Qantas sells hundreds of first class seats to US for $4300 return by mistake

Aussies have snapped up hundreds of long-haul first class fares for just $4300 return – but it is not as it seems.

Qantas has sold hundreds of first class fares for up to 85 per cent cheaper than usual by mistake.

news.com.au can confirm the national carrier was selling first class fares between Australia and the US for less than $5000 return on its website in the early hours of August 23.

It is understood about 300 bookings were made in the eight hours the fares were made available on Qantas.com due to a coding error.

“Unfortunately this is a case where the fare was actually too good to be true,” a Qantas spokesman told news.com.au.

“As a gesture of good will, we’re re-booking customers in business class at no additional cost. Customers also have the option of a full refund.”

news.com.au understands, thanks to the mistake, customers have still scored a business class seat up to 65 per cent cheaper than the usual business class fare on offer.

Qantas published first class fares by mistake for just $2191 to the United States. Picture: OzBargain

Travellers thought they nabbed the luxury seats for $4299 return. Picture: OzBargain

Under Qantas’ terms and conditions if there is “an error or mistake that is reasonably obvious in the fare price,” the company may cancel the ticket or booking, provide a refund, offer a new ticket “at the correct fare price” or issue a new ticket if a customer pays the “correct fare”.

The cheap fares gained momentum when posted on bargain hunting community OzBargain on Friday.

William Fowler, an American who now lives in Sydney, said he heard about the deal from a friend and quickly jumped on Qantas’ website to book on Friday morning.

After paying about $4300 for return first class airfares to Los Angeles, he spent the day hoping it was legitimate and Qantas would honour the sale, before an email on Saturday morning informed him there had been an error.

Mr Fowler was relieved he was at least offered business class instead.

“I’m excited. It’s a great price for business, it would have been an unbelievable price for first class,” he told news.com.au.

If it wasn’t for the deal, he says he probably would have flown a different airline at a different time.

“I’m using this trip to go over and spend a good two months with my family because post-pandemic and the world being in a recession, it’s just hard to travel and it’s really exciting when you get to travel and then also travel in business class,” he said.

Qantas offered the customers affected business class seats instead. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

According to the OzBargain post, the cheap first class fares were advertised for travel dates between September this year and June next year, including Christmas holidays.

The original poster assumed it was “clearly an error fare” and encouraged travellers to book while they can. It warned the bookings may not be honoured by Qantas, but was “worth a try”.

“My flight was ticketed so fingers crossed it doesn’t get cancelled,” one person wrote on the thread.

“Yep, me too. Awaiting cancellation email, but here’s to hoping,” said another.

After the mistake was confirmed, one pleased traveller went back to the thread to share the outcome.

“I will be sticking with my $4.3k Brisbane to New York tickets return in business class,” they said.

Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson is working to repair the airline’s reputation after a rough year. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Qantas’ decision to re-book customers affected by the error in business class comes as fresh management take action to repair the airline’s reputation.

Qantas chief executive Vanessa Hudson had promised to put customers first in September last year when she took over the top job from Alan Joyce. He brought forward his retirement two months early so the airline could “move ahead with its renewal” under new management.

Earlier this month it was revealed Mr Joyce would have his bonuses slashed by more than $9 million.

His bonuses were withheld amid mounting pressure from investors following a string of controversies, including the illegal sacking of 1700 workers, the selling of tickets on already cancelled flights and allegations of anti-competitive behaviour.

Qantas has also committed to implementing all 23 recommendations made in its review of key governance matters.

The airline will be pay about $20 million in compensation to customers affected by its flight cancellation policy, after admitting it had misled passengers. This is in addition to a $100 million civil penalty.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) had launched legal action against the airline in August 2023, claiming it sold tickets for 8000 “ghost flights” (already-cancelled flights) between May and July 2022.

Originally published as Qantas sells hundreds of first class seats to US for $4300 return by mistake