Changes to JQ On Departure Upgrade Prices

[whereishome]

Did a search but haven't found anything here, so here 'tis.

JQ have doubled the price of their OD upgrades.

In December 08 I flew OOL-NRT on JQ, paid $250 at check-in to bump from JetSaver to StarClass. Same on the return (although it was ¥20 000). Total savings of about $1100 as opposed to just buying a StarClass fare. I even managed points AND status credits on the way over (but not on the way back).

Fast forward to May 09. My GF was visiting from Japan, having flown JQ on a JetSaver. I asked the line wrangler if there were any StarClass upgrades available (I was going to buy her an upgrade) and she said that they were but the price had increased to $500.

Can anyone else confirm this? I had a thought that it may just be a Golden Week thing, because her flight was at the very end of the holidays.

 

[samh004]

There have been a few threads lately about ODU's. The previous page in this thread even has the different price points, basically, fees have gone up and you're always going to pay more in Australia. You can't get them from Japan.

See this particular post for more info.

 

[taswegian77]

Re: ODU - Jetstar Starclass

MEL - BKK - A$500
BKK - MEL - 5900 baht (approx $220)

NEWS FLASH!!
I am at BKK airport QF lounge flying JQ30 in Star Class tonight and when I checked in I asked the very nice check in lady about ODU costs. She said that currently they are charging 5900 baht from BKK-MEL but the standard charge is 12000 baht (roughly $500 AUD). It appears that JQ is doing a cheap deal whilst travel is in a downturn. I enquired about tonights flight and apparently there is only 7 paid people in star class, so will be interesting to see how many actually sit there when I board. I will keep you all posted tomorrow.

 

[samh004]

Interesting and good to know.

 

[taswegian77]

Hi update to my travel BKK-MEL on 18th June. There ended up being 8 paid passengers, 8 ODU passengers and 4 free upgrade passengers, which were a couple who just got upgraded and 2 others who I do nto know how they got their free upgrade to * class. I saw on the CSM log sheet that she commented on there only being allocated 10 star class meals, which due to ODU was not sufficient.

 

[v8Statesman]

Hi update to my travel BKK-MEL on 18th June. There ended up being 8 paid passengers, 8 ODU passengers and 4 free upgrade passengers, which were a couple who just got upgraded and 2 others who I do nto know how they got their free upgrade to * class. I saw on the CSM log sheet that she commented on there only being allocated 10 star class meals, which due to ODU was not sufficient.

Being one that pays for *C at time of booking, I would be mighty pissed if I didn't get a meal due to freeloaders or discount chasers!

 

[taswegian77]

Being one that pays for *C at time of booking, I would be mighty pissed if I didn't get a meal due to freeloaders or discount chasers!

Yes, I agree. The service still started at the front and went to the back and I was seated in row 5A but there was still choice but I choose not to have anything. I guess they might have stolen meals from the Y section. It is very interesting this whole ODU charges and how JQ go about not advertising it anywhere but still do it. I reckon QF could do a similar thing but have a sliding scale cost system, so longer haul is dearer than short haul flights. In this current climate all money they can get woudl be a bonus. When the conditioons pick up take it off the menu. There has to be a way that they do do it without diluting or beign worried about people not purchasing J fares.

 

[Alanslegal]

Tas, thanks for reporting back.

Just a quick quessy, when you saw the passenger load sheet, is there any reference to who got those FREE upgrades, like was there a common theme of being WP or even SG?

I'm keen to know JQi OP'ups the passengers.

 

[DontGetMeStarted]

Re: ODU - Jetstar Starclass

have kept boarding passes and receipts and will try to claim will let you know how I go but I am not confident this time round

Just to advise that I logged my claim, a really nice guy from Qantas rang me to say he would investigate and get back to me, he could not see why not. A few days later a lady called and abruptly told me no way would I get the points or the SC's on a paid ODU, told her I did get them last year and decided not to argue with her further but a few days later the guy called again from Qantas and advised that points and SC's had been credited to our FF account.

 

[Flashback]

Re: ODU - Jetstar Starclass

Just to advise that I logged my claim, a really nice guy from Qantas rang me to say he would investigate and get back to me, he could not see why not. A few days later a lady called and abruptly told me no way would I get the points or the SC's on a paid ODU, told her I did get them last year and decided not to argue with her further but a few days later the guy called again from Qantas and advised that points and SC's had been credited to our FF account.

