Unbelievable Bargain: Voyagers Secure Inexpensive Premier Class Airfare from Australia to the U.S. thanks to a Qantas Error.
Due to a programming glitch, around 300 fortunate individuals managed to purchase the tickets at an unbelievably reduced price of $3,400 each on the airline's site before the issue was rectified.
In a public statement on Thursday, Qantas acknowledged the situation, stating, "Regrettably, this deal was just too good to believe."
Rather than canceling these bookings, Qantas showed understanding and announced that they would re-schedule the customers in business class as a token of gratitude at no added cost. Those who don't find satisfaction in business class are entitled to a full refund.
The normal price for flying business class with Qantas between Australia and the United States typically ranges around $11,000.
Qantas' generous act echoes a similar incident that unfolded differently for the airline the previous year.
Back in August 2020, Australian law enforcement accused Qantas of offering tickets for over 8,000 flights that had already been terminated, affecting over 86,000 passengers.
Qantas agreed to pay a substantial sum of almost $80 million to settle the case, with more than $13 million being doled out to the affected travelers.
Qantas' CEO, Vanessa Hudson, admitted to CNN in June that the company had let down its customers as well as its staff.
Airline mistakes often result in selling high-end tickets at unusually cheap prices, yet some institutions opt to honor such deals.
In 2019, Cathay Pacific presented first-class and business-class tickets from Vietnam to North American destinations for as little as $675 round trip.
The Hong Kong-based airline honored its commitment, tweeting "#promisemadepromisekept" and "#lessonlearnt" on its official account.
However, this is not always the case. In 2010, American Airlines declined to honor first-class return tickets from the US to Australia that it had sold at an economy-class price of $1,100, instead offering $200 vouchers as compensation.
Just a year earlier, British Airways also refused to honor mistakenly sold $40 flights from North America to India, resending $300 vouchers instead.
Despite the ongoing investigation, some lucky travelers managed to secure news of discounted business-class tickets for their future travel plans. These travelers, eager to explore new destinations, are now excited about their travel plans, hoping that the airline upholds its commitment.
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