Six things you need to know about those Qantas $50 flight vouchers
That $50 promo code comes with plenty of caveats...
By David Flynn, August 30 2022
Millions of Qantas frequent flyers rushed to collect their promised $50 flight voucher offered as part of an apology package following the airline’s recent performance woes.
Other sweeteners in the make-good basket include a status extensions to as far as mid-2024, the release of more points-based reward seats, free lounge passes, and for top-tier Platinum and Platinum One frequent flyers, a bonus serve of up to 30,000 Qantas Points.
The click-frenzy crowd was sufficient to crash the Qantas website when the $50 discount offer went live on Monday August 22.
But Qantas’ $50 flight voucher comes with several conditions attached.
1. You can only claim your $50 voucher through the Qantas app, not the airline’s website.
2. Only Qantas Frequent Flyer members in Australia and New Zealand are eligible for the $50 voucher – bad luck if you’re among the many members living outside those two countries.
3. As a short-term $50 travel credit, the offer has a limited shelf-life: each frequent flyer must claim their promo code through the Qantas app by 11.59pm (AEST) on September 30, 2022, and use it by November 30, 2022 – although that booking can be for a flight through to June 30, 2023.
4. The $50 promo code can be used only for a Qantas flight – not on its low-cost arm Jetstar – and more significantly, only when booking a return flight (on top of which, “all domestic or international return bookings must depart from Australia”).
5. There’s a limit of one $50 promo code per booking, and codes “are valid for single adult passenger bookings only” – if your partner is also a Qantas Frequent Flyer, you can’t book a trip for two and combine your promo codes into a single $100 discount.
6. You can’t apply the promo code to offset the cost of a Classic Flight Reward or Points Plus Play booking – and your booking must be made via the Qantas app, the Qantas website or a Qantas call centre.
QF
02 Nov 2012
Total posts 48
Does this requirement "only when booking a return flight (on top of which, “all domestic or international return bookings must depart from Australia”)" mean return flights from Aust to NZ don't qualify??
QF
02 Nov 2012
Total posts 48
Just received my voucher and it includes this point "All international return bookings must depart from New Zealand". I'm based in NZ so makes some sense.
Problem solved, I'm guessing the quote in thje article is for an Aus based customer.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
09 May 2013
Total posts 144
I guarantee these T’s & C’s were brought in without any understanding what got them to offer this in the first place.
Why on god’s earth they would not allow for this to be redeemable on a group booking defies logic or shows their lack of understanding or even worse, the idea that these may not be used up, saving them more money.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Oct 2020
Total posts 3
Pretty sure Qantas knew what they were doing when they put the conditions on the promo code. Basically in many of the cases it's unusable for families or couples. Like most promo's T&Cs lock out most people. Not everyone uses the Qantas App, unusual for a couple to travel separately, use within a month or so...
QF
02 Nov 2012
Total posts 48
In NZ it doesn't need the Quantas app, only that it be made direct per "Eligible bookings can be made via qantas.com, the Qantas App or via Qantas Contact Centres".
It's a bit silly it can't be used with flight credits, I won't take one of thse again
29 Mar 2017
Total posts 16
You still need the Qantas App to take up the offer (so it is a back door way of getting people to install their apps).
It is plain silly for Qantas to encourage people to use up their Flight credits and then tell us that we cannot use these credits in conjunction with the $50 discount voucher.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 Feb 2018
Total posts 11
I would think that separate booking and then linking them would be an easy way around this if partners wanted to use this to travel together, I have done this before when one booking was a corporate and second traveler was personal travel
15 Mar 2018
Total posts 92
But it got Qantas a heap of free advertising! We won't use ours.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Jan 2018
Total posts 775
Someone in the media needs to "call them (Qantas) out" on this. After all, if Virgin attempted something like this they'd sink the boots into the Virgin CEO and Board.
31 Mar 2014
Total posts 397
Point 1 and 6 contradict each other:
1: You can only claim your $50 voucher through the Qantas app, not the airline’s website.
6: your booking must be made via the Qantas app, the Qantas website or a Qantas call centre.
QF
02 Nov 2012
Total posts 48
Point 1 for NZ states "All international return bookings must depart from New Zealand".
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 Sep 2018
Total posts 153
No contradiction here. Voucher must be claimed in the app but after you get the voucher you can use it on all official Qantas channels. Basically, hard to get the voucher, easy 'relatively' to redeem.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
12 Jun 2016
Total posts 45
Nice of QANTAS not to make the $50 "offer" available through travel agents. Good luck dealing with QF when things go wrong. Remember, *Without a Travel Agent you're on your own"!!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Jan 2012
Total posts 172
Lets be honest here....the $50.00 sorry offer was nothing but a marketing ploy to drive new sales (and direct only) and totally disengenious.
Why does it have a short time frame to use the voucher? I am think they are looking at plumping their Q1 results.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
31 Aug 2022
Total posts 1
Totally - too many caveats to even make it worthwhile and still doesn't make up for the additional charge over the advertised price to utilise a credit.
30 Aug 2022
Total posts 3
7. You cant pay using a flight pass and the discount 8. You cant use it for luggage upgrades either. Basically its a useless thing. Its like my free lounge offer on the points plus reward. I had a lounge invite that was open ended to Dec23. They my anniversay came and wiped that. Then i reactivated the entitlement by meeting requirements again but its still gone. Badically a complete fabrication....unless you become elgible and immediately fly its just a lie.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Jan 2018
Total posts 775
Yeah, with you on that. They can take mine back, not worth the trouble of deciphering the Ts & Cs.
