Changes to JQ On Departure Upgrade Prices

[benhadi]

ODU - Jetstar Starclass

Hello everyone, although this is the first time i'm actually writing and asking for help, i have been religiously browsing and reading all the interesting threads and responses here. This is indeed a marvelous site - i never knew there were so many people out there who shared a common interest.

I've got several JQ international trips coming up - BNE-KIX return and OOL-SYD-KUL return. I've managed to secure the seats during their sales, so i reckon got a good deal. But i'm thinking of upgrading to Starclass one some of the red-eye sectors.

Just wondering:

1. Does Jetstar commonly offer ODU?

2. Is there a standard charge for ODUs? i.e. are they all charged at AUD$300 per leg (i read this somewhere on AFF, based one someone's experience) for any sector?

3. Is it worth it?

Would greatly appreciate your inputs. Thanks.

 

[moa999]

Re: ODU - Jetstar Starclass

Think its reasonably common. From Oz have heard A$250/300. From foreign destinations normally in local currency.
(Think upgrade price is typically dif between Starclass and fullfare economy)

Also had a lady sitting next to me on BKK-MEL who got upped at check-in.
Older lady, QF PS status, said she was just called out to join the vacant *C line and given a *C boarding price.

 

[moa999]

Re: ODU - Jetstar Starclass

Is it worth it ???

Well on a $/SC from Nil SCs to 120 depending on destination - great value

To get the food - no

For additional legroom
Yes particularly if youre on discount ticket so can't preselect the exit rows.

Its an expensive blanket or an expensive rental of the video unit

For the chance to sleep - not really. Recline on the seats is not that great, just recovered Dom Biz seats

 

[futaris]

Re: ODU - Jetstar Starclass

Try this URL to see if your fare is upgradable:
Jetstar Airways Cheap Flights, Low Fares all day everyday from the world's best Cheap Fare airline | PNR Lookup

 

[d15.in.oz]

Re: ODU - Jetstar Starclass

1. Does Jetstar commonly offer ODU?

Yes, if the Star Class cabin is not likely to be full. In some ports this will be advertised, in others you have to ask at check-in; as to whether they are on offer. In either case, you will be directed to the service desk for payment and ticket reissue.

2. Is there a standard charge for ODUs? i.e. are they all charged at AUD$300 per leg (i read this somewhere on AFF, based one someone's experience) for any sector?

No, the charges aren't standard, and aren't based on distance. Your flight to/from KIX is likely to be just $200/Y20,000 for an ODU!

3. Is it worth it?

Depends on how you value $200-$300?

As pointed out. the food is the same as Economy, except for a desert trolley after the main meal and different snacks during the snack service.

If you like to drink, then Star Class includes an open wet bar.

Generally seats have a bit more room (width & pitch). (Although 44A/B/J/K in Economy have the best pitch IMO.)

First off the aircraft can be useful for immigration/customs purposes.

And there is lounge access, which gets you into a lounge at some foreign ports where Qantas Club cards won't be accepted.

You also get QFF points and status from the upgraded fare.

The in-flight service is more attentive than down the back, simply due to ratio of crew to passengers up front.

YMMV

 

[d15.in.oz]

Re: ODU - Jetstar Starclass

Try this URL to see if your fare is upgradable:
Jetstar Airways Cheap Flights, Low Fares all day everyday from the world's best Cheap Fare airline | PNR Lookup

I am sure I have posted before...but this link is to an OLD promotion - (even though the web page is still live. In much the same way that Jetstar Airways Cheap Flights, Low Fares all day everyday from the world's best Cheap Fare airline | Search Flights will not let you book a $22 fare!)

ALL JQi Economy fares purchased from their website are upgradeable, if on offer at check-in... Including the cheapest sale fares! All ODUs are offered on a first come first served basis!

 

[coco50]

Re: ODU - Jetstar Starclass

Welcome to the forum, Benhardi. Like you, I have found a great deal of valuable information and advice here, but I'm afraid that I'm more a user than contibutor of the advice. However, on this occasion I may be of some assistance. Bev and I had booked introductory Jetsaver flights to HNL to get us to the US for travel in June this year. Before we left SYD, I rang JQ to find out what was the chance of an upgrade to *Class. They said to see what deals could be done at check in. Didn't bother from SYD to HNL and as things happened, the JQ aircraft had a problem and was replaced by a QF 767-300, so we flew on Jetsaver prices with QF service including meals, blanket and booze.
On the return trip on 28 June, I asked at check in at HNL (we had just notched up 12 000 miles across the continetal US in American Y class which compares with JQ Jetsaver/Jetflex) about the cost of an upgrade. The reply was $A500 which was $A250 each which tends to reinforce what you have found out. We decided not to take the offer since it was a daytime flight and we were staying at the Wentworth on arrival in SYD. I suppose it would have been good SC wise but $250 each is a lot especially as there is the chance I wont requal for gold.

