Initial JQ impressions

[Mattg]

I flew JQ this morning and can report that I was asked if I wanted to use my F&B voucher without prompting.

 

[Natalie_B]

Our party of 3 travelled Syd-TSV return last weekend. We were offered the use of our vouchers on both flights however the return flight only had vouchers for two of the three pax. A quick check of the boarding passes sorted it out.

 

[jackthomas]

I've got my first Jet* flight (HBA-MEL) in around 6 years on Sunday, any tips and tricks?
Mainly around Carry On, I know they're very strict and I'm by no means the type to bring more than allowed on the aircraft, however my carry on suitcase is a tad bigger than the mentioned size, never had any issues with VA, QF and other INTL airlines but are Jet* likely to cause a fuss?

 

[Natalie_B]

I've got my first Jet* flight (HBA-MEL) in around 6 years on Sunday, any tips and tricks?
Mainly around Carry On, I know they're very strict and I'm by no means the type to bring more than allowed on the aircraft, however my carry on suitcase is a tad bigger than the mentioned size, never had any issues with VA, QF and other INTL airlines but are Jet* likely to cause a fuss?

I've never had an issue with the size of my bag, but they will more likely weigh it if it's bigger. The other week they were weighing hand luggage at the checked bag drop off and other times my bag has been weighed at the gate.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

well, JQ hasn't taken too long to shaft my "dream run" of JQ sectors with little or no problem!

Just flown OOL-CNS on a booking that was made a couple of months ago, including a Max bundle which allowed me to allocate 1C at time of booking. I checked in on line on Tuesday morning and still had 1C and boarding pass was printed with 1C. arrived at the airport this morning, about an hour before departure time and proceeded to use the baggage drop where the check-in guy stated he just had to print me a new BP as I'd been shifted to 1D.

I asked why I'd been shifted and told him that 1D was not acceptable as it had the bulfhead and to the best of my recollection is regarded as a "up front" seat rather than an "extra leggroom seat" for which I'd paid extra. He tapped on the computer and replyed he could see who moved me, but there was no reason listed, so he moved me back to my preallocated 1C. He tore up the new BP and gave me back my existing home printed one. I thanked him and progressed through screening.

Just prior to boarding, I was paged (2nd flight in a row where they've seen the neccessity to page me and neither were in my best interest) and the lady simply said "they've asked me to print you a new boarding pass". I asked why and she said she didn't know. I asked if I was still allocated 1C to which she said yes and she compared my home printed BP to the new one she just printed and finally said, "there's absolutely no difference between them" with which she tore up the new BP and handed me back my home printed BP!!! :shock: I walked away thinking "what was that all about"? No one else was paged.

Anyway, I boarded and took my 1C seat and about half way through the typical boarding comedy, three ladies turned up expecting 1A,1B and 1C. The CS asked to see my BP and then stated to me, "may I ask you to move as your seat is 1D". I thought hang on...what kind of rubbish is this. Surely their system will not let them issue, let alone board, two pax assigned the same seat, so I said no, my seat is correct and has been confirmed three times so far! Cutting through the next tense few minutes, where the ladies were obviously not happy with me, the CS then checked her manifest and suddenly it all changed. She said to the lady that it was actually her seat which was 1D (despite her holding a BP with 1C on it) and that she would have to have 1D. At that point her two traveling companions piped up saying that if I was too obstinate to move, could the CS move the people in 1E and 1F to 1A and 1B so the three of them could be together in 1D, E & F. At this point it was becoming more comical than any other boarding fiasco that I'd witness to date with JQ, so I sat back and enjoyed the show for a bit. The lady in 1E was clearly not impressed and glaring at me so I offered to relocate to an exit row futher back if one was available. The CS then went back to check.....surely the manifest should have been able to ascertain if one was available. While she was gone, I told the three ladies that I would move to 1D, but it was JQs problem and I wanted to see what they did about it. The CS returned to tell me 12D was available but she didn't want to put me there as it didn't recline. I told her that didn't worry me as I don't recline on short hauls in any case, but she then told me that I wouldn't be able to move untill after take off and we'd leveled off! (It was an almost full aircraft)!! She then started to attempt to move 1 D,E &F to which I said, not to do that, I'd let her have my coveted 1C and I'd take 1D.

So here I am, totally amazed that one idiotic decision by a check-in staffer (the ladies told me they were only allocated the seats this morning) to seat 3 people together just so they could natter all the way to CNS, caused such disruption to 6 pax and the CS (who actually went right out of her way to resolve the situation) and totally abused the system JQ have of paying extra for leg room seats and ignored the fact a pax was already checked into that seat. I was seen as the "baddy" (the lady in 1E who I ended up having to sit beside was just glaring at me and refused to even give me a grunt when I politely sat beside her and said good morning, sorry for scene), there was no thank you from the three ladies who ended up getting what they wanted, however the CS did apologise to me profusely and took my name, email and phone number (all of which they already have) to take the issue higher up.

Well done JQ......the boarding caberet show now includes an audience participation segment. It certainly livened up my morning, but as I explained to the three ladies involved, we shouldn't just let JQ do as they please. If there was a valid reason for the move (eg a wheelchair dependent person who need that seat), I'd have no problems at all of moving and would do so immediately, however these ladies had no mobility issues, they were not infirmed or elderly, but it seems me being a single traveller is seen as an acceptable pawn to move around the cabin at will, despite paying for that seat location and checking into that seat first, just so the three could chat all the way to CNS. My biggest worry now is if that is JQs mindset and as I'm frequently a solo traveller, it's likely to happen on an ongoing basis. JQ will be hearing from me, but I doubt much will come of that so I'm also thinking of attaching a bill for being the entertainment!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Just a follow up on my above post. The CS did lodge a complaint for me, as she said she would and a JQ rep contacted me to discuss it. The upshot is that the particular staff member who shifted me would receive additional training, I was informed I should not have been moved and was given a $100 flight voucher as token compensation (not a bad token either, in my books).

