Qantas, Virgin, and Jetstar will scrap free flight flexibility as Covid pandemic eases

Major Australian airlines will scrap free flight credits and flexibility as travel begins to return to normal after Covid-19 lockdowns.

Qantas, Jetstar, and Virgin are banishing their Covid safety nets for domestic travellers from Sunday, May 1, with international travellers to follow from June 30.

During the pandemic, the airlines introduced free flight credits and date changes so if customers had to isolate due to Covid, it would be of no extra cost to rearrange flights.

Flexible tickets with the option for free date changes will still be available but will be of cost to the traveller, as it was prior to the pandemic.

However, the airlines will not reintroduce cancellation fees for customers forced to scrap plans due to Covid isolation orders.

International travellers will reap the pandemic perks until June 30 for flights booked until the end of this year.

Airports around Australia have reported large crowds as Covid restrictions continue to ease

Ben Mead, a travel agent and managing director of Holidays of Australia & The World tole Nine News airlines had shown consideration for customers throughout the pandemic, but now it was time for ‘buyers beware’. 

‘Credit to the airlines, they’ve met market conditions and having that flexibility has been incredibly important for the recovery of tourism and getting people back on planes,’ he said.

Mr Mead urged customers to check the fine print when booking their tickets under the new conditions and to consider travel insurance.

Customers questioned at Adelaide airport said they didn’t want airlines to revert to pre-Covid policies, including one woman (pictured) who said it would discourage her from flying

However travellers at Adelaide airport said they weren’t keen on the change.

‘It was really good to have that, not to have it anymore it’s going to be hard to actually want to book,’ one woman said.

‘Probably a bit soon I think,’ a man said. ‘Because a lot of plans have been changed, changed, and changed again.’

Australian airlines are also starting to bring back popular flights with Jetstar resuming its Adelaide to Bali service from Monday.