Petition Legislate refundable or transferable travel credit vouchers

The Petition of certain citizens of the State of Victoria draws to the attention of the Legislative Council that airlines are holding billions of customers’ dollars in credit vouchers. The current flight credit schemes, which include incomprehensible terms and conditions and the inability to transfer to other family members, has left billions of customers’ money stuck in credit vouchers. Credit vouchers should be transferable to other family members and in circumstances where people cannot use the travel credit, they should be entitled to a refund.

As of November 2022, statistics show that Qantas and Jetstar hold $1.3 billion worth of unclaimed flight credits in their systems. More than one in five people, which is 21 per cent, had been unable to use their vouchers after their flights were cancelled due to COVID-19. One in four people had flight vouchers expire before they could be used.

The petitioners therefore request that the Legislative Council call on the Government to introduce legislation that ensures that travel credit vouchers are transferable to other family members and are refunded in circumstances where the travel credit cannot be used.