Are Jetstar really that bad??

[Quickstatus]

I would rate them both as "equal"

However against that is the fact that JQ cancels at a rate nearly 3 x more than QF (at least for the domestic operation)
You may have the seat but do you have the flight....

 

[dajop]

This would have been unacceptable to me. QF Economy for me MEL-SIN as a WP is much preferable than Jetstar "Business".

If it wasn’t for the lottery you play in flying Jetstar (whether it will operate, whether it will operate on time), say on a route like DPS-MEL/SYD I’d take Jetstar 787 business over QF economy each and every time. Even with the lottery I’d still prefer the 787 business class to the 737 in economy on a 6 hr flight.

 

[serfty]

If it wasn’t for the lottery you play in flying Jetstar (whether it will operate, whether it will operate on time), say on a route like DPS-MEL/SYD I’d take Jetstar 787 business over QF economy each and every time. Even with the lottery I’d still prefer the 787 business class to the 737 in economy on a 6 hr flight.

Each to their own. (DPS is not SIN)

In respect to recent discussion, I would NOT allow AF to rebook me onto Jetstar in any class.

I find WP status with seat selection, treatment far more relevant on QF metal

I flew Jetstar last month because it suited me. MYR68 was the total cost, KUL-SIN. Short flight, didn't care. (Plus I dont need SC currently)

FF points and SC are normally a consideration 'though.

 

[dajop]

I find WP status with seat selection, treatment more relevant for such a flight.

I guess if you can get an exit row, but the JQ 787 business class seats are much more spacious than QF 737 economy seats.

I’m not WP, so not in the exact same situation, but am top-ish tier on SQ (Solitaire PPS supplementary status) and find the journey down to MEL in ScootPlus (seat comparable to Jetstar “Business” or Qf/VA domestic business) more comfortable/enjoyable than an exit row on SQ, despite the lack of IFE and no free flow alcohol. And that’s comparing to a 777 or 350, not to a 737 in economy.

 

[serfty]

I guess if you can get an exit row, but the JQ 787 business class seats are much more spacious than QF 737 economy seats.

This is true, but i cant get an exit row without paying extra which I see no need.

For me at 182cm and 95Kg it does not matter for a day flight.

 

[Quickstatus]

JQ 787 business class seats are much more spacious than QF 737 economy seats.

Yes essentially the same as QF 737 J.

No free flow alcohol

Have flown lots of F/J but always been a policy to not do alcohol inflight.

It's the JQ cancellation lottery that turns me off

 

[Volki]

However against that is the fact that JQ cancels at a rate nearly 3 x more than QF (at least for the domestic operation)
You may have the seat but do you have the flight....

Agreed that's why I put quotation marks around "equal". I personally wouldn't choose Jetstar for a long-haul flight unless the price were right.

 

[Duffa]

Another JQ cancellation yesterday.
I have large amounts of family here for wedding with lots of internal side trips.
So far, 2 cancelled flights out of 6 trips.
That's WORSE than Russian roulette!

 

[Volki]

Another JQ cancellation yesterday.
I have large amounts of family here for wedding with lots of internal side trips.
So far, 2 cancelled flights out of 6 trips.
That's WORSE than Russian roulette!

Jetstar roulette, because you bet they won't put you on another flight

 

[dairyfloss]

A friend flew JQ SYD-NAN yesterday, and the flight was 45 mins late departing, and then on arrival they kept everyone on board for another 20-30 mins while they waited for immigration to bring forms, which JQ didn't plan for, hand them all out and have everyone fill them in before they could disembark the aircraft... lots of families onboard as you might imagine, and he, plus others asked if it’s one per person or one per family; the FA response was “I dunno, I’ve never been here before”

 

[Quickstatus]

FA response was “I dunno, I’ve never been here before”

Fair comment because the aircraft that operates JQ119 turns around to operate the return JQ120 after approx 1hr or so on the ground. Do the crew actually even get off the aircraft?
Must be demoralising when the whole idea of being a flight attendant is to get to interesting destinations while the reality is you don't get off at the destination.

Similarly with the JQ AKL-OOL-AKL and similar NZ-Eastern AU services. Are these originating from NZ from a CC perspective and the crew dont get off in OOL/etc?

