Am I really out $1600 - Jet Star

[JB expat]

Jetstar simply don't do frequent flyer recognition. This will be a case where jetstar and qantas are completely separate airlines. And I'm highly cynical in writing that, qantas and jetstar seem to pick and choose their relationship so the customer always loses.

Yep, and that is what leaves the bad taste in my mouth.

 

[ric_melb]

This really has nothing to do with frequent flyer recognition or customer goodwill, or the United States.
Airfare prices fluctuate, you can monitor them, but once you buy a fare you accept that price.
The fact that Jetstar reduced prices after, presumably for a sale is rather immaterial.

 

[wmetz]

That's why I always ring the Psychic hotline before booking my flight. Why not also ask why you cant exchange Aus dollars for US dollars when they were still 1 to 1.. Its called hindsight or potluck.

 

[JB expat]

Gee - the next time I feel like I'm missing a bit of nasty snark in my life, I'll post here - I asked a simple question - received a number of helpful/interesting responses for which I was thankful...the rest of them...well, I hope you are nicer to your real life fellow humans

 

[moa999]

Gee - the next time I feel like I'm missing a bit of nasty snark in my life, I'll post here - I asked a simple question - received a number of helpful/interesting responses for which I was thankful...the rest of them...well, I hope you are nicer to your real life fellow humans

I suspect part of the reason had to do with the tone of your original post and exclamation marks.
Much like any purchase you chose to pay what you were happy with at the time of booking/purchase. Don't look at how the price changes/ new model gets released a day after purchase etc.

Jetstar is very much a separate airline to Qantas. Treat any benefits (however small) as a generous gift and not a suggestion that there might be more.

In any event had you booked on Qantas, Emirates, or any other airline - the story would be the same, unless you had a fully flexible ticket that enabled you to cancel for no penalty (and these generally come with a much higher upfront cost)

 

[Saab34]

Capacity Australia-HNL has nearly tripled over the past year. Expect sales weekly.

 

[JB expat]

Capacity Australia-HNL has nearly tripled over the past year. Expect sales weekly.

Ugh - I'm going to remove myself from their emails so I don't get too depressed. I guess that fact combined with the lower Aussie dollar making HNL more expensive means..well..means I should have waited.

 

[opusman]

Ugh - I'm going to remove myself from their emails so I don't get too depressed. I guess that fact combined with the lower Aussie dollar making HNL more expensive means..well..means I should have waited.

Try and look on the bright side. It's just money. You still have a lovely holiday in Hawaii to look forward to.

 

[JB expat]

Try and look on the bright side. It's just money. You still have a lovely holiday in Hawaii to look forward to.

yes, that's what my husband said (but that's a lot of shopping money!)...but you are right, we are very lucky that we are going

 

[wmetz]

Exactly, if you check prices over few weeks there always comes along a sales price too Japan or Hawaii. Then you know what they are willing to sell tickets for compared to the standard price. Else, did you use skyscanner to check prices month to month etc to see when a cheap flight maybe on offer, regardless of sale prices... and to compare other airlines. That's what I'm doing right now for a friend who wants to fly out to Asia for a holiday.

 

[TraceyK90]

I always run with...when you find a price you are happy with buy it and then stop looking.

 

[snabbu]

Another example of why when you purchase your fare at a price you are happy with at the time, don't keep checking back on the fluctuations (unless you have a fully refundable ticket ofc).

 

[JB expat]

Another example of why when you purchase your fare at a price you are happy with at the time, don't keep checking back on the fluctuations (unless you have a fully refundable ticket ofc).

Unless you signed up for far watch earlier and never went back in to turn it off...next time I will.

 

[Dr Ralph]

I think so. Sometimes you need to have the certainty of knowing you have a confirmed booking and other times its best to wait for the specials (and there are always lots for Hawaii for the period you mentioned).

 

[JohnK]

Gee - the next time I feel like I'm missing a bit of nasty snark in my life, I'll post here - I asked a simple question - received a number of helpful/interesting responses for which I was thankful...the rest of them...well, I hope you are nicer to your real life fellow humans

Sorry to hear what has happened. It happens to all of us. We are not perfect. Chalk it up as a learning experience.

 

[JB expat]

I think so. Sometimes you need to have the certainty of knowing you have a confirmed booking and other times its best to wait for the specials (and there are always lots for Hawaii for the period you mentioned).

We are meeting US-based family and have booked a house rental - the exact dates were really important - and it is over Thanksgiving. Not that that means much to Aussies flying to Hawaii, but it means a lot to me as I try to see my family every other year for Thanksgiving. That's what I'm trying to focus on. I'll get over it but I came in to work to see the price watch email and could not believe the difference. I wouldn't have bothered for a couple of hundred....but $400 per ticket times 4 - that's a lot of money that didn't have to be spent on airfare had I been willing to chance it. I've learned a lot about the Hawaii route.

Note - we went to HNL in Nov 2013 for the same family Thanksgiving get together and when I booked flights for that trip (which was well in advance - just not this far), I could not get on to the direct MEL-HNL jet star flights. We took Q, changed in Sydney and with a then 9 month old and almost 3 year old, that extra change/added time was an absolute nightmare.

 

[opusman]

- the exact dates were really important -

In that case, you could always choose to believe that the sale fares wouldn't have been available for your dates anyway. Hey, it's possible, and unless you check (I don't advise doing that) you never know

 

[TraceyK90]

I should say thank you, just booked us a trip!

 

[JB expat]

In that case, you could always choose to believe that the sale fares wouldn't have been available for your dates anyway. Hey, it's possible, and unless you check (I don't advise doing that) you never know

Unfortunately, due to the "Fare Watch" email, I already have the answer

 

[greenfish]

We are meeting US-based family and have booked a house rental - the exact dates were really important - and it is over Thanksgiving. Not that that means much to Aussies flying to Hawaii, but it means a lot to me as I try to see my family every other year for Thanksgiving. That's what I'm trying to focus on. I'll get over it but I came in to work to see the price watch email and could not believe the difference. I wouldn't have bothered for a couple of hundred....but $400 per ticket times 4 - that's a lot of money that didn't have to be spent on airfare had I been willing to chance it. I've learned a lot about the Hawaii route.

Note - we went to HNL in Nov 2013 for the same family Thanksgiving get together and when I booked flights for that trip (which was well in advance - just not this far), I could not get on to the direct MEL-HNL jet star flights. We took Q, changed in Sydney and with a then 9 month old and almost 3 year old, that extra change/added time was an absolute nightmare.

Just check to see if the Business fares are on sale too. I had a similar experience recently with some Bali airfares, but I was able to slightly reduce the pain by spending even more money upgrading to sale business fares.