky: I'm not saying points are cash. I'm saying you should be able to do with them whatever you like. If someone will give you cash for them, then so be it. If someone will trade you Virgin points for Qantas points, then why not. I know this is all against the Ts&Cs. I'm saying I don't like the Ts&Cs and I think companies that make loyalty programs like this, which include Ts&Cs like this are awful, and are doing something wrong.

              • aliam on 16/01/2024 - 19:33
                +2

                @djsweet: But it wouldn't be a "loyalty program" if one customer only flew Qantas but wanted to get a free Virgin flight by swapping points with another person.

                Why would any airline want to permit that?

      • trotsky on 16/01/2024 - 11:21
        +1

        Because of two reasons. One, it's one of the airline's biggest profit centres, making more than the flying does in general, with banks and retailers paying Qantas more for points wholesale than they're being sold for in the forums and two because if you let people treat it like currency you're going to lose control of it very quickly, it just becomes an unregulated financial instrument.

      • dahax77 on 16/01/2024 - 11:21

        It's not theres if they repeatedly broke the T&Cs of the program they signed up for by buying/selling points as per the OP's post history.

        Do you really think we should just be able to break rules over and over again with no consequences??

        • djsweet on 16/01/2024 - 11:35
          -3

          Do you think you should be able to break rules once or twice per year with no consequences?

        • BrunoBear on 16/01/2024 - 12:38
          +1

          From your post history you yourself have broken Qantas T&Cs, should your account also be nuked? Serious question.

          • dahax77 on 16/01/2024 - 12:45
            +1

            @BrunoBear: Serious Reply - you've obviously gone too far with it and been identified because of that.

            I'd assume Qantas has a few people keeping an eye on the forums here and anyone who has 20+ posts buying/selling points/Qantas related things in the past 6 months is asking for trouble. And yes I do think there is a difference between a couple of transactions and repeated transactions.

            If I got flagged for some LP transactions years ago i'd have to accept it, and move on as they are the T&Cs and the level of risk you take.

            Just my opinion…I was prob too harsh so good luck with a favourable outcome.

    • [Deactivated] on 16/01/2024 - 11:51
      +2

      Considering you've sold vouchers, and I'm pretty confident it's against the T&C it's pathetic that you say s*** like this.

  • Drakesy on 16/01/2024 - 10:54
    +2

    I feel there's more to this…
    Spouses don't always take their partner's last name.

    My guess is you're transferring/booking points on behalf of other people and it's quite clear in the T's & C's that they can and will do this?

    Here's a tiny violin.

  • djsweet on 16/01/2024 - 11:11
    +6

    We all know what the OP is doing is against the Ts&Cs. But there is a strong vibe of acceptance for point trading within the community - presumably because people view the policies of Qantas and Virgin as fundamentally unjust, and think that if you have earned points you should be able to trade them at will. Who cares is OP is trading once a year or once a week. If the underlying conditions are unjust, then why are people in the thread losing sympathy for the OP just because they frequently break the rules instead of just occasionally breaking the rules. If we accept that breaking the point trading rules is acceptable then it is always acceptable. If we accept that it is unacceptable then it is always wrong, even if they OP only does it once.

    • May4th on 16/01/2024 - 11:22
      +6

      sadly what you feel is just and right has zero relevance. no one is forcing you to use their points or be a member. you accepted the terms to participate in the program, fair play if you can benefit flying under the radar but don't act surprised or aggrieved if you get caught out

      • djsweet on 16/01/2024 - 11:34

        I bet if OP traded one time and got caught out, everyone would be so sympathetic.This is evidenced by the sympathetic replies early in the thread before people realised OP is a serial trader. I'm pointing out inconsistency in they way people are treating the behaviour.

        • cloudy on 16/01/2024 - 14:35
          +2

          I'm pointing out inconsistency in they way people are treating the behaviour.

          I 100% agree with you, but I bet given you seem quiet cluey in this you are not surprised that this is the case.

          Humans have a weird of way of accepting somethings to a point and then being outraged once it gets to an arbitrary point.

          I mean, look at how Israel has conducted its “defensive”. When they clearly killed one kid no one bat an eye lid, but once it hit a hundred, a thousand, tens of thousands, our politicians whom were all backing the right to “self defend” started to have more sympathy.

      • Bunnyburger on 17/01/2024 - 21:37

        Dems the rules, but I'll say if Qantas allows this, they be making moolah

    • dahax77 on 16/01/2024 - 11:24
      +1

      Qantas/Virgin actually have very 'relaxed' policies on transferring points compared to many other airlines that are quite strict and limit transfers in number or to immediate family.

      People repeatedly taking advantage of these policies will only lead to them being changed and/or cracked down on.

    • trotsky on 16/01/2024 - 11:27
      +2

      Where does this earned thing come from? I get it when talking about salary but I always hear people refer to these as hard earned points, it's an arbitary loyalty benefit awarded by the airline. It's not money, you can use it any way they set out in the T&Cs and given they expressly forbid selling them that's one of the things you just cannot do with them.

      Is it unjust that you can't exchange QFF points for virgin flights?

      • djsweet on 16/01/2024 - 11:32
        +1

        Where does this earned thing come from?

        They are "rewards". But they definitely have an element of earning. You need to do specific things to get them. At the end of the day, they are points that aren't really yours, but are portrayed as being yours.

        Is it unjust that you can't exchange QFF points for virgin flights?

        If you can find someone willing to trade, then why not?

        • trotsky on 16/01/2024 - 11:54
          +1

          They are "rewards". But they definitely have an element of earning.

          That's pretty much every loyalty program

          If you can find someone willing to trade, then why not?

          Because no loyalty program allows you to redeem loyalty points at their competitors. You can't do it with everyday rewards or flybuys points because they lock the program down so much that you can't trade points. You can't do it with QFF points because it says so in the T&Cs which they enforce. Otherwise they could just do the same and lock it down.

          • djsweet on 16/01/2024 - 11:57

            @trotsky: Just because "every" loyalty program works like this doesn't make it right. Yes, you can't use Qantas points to buy Virgin flights. The same as you can't use a JB Hifi gift card at Kmart. But you can swap a JB Hifi gift card for a Kmart one if someone is willing to trade one with you.

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