The Manager - Customer Services
Jetstar Airways
PO Box 535
Sunshine Victoria 3020
Dear Sir
Jetstar Inbound flights - DUTY FREE Carry On Allowances
I had the occasion to travel to Denpasar Indonesia and return to Darwin on JETSTAR AIRWAYS JQ82, my BOOKING REF ******.
Whilst I was in Bali I wished to purchase duty free items (including alcohol and fragrances) for my personal use and consumption when I returned to Australia. When I queried the Duty Free Shopping (DFS) management they advised me that they were unable to sell me duty free alcohol products, if I was travelling on JETSTAR FLIGHTS to Australia. I queried them in more detail and they advised it was indeed a Jetstar policy, not a policy of the Indonesian Government, neither the Indonesian Civil Aviation Authority or the Australian Department of Infrastructure and Transport, nor a policy of the Ngurah Rai Airport; it was a policy of JETSTAR AIRWAYS alone.
The management of the DFS confirmed to me that if I was on the same route with another carrier which flies into Australia such as GARUDA INDONESIA, AIR ASIA or VIRGIN AUSTRALIA then I would be allowed to purchase duty free alcohol products at DFS in Bali. The products would be delivered in a sealed carry bag, with documentation attached, to the DFS collection counter in the departure gate area of the relevant flight, located after the Liquid, Aerosols and Gels inspection point. I have read elsewhere that JETSTAR AIRWAYS approves of this procedure for the delivery of duty free items purchased elsewhere and furthermore that it is an acceptable procedure under the regulations.
In December 2011 I travelled with AIR ASIA from Darwin to Denpasar and returned to Darwin. I was able to make my purchases of duty free alcohol in Bali. Have it delivered to a collection counter located in the departure gate area after the screening for liquids, aerosols and gels screening point. I collected my purchases and brought with me as carryon baggage on the flight back to Darwin.
I have also confirmed with staff and crew of Virgin Australia that the same procedure is applicable to their flights to Australia. They indicated that they were aware of the policy that JETSTAR does not allow alcohol to be purchased in Bali.
On my recent flight namely JQ82 on 3 April 2012 I made a purchase of fragrances. These fragrances were in containers in excess of 100ml which is outside the maximum size allowed through the liquid aerosols and gels screening point. Accordingly I arranged with the DFS to have the items delivered to me at the Airport. DFS had a counter, located after the liquid aerosols and gels inspection point, manned inside the departure gate area by their staff and delivered to me the fragrances that I had purchased earlier that day.
The Australian regulations relating to liquids aerosols and gels are clearly layed out on the Department of Transport and Regional Services web site. They specifically state that “the only liquids, aerosols and gels that are allowed in a passenger’s carryon baggage are:
- liquids, aerosols and gels in containers of 100 millilitres or less, in one resealable bag. The four sides of the resealable area should not add up to more than 80 cm (e.g. 20x20 cm or 15x25 cm);
- duty free liquids, aersols and gels purchased at the airport and delivered to the boarding gate for the passenger. No other duty free will be permitted (e.g. duty free purchased at Heathrow will not be permitted through Singapore); and
- liquid, aerosol or gel products supplied to the passenger onboard the aircraft after departure for Australia (e.g. cans of drink supplied in-flight or duty free purchased on board the aircraft).”
The second dot point clearly allows Fragrances and Alcohol purchases which are in containers greater than 100ml as being acceptable.
When I left the Ngurah Rai airport on the subject flight to fly back to Darwin, it was through gate 2.
Gates 1 and 2 share a common liquids, aerosols and gels inspection point. They also share a common waiting area. Gate 1 was being used by an Air Asia flight to AUSTRALIA departing immediately prior to the JETSTAR flight to Darwin. Inside the departure gate, which is of course located after the liquids. aerosols and gels inspection point there was a DFS counter which was attended by the DFS staff. They were distributing Duty Free purchases to the passengers and crew of the Air Asia flight as well as to the Jetstar flight which I was on. I collected my fragrance purchase whilst passengers and crew from the Air Asia Flight collected there fragrances, cigarettes and alcohol purchases at the same counter.
The DFS staff confirmed to me that it was a well know JETSTAR policy not to allow alcohol sales to Passengers and Crew of Jetstar flights to Australia.
This Jetstar Policy has been very disruptive to me, has caused me inconvenience and has left me out of pocket.
This JETSTAR policy is without any substance and is not backed up by any regulations. It should be discontinued immediately.
I believe that JETSTAR AIRWAYS may be in collusion with duty free outlets in Australia to force passengers to purchase duty free alcohol from Australian duty free outlets at prices that are well above that of the Asian duty free outlets. This action I consider to be THIRD LINE FORCING and is in breach of s47 of the
Competition and Consumer Act