She was correct in saying that you should not have got them, though.

 

[rambisyouth]

Update

Currently sitting in the Melbourne QP Business lounge after upgrading from MELL-BKK at check-in.

Cost is currently $249 for ODU which I happily accepted. Will wait and see if points and SC's are credited.

 

[taswegian77]

Tas, thanks for reporting back.

Just a quick quessy, when you saw the passenger load sheet, is there any reference to who got those FREE upgrades, like was there a common theme of being WP or even SG?

I'm keen to know JQi OP'ups the passengers.

Hi, sorry for late reply. I never saw any reference to status of passengers etc, just a list of names and seat allocation stuff. I did travel back last Friday morning on JQ30 from BKK-MEL (Fri AM because the 29 flight was over 8 hours late leaving MEL) and was talking to the CSM on that flight (nice lady) and she said that they have no idea if anyone is a Plat/Gold FF etc, no reference to QF at all. Sort of makes sense I guess.

 

[taswegian77]

Re: Update

Currently sitting in the Melbourne QP Business lounge after upgrading from MELL-BKK at check-in.

Cost is currently $249 for ODU which I happily accepted. Will wait and see if points and SC's are credited.

That makes sense with the BKK-MEL being similar price, I believe it is a special and will eventually go back to $500 I guess when times are better. I still prefer to currently pay the $800 to guarantee everything and plus the company is paying for it. I do not want to risk not being able to get one, even when loads are light.

 

[rambisyouth]

Status Credits

Pleased to report that my points and status credits were awarded after my ODU to star class. Very pleased although cannot understand why it is hit and miss.

 

[notzac]

...and was talking to the CSM on that flight (nice lady) and she said that they have no idea if anyone is a Plat/Gold FF etc, no reference to QF at all. Sort of makes sense I guess.

I can report a similar answer when I asked on a JQ flight over to CHC - their pax manifest has names, seat numbers and any special needs (wheelchair or whatever). QFF status isn't shown.

 

[Alanslegal]

I'm off to Hawaii in a bit over 7 days time and today I received a telephone call from JQi asking if I wanted to upgrade my return flight for AU$199.00. Naturally I went for it and was told I would get my FF points as well as all the beanies flying StarClass (but the guy didn't know if I would earn SC's).

Anyway my updated itinerary has received and I've chosen seat 1A <--- doesn't that sound nice, but if only it was a 747 But it still shows my reservation as JetStar Light Fare and not StarClass. Now I'll be pursuing them for my points and SC because the dude on the phone (I know his name ) told me I'd get all the beanies upgrading.

He said there were only two seats (on my flight) for this type of pre-upgrades, but some ODU may be available at time of check-in though I didn't inquire any further.

 

[DontGetMeStarted]

Wow that is amazing and great for you, In May we were charged $500 each at Sydney airport and $169 (US$) Hnl - Syd, so there is no consistency around the way they do things. I did get my SC's and points though on application when we returned home (lucky I think) I have just booked 2 friends flights to HNL in November using the Hawaiian Air Sale and the cost is slightly cheaper than Jetstar but you get 2 x 32 kilos of luggage each and meals included. We go to Hawaii each year and would definitley consider HA over JS because of the luggage allowance, lady on the phone did say that HA do ODU's too but she was not sure of the price. Are you a platinum member? Just wondering how they choose who to call to upgrade.

 

[serfty]

1A??? Go for 2D if you can or 1E ... seriously ... to HNL is a red-eye so little to see out ...

 

[Alanslegal]

I am a QF SG flyer - not fortunate enough to be a WP yet. I don't know if that made a difference because the dude I was talking to had no idea what QF status people were. But maybe he was given a list? and had to call starting from top to bottom.

Anyway 140SC's for an outlay of $199 is going to help me *somehow* maintain SG this year, well at least I have 10 more months to go to find another 560SC's

 

[Alanslegal]

1A??? Go for 2D if you can or 1E ... seriously ... to HNL is a red-eye so little to see out ...

Lemme see if I can select those seats now. I made that choice when I was with that JQi agent on the phone, he was saying 1A and 1B is free, would you like 1A? and I'm like Ok, done.