Jetstar Asia legs on Qantas premium redemption

[Mr H]

I have just made a sweet redemption for April - MEL-SIN-CGK in QF F and 3K (Jetstar Asia) Y - and CGK-SIN-MEL in 3K Y and EK F. It would have been even sweeter if I had made it a fortnight ago.

Now I knew the deal with the Jetstar Asia legs when I booked, so this isn't a complaint as such. But I think this info is not easily found on the web so hopefully this may help people who search in the future.

Basically, the 3K legs are booked into the lowest class available. They ask for extra payment to reserve seats, get extra legroom and get food. And because 3K is not part of One World, you don't get lounge access for those flights. So no lounge in Singapore after the QF F flight and no lounge in CGK despite connecting to an EK F flight in Singapore.

As I say, I knew the rules when I booked but it still seems counter-intuitive when flying on what amounts to a First Class itinerary.

 

[defurax]

In a recent survey QF was asking if I'd be happy to connect in Asia using Jetstar. Maybe QF management is so disconnected from the real world that they genuinely wonder why people travelling for business would avoid connections on LCC for all the reasons you mention above and others.

 

[pottsy]

I have just made a sweet redemption for April - MEL-SIN-CGK in QF F and 3K (Jetstar Asia) Y - and CGK-SIN-MEL in 3K Y and EK F. It would have been even sweeter if I had made it a fortnight ago.

Now I knew the deal with the Jetstar Asia legs when I booked, so this isn't a complaint as such. But I think this info is not easily found on the web so hopefully this may help people who search in the future.

Basically, the 3K legs are booked into the lowest class available. They ask for extra payment to reserve seats, get extra legroom and get food. And because 3K is not part of One World, you don't get lounge access for those flights. So no lounge in Singapore after the QF F flight and no lounge in CGK despite connecting to an EK F flight in Singapore.

As I say, I knew the rules when I booked but it still seems counter-intuitive when flying on what amounts to a First Class itinerary.

Uummh what is '3K' please?

 

[Mr H]

Uummh what is '3K' please?

Jetstar Asia, as I put in brackets.

 

[PDog]

J

Uummh what is '3K' please?

jetstar Asia

 

[PDog]

We've a similar redemption, QF First to Singapore & 3K to Vietnam. Didn't know about the food, but suspect by then we won't care!
I agree, it does seem weird though

 

[pottsy]

Jetstar Asia, as I put in brackets.

Thankyou...

 

[justinbrett]

You still get lounge access if you’re a Qantas elite flying 3K.

 

[Mr H]

You still get lounge access if you’re a Qantas elite flying 3K.

True, although I'm not and I imagine many others doing redemptions would not.

 

[PDog]

True, although I'm not and I imagine many others doing redemptions would not.

Yup, I’m not either! Disappointing there’s no arrivals access, however 2 hours in Changi will be quite manageable!

 

[dajop]

You still get lounge access if you’re a Qantas elite flying 3K.

In this instance, and for flights connecting from inbound QF flights, yes you do gett lounge access. For flights that depart SIN before 3pm, you don’t, as QF lounge only opens at 2:30pm.

 

[Mr H]

Yup, I’m not either! Disappointing there’s no arrivals access, however 2 hours in Changi will be quite manageable!

Yes - my thinking was that a couple of hours in Changi should be easy to fill, and pre-flight in Jakarta I imagine the lounge would not have been that great anyway. The Jetstar flights are short. I have sprung for front row seats to get the legroom and can survive a couple of hours without food and drink (I hope).

Plus, the Jetstar flights are effectively free since the redemption cost for MEL-SIN would have been near identical to MEL-SIN-CGK.

I still feel, though, that a Y leg on an F ticket should come with the highest available soft product even if the highest hard product is Y. I argued this on a paid J ticket EDI-LHR-LAX-AKL-MEL ten years ago when the EDI-LHR booked into the lowest class for the all-economy British Midland flight. I successfully got them to change me to full fare Y for this leg.

 

[PDog]

Yes - my thinking was that a couple of hours in Changi should be easy to fill, and pre-flight in Jakarta I imagine the lounge would not have been that great anyway. The Jetstar flights are short. I have sprung for front row seats to get the legroom and can survive a couple of hours without food and drink (I hope).

Plus, the Jetstar flights are effectively free since the redemption cost for MEL-SIN would have been near identical to MEL-SIN-CGK.

