Jetstar ¨business class¨ needs renaming, again?

[Mal Ware]

Mmmm if this is still the JQ J product then it's a fair bit better than just about all my QF domestic J meals. 16 - Jetstar plane food | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

The old JQ StarClass used to be an all plastic presentation - knives, forks, cups, plates, glasses (except for wine glasses).

If QF can call their domestic J offering "Business Class", I guess JQ can call their offering "Business" as well. And then there are all the European airlines on their intra-europe routes...

Appropriate that the photo of the food has peas and carrots, we all know where they end up.

 

[under the radar]

Why don't they just revert back to * class? You can't then really compare it to business or premium economy. It just is what it is...

totally agree..*class placed the product into its own 'class'...labeling it 'business class' has re-opened it up for comparisons to all other business / premium classes of other airlines... bring back *class!! or at the very least 'economy +' that would create a better perception of 'value for money'

 

[bjaust]

I agree that it's not really business class in the way that other airlines use the term. In practice though, I doubt too many seasoned travellers would be misled as I suspect all of us religiously look at the seat data and pictures before we book. I travelled Jetstar in business recently (see my trip report) and wouldn't rate it particularly highly, but I did look at the pictures a bit before getting on (though the ipad-as-IFE was a surprise). I think the point is that you get what you pay for with Jetstar

 

[MEL_Traveller]

juddles - while I appreciate your comments - most of what you mention was clearly mentioned in the information available to you prior to departure. Check-in opens three hours before, there is no seat back tv, there are 7 seats across, and the seat pitch is just 38 inches.

Calling it 'business class' is a tad rich. 'Business class' is now so well understood it some sort of common understanding in every day use (whether it applies to short haul, intra-European, or long haul)... and jetstar being long-haul their 'business class' is not what is commonly understood by that term (which should be at least 50' pitch, champagnes etc etc). Star-class was fine. Not sure why they ditched it.

 

[Joshua]

The QF Group have positioned JQ for the 'leisure' market. So for the 'leisure' traveller i.e. probably none of us, trying to luxury it up as business class is fitting. To myself, I have the same reaction as reading QF throwing the word luxury around in promoting premium economy, a mild level of repulsion. It is at best akin to McDonalds and their marketing of 'premium' burgers.

That said I have endured, nearly enjoyed a 13+ hour trip on JQ in *class, flying alone all for $600-ish (and earnt QFF back in the day). Maybe I had appropriate expectations, but I had absolutely no problem with any aspect of the product. Prompt check-in (T-120-90), F-lounge access and several meals + snacks and the old rubbish digiplayers - all fine for a day flight. I appreciate the check-in experience remains highly dependent on the port of departure and the local contractor however.

 

[mannej]

Again, looking at the definitions of these classes, could you accuse Hawaiian of being misleading with their "First Class" on their A330 service?

 

[juddles]

To those who suggest we are spoilt in Aus I must say I can agree. I flew out of HNL yesterday on an American Airlines 767 to DFW. They call their domestic legs ¨First¨. I selected the specific flight as it has shell seats in J (sorry, ¨F¨) as opposed to their 737´s. I have done this before, but travelling with kids you notice different things. They have ¨lie-flat¨ angled seats but no personal IFE!! They dont even hand out an ipad.

So I guess if another carrier can label something First and not even have personal IE shows that JQ is not really that terrible and bald-faced.

And BTW, not whinging about AA either - for the price+service+SC+points, it was extremely good value for money. And the lounge in HNL (they use the JAL one) was far superior to most mainland Admirals Clubs, and the Premium lounge in MIA (E concourse) is not too shabby either for a family. So very happy.

However, the lack of personal IFE was a big minus from my kids perspective. Upon landing in Curacao tonite there was an Avianca (Colombian carrier) A320 on the tarmac. My littlest one pointed at it and said she missed Avianca. They have personal seat back IFE even in their domestic Y cabin.

 

[Simo]

Star class was a better name. Business Class just makes too many expectation on a LCC

 

[moa999]

Its Business Class LCC way - I got no problem with it... there are so many different definitions of Business, and it is a very decent product at the price point it targets.
- Jetstar - Business Class
- Scoot - Business Class
- AirAsiaX - Premium Flatbed (the best of the three)
- Oasis - oasisBusiness (now dead)

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Its Business Class LCC way - I got no problem with it... there are so many different definitions of Business, and it is a very decent product at the price point it targets.
- Jetstar - Business Class
- Scoot - Business Class
- AirAsiaX - Premium Flatbed (the best of the three)
- Oasis - oasisBusiness (now dead)

I think jetstar and scoot are being a little misleading.