Do the QF A380 Australian based cabin crew ever get to LHR these days?. I heard the LHR sectors are operated by London based cabin crews. So does that mean all the Australian based crew overnight and turn around in SIN back to AUS?

 

[Duffa]

Update. 7 flights
2 cancelled as stated previously
1 delayed by 3.5 hours - meal voucher was for $8 where a bottle of water cost $6.50
1 delayed by 2.25 hours
4 out of 7 with a poor outcome.
Really is Sh**star

Now, I know members will ask why we didn't book full service?
These trips were last minute spur of the moment flights.
QF was $400+ v $150 for up to 10 people. So it seemed a good idea at the time.

Lesson learnt!!

 

[yellow22]

I personally don't find them that bad. Although I do agree it's a bit of a lottery with cancellations/delays.

 

[clifford]

I'm ticketed to fly JQ Biz MEL-SIN next month, and I'm a little concerned as I'm transferring to a SQ flight in J to LHR, only allowing 36 hours to make the change.

I note that JQ cancelled its JQ7 flight to SIN yesterday and the day before and also on 19 and 20 March, so what are the chances my flight will be cancelled and what will the recovery processes be? (rhetorical questions, obviously).

I'd better start looking for plans C and D, etc, etc...

 

[Quickstatus]

I'd better start looking for plans C and D, etc, etc...

JQ7, QF35, QF81, TR19, all depart from MEL/SYD around the same time. TR13 later.

SQ has multiple flights from MEL, SYD

If the second sector is critical, maybe look at availability of redemption ticket or a flexible refundable one way. 36hrs does give you a buffer and a 24hr delay will still be Ok

 

[clifford]

If the second sector is critical, maybe look at availability of redemption ticket or a flexible refundable one way. 36hrs does give you a buffer and a 24hr delay will still be Ok

Good advice indeed.

The SQ J flight ex SIN to LHR is critical, so as a backup I have booked an award ticket for a day earlier through UA Mileage Plus (this can be cancelled without penalty at any time):

- CBR (VA) - MEL (TG) - BKK (SQ) - SIN, all in business class.

This seems somewhat more attractive than my JQ flight, so I may well ditch that and reschedule it for later in the year.

It's a pity that we have to go to such lengths when dealing with Jetstar, but it seems that's pretty much the norm at the moment. I won't be buying any more JQ tix for the foreseeable future, no matter how cheap they may seem.

 

[JohnK]

Now, I know members will ask why we didn't book full service?
These trips were last minute spur of the moment flights.
QF was $400+ v $150 for up to 10 people. So it seemed a good idea at the time.

Lesson learnt!!

Some say you get what you pay for but that's a significant saving that cannot be ignored.

If that happened on a full service carrier they'd say these things happen but if it happens on a LCC you get what you pay for.

 

[Quickstatus]

so as a backup I have booked an award ticket for a day earlier

This would mean that you will need to pull the trigger on the redemption flight before the departure time of JQ and it can only be a backup if JQ cancels before you have to trigger the redemption tix.

 

[clifford]

This would mean that you will need to pull the trigger on the redemption flight before the departure time of JQ and it can only be a backup if JQ cancels before you have to trigger the redemption tix.

Well, no not really, as I can be a no-show with the UA ticket and still receive a full refund, minus a USD$125 fee, which I don't regard as a major concern. FWIW, the new itin departs CBR at 6 pm and the old one at 6 am the next day, so really not a great difference. And it gets me into SIN at a more palatable time for my prebooked accommodation.

But in any case, being forced to think a bit more about all of this, I'm planning to fly the new itinerary, as it looks interesting and quite leisurely, and defer my JQ flight to later in the year and use it as part of a new trip to Thailand. There will be a few dollars to be paid for exchanging the ticket, but overall I will get another overseas trip out of this for little additional cost.

(Let's hope that Jetstar has sorted some of its 788 woes by November, or a similar situation may arise).

 

[Quickstatus]

But in any case, being forced to think a bit more about all of this

You know that most don't care about anything further than Plan A. It's only the neurotics like us that lurk in AFF that do. But then we don't need to TikTok how JQ is bad - after the fact.