I still feel, though, that a Y leg on an F ticket should come with the highest available soft product even if the highest hard product is Y. I argued this on a paid J ticket EDI-LHR-LAX-AKL-MEL ten years ago when the EDI-LHR booked into the lowest class for the all-economy British Midland flight. I successfully got them to change me to full fare Y for this leg.

I agree on both counts - happy to deal with the short 3K leg in Y as that made the F segment available to me.
I’m sure other airlines honour the highest ticket class lounge access when it’s (that class) not available on a connecting leg. Etihad do, and I think SQ do also. I booked it knowing this (cause I asked the brains trust here!) so it’s a curiosity rather than a complaint.

 

[Mr H]

I’m sure other airlines honour the highest ticket class lounge access when it’s (that class) not available on a connecting leg. Etihad do, and I think SQ do also.

I think this may be a problem on mixed carrier bookings sometimes. I remember may years ago doing BKK-FRA-EDI in TG F and LH J on a *A redemption. I was only allowed into the LH J lounge in FRA.

 

[tonia]

I’d never fly Jetstar again. Tried it quite a few times ( each time I vow will be the last) had flights delayed, cancelled & their checkin is absolutely horrendous. Personally I’d choose Air Asia ahead of Jetstar every time

 

[pottsy]

Yes - my thinking was that a couple of hours in Changi should be easy to fill, and pre-flight in Jakarta I imagine the lounge would not have been that great anyway. The Jetstar flights are short. I have sprung for front row seats to get the legroom and can survive a couple of hours without food and drink (I hope).

Plus, the Jetstar flights are effectively free since the redemption cost for MEL-SIN would have been near identical to MEL-SIN-CGK.

I still feel, though, that a Y leg on an F ticket should come with the highest available soft product even if the highest hard product is Y. I argued this on a paid J ticket EDI-LHR-LAX-AKL-MEL ten years ago when the EDI-LHR booked into the lowest class for the all-economy British Midland flight. I successfully got them to change me to full fare Y for this leg.

Sorry to ask (what is probably so obvious to the knowlegable), I am on a serious learning curve! Why is the redemption cost nearly identical? I have just quickly put in a flight from Mel-Cgk on Qantas website and it doesn't even show a Jetstar option?

 

[Mr H]

I’d never fly Jetstar again. Tried it quite a few times ( each time I vow will be the last) had flights delayed, cancelled & their checkin is absolutely horrendous. Personally I’d choose Air Asia ahead of Jetstar every time

I have only flown internationally with Jetstar once before - a family trip MEL-DPS and it went without incident. I have also flown Air Asia a couple of times with connecting flights and again no drama. The down-side with Air Asia out of Melbourne is they fly from AVV where parking is expensive and public transport options are limited.

Sorry to ask (what is probably so obvious to the knowlegable), I am on a serious learning curve! Why is the redemption cost nearly identical? I have just quickly put in a flight from Mel-Cgk on Qantas website and it doesn't even show a Jetstar option?

The miles required were identical, with or without CGK, as the overall distance fell within the same price bands. The fees might have been slightly more so it wasn't entirely a free good - but I looked at alternative paid SIN-CGK routes and they were less attractive than tacking on the Jetstar legs.

 

[justinbrett]

I know you’re saying you’re not complaining, but this is no different that booking Aer Lingus or Vueling with BA, or Alaska with AA, where you get no benefits as a Qantas elite. Would you prefer not to have the redemption option at all?

 

[PDog]

I know you’re saying you’re not complaining, but this is no different that booking Aer Lingus or Vueling with BA, or Alaska with AA, where you get no benefits as a Qantas elite. Would you prefer not to have the redemption option at all?

I assume you’re talking to me given I said I’m not complaining?
I’m not a Qantas elite, so that’s really irrelevant to me, I’m not familiar with what the cool kids can and can’t access! I also explicitly said I’m happy given I’ve been able to access the F segment (being bronze).

I agree on both counts - happy to deal with the short 3K leg in Y as that made the F segment available to me.
I’m sure other airlines honour the highest ticket class lounge access when it’s (that class) not available on a connecting leg. Etihad do, and I think SQ do also. I booked it knowing this (cause I asked the brains trust here!) so it’s a curiosity rather than a complaint.

Just surprised, that’s all. Correct me if I’m wrong, but if the same situation arose flying SQ, I’d be in TPR before my scoot flight!

 

[Mr H]

Correct me if I’m wrong, but if the same situation arose flying SQ, I’d be in TPR before my scoot flight!

I think the SQ/TPR situation is slightly different. It is an unadvertised benefit of SQ F that you can use TPR as an arrivals lounge, regardless of any onward flights.