Neil was forced to cancel his flight with Qantas after he was diagnosed with cancer. He asked the airline for a refund - and their response has left him fuming

A cancer patient has lashed out at Qantas for twice refusing to refund him more than $1,000 after he was unable to fly following his shock diagnosis. 

Ex-pilot Neil Ross, 62, was forced to cancel his holiday to Cairns, Far North Queensland, when he was diagnosed with cancer two weeks after booking the flight. 

The Brisbane bus driver had booked a plane ticket through Flight Centre years ago to travel to Tasmania to attend the memorial of his flying instructor. 

The Covid lockdowns meant his flight was cancelled and he received a $1,100 credit, which expired in April 22 this year.

Mr Ross then used that credit to book a flight for himself and his wife to Cairns. 

However he was forced to cancel following his cancer diagnosis and provided the airline with two medical certificates by way of explanation as he sought a refund. 

However, Qantas ruled his request 'did not meet requirements on compassion'. 

This is despite Mr Ross undergoing a 13-hour surgery to remove a tumour from the right side of his face and needing six weeks of almost daily chemotherapy. 

'As I said to the girl at Flight Centre – "look at my face, do you think I want to get a refund for the hell of it? I'd rather be healthy and go on holiday",' he told news.com.au.

'The medical certificate stated that due to medical reasons I can't fly; this was then rejected by Qantas.'

Mr Ross said his fight for a refund is about standing up for the 'smaller people' who do not have the means to legally take on the airline.  

The bus driver is yet to be declared cancer-free and is still attending rehabilitation and appointments with a specialist following complications around his ear canal. 

He then must undergo plastic surgery to repair the right side of his face. 

It's understood that after being contacted by the publication, Qantas issued Mr Ross with a full refund.

'We apologise to Mr Ross for this experience and have let him know we're processing a refund for him,' a spokesperson said.

It said an error was made by not attaching the medical reports to the earlier application.

Daily Mail Australia contacted Qantas for comment.