Jetstar *class Mel to HNL - what class Mel to Syd leg

[jackster]

After much agonisinghttp://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/images/smilies/confused.gif about what airline and class I should fly from Mel to HNL (via Syd), I went ahead and just purchased a starclass fare with Jetstar. Before I did this, I gave Jetstar a call to confirm what class the Mel to Syd leg would be given it is going to be a Qantas flight. I was assured before booking that it was J class and that I would travel in business class.http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/images/smilies/icon_lol.gif So I was quite surprised to see my itinery say I was travelling in JetFlex from Mel to Syd on a Qantas flight and not business. http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/images/smilies/icon_mad.gif I gave Jetstar another call and was assured that it was definitely J class and that a further itinery would be sent to me to reflect this. Surprise surprise it said exactly the same thing as the original itinery. So I called Jetstar again and after being on hold for a while I was told that the information I was given was incorrect and that I would be travelling in economy given the domestic leg is a jetflex (and not a J class) fare. All that has been offered to me is a refund without cancellation fees payable. This is really really annoying as its not what I thought I was getting. Anyone else had this experience? Is this the right information? Has anyone purchased a starclass fare and actually flown business on a domestic connection???

 

[stuartfaz]

After much agonisinghttp://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/images/smilies/confused.gif about what airline and class I should fly from Mel to HNL (via Syd), I went ahead and just purchased a starclass fare with Jetstar. Before I did this, I gave Jetstar a call to confirm what class the Mel to Syd leg would be given it is going to be a Qantas flight. I was assured before booking that it was J class and that I would travel in business class.http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/images/smilies/icon_lol.gif So I was quite surprised to see my itinery say I was travelling in JetFlex from Mel to Syd on a Qantas flight and not business. http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/images/smilies/icon_mad.gif I gave Jetstar another call and was assured that it was definitely J class and that a further itinery would be sent to me to reflect this. Surprise surprise it said exactly the same thing as the original itinery. So I called Jetstar again and after being on hold for a while I was told that the information I was given was incorrect and that I would be travelling in economy given the domestic leg is a jetflex (and not a J class) fare. All that has been offered to me is a refund without cancellation fees payable. This is really really annoying as its not what I thought I was getting. Anyone else had this experience? Is this the right information? Has anyone purchased a starclass fare and actually flown business on a domestic connection???

Firstly, welcome to AFF jackster!

Secondly, I believe that, in a normal scenario, any QF connections booked as part of a full Starclass fare are in J class (i.e. not a promo fare). So, unless something's changed since I last checked, I'm not exactly sure how to explain your predicament.

Perhaps J class on your QF connection was already fully booked, so you've been put in Y instead.

Try ringing JQ/QF and see if you can jump on an earlier QF flight in J.

 

[jackster]

Thanks stuartfaz

I gave Qantas a call to see what class it was coming up from their end (after all that's what counts!!!) and they said it was D class which I understand is business class. I also gave Jetstar another call and they said it was J class. I didn't go into the details of what I had been told previously. I just took the person's name and will use that if I have an issue. So I will take a punt and hope for the best. I have spent enough time researching the flights...almost as long as the holiday will be itself.

 

[QuikSmart]

I had the same experience with ADL - HKT (coughet). I was told the whole way through that it would be Y class on the QF leg from ADL to SYD, but figured I was better off in Y on QF than in Y on J*.

Pleased when we got to the airport and found we were in J - was without a doubt the best way to start and end our trip - Star Class was ****e. Broken seats (foot rests and recline didn't work), cough food, poor service.

You should find yourself in J unless things have changed. And you'll notice the contrast in the services.

Enjoy the trip.

 

[Travel Guru]

Thanks stuartfaz

I gave Qantas a call to see what class it was coming up from their end (after all that's what counts!!!) and they said it was D class which I understand is business class. I also gave Jetstar another call and they said it was J class. I didn't go into the details of what I had been told previously. I just took the person's name and will use that if I have an issue. So I will take a punt and hope for the best. I have spent enough time researching the flights...almost as long as the holiday will be itself.

Don't worry about what the numskulls at JQ are telling you, as long as what QF is seeing is D, you're definately flying up front, which is as i'd expect on their "Star"Class.

TG

 

[jackster]

Just managed to score 2 business tickets for the way home with QFF. Now I can cancel my way home *class ticket all for a small fee of $30 each. Was worth having the seats as insurance until some free tickets came up with Qantas. I will write a review of both my *class trip on the way over to HNL and for the business class trip on the way back. Looking forward to do an actual comparison of *class v business.

 

[kpc]

I will write a review of both my *class trip on the way over to HNL and for the business class trip on the way back. Looking forward to do an actual comparison of *class v business.

When is your trip? I would be very interested to hear more about *class as I'm about to book a return to Dps in October:?:. Really need the SCs to requalify for QF SG, and besides QF do not fly to Dps

 

[jackster]

In about 2 weeks! A friend of mine goes to DPS regularly and has flown both *class and economy with JQ. She thinks *class is great and the economy section is fine if you don't expect too much.