There are only really three definitions of business class:

• domestic and shorthaul (regional) = wider seat and 38-50 inch seat pitch
• domestic european and = standard economy seating with slightly more legroom and middle seat free
• long haul international = minimum 60 inch seat pitch, plus generous recline or flat bed.

Each of those is clearly defined and has associated seat and service levels.

Jetstar and Scoot fit none of those categories in calling themselves business class and could almost be considered as misleading (except Scoot does call it ScootBusiness or something).

 

[mannej]

I think jetstar and scoot are being a little misleading.

There are only really three definitions of business class:

• domestic and shorthaul (regional) = wider seat and 38-50 inch seat pitch
• domestic european and = standard economy seating with slightly more legroom and middle seat free
• long haul international = minimum 60 inch seat pitch, plus generous recline or flat bed.

Each of those is clearly defined and has associated seat and service levels.

Jetstar and Scoot fit none of those categories in calling themselves business class and could almost be considered as misleading (except Scoot does call it ScootBusiness or something).

Problem is you have Full service carriers with products that don't fit those definitions.

The other issue is who is the authority to judge the definition of what is a business class? That is the burning issue. The seat is a better seat than economy, so is it more misleading then the intra Europe "business class"?

 

[Joshua]

Problem is you have Full service carriers with products that don't fit those definitions.

The other issue is who is the authority to judge the definition of what is a business class? That is the burning issue. The seat is a better seat than economy, so is it more misleading then the intra Europe "business class"?

Well there are rules in several countries as to what can be sold as broadband internet. Similarly there was the long suffering issue of channel 7 broadcasting 576p as 'HDTV' again allowed by government definition. Though if we started having such definitions applied to aviation I could imagine it being a slippery slope to an Air India in some parts of the world. Best to let the market decide. A AFF style traveller is more likely to speak negatively of their product to associates where their target market mum and dad, average joe who flies to Bali, Fiji once a year at most is more likely to speak highly of it to friends and on social media. Maybe I'm making it too much about social class differences and could more simply argue that Star Class hard product is similar to yesteryear J products of big carriers, J products of shorter distances and J products of lesser carriers so hard to call it 'misleading'.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Problem is you have Full service carriers with products that don't fit those definitions.

The other issue is who is the authority to judge the definition of what is a business class? That is the burning issue. The seat is a better seat than economy, so is it more misleading then the intra Europe "business class"?

As I said - there are three 'common' understandings of business class. If you are talking to a european and say you are flying business class (or club) within Europe they would know instantly what you mean. If you say to someone in Hong Kong you are flying business class to bangkok they would know instantly what you mean. If you tell you mate at the office you are flying business class to Europe they will instantly have an expectation of what you mean.

Jetstar business class I think falls outside those common understanding of long-haul business class.

I just googled 'business class' - wiki is less generous than me - it only lists 2 types of business class, long-haul and short-haul/regional

Business class - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

some terms do become so common they end up in everyday usage and have that expectation. If business class wasn't so common then someone would have copyrighted or trademarked it by now

 

[mannej]

You can't compare broadband to this. That definition is much more black and white.

A point I made before, Hawaiian advertise using coach and first. Problem is according to one of the definitions used to describe J class today, it wouldn't even be acceptable there.

There are too many variables, and for what it is, if Jetstar want to call it business class, that is their prerogative.

 

[mannej]

Common understandings to who?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Common understandings to who?

the public at large. lots of ways to determine that, dictionary is one, but also just how the term is accepted in everyday use. as I said, mention you are travelling bushiness class to you anyone at the office and they'll all think it is the luxury version, not the jetstar version.

 

[11sjw]

the public at large. lots of ways to determine that, dictionary is one, but also just how the term is accepted in everyday use. as I said, mention you are travelling bushiness class to you anyone at the office and they'll all think it is the luxury version, not the jetstar version.

Until there is an ISO type standard then airlines are free to call their seating whatever they like.

When someone tells me they're flying Jetstar J I know what they're getting. For mine a bigger rip off is QF J Ex Oz-HNL. One expects Flat beds from QF and they aren't offered on this route.

 

[Mal Ware]

So it is self regulating, maybe they need to add a disclaimer :Jetstar Business Class *Self Rated

Are there laws against a dirty 2* hotel advertising as being a 4 or 5* motel?

 

[Paddy55]

Half-star class?

 

[Mal Ware]

Half-star class?

Star class is actually appropriate, if that star is out of 5....