09 Aug 2016
Total posts 10
Just noting point two was in initial release but I’m currently not currently registered as an AU or NZ member and have been offered the $50 voucher in the Qantas app. So must be bugs in the app! Separately, was not offered any extra points as a platinum member who already exceeded the 1,200 status credit in current membership year before the 12 month extension was announced,
25 Jun 2018
Total posts 51
Not worth the paper they are (not) written on.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Jan 2018
Total posts 775
But certainly with the paper - to Qantas - that this "apology" got printed in around the country. Very clever (or CONniving ?) of Qantas.
15 Sep 2021
Total posts 13
Personally would have preferred a boost to my Qantas Points. At least then we would have a choice without restriction, either apply toward a reward seat, an upgrade or even a little shopping if the desire struck.
Too many restrictions and certainly a time crunch, it will be interesting to learn of how many are actually redeemed
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
15 Jan 2018
Total posts 1
It's only $50,00 bucks-who cares
05 Mar 2015
Total posts 422
If it's $50 which is part of the Qantas Apology package and they are crowing about it, then I care because I want my $50 AND I want to be able to use it.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Jan 2018
Total posts 775
Aside (momentarily) from all the Ts & Cs and Caveats, can it even be used for onboard purchase of F&B ??
29 Mar 2017
Total posts 16
My reading of point 4 in the Qantas email sent with the discount code is that you cannot use the voucher if a single leg of your trip contain a non Qantas operated flight even if the ticket is bought on a QF flight number (ie code sharing flights).
29 Jan 2012
Total posts 184
Qantas must think we are all wide eyed children when it comes to their marketing. Some of their recent attempts have been truly insulting rather than impressive. QF - your losing ground quickly!
08 Jul 2015
Total posts 26
A little bit off topic but my wife and I are both Platinum. I got 30 k FF points and wife got 15 k. Go Figure.
21 Oct 2019
Total posts 5
Not really off topic, but curious as to why that would occur. You're not P1? Or, just old-fashioned misogyny!
05 Mar 2015
Total posts 422
I've heard that the number of points is somehow tied to the member's expiry date. GoPies, when do you and your wife's membership years end?
27 Mar 2019
Total posts 54
Well I haven't had the email at all, I'm WP and have received jack sh1t.
15 Mar 2018
Total posts 92
Same here. Both my wife and I are Platinum and I got the offer and she didn't. We always fly together so won't be using it.
05 Mar 2015
Total posts 422
Qantas should have let QFF members choose their make-up gesture, eg $100 flight voucher which is issued as a normal travel credit without all these conditions, OR an equivalent number of Qantas points, OR a decent whack of status credits. Something for everyone.
15 Mar 2018
Total posts 92
Agree. We both needed 15 SC to requalify and had a flight booked to ADL to do it. The insulting offer came and we cancelled, because we would have qualified and got no extension and my wife would have got nothing.
08 Jul 2015
Total posts 26
Hi MarkyD and QFP1.. We both regular Platinum Members. Mine expires 31 Aug ( ie today) and hers 31 Jan.
08 Sep 2019
Total posts 4
Another useless exercise from 'the spirit of Australia'. Too many T & C. Not everybody uses the Q App. It is an exercise in generating income and trying to revive a 'drooping spirit' !! We are not using the $50 as it is useless for us.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
13 Jan 2018
Total posts 48
While the code is only accessible via the app, bookings can be made using the regular website. Just enter the discount code where indicated and presto, it is applied.
I had no problem accessing the code or using the discount on a website booking.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Jan 2018
Total posts 775
Am I alone, but I have never, EVER, booked a flight (even a SYD-MEL) flights using an App on a phone (nor on a tablet), always done in the airline's web portal using a PC. Wonder whether this is worth a poll by ET of its readership? David?
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Jan 2018
Total posts 775
This $50 credit would be worth far more to me if I could donate it to a charity of my choice with TDGR tax status and get a tax deduction for doing so. Not happy, Alan!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
13 Jan 2018
Total posts 48
Nice sentiment, and I agree. What a great idea! I would have done the same. Bear in mind though, that as a donation, that would be a "real" $50. As a "discount" it's only real to the end user, to QANTAS is not real money.
Me neither. I can't think of anything less convenient to use to make a booking than a tiny screen on a phone. Mind you, the call centre...
08 Sep 2019
Total posts 4
Dear Boeing-Tragic, I am like you have NEVER used the App. I always use the website for booking domestic travel ONLY. We go overseas on another airline. Of course, donating the $50 to charity would be of more value to me.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
27 Aug 2014
Total posts 40
not sure if covered above...
I was confused when my wife opened the app on her phone & it offered the (minor) perk, but mine did not.
The trap is you need the latest version of the app & mine had not let me know it needed an upgrade (don't know if that is some arcane setting as everything else on my phone updates as needed).
Anyway, once I updated the offer appeared.
23 Jul 2017
Total posts 99
I wonder if Qantas reports in some way how many of the $50 "sorry" flight voucher offerings were actually used? It knew how many were offered, so surely be able tote up using its you beaut computer system. There were just too many conditions associated with it and if you didn't make a booking is such a short time it was a waste of time and effort. Furthermore, how far ahead do many people make bookings, especially when they wait for reduced price specials.
I completely forgot about the $50 I was offered. I was not travelling within the stipulated period.
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