 

[Blackswan]

[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']Ok, so based on the above threads, if I was to book PER to HNL in *class, then the trip over to Sydney on QF metal would be in business?[/FONT]
[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif'] [/FONT]
[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']I'm just a little sceptical, as I can find a *class flight (one way) from PER TO HNL for around $1700. Its costs very close to that flying J from PER to SYD alone.[/FONT]
[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif'] [/FONT]
[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']Please correct me if I’m wrong, its Sunday evening and I’m feeling rather blonde.[/FONT]

 

[Blackswan]

Ok, so based on the above threads, if I was to book PER to HNL in *class, then the trip over to Sydney on QF metal would be in business?

I'm just a little sceptical, as I can find a *class flight (one way) from PER to HNL for around $1700. It cost very close to that flying J from PER to SYD alone.

(apologies for past post). Seems to be a problem with it

 

[Mox_Fulder]

Don't worry about what the numskulls at JQ are telling you, as long as what QF is seeing is D, you're definately flying up front, which is as i'd expect on their "Star"Class.

TG

Can somebody confirm that the domestic sector of the flight (MEL-SYD) would earn business SC and points ? Seems to be pretty good value for a domestic flight on QF hardware...

Cheers

 

[meloz]

Can somebody confirm that the domestic sector of the flight (MEL-SYD) would earn business SC and points ? Seems to be pretty good value for a domestic flight on QF hardware...

Cheers

My past experience is, yes, you should earn J SC's and points.

Meloz

 

[Travel Guru]

Yes, if you're flying in the J cabin, you'll receive J pts and SC's

TG

 

[QuikSmart]

Yes, you do get J SC's and pts.

Blackswan - Note that the leg on QF metal only applies if it shows as being a QF flight when you book on the J* website. When booking the connections it'll usually show a few options, if you book *Class and pick a QF connection you'll be in J. And yes the costs is way cheaper than booking a QF J flight. They must just do the standard thing and add upgrade price to the entire journey rather than costing both legs separately.

 

[QuikSmart]

Details below are from my activity statement. While the top flight shows the QF number, it was booked as a J* round trip. The details for this flight didn't show up on my account so I had to submit a claim. As you can see 60 SC's for flights between ADL - SYD.

30 OCT 07 QF 740 BUSINESS 30OCT07 ADELAIDE/SYDNEY 725 182 182 1,250

60

26 OCT 07 JQ 008 JETSTAR 13 OCT07 HO CHI MINH CITY/SYDNEY 4,251 1,063 - 5,314 120

26 OCT 07 JQ 027 JETSTAR 05OCT07 SYDNEY/coughET 4,511 1,128 - 5,639 120

26 OCT 07 JQ 6738 JETSTAR 05OCT07 ADELAIDE/SYDNEY 725 182 - 1,250 60

 

[Mox_Fulder]

Yes, you do get J SC's and pts.

And yes the costs is way cheaper than booking a QF J flight. They must just do the standard thing and add upgrade price to the entire journey rather than costing both legs separately.

Thanks guys. I've just realised that for next year, I just need one flight on JQ from SYD to BKK return in *Class and I have requalified for Silver. Thats 240 SC for the MEL-BKK segment and 80 for the SYD-MEL return segment. Well, thats assuming JQ will still fly that route next year.

Thanks again to all...

 

[jackster]

Just wanted to confirm that we did in fact fly qantas business class on the Mel to Syd leg with our starclass Mel to HNL ticket. The service was great as was the food and I have never said that about airline food before. Perfect start (and probably the only perfect part of the journey) to the trip over there.

We then arrived in Sydney and had to check in at Jetstar (although our luggage was checked in Mel all the way through). There is a separate queue for starclass passengers but the thing I didn't like was being unable to get a different seat to those allocated or already booked. Tip: make sure you book seats online or over the phone at time of booking as that is your best chance to get good seats. Row 1 is the best as it does have extra leg room. Flying with Jetstar was pretty ordinary. We were delayed by an hour at the gate. Originally the delay was 15 minutes, then another 15 mins etc etc (so we thought it would not be worth going to the Qantas club). On top of the hour or more waiting at the gate, we spent 2 hours just sitting on the tarmac, with very little info, other than "we should be on our way soon" every now and then. As starclass passengers, we were provided with a drink on arrival and then a bottle of water while we waited, hardly what a business class passenger would get. We didn't get that much attention while we waited to take off. The food was not too bad, and desert was delicious (a fresh lemon tart). The service was good, young lovely accommodating girls. The seat was pretty cough. Not that much leg room with a pretty awkward recline. It was fairly wide though but I would prefer leg room over width any day. Found it hard to sleep in the seat on the all night flight but as the guy next to me mentioned, if you are finding it hard, imagine being in economy!

Would I fly starclass again? Depends on the price. If it is comparable to a premium economy fare (which this was) then yes. It is a premium economy service seat and service and its pretty good value. If you expect this and not a business class experience, it will be fine. The only thing that turns me off is just the delays that Jetstar always has. I met some others that were in HNL who had been on a different flight who had experienced the same sort of delays. On the day of departure, we flew Qantas business class back on QFF. Surprise suprise, the jetstar flight leaving that day was delayed.