juddles
Suspended
- Joined
- Aug 2, 2011
- Posts
- 5,283
- Qantas
- Platinum 1
Hello all,
This is NOT a whinge about Jetstar. Please read all of it if you are tempted to peek here.It is just my observations of a trip I did day before yesterday on JQ3 SYD-HNLin ¨business¨ on Jetstar. My post is prompted by an email from them asking for the usual 25 word ¨how they can do better¨ essay in exchange for a chance to win something. Think it was an ipad or similar. Ironic… Just want to see if my experience is the norm amongst AFF members. I know there are hate-Jetstar pages out there – not interested in that. Just let me know if my feelings are justified.
Previously I had only dabbled in jetstar once, which was economy tickets to get my family over to NZ with me. That flight was OK, in a cheap seats sense, nice staff, shortish flight. The reason for this trip was the need for an economic one-way positioning flight.
Anyway,
Arrived at SYD airport early – 2pm for a 6pm departure. Reason being my wife wanted to enjoy some time at the QF Flounge. We arrived at the checkin counters and there were no staff. People were queing already and I checked the boards and the next flights were departures for Bali and somewhere else starting at 5:15pm. Nowhere to find out when checkin would commence, so we waited with everyone else. At 3pm the staff appeared. They wandered around for a while, but none talked to or acknowledged waiting pax. By this time the economy queue ran all the way out to near the terminal entrance. There were about ten of us in the business line. The first economy pax got dealt with at 3:20pm. For some reason the lady doing the business line was the last to open. She chatted to the others and finally opened at about 3:30pm. I was second in line, she walked past the gentleman who was first about 4 times, but did not say hello, or a simple ¨will open soon¨. Not a good start to the Jetstar Business Max experience. When I got served the lady struggled with the fact that my post-USA destination (required for travel) was Curacao. I explained it was in the Dutch Antilles, some little islands in the Carribean. I know this wasn’t perhaps the usual scenario, but she sought assistance from other staff several times. I had the strange belief that the business line would be served by the most experienced staff?
After a lovely time in the Flounge, boarding time came. I was not expecting too much. I know that Jetstar business was not going to be true international business. But it was still a bit of a let down. Basic problems:
Seat pitch is truly poor. I know it is my fault I am not suited for seats designed for normal human beings (I am 6´7¨) but this was the worst non-economy seat I have experienced. I cannot believe they have no seatback personal entertainment. Ipads got handed out about 2 ½ hrs into the flight. Very limited selection of content, and plugs that drop out continually. Staff in the front cabin (7 rows 6 across?) consisted of an Aussie male CSM and two young Asian hosties. They were all very nice, but it seemed the work load was very high. Didnt get my first drink until I got a glass of red with the meal about 1hr 20min into the flight. No offer of a refill. After the first few hours when meal service was over I asked for a couple of bourbons which appeared very quickly. Food was of typical economy standard. All in all a very uncomfortable flight, with pitiful IFE.
Overall I rate the experience well below QF Premium Economy.
Best thing was obviously the price. I think it cost me about $1500 and as said before, I needed one way tickets. Without that massive price attraction, you just wouldn’t do it. Second best thing was the staff. It was a bit weird being on an Australian carrier and having a bit of a language barrier (I cringed every time the poor young Asian lass had to offer ¨salt and pepper¨ to each meal recipient – she just couldn’t say it) but they were very nice, polite, and helpful. And the CSM seemed to be very good also. Pity they have to struggle with what they can offer. Let down by the plane and catering.
The only thing I would really suggest to Jetstar is that they stop calling this service¨business¨. IMHO that is far worse than AA calling their domestic service ¨First¨. If you create high expectations, you are going to disappoint. Call it Prem Econ.
Would I do it again? Not for such a long flight. I think it is worth the money they charge, but please rename it.
This is NOT a whinge about Jetstar. Please read all of it if you are tempted to peek here.It is just my observations of a trip I did day before yesterday on JQ3 SYD-HNLin ¨business¨ on Jetstar. My post is prompted by an email from them asking for the usual 25 word ¨how they can do better¨ essay in exchange for a chance to win something. Think it was an ipad or similar. Ironic… Just want to see if my experience is the norm amongst AFF members. I know there are hate-Jetstar pages out there – not interested in that. Just let me know if my feelings are justified.
Previously I had only dabbled in jetstar once, which was economy tickets to get my family over to NZ with me. That flight was OK, in a cheap seats sense, nice staff, shortish flight. The reason for this trip was the need for an economic one-way positioning flight.
Anyway,
Arrived at SYD airport early – 2pm for a 6pm departure. Reason being my wife wanted to enjoy some time at the QF Flounge. We arrived at the checkin counters and there were no staff. People were queing already and I checked the boards and the next flights were departures for Bali and somewhere else starting at 5:15pm. Nowhere to find out when checkin would commence, so we waited with everyone else. At 3pm the staff appeared. They wandered around for a while, but none talked to or acknowledged waiting pax. By this time the economy queue ran all the way out to near the terminal entrance. There were about ten of us in the business line. The first economy pax got dealt with at 3:20pm. For some reason the lady doing the business line was the last to open. She chatted to the others and finally opened at about 3:30pm. I was second in line, she walked past the gentleman who was first about 4 times, but did not say hello, or a simple ¨will open soon¨. Not a good start to the Jetstar Business Max experience. When I got served the lady struggled with the fact that my post-USA destination (required for travel) was Curacao. I explained it was in the Dutch Antilles, some little islands in the Carribean. I know this wasn’t perhaps the usual scenario, but she sought assistance from other staff several times. I had the strange belief that the business line would be served by the most experienced staff?
After a lovely time in the Flounge, boarding time came. I was not expecting too much. I know that Jetstar business was not going to be true international business. But it was still a bit of a let down. Basic problems:
Seat pitch is truly poor. I know it is my fault I am not suited for seats designed for normal human beings (I am 6´7¨) but this was the worst non-economy seat I have experienced. I cannot believe they have no seatback personal entertainment. Ipads got handed out about 2 ½ hrs into the flight. Very limited selection of content, and plugs that drop out continually. Staff in the front cabin (7 rows 6 across?) consisted of an Aussie male CSM and two young Asian hosties. They were all very nice, but it seemed the work load was very high. Didnt get my first drink until I got a glass of red with the meal about 1hr 20min into the flight. No offer of a refill. After the first few hours when meal service was over I asked for a couple of bourbons which appeared very quickly. Food was of typical economy standard. All in all a very uncomfortable flight, with pitiful IFE.
Overall I rate the experience well below QF Premium Economy.
Best thing was obviously the price. I think it cost me about $1500 and as said before, I needed one way tickets. Without that massive price attraction, you just wouldn’t do it. Second best thing was the staff. It was a bit weird being on an Australian carrier and having a bit of a language barrier (I cringed every time the poor young Asian lass had to offer ¨salt and pepper¨ to each meal recipient – she just couldn’t say it) but they were very nice, polite, and helpful. And the CSM seemed to be very good also. Pity they have to struggle with what they can offer. Let down by the plane and catering.
The only thing I would really suggest to Jetstar is that they stop calling this service¨business¨. IMHO that is far worse than AA calling their domestic service ¨First¨. If you create high expectations, you are going to disappoint. Call it Prem Econ.
Would I do it again? Not for such a long flight. I think it is worth the money they charge, but please rename it.
Last edited:
). My checkin 3 hours ahead was no issue.
, oh and it has to be mk2 of course, lol.
