Latest news with #Qantas
NZ Herald
15 hours ago
- Business
- NZ Herald
Qantas cyber attack: Kiwis cannot join Aussie legal complaint but can complain in NZ, expert says
Shaw added: 'In New Zealand if people were impacted by the breach by Qantas they would make a complaint to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner.' He said the office would consider the complaint and ask: 'Is this an actionable privacy breach in New Zealand?' Shaw said a privacy breach in this context meant a person had access to or misused personal information without consent. 'Then the question from there is, if it's a privacy breach, what has somebody suffered effectively?' The Office of the Privacy Commissioner would try to resolve that issue and ask if mediation was possible. 'Ultimately the Human Rights Review Tribunal considers it.' The New Zealand process for data breaches has generated some criticism. Consumer NZ chief executive Jon Duffy earlier this month said Qantas would face much stiffer penalties under Australian privacy regulations than it would if it were a New Zealand company. However, Shaw said the system in New Zealand could punish people or entities for data breaches. 'The system in New Zealand is good. The Privacy Commissioner and the act have real teeth. The criticism I would have is the delay, the delay in having the matter heard by the Human Rights Review Tribunal.' He said the tribunal could award substantial damages. Shaw said Lane Neave was not suing Qantas but New Zealand had some litigation funders and some no-win no-fee practitioners who might consider the case. The Office of the Privacy Commissioner has been approached for comment. Qantas said it was aware Maurice Blackburn in Australia had lodged a complaint on behalf of some affected customers in relation to the cyber incident. 'Our focus continues to be on supporting our customers and providing ongoing access to specialist identity protection advice and resources,' a Qantas spokesman said. 'In an effort to further protect our customers, Qantas has obtained an injunction in the New South Wales Supreme Court which prevents the stolen data from being accessed, viewed, released, used, transmitted or published by anyone, including by any third parties.' Maurice Blackburn said the complaint was made to the Australian privacy commissioner, who did not have jurisdiction over New Zealanders' personal information. Some 1.3 million residential or business addresses were among the affected Qantas data, including hotels for misplaced baggage delivery. Four million customer records stolen in the attack contained names, email addresses and Qantas Frequent Flyer numbers. John Weekes is a business journalist mostly covering aviation and courts. He has reported on Catholic Church abuse and the Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry since 2019 and on Dilworth survivors since 2021.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Qantas passengers forced to hand over passports in 'frustrating' move
Hundreds of Qantas passengers were forced to hand over their passports in a foreign country after their flight was delayed overnight this week. Sydney mum Ramya Vairavan told Yahoo News the whole process was rather "frustrating". A picture taken by Ramya shows dozens of passports neatly stacked in a cardboard box on the floor of Bangkok Airport on Monday night. She explained she was left waiting for hours with her two young children as the flight from Bangkok to Sydney kept being delayed. When it was finally cancelled, she was told to hand over her passport alongside everyone else. She said there was no transparency about what was going on. "I think the reason they took it was because they wanted to comply with Thai laws... I didn't actually know why," she told Yahoo, explaining passengers were relying primarily on each other to pass on information. Passengers were then given an orange wristband and a "slip of paper" that allegedly acted as a receipt for the passport exchange. They were later herded off onto a shuttle and stayed overnight in a hotel. Ramya was eager for an "uneventful flight" and, while an almost 24-hour delay didn't quite qualify as that, she said the situation overall was fine. However, she claims another passenger, who visits Thailand every week, was forced to give over his passport rather than simply head back to his accommodation. Ramya and her fellow passengers were under the impression they were not able to make alternative travel plans themselves, and instead had to follow along with the airline. "It was a waste of time for him when he's delayed for two days, and then has to come back [to Thailand] the day later [after his flight back to Australia]," she said. 