Published
July 7, 2026
Qantas has agreed to pay A$105 million to settle a class action over the flight credits it issued instead of refunds during the pandemic. More than a million customers are receiving notices — and, importantly, they have to register by October 2, 2026 to get paid. For U.S. readers, it is an Australian case to watch, not a settlement with money to claim here.
What Happened
Qantas has agreed to a A$105 million settlement to resolve a class action over its handling of COVID-era flight credits. When the airline cancelled large numbers of domestic and international flights during the pandemic, it issued travel credits rather than promptly refunding customers. The class action alleged that this breached Qantas's contractual obligations and the Australian Consumer Law by failing to refund passengers within a reasonable time. Qantas agreed to settle in March 2026 without admitting liability, and the settlement is now subject to court approval.The case is Haverkort v Qantas Airways Limited (VID650/2023), filed in August 2023 in the Federal Court of Australia and run by law firm Echo Law, with Piper Alderman also acting. Under orders of the court, notices are being sent to potential group members between June 29 and July 10, 2026, using the contact details customers originally provided to Qantas.
Status
Settlement Reached · Pending Court Approval
Approval hearing set for October 13, 2026; no admission of liability
Registration Deadline
October 2, 2026 · 4:00 PM AEST
Register with the personalized link and unique ID in your notice — miss it and you receive nothing
Payment
At least A$50 each
Gross fund A$105M (~A$68M net after costs) · more for multiple bookings or long refund delays · payments expected by end of 2026
Can I Claim?
Australian group members only
Not a U.S. claim · flights cancelled Jan 1, 2020 – Nov 1, 2022
Who Qualifies
You are likely a group member if all of the following apply:- You held or paid for a ticket (for yourself or someone else) on a Qantas flight;
- The flight was scheduled to depart between January 1, 2020 and November 1, 2022;
- Qantas cancelled that flight and a flight credit was issued.
You may still be eligible even if you later used the credit or eventually received a refund — the claim is that Qantas should have given a refund, not a credit, in the first place. There are estimated to be more than 1 million potential group members.
How Registration Works
Unlike some settlements where payments are automatic, this one requires eligible customers to register. Each notice contains a personalized link and a unique ID; group members register through the settlement's online portal using that link. Registration is free, and the deadline is 4:00 p.m. AEST on October 2, 2026. Because registration is tied to the unique ID printed in the notice, a customer who never received or has lost their notice will need that ID to take part. Anyone who does not register by the deadline will not share in the settlement, even if they otherwise qualify.How Much Customers Could Receive
The gross settlement is A$105 million. After deductions for legal costs, litigation-funding commission, and administration, roughly A$68 million — about 65% — is expected to be available to distribute to registered members. Reporting indicates each eligible registrant would receive at least A$50, with higher amounts for customers who had multiple affected bookings or experienced significant delays in getting their money back. Payments are expected to begin by the end of 2026, after the court decides whether the settlement is fair and reasonable at the October 13, 2026 approval hearing.Why It Matters
The Qantas case is part of a broader reckoning over how airlines treated customers during the pandemic, when mass cancellations left travelers holding credits they often struggled to use before they expired. It also follows a bruising period for Qantas's reputation on consumer issues. For Australian customers, the practical takeaway is simple: watch for the notice, and register before the October 2, 2026 deadline if you want to be paid.Sources
- Haverkort v Qantas Airways Limited, VID650/2023, Federal Court of Australia — Notice of Proposed Settlement, Registration and Opt Out.
- Echo Law — Qantas Flight Credits Class Action.
- Qantas Newsroom — Qantas Settles Flight Credit Class Action.
- Official registration site — Qantas Class Action.
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Status
Settlement Reached · Pending Approval
Case Title
Haverkort v Qantas Airways Limited
Case Number
VID650/2023
Court
Federal Court of Australia
Registration Deadline
October 2, 2026 · 4:00 PM AEST
Approval Hearing
October 13, 2026
Class Counsel
Echo Law · Piper Alderman
Official Website
Qantas Class Action
