Qantas Covid credit fiasco: Top lawyer threatens to take airline to court

A top lawyer has threatened to take Qantas to court after claiming the airline “completely ignored” its attempts to cash in credit for flights canceled during the pandemic.

Former Victorian crown attorney Gavin Silbert KC, of ​​Melbourne, was credited $5,900 by Qantas for canceled flights.

However, he has not been able to redeem his credit since then and says he was “completely and utterly ignored” by Qantas.

“What’s going on deserves to be published,” he told Neil Mitchell on 3AW Mornings.

“I’d like to give this evidence in open court because it’s just absolutely outrageous.”

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Qantas for comment.

Quantas told A current situation that more than $1.2 billion in flight credits have already been refunded or used.

A spokesman said the company had apologized to Mr Silbert for “an unsatisfactory experience using his credit” and that “they are working with him to rectify the situation.”

Millions of Qantas flights were canceled during the pandemic, with customers given credits instead.

An announcement in March pushed back the deadline for using the credits to December 2024.

It was revealed earlier this year that $800 million in Covid credits are still held by Qantas and Jetstar customers.

Overall, 76 percent of the credits are worth less than $500, while 24 percent are worth between $500 and $5,000. Less than 1% is worth more than $5,000.

Mr. Silbert lashed out at the credit plan in a fiery interview on Tuesday.

He said: ‘In 2020, I booked a flight from Melbourne to Darwin for four adults and one child and paid about $5,900. That flight was canceled the night before due to the pandemic and a credit of approximately $5,900 was issued.

That has been completely and utterly effectively ignored. I am actually out of pocket nearly $10,000 due to canceled fares, rebooking fees, and overpayments. I haven’t seen any of the credit.”

He also criticized the complaints system.

Millions of Qantas flights were canceled during the pandemic, with customers given credits instead

“You can’t speak to an individual, you’re told to go to their complaint line and file a complaint. I did that a long time ago, probably eight or nine months ago. You never get a response.

‘I’m done with it. Let’s just go to court. I would like to give this evidence in open court because it is absolutely outrageous.

“I don’t know how much money Qantas has that isn’t theirs, but I suspect it’s hundreds of millions of dollars.”

Patrick Veyret, head of policy and government relations at Choice, a consumer group, previously lashed out at Qantas over the credits.

Some Qantas flight credits can only be used towards a booking of equal or greater value – so if you have a $300 flight credit, you can’t use it to book a $290 flight. That is clearly unfair.

Qantas customers also often complain that when they go to rebook a flight on the same route, they have to pay significantly more than they paid for the original flight when using a credit.

“Flight credits should work like gift cards. People should have the choice to transfer the credit to other people, but also to divide the credit over several transactions.’