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Qantas gives $50 ‘sorry’ flight vouchers: ‘Not good enough’

Qantas planes lined up and people wearing masks in an airport.
Qantas is offering $50 flight vouchers and perks to apologise to customers. (Source: Getty)

Disgruntled Qantas customers are being offered an olive branch in the form of flight vouchers and perks to apologise for travel issues.

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce apologised after facing a barrage of complaints over delayed flights, cancellations and mishandled baggage.

Affected customers have been offered a $50 flight discount to make amends.

Joyce conceded the national carrier had been beset by recent "operational challenges" as customers queued for hours at airports around the country.

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The airline will roll out vouchers and frequent flyer perks, including lounge invitations and reward seat availability, as additional sweeteners.

In a bid to get back to pre-pandemic service, Qantas has hired an additional 1,500 staff and adjusted flight schedules to help smooth the travel experience.

In a video and email message sent to millions of the company's Frequent Flyers, Joyce said the return to the skies hadn't gone smoothly.

"Over the past few months, too many of you have had flights delayed, flights cancelled and bags misplaced,” Joyce said.

“There are good reasons why, but when it comes to what you expect from Qantas, it's not good enough.

"On behalf of the national carrier, I want to apologise and assure you that we're working hard to get back to our best."

Joyce said the airline had been working to see sustained customer improvement.

'Enough of the gimmicks'

But not everyone is happy about the vouchers and perks.

Transport Workers Union (TWU) national secretary Michael Kaine said the blame for the poor service landed directly on Joyce’s shoulders.

“For a century, Qantas customers have paid premium prices and rightly expected a premium service, which was what the loyal workforce made sure they received,” Kaine said in a statement.

“Over the last 15 years, Joyce-led management has trashed safety and service standards by eroding working conditions, attacking hard-working families and illegally sacking 2,000 ground crew.”

Kaine labelled the $50 vouchers a “stunt” to try to pay customers to fly with the airline.

“The thousands of passengers who have spent hours in call centre queues, following cancelled flights, delays and lost luggage, won't want to waste more of their time attempting to cash in a voucher to buy themselves more of the same chaos,” he said.

“Enough of the gimmicks.”

  • With AAP

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