Anca Galateanu
Written By Anca Galateanu
Last Updated:

Qantas Flight Compensation

It's everyone's dreaded travel scenario: you buy a ticket from Qantas, show up, and discover that your flight is delayed, cancelled, or worse. Or you find that the flight is fine, but you or an immediate family member are denied boarding. What are your rights? Are you due compensation?

You could receive up to €600 from Qantas. We here at AirAdvisor make claiming compensation easy.

Delayed or canceled flight with Qantas Airlines? Find out if you're owed up to €600 in compensationCheck Now for Free

If you've had a cancelled or delayed flight and are looking for information about a refund or Qantas flight compensation, we are here to help. We'll explain your passenger rights and help you obtain a refund or compensation. Submit a complaint to Qantas and receive as much as €600 per passenger. Use our free Compensation Calculator to find out much you are owed and to start your Qantas claim. You don't need to be an expert on Qantas refund policy or cancellation policy to receive your money back.

What Are My Passenger Rights in Case my Qantas Flight Was Cancelled or Delayed?

According to EU law your rights include:

  • up to €600 compensation which is not reliant on ticket price
  • Includes disrupted Qantas flights up to 3 years old
  • Covers flights that were delayed at least 3 hours, cancelled, or overbooked

What Should I Do in Case of Cancellations or a Qantas Delayed Flight?

  • Confirm the reason for the delay or cancellation.
  • Collect proof: photos, receipts of expenses, Qantas booking number, vouchers, etc.
  • Insist on your basic benefits and services at the airport.
  • Check your eligibility for compensation with our free online compensation calculator

Qantas Flight Compensation Claims

As a passenger, you may be entitled to compensation if the following have occurred:

  • Flight delay: If your flight arrived 3+ hours late at your final destination.
  • Qantas Cancel Flight: if Qantas cancelled your flight and informed you less than 14 days before departure.
  • Overbooking: If you have been denied boarding due to overbooking.
  • Missed connecting flight: If you missed a connecting flight due to a delay in one of the legs and you arrived at your destination 3+ hours late.

Qantas Flight Cancellations: When are they Liable?

When Qantas can escape liability: Qantas claims if a flight was cancelled due to events outside of its control; for example bad weather, or issues at the airport. Such events are typically called extraordinary circumstances and in such cases, you are not entitled to a Qantas missed flight refund.

All airlines will generally try to book you on the next available flight at no additional charge, in the case of cancelled flights. You may agree to the proposed flight or request another replacement flight, or demand reimbursement if you are not happy with any of the options proposed.

Note: If your rebooked scheduled departure arrives at a similar time to your original departure time, you're not entitled compensation. The law is fair and allows airlines not to pay compensation if you can reach your destination with minimum inconvenience. In most cases, passengers who have a cancelled flight will have valid claims for a Qantas flight compensation.

An airport employees’ strike is beyond anyone's control. Learn more about cancellation compensation.

When Qantas cannot escape liability: When Qantas cancel flights, EU 261 Regulation on air passenger rights are clear: You must be put on an alternative flight or provided with a full flight refund.

Also, if you were notified about the flight cancellation less than 14 days before your date of departure, you may be able to receive up to €600 per person in compensation. Additionally, you may receive Qantas flight delay compensation if you arrived 3+ hours later than the scheduled arrival time of your initial flight.

Figuring out how much you are owed for a disrupted flight can be complicated. We're here to help. Let us assess your compensation for you.Check Your Flight

Qantas Flight Refund policy

A flight compensation and a refund are two different things. Regulations allow you to receive both: a cancellation refund and compensation.

In case of a cancellation, an airline will try to re-book you on the similar flight, but if that becomes impossible, a cancellation refund will be a full cash refund. Generally, your claim would succeed, providing there were no extraordinary circumstances beyond airline control.

If Qantas cancels your flight to extraordinary circumstances (such as Covid travel restrictions or a serious illness) and you were offered no replacement flight, you can obtain a ticket refund in full, since your flights booked were not available.

Types of ticket refunds: A full refund must be in cash or credit. Vouchers are allowed only if you specifically agree to it. We do not recommend accepting vouchers due to short expiry dates and potential restrictions on redemption.

Note: If Qantas offers a replacement flight with approximately the same arrival time and you decide not to take it, there is a possibility of you losing the right to get both compensation and a ticket refund. 

Rule of thumb: you can generally reject alternative flights and receive a refund in full, if a new replacement flight arrives 3+ hours later from your initial scheduled arrival time.

Qantas Refund problems? Let our team help you.

Disrupted flight? You might have a right to compensation - up to €600.Check Your Flight

Qantas Flight Delay Compensation

While all airlines attempt to operate on time, sometimes delays happen. EU regulation 261 (EU 261) protects passengers in cases of flight delays.

According to EC 261, if your flight arrives later than 3 hours at your final destination, you may be eligible to file a Qantas delayed flight compensation claim form to receive up to €600 as a flight refund.

