Qantas compensation: how to claim
Qantas is registered in Australia — outside the EU and UK — so only flights leaving Europe are covered.
- Registered in
- Australia (non-EU/UK carrier)
- Main bases
- Sydney (SYD), Melbourne (MEL)
- Typical first response
- About 45 days
- Time limit where it is based
- Depends where you claim
Qantas is registered in Australia — outside the EU and UK — so only flights leaving Europe are covered.
- Departing a UK airport: covered by UK261.
- Departing an EU airport: covered by EU261.
- Flying into the UK or EU from Australia or elsewhere: not covered by either, because Qantas is not a UK or EU carrier.
- That means a return trip is usually half-protected: the outbound from Europe counts, the flight home does not.
How Qantas handles claims
Not an EU or UK carrier. A London or Paris departure to Australia is covered; the flight back is not.
Their European departures connect through Singapore or Perth on a single booking, so the covered outbound is measured on arrival in Australia.
These are the longest routes in the network and sit firmly in the top band.
Codeshares with Emirates and Finnair are common — check who actually operated your flight.
What a delay on Qantas is worth
| Route | Distance | Rules | Per passenger |
|---|---|---|---|
| London (LHR) → Sydney (SYD) | 17,020 km | UK261 | £520 |
| Sydney (SYD) → London (LHR) | 17,020 km | — | Not covered |
| Paris (CDG) → Sydney (SYD) | 16,944 km | EU261 | €600 |
| Sydney (SYD) → Paris (CDG) | 16,944 km | — | Not covered |
Amounts are per passenger. The distance is the great-circle distance between the airports, which is what the Regulation uses — not the distance flown.
Claiming from Qantas, by what happened
- Qantas: delayCompensation is due when you arrive at your final destination 3 hours or more after the scheduled arrival time.
- Qantas: cancellationCompensation is due unless you were told at least 14 days before departure, or were told later but re-routed on a flight that fell inside the timing windows set by Article 5(1)(c).
- Qantas: denied boardingCompensation is due immediately when you are refused boarding against your will — most often because the flight was overbooked — provided you checked in on time with a confirmed reservation.
- Qantas: missed connectionWhere all your flights were on a single booking, a delay that makes you miss a connection is measured at your final destination.
We draft. You send.
The check is free. If your Qantas flight appears eligible, the claim letter is £15 flat — you send it to Qantas yourself and keep the whole payout. If the airline rejects your claim on eligibility grounds, we refund the £15. Forward us their reply and we refund within five working days.
Qantas: common questions
How much compensation can I get from Qantas?
It depends on the distance and on which rules apply. Under EU261 it is €250, €400 or €600 per passenger; under UK261 it is £220, £350 or £520. Qantas is registered in Australia — outside the EU and UK — so only flights leaving Europe are covered.
Does Qantas have to pay if the delay was caused by a technical problem?
Yes, in almost every case. The Court of Justice has held that technical problems — including sudden, unforeseen faults — are part of the normal running of an airline and are not extraordinary circumstances.
How long do I have to claim against Qantas?
The limit is set by the country where you bring the claim, which is usually where your flight departed or arrived. In England and Wales it is six years; in most EU countries between two and five.
Where do I send a claim to Qantas?
Qantas takes claims through an online form, and the postal address is Qantas Airways Limited, Customer Care, 10 Bourke Road, Mascot NSW 2020, Australia. Check the address on the airline’s website before posting — claims departments move.
Can I claim for an old Qantas flight?
Very often, yes. Most people do not realise claims last several years. Every disrupted flight is a separate claim, for every passenger on the booking.