Qantas cancels flights at double the rate of Jetstar and Virgin

Qantas cancels flights at double the rate of other airlines, BNPL applications surge in run-up to Afterpay Day, and why hopes of a $500,000-plus inheritance could be a pipedream. Here are five things you may have missed this week.

Qantas cancels flights at double the rate of Jetstar and Virgin

Few things ruin a holiday faster than a cancelled flight.

When it comes to cancelled flights, Qantas takes the wooden spoon among Aussie airlines, having cancelled 3.5% of flights in June, compared to 1.1% by Jetstar and 1.6% by Virgin.

It's just one way our airlines are failing travellers according to new findings from the consumer watchdog, the ACCC.

Domestic flights arrive on time only 82% of the time. Virgin Australia (84%) is the best performer here, but only by a slim margin.

And despite jet fuel prices falling by 12% in the year to June 2025, the average airfare across all fare types was higher in June 2025 than a year earlier.

ACCC Commissioner Anna Brakey says part of the problem relates to Tigerair exiting the market back in 2020.

"Since then, the lack of growth in seat capacity to meet rising demand has likely meant consumers are paying more than they would have in a more competitive, better-supplied market," says Brakey.

BNPL applications surge 30% ahead of Afterpay Day

It may be called Afterpay Day but the smorgasbord of discounts, worth up to 70%, has extended to Sunday, August 17.

Anyone can take advantage of Afterpay Day sales.

You don't need to use Afterpay or any buy now pay later (BNPL) option to score a bargain.

That hasn't stopped shoppers from signing up for BNPL in droves.

Credit reporting agency Equifax says BNPL applications surged 30% in the June quarter - and it could be damaging shoppers' credit scores.

Since June, BNPL providers have been operating under similar laws to credit cards, personal loans, and home loans.

Most BNPL providers now perform credit checks for new applicants, which can show up as inquiries on your credit report.

Missed payments that are reported can damage your credit score.

More broadly, Equifax says outstanding consumer debt is on the rise - a sign more people are struggling to make payments.

It doesn't bode well for the end-of-year spending season, which kicks off with the Black Friday sales in November.

A $500,000 inheritance? Tell 'em they're dreaming

Eight out of ten retirees plan to leave an inheritance.

But new research from Colonial First State (CFS) suggests some inheritance hopefuls may be left disappointed.

Among the 38% of Australians who have made a will, most are prepared to leave cash, the family home and any vehicles to their chosen beneficiaries.

But investments and investment properties are much more likely to be left out of their will altogether.

CFS suggests this may indicate investors plan to enjoy the fruits of their labour and investments while they're still alive.

That hasn't stopped under-30s expecting an inheritance of about $525,000 - even though 60% of Australians admit to being clueless about their potential benefactor's financial situation.

CFS advises sharing key details of your financial strategy, adviser relationships, and estate plans with your spouse and adult children. Consider collective conversations to ensure everyone is informed.

The five jobs AI can't take over

If the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) has you worried about your long term job security, now could be the time to consider re-skilling.

AI is already having a significant impact on some jobs, especially those where the primary role can be fully automated.

Voice actors, for instance, have been especially hard hit. One talent agency reports that narrations for content videos have decreased by around 80%.

More of us can expect to be impacted.

A recent report from Jobs and Skills Australia suggests AI is set to automate, on average, 13% of tasks and supplement around 55% of tasks.

Commissioner of Jobs and Skills Australia, Professor Barney Glover, says the technology has the potential to displace people in some jobs, particularly administrative and clerical roles.

However, five jobs look reasonably safe from AI.

The same report shows cleaners, nurses, business admin managers, construction and mine labourers, and hospitality workers are all likely to enjoy increased employment opportunities by 2050.

The oversight first home buyers regret

When it comes to buying a first home it's easy to be blindsided by the potential of a fixer-upper, or the squeaky clean lines of a brand new home.

Checking out the home loan market can be a distant afterthought.

Yet a survey by broker group Mortgage Choice shows close to three in five (57%) first home owners wish they'd done more homework when it came to choosing their first home loan.

Mortgage Choice CEO Anthony Waldron, says, "More than two-thirds (62%) of borrowers reported that they feel there might have been a better home loan option for them."

The most common mistakes borrowers made when choosing their first home loan were:

• Assuming all home loans are basically the same (18%)
• Focusing too much on rate (18%)
• Failing to consider how their needs might change in the future (18%)
• Opting for major lenders without considering other options (16%)
• Assuming home loan pre-approval guarantees final approval (13%).

The survey also revealed that 65% of borrowers were unclear about at least one aspect of the home loan process.

With the average home loan size rising nearly 8% over June quarter to sit at $639,371 nationally, investing time learning about how home loans work can be a smart move.

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