Earlier this week, I decided that JQ on-line check in must be rubbish as it wouldn't check me in for a flight. Only after some time did I realise I had committed the cardinal of all FFer sins, that being attempting to check in to a flight which departed 8 hours earlier! I booked the wrong day (as a result of computer problems and using JQ mobile app to do so for the first time). That cost me $279 so the $100 flight voucher slightly offsets that faux pas! However on the flight, I was not proactively offered the $5 F&B voucher......in fact I wasn't offered anything. The aft trolley served pre-ordered meals and then disappeared further aft and no one in the exit rows (12/13) were offered BOB service. The fwd trolley finished at row 11 and then disappeared down the back. After watching a trolley go past me three times without offering service, I had to call for service. The attendant didn't attempt to charge for the muffin and coffee, so it does appear they do know who is due it, but like many things JQ, the service is haphazard and ditzy at best!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Another data point, as much for my records rather than continually whining on AFF, but it does make a handy place to store my experiences for later reference!

Went to check in for a flight tomorrow and although the other day I was in 1C (the one I chose at booking), I note my allocated seat was changed to 15D :shock:. Nothing was selected in row 1 so I changed back to 1C and checked in and my BP shows 1C. I guess I'll see tomorrow where they have me sitting.......I could do with another $100 flight voucher!

 

[MH_fan]

I think it's outrageous that they moved you (swanning_it) when you'd paid for that seat and JQ wanted to accommodate 3 people who were too cheap to pay for allocated seating. If you don't pay for allocated seating, then suck it up when you don't get to sit where you want!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I think it's outrageous that they moved you (swanning_it) when you'd paid for that seat and JQ wanted to accommodate 3 people who were too cheap to pay for allocated seating. If you don't pay for allocated seating, then suck it up when you don't get to sit where you want!

Thanks for the comment.

To be fair though, I don't know whether they paid for extra leg room seats or not (presumably not as they didn't select a seat upon booking), all I know is they didn't beat me to checking in and confirming the seat! Also, it would appear that is may not be JQ wanting to accommodate them......just the check in person and to JQs credit, I was offered an apology and a $100 flight voucher so it seems they certainly realise that what happens was not right. I just hope they adequately "retrained" the check in staffer so it doesn't happen again!

 

[clifford]

Well, I won't book JQ international any more, whatever the published price might be. The "Nightmare liners" are just that and the staff are horrendous (in the main). I've just replaced a JQ flight to SIN with an award booking on SQ (I've about 1 million UA miles in the bank). Just cannot stand the thought of the extremely squashy seating and poor service even in an exit row.

I'd rather fly Scoot (but not Air Asia X).

 

[Brisbane Flyer]

Just returned from a trip to LA, used a combination of one way tickets (change in travel in June resulted in leftover one way tickets from BNE to HNL and HNL to LAX). Added in LAX-OGG and HNL-BNE to use the leftover tickets.
Flew the Dreamliner, no issues at all. Got what I paid for, even let me slide a bit on checked in luggage, had 24kgs. Flights were totally uneventful, food was served, even bought a few drinks, no dramas.

I have business in OGG and its not that convienant to go QF via SYD to HNL, then Hawaiian to OGG, much easier going JQ direct to HNL. Worked out well this trip as I had to go to LAX first, took AA from LAX to OGG, spent 3 days in Maui, one day working, two days golfing, then back to BNE.

Cheers
BF

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Just checked into another JQ flight only to find my seat selected at booking (1C) was changed to 10D. This is the second flight in a row that my selected seat has become "unstuck". It seems like a computer glitch as 1C was still available so I just changed it back and checked in, however if this is going to be ongoing, it could turn out to be a real PITA.

 

[MarkD]

What is " HUACA" thats a new acronym to me

 

[LordGarlic]

hang up and call again

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Recent JQ flight asked for my cart order and then tried charging the $5. I said I have a V05 with which the lady checked a sheet in front of her and said "Oh, you do too". As the cart rolled aft, I heard the guy say to her "he knows what he's talking about" . Why? Because I know that the fare I bought includes a $5 voucher? I still wonder how many people don't get to use the voucher. Some crew are proactive, some couldn't care less.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Had the exact same with the $5 on almost all flights lately

 

[Quickstatus]

hang up and call again

And sometimes more than once but the point is that you almost always end up speaking with someone else.

 

[blu]

JQ11 OOL-NRT on 1 Feb, seats 1A 1C (business class cabin).
Surprised how good the predominately Asian crew were, the food was better than expected, IFE is a bit limited but at least no longer an iPad.
Good legroom with feet about 6" off bulkhead when sitting stretched out. Toilet was almost spotless for the 8 hours. Curtain in front of cabin kept closed. However, sparkling wine is served in their standard large wine glass, and poured at least half full. Just didn't seem right.
But T3 at NRT is best avoided. JQ domestic checkin at T3 was organised chaos, continually sending some pax to the head of the queue (stalling everyone else).

 

[MH_fan]

Pleased to hear that there's decent legroom in row 1 on the dreamliners as I've heard conflicting reports.

 

[blu]

Was good for me (178cm) & a shorter MrsB who used her carryon as a footrest.