Qantas has begun contacting customers who are eligible for a payout from flights cancelled due to the pandemic.
More than a million customers have begun receiving emails and text messages on how they can apply for their share of the $105 million in compensation.
Crucially, the impacted customers will need to register to participate by 4pm AEST on 2 October 2026.
In March this year, Qantas agreed to settle a class action, with no admission of wrongdoing.
Each member who meets the eligibility requirements is guaranteed $50, with some group members to receive significantly more.
Even people who have already used a flight credit or were already refunded are eligible for a settlement payment because the case includes allegations that they ought to have received a refund and not a flight credit.
The notices are being distributed by Echo Law, which brought the class action on behalf of affected customers.
Emails will be sent from ‘no‑reply@echolaw.com.au’ or ‘register@echolaw.com.au’ and text messages from ‘Echo Law’. Echo Law urged customers to check the email address to ensure it is correct and not a scam.
Affected individuals are expected to be contacted by the 10th of July. If they haven’t received anything by this time, they are urged to wait until 13 July before contacting Echo Law.
You can see a copy of the notice here.
Qantas is not the only airline to face pressure for its handling of Covid-19 refunds. Last month, Virgin Australia pushed back its COVID credit travel window to May 2027 following public criticism from a federal senator who accused the airline of planning to pocket $93 million in unused customer funds.
Shadow Transport Minister Senator Bridget McKenzie wrote to CEO Dave Emerson this week, demanding the airline return the money to customers rather than absorb it. She drew a sharp distinction between travel credits and loyalty points, arguing passengers who accepted credits rather than refunds during the pandemic had done so in good faith to support the aviation sector through an extraordinarily difficult period – and should not now be penalised for it.
