Qantas has apologised and promised to honour fares after a website error let travellers book business class flights for up to 85 per cent cheaper than usual.
On August 22, return first-class fares between Australia and the US were available on the Qantas website for less than $5000 return – some $15,000 cheaper than usual – due to a “coding error”.
Fares for first-class flights were about 85 per cent cheaper than usual, while business-class fares were 65 per cent lower than usual.
Qantas says 300 customers booked flights in this “too good to be true” sale during the eight hours that the offer was available online
The airline publicly vowed to rebook customers who reserved tickets during the sale period and told 9News the sale, which was available on its website on Friday, was a result of a coding error.
“Unfortunately, this is a case where the fare was actually too good to be true,” a Qantas spokesperson said.
“As a gesture of goodwill, we’re rebooking customers in Business Class at no additional cost.
“Customers also have the option of a full refund.”
Qantas is currently selling a Sydney to Los Angeles first-class flight for $19,342.
The terms and conditions on Qantas’ website state if there is an error or mistake when a customer books, the airline may cancel the booking or offer a refund.
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Customers first noticed the cheap fares when bargain hunting website OzBargain published the sale on Friday.
According to OzBargain, the fares were advertised for travel dates between September 2024 and June 2025.
OzBargain noted it was clearly an “error fare” and said the flights were listed as available mostly between Sydney and Melbourne and the US.
