Qantas cancellation compensation
Compensation 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). You are also entitled to choose between a full refund and a replacement flight, whatever the notice.
Which Qantas flights are covered
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.
Worked examples on Qantas routes
| 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 |
Notice the asymmetry: the same route pays in one direction and not the other, because Qantas is not a UK or EU airline and only departures from Europe are protected.
What Qantas is likely to say — and the answer
“You were offered an alternative flight” — only relevant if it fell inside the Article 5 windows. Check the departure and arrival times.
“We told you in advance” — the question is whether it was 14 days or more, counted from when you were actually informed.
“Operational reasons” — not a category in the Regulation.
A voucher offered instead of money — you are entitled to be paid in money.
Specific to Qantas
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.
Check it free, then send the letter yourself.
If your Qantas cancellation appears eligible, the claim letter is £15 flat, with Qantas’s likely objection answered in advance. You keep 100% of what they pay. 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 cancellation: common questions
How much can I claim from Qantas for a cancellation?
Between €250 and €600 (or £220 and £520 under UK261) per passenger, depending on distance. The worked examples on this page show the figure for some of Qantas’s routes.
Qantas cancelled my flight and put me on another one. Can I still claim?
Possibly. If you were told less than 14 days before, the airline only escapes compensation if the replacement fell inside strict windows — for example, with under 7 days’ notice, departing no more than an hour early and arriving less than two hours late. Outside those windows, compensation is due, although it can be halved if you arrived within 2, 3 or 4 hours depending on distance.
What reasons does Qantas give for refusing cancellation claims?
The most common are: You were offered an alternative flight; We told you in advance; Operational reasons; A voucher offered instead of money. Most of these do not hold up against the Regulation or the case law.
How long do I have to make a Qantas cancellation claim?
It depends on where you bring the claim, usually where the flight departed or arrived. Six years in England and Wales; two to five years in most EU countries.
Other Qantas claims
- 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.