If you are a Qantas customer, you may have woken to unsettling news. A significant data breach has potentially exposed the personal information of up to six million Australians.
For many, Qantas is not just an airline—it is a trusted brand flown with for decades. For frequent flyers, it is part of daily life.
So what happened, what does this mean for you, and what should you do next? Let us break it down.
What happened?
On Monday, Qantas detected ‘unusual activity’ on a third-party platform used by one of its overseas contact centres based in Manila, Philippines.
A cyber criminal gained access to this system, which holds service records for around six million Qantas customers. The breach was quickly contained, but the damage had already been done.
Qantas chief executive officer Vanessa Hudson was swift to issue a public apology, acknowledging the seriousness of the incident and the uncertainty it would cause.
‘Our customers trust us with their personal information and we take that responsibility seriously,’ she said.
The airline is now working closely with the Federal Government’s National Cyber Security Coordinator, the Australian Cyber Security Centre and independent cyber security experts to investigate and respond.
What information was exposed?
Qantas’s initial review confirmed the breach included some customers’ names, email addresses, phone numbers, birth dates and frequent flyer numbers.
The good news is credit card details, personal financial information and passport details were not stored in this system and are unaffected.
Qantas also says no frequent flyer accounts were compromised and passwords, PINs or login details were not accessed.
Still, as Finder’s editor-at-large Angus Kidman points out, ‘breaches don’t come much bigger than this’.
With more than 16 million Qantas Frequent Flyer members and 35 per cent of Australians actively collecting Qantas Points, the scale of this incident is enormous.
Customers affected by the breach are encouraged to contact Qantas’ dedicated support line at 1800 971 541.
What are the risks?
While your financial details and passwords remain safe, exposure of your frequent flyer number and personal information is still a concern.
Scammers could use this data to attempt bogus rewards bookings or other redemptions.
As Mr Kidman warns, ‘points are like cash’, so it is important to monitor your balance closely. There is also the risk of phishing scams.
Cyber criminals may use the information they have obtained to send convincing fake emails or messages, pretending to be from Qantas or related services.
These scams often try to trick you into clicking malicious links or providing further personal information.
What should you do now?
- Monitor your frequent flyer account: Log in regularly to check your points balance and recent activity. If you notice anything suspicious, contact Qantas immediately.
- Be wary of scams: If you receive emails, texts or phone calls claiming to be from Qantas, double-check the sender’s details. Do not click on links or provide personal information unless you are certain it is legitimate.
- Update your security: Even though passwords were not compromised, review your account security. Use a strong, unique password and enable two-factor authentication if you have not already.
- Stay informed: Qantas has promised to keep customers updated as the investigation continues. Keep an eye on your inbox for official communications.
A wake-up call for all of us
This breach is a stark reminder that no company—no matter how big or trusted—is immune to cyber threats.
As we rely more on digital services, it is important to stay vigilant and proactive about protecting personal information.
For those who have flown with Qantas for years, this news may feel like a betrayal of trust.
But it is also an opportunity to review digital habits and ensure we are doing everything possible to stay safe online.
Your turn: Have you been affected by the Qantas data breach?
Are you worried about your personal information? Have you ever been targeted by a scammer?
Share your experiences and tips in the comments below—your story could help others stay safe.
Also read: Qantas gears up for a price war with rivals Virgin and Air New Zealand
“one of its overseas contact centres based in Manila, Philippines” ???