Qantas vouchers: Airline offers $50 travel credit to frequent flyers to apologize for disruptions

Qantas is offering its frequent flyers $50 in travel credits to apologize for months of disruption that have plagued the airline since borders reopened following the coronavirus pandemic.

Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce personally apologized in a video and email sent to its members on Sunday.

“Over the past few months, many of you have had delayed flights, canceled flights and misplaced luggage,” Joyce said.

“There are good reasons, but when it comes to what you expect from Qantas, this is not good enough.

“On behalf of the national carrier, I want to apologize and assure you that we are working hard to get back to our best.”

Qantas is offering frequent flyers $50 in travel credits to apologize for the ongoing disruptions that have plagued the airline over the past few months

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce personally apologized in a video and email sent to its members.

The $50 travel credit can be used by passengers when purchasing a return Qantas flight.

Frequent flyers with Silver status and above will also be able to access the Qantas Club or International Business Lounge.

Joyce said work was already underway to improve the airline’s services.

“We’ve hired 1,500 more people since April, adjusted schedules … to cope with a 50 percent increase in sick leave, and we’re using our new technology to make your commute easier, he said.

“We are already seeing a steady improvement in baggage handling and on-time performance, and while factors outside of our control such as weather can have an impact on our schedule, we expect things to continue to improve each week.”

The coupon comes as Qantas’ reputation is troubled with the airline troubled by airline delays and cancellations, long boarding times and baggage handling problems.

In early August, Qantas asked senior executives to quit their cushy jobs and work full-time as baggage handlers for up to three months with the airline.

Colin Hughes, the airline’s chief operating officer, wrote to senior staff saying Qantas was looking for at least 100 managers to work in a variety of roles at the airport up to five days a week.

The $50 travel credit can be used by passengers when purchasing a return Qantas flight

Hughes said there was ‘no expectation that you would choose this role on top of your full-time position’, but noted it was a necessary move in response to growing criticism of Qantas’ ability to handle passenger demand.

“During your time in the contingency program, you will be an integrated resource within ground handling partners,” the airline’s COO wrote.

“This means you will receive a list, be scheduled to operate and be supervised and managed in live operations by our great treatment partners.”

QantasLink topped the list for canceled flights in April this year with 591 receiving the award followed by Qantas with 426, data from the Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics shows.

May was even higher with one in every 13 Qantas flights canceled or 7.6 per cent of the airline’s total flights, up from 5.1 per cent the previous month.