Consumer advocate doubts Qantas’ bizarre ‘ghost flight’ defence

Qantas could be fined hundreds of millions of dollars for allegedly advertising thousands of flights that had already been cancelled and a consumer advocate says the airline’s defence doesn’t stack up.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission claims the airline sold tickets on more than 8000 so-called “ghost flights” which had already been cancelled, but Qantas has launched a legal defence claiming it doesn’t sell customers tickets on specific flights, it sells a “bundle of rights” that includes alternative options in the case of cancellations.

Chair of the Consumers’ Federation of Australia, Gerard Brody, says the airline’s defence is flawed.

Press PLAY below to hear Mr Brody’s view on Qantas’ claims

“Courts have examined these sorts of claims in the past and have found pretty clearly that the fine print doesn’t cure an upfront misleading representation,” he told Neil Mitchell.

Image: iStock