Exclusions: Qantas delayed flight compensation will not be enforceable in case of extraordinary circumstances. If the flight departure time is delayed because of bad weather or any airport related disruption, that is considered an extraordinary circumstance. Technical problems, airline staff strike, or operational problems are not valid reasons for rejected compensation claims.

Tip: accepting vouchers or signing release paperwork will result in losing the right to compensation. 

Learn more about passenger rights to Qantas delay compensation and how to demand Qantas claim compensation.

What is the Time Limit for Compensation Claims?

You have up to six years to contact Qantas and collect your compensation and ticket refunds.

How to Claim Compensation for a delayed flight Qantas?

We advise you to use our free flight delay compensation calculator for further information. It takes only a couple of minutes to input basic information about your flight. Our calculator will inform you if you are eligible for compensation and exactly how much.

EU 261 Compensation Claim: How Much Can You Get?

Distance Compensation: All flights under 1,500 km Up to €250 per person

Qantas Internal flights over 1,500 km Up to €400 per person

Non-internal EU flights between 1,500 - 3,500 km Up to €400 per person

Qantas international flights over 3,500 km Up to €600 per person

Table shows values in € as specified in EC 261. To get calculate how much compensation is owed to you, please use our free compensation check.

Claim your compensation with AirAdvisor and get up to €600. Find out how much you’re owed today.

If your flight was delayed, canceled or overbooked within the last 3 years, you could be eligible for up to €600 in compensationCheck Your Flight

Common questions: Compensation Claims and Refunds

What to do when your Qantas flight is cancelled?

Confirm the reason for a flight cancellation with the airline ticket desk. Also, collect receipts for any additional expenses for reimbursement later. Ask the airline to provide food and refreshments for a delay of 3 hours or more. If your replacement flight is departing the next day, the airline must provide hotel accommodation and transportation. Finally, use our free online compensation calculator to check if you are eligible for compensation and submit a Qantas refund for cancellation

What if I cancel my Qantas flight? Can I get a refund?

If Qantas cancels the flight, they must refund the price of ticket to passengers. But if you decide to voluntarily cancel your scheduled flight, you are not entitled to a refund. Qantas cancellation policy is restrictive, unless you have a flexible fare, which allows you to reschedule your flight to a later date with minimal cost.

Note: regardless of ticket type, passengers have the right to request a refund amount for airport taxes and fees as part of a cancellation refund.

Do I also get my money back for the Qantas cancelled a flight due to Covid-19?

If Qantas cancelled a flight due to Covid-19, passengers are entitled to a reimbursement as part of flight cancellation rights. If Qantas attempts to reimburse your cancelled flight with a voucher, we do not recommend taking it. Instead, apply for a refund. If your refund claim is rejected, AirAdvisor can help enforce your claim through our external lawyers.

Can I Get a Qantas Refund?

If you have chosen a non-flexible fare option and had to cancel your own flight, chances are that you will not be able to receive any reimbursement, except for airport taxes and fees. However, if Qantas had to cancel the flight, then you would be entitled to a refund as per the EU Regulation EC261.

How many hours for flight delay to be eligible for Qantas compensation?

Three (3) hours shall be the minimum duration of delay for EU Reg. EC261 to apply and your flight might be eligible for compensation. The passenger rights regulations can be complicated and may depend on factors such as the duration of the delay and the distance of the flight. You can check if your Qantas flight qualifies for compensation in under 3 minutes at AirAdvisor site.

How long does it take to get Qantas flight delay compensation?

Legally speaking compensation shall be paid within 30 days as provided in Regulation EU/EC 261. You can expect Qantas to take 2-4 months to verify and respond to such claims. But, Qantas may try to postpone or ignore such compensation payment requests as airline know most passengers will give up, but AirAdvisor can help in such situations. 

How to claim Flight Delay Compensation with Qantas?

At AirAdvisor, we have assembled a team of legal and travel professionals who are ready to fight for you to recover compensation due to delayed or canceled flights with this airline. Our experts understand the process required in order to obtain optimal results on your claim - so don't wait any longer! Connect with us today and learn more about how our services can benefit you.

How much compensation for Qantas delayed flight can you get?

If you're planning to take a short flight (under 1,500 km) within the EU, then you might get €250 (£205) in compensation per passenger. If your intended route is longer than 1,500 km, but still within the EU borders – you expect a compensation of €400 (£330), and similarly if you flew internationally 1,500km - 3,500km. Lastly those on flights 3,500 kms+ can get up to €600 (£520).

How Much Time Do I Have to Make My Claim againt Qantas?

The statute of limitations for filing a compensation claim can vary depending on the laws of the country of initial departure or final destination. Generally, travelers have a period of up to three years from the date of their flight to take action, however, some countries may have a shorter period for example 1 or 2 years to submit a claim. The AirAdvisor website will help you check if your Qantas claim is within the time limit for filing and ensure that you don't miss out on any potential compensation.