👀 Couple 'traumatised' over horrifying seating request on flight from Australia 💬 Qantas passenger's $6,000 ordeal after worker's 'typo' in booking system 😟 Qantas passenger slammed for 'entitled' act in first class Qantas apologises for passport fiasco at Bangkok Airport Yahoo News reached out to Qantas about the incident, and the airline has apologised. "We sincerely apologise to customers for the disruption and understand the inconvenience this would have caused to their travel plans," a Qantas spokesperson told Yahoo. "Our teams worked hard to get passengers on their way as quickly as possible and all passengers have now arrived in Sydney." Yahoo News understands the original flight from Bangkok to Sydney was delayed due to a mechanical issue. The passports were handed into immigration officials in order for the passengers to exit the airport and access their hotel accomodation, as is the custom with Bangkok Immigration regulations. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
AU Financial Review
a day ago
- Business
- AU Financial Review
Baptista initiates on BHP, CSL and Qantas – with a big whiff of AI
Earlier this week, analysts at Baptista Research began initiating coverage on a few ASX-listed companies. Then several more. Eventually, the self-described 'independent financial research house' was covering a string of the country's largest listed companies, from BHP to Qantas. Fund managers have never heard of them; neither have the companies that they are covering – unusual given analysts often have deep connections to the businesses they produce research about as they try to generate better insights and, hopefully, lead their clients to make better investments.
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Daily Mirror
'The flight attendant method' keeps you skin glowing and beats jet lag
Ni jet lag drag - prep is key for your long-haul flight, as Nigel Thompsonlearns with help from Qantas and Maddy Edgar, Qantas Business and First Class flight attendant Have you ever stood in an airport immigration queue at the end of an overnight long-haul flight feeling like death warmed up? And then the cheery cabin crew from your plane breeze by in their special fast-track lane looking as fresh as a daisy? The jet lag from eight hours or (much) more at 40,000ft in an aircraft cabin can leave you feeling – and looking – like you've been dragged through a hedge backwards. Australian flag carrier Qantas, which has had a cabin crew base in London for 20 years, operates some of the longest flights in the world. It is currently working on Project Sunrise, which by 2027 should link both London and New York City directly to Sydney with record-breaking 20-hour nonstop journeys. We asked Maddy Edgar, Qantas Business and First Class flight attendant, to share her top tips for travelling long haul, including how to prepare, pack, and manage jet lag. PRE AND POST- FLIGHT CARE First up, plenty of sleep is key. The night before one of my long-haul flights, I steam my uniform, pack the essentials (more on that later), and log into our Qantas portal to confirm my crew position and review roles and responsibilities. Then I head to bed to get as much sleep as possible. It's also incredibly important to stay hydrated. I have an extensive skincare routine and hydration plays a huge role both before and after a long-haul flight. The lack of humidity in cabin air can really dry out your skin and lips, so besides drinking plenty of electrolyte-infused water, a hydrating skincare routine is a must. In the morning, to prepare for our 17-hour direct flight from London to Perth – one of the longest in the world – I start by cleansing my face with Effaclar Purifying Gel Cleanser. Now I have a clean base, I apply The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid over Mario Badescu Rosewater spray to maximise water absorption. It makes a huge difference in keeping my skin plump. Next, I use a thicker-than-usual moisturiser, such as Wella Skin Food, to protect my skin barrier. Then, even though I'm inside a plane, we're also closer to the sun, so I apply a generous amount of 50+ La Roche-Posay SPF to protect against higher UV rays and premature aging. Plus, as an Aussie, the smell of SPF makes me feel right at home. I'd also add that Laneige lip mask is essential. A top tip for your skin throughout the flight – invest in a mini travel-sized version of your favourite hydration mist so you can keep spritzing during the flight. Then once we land and I'm at my hotel it's time for a much-needed skin reset and some self-care. Face masks are a must. I love using the viral Bio Collagen mask or Kiehl's Ultra Facial Overnight