Major Airline Just Leaked A LOT Of Personal Data – Are You Affected?

Qantas just leaked a ton of information. Not on purpose, of course, but it happened – and millions of Americans could have sensitive data floating around the internet.

If you’ve flown Qantas before, you need to protect yourself. Read this:

At a glance:

  • Qantas has experienced a privacy breach involving the theft of frequent-flyer points by two contractors from India.
  • The breach affected around 800 customers, and some customers’ passport details may also have been accessed.
  • Qantas has worked to remedy the issue, returned stolen points, and taken steps to tighten security with partner airlines to prevent future incidents.

Qantas has been rocked by a significant privacy breach involving the theft of frequent-flyer points and unauthorized access to customer data. The breach, which impacted approximately 800 customers, was traced back to two contractors from India SATS, a ground-handling company used by Qantas in India. These contractors allegedly abused their access to Qantas bookings to steal frequent-flyer points.

Qantas confirmed that some customers’ passport details may have also been accessed in the fraudulent activity, although the airline emphasized that this was not a widespread cyberattack but an isolated case involving rogue employees. According to a Qantas spokesperson, the incident was halted in August, and affected bookings have since been rectified, with frequent-flyer points returned to customers.

The breach came to light after a Qantas customer in Sydney reported that her frequent-flyer account had been hacked. Since then, other customers have come forward, claiming similar breaches, and concerns have arisen that the issue might involve other airlines within the Oneworld alliance, of which Qantas is a member.

Qantas has apologized to affected customers, ensuring that the vulnerabilities exploited by the contractors have been addressed. In response, partner airlines have tightened their systems, and Qantas now requires customers to call the contact center and verify their identity before making changes to frequent-flyer details.

The incident adds to a series of challenges for Qantas, which is also facing public scrutiny over former CEO Alan Joyce’s compensation package, as well as upcoming revelations in the book The Chairman’s Lounge: The Inside Story of How Qantas Sold Us Out. Despite the scandal, Qantas assures customers that it has worked diligently to prevent further breaches and has taken all necessary steps to restore customer confidence.

For those who have flown with Qantas, it is recommended to check their frequent-flyer accounts and contact Qantas for any concerns regarding recent bookings or points activity.