Purchased a one way upgrade for late March 2014 travel on Jetstar, MEL-BKK. Understand it is now all done via Jetstar Email Invitation with a reply by date a few days later on a first in best dressed basis. I received email invitation to upgrade exactly one week prior to travel date. I was told Jetstar now do not sell upgrades at Airports.
Our flight was virtually full in Business Class when we travelled but bookings were fairly low two weeks prior (I checked), so if you get an email and want to purchase suggest you may want to respond promptly by paying online as an update to your booking. We paid an extra AUD$240 pp. for full MAX bundle, alternative was AUD$180 without Lounge or points. This was on top of our economy fare which was a great price at the time where I paid AUD$199 pp. for the economy seat alone when on sale maybe 5 months before.
LCC Alternative to Jetstar Business Class Upgrades:
Having sad that, there is another option to Jetstar Business Class upgrades you may wish to consider, if not yet booked.
Air Asia X also has an upgrade process, but quite different. After holidaying in coughet we had chosen to come home via KL because the return leg on Jetstar was going to cost around AUD$350pp in economy (much more than the initial leg AUD$199, plus food etc. we paid). We secured AUD$115 economy seats, plus food etc. on sale with AAX for the return KUL-MEL flight. I must say that we were a little dubious about the price being so low, having never flown Air Asia X before, but it worked out extremely well in the end result. We purchased an Upgrade Option for AAX, through Optiontown.com, (not fully clear on how it fully works. I alike-end it to a kind of lottery possibly with some other criteria like date purchased, it certainly did not seem to be based on initial price paid). Optiontown apparently handles Air Asia X , Finnair and a few other airlines excess premium seats. This cost AUD$110pp and if not successful, then a refund of AUD$100 would be received within 5 business days if no upgrade. It seemed like a fair enough deal. To cut the longer story and give the short version, we scored the last two seats in Business at the gateway before boarding, it was supposedly before checking in that we were to be advised if successful, but we are not complaining.
Jetstar or Air Asia X Business Class Upgrades. Which is better?:
1. Air Asia X almost flat seats were by far the better seat IMHO. But 12 seats versus Jetstar's 32 seats, both on A330's means Jetstar's Upgrade probability is most likely greater.
2. On our flights (both daytime flights), Jetstar's Thai based cabin crew were hands down winners in the cabin, although the lovely AAX cabin crew were very well presented, but not around for all the flight. The food and beverage quality on Jetstar Business Class was much better and I would rate as better than Qantas International Economy food and inclusive in upgrade price. Whereas AAX in all seats was fully user pays for food and beverages, cheaper pricing, lower quality but certainly edible. AAX duty free was very well priced (you get 10% off if you pre-order on the internet), much better value than Australian Airport Duty Free, but if you do not pre-order then they may have run out before they take your order on board.
3. Based on price, AAX wins, but the availability seems somewhat questionable with so many fewer business class seats. Maybe we were lucky.
4. You be the judge, AAX better seats or Jetstar better eats (catering) with more likelihood of seats available but like the older domestic business class seat but most likely at a higher all up cost. In our view the solution is to try and get the better seats. They were very good and as an alternative to expecting good food in flight, have a really nice meal before boarding and top up inflight as needed.
5. I would not rule out either Upgrade option depending on total cost.