 

[mr_matt_t]

Re: ODU - Jetstar Starclass

Can't comment on this personally but advised a friend on a recent trip SYD-HKT to try ODU at check-in. He was told it was possible for $300. He said how about $200. They agreed on $200 and off to the QF lounge he went. Return trip cost 8000 Baht to upgrade (i think?). This was all on a heavily discounted Jet Saver fare.

On a side note, I called Jet* to enquire about ODU's and was informed it is not a published benefit and up to check in staff on the day. I have a PER-HNL ticket in *class in September and am holding off on the return at this stage to possibly take advantage of a paid upgrade. Potential saving of up to $400 per person if there is availability.

 

[benhadi]

Re: ODU - Jetstar Starclass

hey guys thanks for the useful input. I've made some dummy bookings just for enquiry purposes - seems the starclass fares to all destinations *are* AUD$300 more than their Jetflex fares...how interesting.

More interesting is that you can actually bargain with the check-in staff as to how much you wanna pay for the upgrade. Has anyone else got that experience to share? I've only ever bargained for excess baggage (Jetstar check-in staff kindly agreed to shave off a few kgs because of my QC Life), but i have never heard of bargaining on upgrades.

Considering the seat pitch for exit rows is more generous compared to *class, what are my chances of getting an exit row on check-in if i am early? I'm not able to pre-assign exit rows seat, probably because i got a discounted fare. i'm 6' on the dot, so i'd appreciate any extra room. Just from looking at the seat assignment section, it seems more than half the plane is empty for all sectors that i'm flying on (i.e. BNE-SYD-KIX return AND SYD-KUL return.. Any suggestions for good strategies/seats?

 

[serfty]

Aside from a glitch early this year, the exit rows and the first few rows in the Jetflex/Jetsaver cabin are only pre-allocatable by those on JetFlex fares.

If you are on a Jetsaver fare & you wish to get an exit row seat you need to get the the airport early and be queued up for check-in when it opens 3 hours before the flight. You can the request one of the four exit seats (if any are still available).

 

[d15.in.oz]

Re: ODU - Jetstar Starclass

I've made some dummy bookings... Just from looking at the seat assignment section, it seems more than half the plane is empty for all sectors that i'm flying on...

Unfortunately, this is not a useful way of determining how full your flight may be, as -

• Some people don't pre-assign seats with their booking. (I am starting to think there may be an advantage to this, in scoring any unassigned Jet Flex zone seats, at check-in?! But haven't tested this theory yet.)
• Codeshare passengers are particularly unlikely to have pre-assigned seats, and on flights to Japan, there is the double whammy of 2 codeshare partners worth of passengers.

It is, however, useful a few days out - for checking if someone has pre-assigned the exit row seats, in which case you know that you probably won't get them at check-in.

 

[dajop]

Re: ODU - Jetstar Starclass

Anyone know what happens with repositioning domestic flights between MEL/SYD? Can you get ODU's on these? I note that Star Class is not sold on these flights - must mean that these seats go to Y pax or are not used at all.

 

[d15.in.oz]

Re: ODU - Jetstar Starclass

Anyone know what happens with repositioning domestic flights between MEL/SYD? Can you get ODU's on these?

Not completely clear, but have a look here - http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/your-questions/jetstar-starclass-10154.html#post130186

 

[Danger]

Re: ODU - Jetstar Starclass

I have a SYD-HNL JQ flight coming up, booked on the QF codeshare, in Y. A Jetstar phone operator told me that ODU were not offered; all upgrades had to be finalised 24 hours prior. Has anybody has more recent experience with ODUs on JQ? Expert Flyer is showing J4 at this stage (I think 4 maybe the maximum JQ display).

 

[gibspmuh]

Re: ODU - Jetstar Starclass

Just had a friend come back from doing SYD-KIX return, they were offered ODU for $200 per person out of Sydney. From KIX they weren't offered it, but they asked, and the price again was $200. They also received full business class miles and SC's for the upgraded flights - so quite a nice return for the payment anyway (along with the better seat and included extras too). They had booked cheapo fares on one of the previous sales as well.

 

[Mrmaxwell]

Re: ODU - Jetstar Starclass

I've booked in the recent sales SYD-HKT return next June for approx $564 return (great Jetsaver fare). Are you telling me that I may be able to score an ODU for $200 each way, get bumped to *Class and earn associated points and SC's? This would bring fare total to just under a grand almost half price of full *Class fare...

 

[simongr]

Re: ODU - Jetstar Starclass

I guess it depends on whether you are happy to be back in economy as these upgrades are not always available. It definitely seems like a reasonable deal to try on the day if you are doing it just for the SCs+points.

 

[serfty]

Note there are rumors of changes to the QFF program to be announced in the next few months. Among these is the mention of JQ's OWN FF program being introduced.

How any such change (if any) may relate to QFF members is not publically known.

I think with a June itinerary you could be OK in any case as these same rumors seemed to point to August '08 as a possible cutover period (ISTR).

 

[simongr]

Re: ODU - Jetstar Starclass

Are we thinking that the AUG08 change in the program (supposed) might be linked to the commencement of A380 flights?

 

[serfty]

Not particularly - thinking of it being more in relation to a possible sale of QFF to a third party.