Rehydrating Mask. WHAT'S IN MY CARRY-ON BAG? Inside my bag I have some long-haul flight attendant essentials I just can't live without. I always keep fresh supplies of everything I need because there's no Australian Priceline or Tesco 40,000ft up. Here's what I pack: Travel-sized Mario Badescu Rosewater spray. My entire long-wear make-up kit, including my favourite Hourglass Concealer and Rimmel lip liner for touch-ups after waking up from crew rest. Travel-sized hair spray, bobby pins, and spare hair ties. Latte coffee sachets. Mints and fresh mint gum. Toothbrush and toothpaste. iPad, iPhone and chargers. Nail glue, in case one of my French tip acrylics pops off unexpectedly. PJs and a book for getting cosy in our crew rest area. Healthy high-protein snacks such as protein bars, protein shakes, and boiled eggs. Sometimes, I even squeeze in a quick Sainsbury's shop for Galaxy chocolate bars to bring back to my Aussie family in Perth. MANAGING JET LAG POST-FLIGHT As a former primary school teacher, I had a pretty regular bedtime. Now, as an international long-haul flight attendant with Qantas, jet lag and time zones can throw me. But honestly, I wouldn't trade this dream job for anything. My main go-to tip? Focus on sleep hygiene. I love listening to meditation music to unwind after a flight. Keeping the room dark and cosy is a must, and I can't resist a bit of lavender pillow spray. It makes all the difference. I also try not to stress about when to sleep or wake up. If I'm tired, I just close my eyes and enjoy the quiet. It's all about finding that balance, so I'm ready to welcome our Qantas customers with a smile when I fly again.
News.com.au
2 days ago
- News.com.au
Aussie mum among 300-plus passengers asked to hand over passports in Thailand as flights cancelled
An Aussie traveller briefly stranded in Thailand has shared the horrifying experience of being one of more than 300 passengers who had their passports taken away from them. But the reason why is far from a sinister one. Australian mum blogger Ramya left Sydney for Thailand on holiday with her two young children in early July, flying with Qantas. But after checking in at Bangkok airport for the family's return flight, Ramya noticed the plane was instead one from Finnair as opposed to Qantas. After being delayed every half-hour for seven hours, the flight was cancelled, sending passengers into panic. The mum of two uploaded a video showing what transpired next, as hundreds of concerned and confused passengers were left in limbo with airport crew trying to guide them. One worker in the video could be seen telling a passenger to place his passport in a cardboard box, before the clip cut to the box showing a stack of passports and boarding passes piled up. 'Last night 300-plus people got their passports taken away from Qantas airlines when their flight was cancelled,' her post read. 'Apparently keeping your passport is an immigration concern in Thailand when your international flight is cancelled. It's been 18 hours and we still don't know when we will leave. It could be tonight or in 2-3 days.' The video went viral with more than two million views and 115k likes, as plenty weighed in. 'Never hand your passport over for nothing,' one user commented. 'I could NEVER, that's the one piece of ID that gets you home, imagine they misplaced that box?!' another added. However, others who claimed to have been in similar situations looked to help clarify the experience, explaining that because passengers were already on the plane, it was a standard protocol to process and transfer everyone back to land. 'So basically, processing everyone back into Thailand to organise visa's if required for re-entry, in the case that they're looking at sorting accommodation and new flights for everyone,' one user suggested. As a passenger service agent confirmed this was the case. 'We do that for you when we have a lot of passengers to process, we have all your information without having to ask you again,' Anthony Gle explained. 'We can use your passeport's (sic) information to put you on other flights through other countries cause sometimes you'd need visas for those we have a lot to do (to) put you on other flights and getting your passport is just making the whole thing quicker for us and also for you to get new flights.' Ramya posted a follow-up confirming she and her kids were put up in a hotel overnight and were due to fly out the day after the ordeal, but hadn't been given back their passports until arriving back at the airport. Aboard a rescheduled Qantas flight, the mother of two posted an update in their business class seats, seemingly in better spirits and on the way back to Australia.
