this post was submitted on 31 Oct 2023
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237
‘Qantas can't guarantee flights’, airline says, after allegedly selling 8,000 flights that were already cancelled — arguing what it did was reasonable and that “airlines can't guarantee specific fl... (home.nzcity.co.nz)
submitted 2 years ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
18 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

‘Qantas can't guarantee flights’, airline says, after allegedly selling 8,000 flights that were already cancelled — arguing what it did was reasonable and that “airlines can't guarantee specific fl...::Qantas has launched its legal defence in the ACCC ""ghost flights"" case — allegedly selling 8,000 flights that were already cancelled — arguing what it did was reasonable and that ""airlines can't guarantee specific flight times"".

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[–] [email protected] 134 points 2 years ago

It's like Kickstarter, for flights. Everybody pools a bunch of money, if they get enough money the flight happens, if they don't the flight gets canceled.

No risk from the airlines perspective, they don't have to fly an unprofitable flight.

Did you pay money for specific time of travel? Haha jokes on you

Did you have your flight canceled with a full refund at the last minute, and then needed to buy a flight of a much higher price to get to your destination on time? Sucks to be you

But you know this is fair, as long as customers are allowed to get full refunds for flights they don't fly. I didn't feel like flying today it wasn't convenient, since I wasn't on the airplane I get a full refund right? That's only fair

[–] [email protected] 106 points 2 years ago (1 children)

if they didn't charge specific amounts for certain specific flights, charge for seat selection on said flights and give you an itinerary with a flight number, seat number, departure date and time maybe they would have a leg to stand on.

perhaps all flights should cost the same, seeing as apparently they aren't charging for flights....

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 years ago

Most importantly, they don't let you substitute a different passenger. If you get sick and can't make your flight, but your friend wants to go instead, you have to let your ticket go unused and your friend has to buy a (now much more expensive) last minute ticket.

[–] [email protected] 53 points 2 years ago

If they can’t guarantee specific flights, customers can’t guarantee paying them money.

[–] [email protected] 51 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I mean this is perfectly reasonable, its why you can turn up at the airport 3 days late and get the next available flight to your destination, right?

[–] [email protected] 27 points 2 years ago

Oh my god what the actual fuck

[–] [email protected] 20 points 2 years ago

I don't understand how many business practices by airlines don't result in criminal charges. Selling so many tickets that you know you will occasionally fail to fulfill your contract should be fraud. Jail time for leadership and full reimbursement of all damages (e.g. private air taxi to still make to to the destination on time) would quicky make the airlines competent at finding voluntary agreements that make everyone happy.

Likewise, deciding that a flight isn't profitable and cancelling it - WTF. That's called making a bad business decision, you eat the cost. You don't just decide "eh, let's just not" and leave people stranded because it's cheaper.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 2 years ago (1 children)

It wasn't clear in the article - how much notice did the customers get?

[–] [email protected] 19 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (2 children)

The article specifically says (in some cases) less than 48 hours.

Right in the middle where it says "media release with examples.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago

Ah, in the link to the other article it gives an example of so eone who was informed 2 days before the flight (4 after it was cancelled)

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago (2 children)

...I still can't see it? I see references for being on sale for 48 hours after cancellation, and not notifying customers for 48 days.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

You clicked on where it says it gives several examples and can't find the list of flights?

They even have the flight numbers.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 years ago

They must think we're idiots, pretending there's any kind of uncertainty about the status of a flight they'd already cancelled.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Qantas. Qantas never crashed.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 years ago

Apparently because they don’t fly…