For more than a million Australians, an unexpected message from Qantas-related lawyers could soon be worth far more than a frequent flyer point.
After years of turbulence stemming from the COVID-era aviation shutdown, the long-running class action over Qantas flight credits has entered a crucial new phase, with court-approved notifications now being sent to customers who may be eligible to share in a proposed $105 million settlement.
Over the next fortnight, more than one million potentially eligible customers will receive either an email or a text message advising them of the next steps required to participate in the settlement process.
And before anyone instinctively consigns the message to the spam folder — understandable in today’s scam-infested digital landscape — the communications are entirely legitimate.
The Federal Court of Australia has formally authorised Sydney-based Echo Law to contact affected customers whose flights were cancelled during the pandemic between 2020 and 2022 and who subsequently received flight credits.
For many travellers, memories of COVID travel chaos remain vivid. Airports resembled ghost towns, international borders slammed shut overnight, and travellers often found themselves clutching flight credits rather than boarding passes.
Now, some financial restitution may finally be on the horizon.
Andrew Paull, Partner at Echo Law, said the court orders marked an important milestone in the lengthy legal process.
“We are pleased that the Federal Court has issued orders for us to contact eligible Qantas customers. This is a critical step that brings us closer to distributing millions of dollars in settlement funds to customers who were issued flight credits for cancelled Qantas flights between 2020 – 2022,” Paull said.
“Before payments can be made, we need eligible group members in this class action to now take steps to participate in the proposed settlement. That’s why we’re reaching out by email and text message using the details that customers provided to Qantas when purchasing tickets.”
Importantly, eligibility is broader than many customers may realise.
Travellers who ultimately redeemed their flight credits or later received refunds may still qualify for compensation, provided they satisfy the settlement criteria.
If the Federal Court grants final approval, eligible claimants are expected to receive a minimum payment of $50. However, payouts could be considerably larger for customers with multiple affected bookings or for those who experienced lengthy delays in obtaining refunds.
Paull added: “Even customers who used the flight credit they were issued, or subsequently received a refund are eligible to participate if they meet the relevant criteria.”
He also urged customers to remain patient while the notification process unfolds.
“Texts and emails will issue each day over the next fortnight from Echo Law. If any recipients are nervous about clicking the link, they can visit the Echo Law website to confirm the legitimacy of the communication they’ve received.”
With cybercriminals increasingly targeting Australians through sophisticated phishing campaigns, legal representatives are keenly aware that many recipients may initially question the authenticity of any unexpected message.
Kate Sambrook, Partner at Piper Alderman, acknowledged those concerns.
“We are making this announcement today as we’re aware that the large number of scams that take place mean some recipients of these communications may question whether the text or email they are receiving is legitimate, and indeed whether they should click on the link in the communication.”
Under the proposed settlement terms, Qantas will fund the full settlement amount, although the airline has made no admission of liability.
The distribution process is expected to take several months and remains subject to final court approval.
“Our current expectation is that payments will start being made by the end of this calendar year,” Sambrook said.
The class action has been jointly conducted by Echo Law and Piper Alderman, with litigation funding provided by CASL and Omni Bridgeway.
Customers who believe they may be eligible are encouraged to wait up to 14 days for official communications before making enquiries.
Further information and verification of communications can be found on the official settlement website at https://www.echolaw.com.au/Qantas and on the Federal Court of Australia website at https://www.fedcourt.gov.au.
For many Australians still carrying emotional and financial baggage from the pandemic, this could finally be one flight credit that delivers a genuine return.
By: Michelle Warner – © 2026.
Read Time: 3 minutes.
Author Bio:
Michelle Warner has always carried stories the way others carry passports lightly, faithfully, and with purpose. She learned her craft in newsrooms, shaping sentences with care, before swapping deadlines for departures as a flight attendant with some of the world’s great airlines. Years aloft sharpened her eye for character and deepened her fondness for the small, dignified rituals of travel, the quiet kindness of strangers, the poetry of arrival, the patience learned between time zones.
Now grounded by choice, Michelle has come home to writing with the same calm authority she once brought to turbulent cabins. Her prose blends an editor’s discipline with a traveller’s wonder, tinged with humour and reverence for the golden age of travel. Each piece feels like a handwritten boarding pass, gracious, observant, and unmistakably alive.
