Traveler complaints about Qantas, Etihad, and airline/hotel issues in 2026
Consensus Summary
Both articles feature a collection of traveler complaints and experiences related to Qantas, Etihad, and other travel-related issues. Alyssa Lim’s story about a misleading hotel booking through Qantas Hotels in Cusco, Peru, is prominently shared, highlighting the lack of resolution and non-refundable booking. Karen Forbes’ prolonged struggle with Etihad over a refund request, spanning 11 weeks, underscores customer service failures. Invasive security procedures at Melbourne and Frankfurt airports are described by Jan Hart, who found the treatment humiliating. Positive travel experiences, such as a two-week self-drive trip in New Zealand and a visit to the Isle of Man, are also detailed, along with reflections on carbon footprints from international travel and the contrast between Australia’s high emissions and those of countries like Namibia and Nepal. The articles also include tips for efficient travel planning and critiques of airline and hotel services, emphasizing the need for better customer support and safety measures.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Alyssa Lim booked a hotel in Plaza de Armas, Cusco, Peru, via the Qantas Hotels app, but the hotel did not exist as advertised and was accessed via a nondescript staircase under a different name. She was given another room after the originally booked room was occupied by a man. The booking was non-refundable.
- Jan Hart, a 74-year-old woman, experienced invasive security pat-downs at Melbourne Airport and Frankfurt Airport, including being forced to rub her own breasts and being wanded between her legs, which she found humiliating and shocking.
- Michael and Yenny Bent completed a two-week self-drive trip around New Zealand, visiting Auckland, Rotorua, Lake Taupo, New Plymouth, Wellington, Napier, Gisborne, Whakatane, Coromandel, and back to Auckland, emphasizing time efficiency and reduced backtracking.
- John Hibbard visited the Isle of Man and used a Travel Explore card costing the equivalent of $84 for unlimited transport for three days, including steam trains, vintage trams, and bus trips.
- Rosemary Fitzgerald recalled her honeymoon in the Maldives 41 years ago, describing a 30-kilometre tinny ride to Villivaru, where she experienced a pristine beach with harmless reef sharks and few guests.
- Mark Wills noted that return flights from Melbourne to Namibia and Nepal generated 4.9 and 3.9 tonnes of CO2 equivalents, respectively, while the annual per capita carbon footprints for Namibia and Nepal are 1.1 and 0.6 tonnes, compared to Australia’s 14.5 tonnes.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Jenny Pender was upgraded to a newly renovated room in Singapore but found it impractical for a lone traveler, with a large bed, no wardrobe, and poor lighting, leading her to request a downgrade.
- Will Murray praised Italian trains for comfort and efficiency, recommending their sleeper services, and noted that a round trip to Vienna via Salzburg, Venice, Florence, Siena, Rome, and Vienna was booked through Italo.
- Ross MacPherson mentioned an upcoming upgrade for Australia, referencing a previous failed attempt described as a 'failure of operatic proportions'.
- Stephen Trevarrow carries muesli bars, instant miso soup, and instant noodles due to poor vegetarian meal options on flights.
- Bob Konig described a 10-hour flight from Thailand where five people near him were coughing and sneezing without masks, suggesting sick passengers should be denied boarding or provided with masks by the airline.
- No additional source-specific details beyond those in SMH.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- Both sources mention a 'failure incoming' regarding an upgrade for Australia, but neither specifies what the upgrade refers to or provides a clear date or context for the event.
- The articles reference a 'Downside of upgrade' and a 'Failure incoming' but do not clarify whether these are related to the same event or different issues.
Source Articles
I booked a hotel through Qantas. When I arrived, I felt unsafe
A solo female traveller, I turned up at night to check in but found the hotel different to how it was advertised. It even had a different name.
I booked a hotel through Qantas. When I arrived, I felt unsafe
A solo female traveller, I turned up at night to check in but found the hotel different to how it was advertised. It even had a different name.