Jetstar Star Class Impressions

[markis10]

I spoke to JQ (15/12/06) about the *class fares and they have stated that as I will be leaving out of BNE to BKK, via MEL, that the class of travel to MEL is Y. Nowhere does it say on the site, or through booking that the connection will be in Y class and not J class.
Has anyone had a connecting flight with QF to a JQ International in *class?

Full star class fares will book you into QF J, promotional starclass fares mean travel in the Y cabin, it was mentioned at some stage on their website but I cannot find it now.

 

[Myrna]

Hi Serfty

Many thanks for your helpful advice. I will change our seats.

Myrna

 

[gaia]

Flew JQ Starclass MEL-BKK twice in the last couple of weeks, and wanted to today but flight is full so flying Thai Y.

First flight only 5 in cabin and service great...seat 2E.

Second flight all but 5 seats taken and service was almost non-existent...seat 3D. Requests were forgotten throughout the trip...lucky to get the 2 sparkling wines that I did after long delays and repeated requests.

Difference might have been that first flight crew very experienced whereas second crew almost all Thai and clearly very inexperienced.

 

[gaia]

Correction ...second flight seat was 3B.

 

[serfty]

Hi Serfty

Many thanks for your helpful advice. I will change our seats.

Myrna

... First flight only 5 in cabin and service great...seat 2E. ...

Note, I was just checking a booking I have to BKK in February and JQ appear to have changed the seat numbering. I was in 2E but am now in 2D; this is the same seat!

The centre 3 seats in

Class were originally lettered E/F/G but are now D/E/F.

This is important as 2D is now the best single seat with 1E/F being good for pairs.

This is in line with the Qantas 332 seat maps: 332 Seat Map

 

[Myrna]

Thanks, Serfty, for your further post. I was going to post one to ask you to clarify the seat letters because when I went into Jetstar website to change our seats and they did not look as you suggested. Now, it is clear and I will ask mum in law which seat she prefers - by herself in 2D or with me in 1J&K.

 

[mainly tailfirst]

Has anyone done this seat/flight combo to HNL yet?
I am wondering if it (+ a YUP on AA to SFO) is going to be a better travel experience than a one-way on QF in Y. Certainly the pricing looks comparable (if I can snag a promotional fare) and I suspect the SC seat will be better than a regular QF one.

One a related topic, does anyone know if one would be able to get entry into the QF lounge in HNL for the onwards leg on AA? - based on international "business" ticket rule for JQ I would suspect not, simply based on the fact that JQ is not OW, and it's not a proper QF lounge. But maybe someone has found something in the fine print of the rules.

and to think a few short months ago I was vowing never to fly JQ again...

mt

 

[Keith009]

Is 1J a good alternative to 2D for someone traveling alone?

I chose 1J on the outbound (JQ29) as 2D was already taken.
Got 2D on the inbound (JQ30) though.

 

[serfty]

For the daytime JQ29 flight, 1J is fine; in fact I have 1K allocated for an upcoming trip on this. (also have 2D for the overnight return )

 

[Keith009]

Thanks serfty. 1J it shall stay then. Can't wait to travel again!

 

[maninblack]

Has anyone done this seat/flight combo to HNL yet?
I am wondering if it (+ a YUP on AA to SFO) is going to be a better travel experience than a one-way on QF in Y. Certainly the pricing looks comparable (if I can snag a promotional fare) and I suspect the SC seat will be better than a regular QF one.

One a related topic, does anyone know if one would be able to get entry into the QF lounge in HNL for the onwards leg on AA? - based on international "business" ticket rule for JQ I would suspect not, simply based on the fact that JQ is not OW, and it's not a proper QF lounge. But maybe someone has found something in the fine print of the rules.

and to think a few short months ago I was vowing never to fly JQ again...

mt

The JQ Starclass seat will certainly be better than the QF Y seat, which is smaller and has no personal IFE on the 763 to HNL...no question at all.

The QF lounge in HNL serves passengers departing for Australia only. The AA lounge is a seperate lounge and would require you to have at least QFF gold OW sapphire status in order to use it prior to getting on your AA flight.

 

[Alan in CBR]

The QF lounge in HNL serves passengers departing for Australia only. The AA lounge is a seperate lounge and would require you to have at least QFF gold OW sapphire status in order to use it prior to getting on your AA flight.

The Qantas Club and the Admirals Club use the same lounge in HNL. Prior to AA flights it is staffed and operated as an AC, and prior to QF flights it is staffed and operated as a QC.

I understand the catering is somewhat better when it operates as a QC.

 

[NM]

The Qantas Club and the Admirals Club use the same lounge in HNL. Prior to AA flights it is staffed and operated as an AC, and prior to QF flights it is staffed and operated as a QC.

I understand the catering is somewhat better when it operates as a QC.

Its known as the Morphing Lounge as it changes regularly between the two.

 

[maninblack]

The Qantas Club and the Admirals Club use the same lounge in HNL. Prior to AA flights it is staffed and operated as an AC, and prior to QF flights it is staffed and operated as a QC.

I understand the catering is somewhat better when it operates as a QC.

Come to think of it you are quite right. It has the Admirals club logo on it also now. This has only been since 2005. I think that before that AA passengers used a shared facility, or perhaps none...?

 

[d15.in.oz]

I understand the catering is somewhat better when it operates as a QC.

Last time i was there, as a QP card holder, (prior to an AA domestic afternoon flight), the dragons were kind enough to let me know that if I wanted any complimentary wine or beer, it was available to me, just to ask them, and they would "go back" and get it for me.

[Much better and more personal service process, than the vouchers at other AA shared lounges - I think.]

 

[serfty]

Continuing on ...

From airport at 8pm I simply showed Email with Hilton's Name and address to the Taxi Controllers at the Airport Level 1 taxi desk. They filled out the paperwork and walked me over to a waiting taxi.

Before we moved off I looked carefully for the meter being turned on and when it was not I said "Meter", driver looked at me and said 550 Baht; I said "Meter" again, more firmly. She shrugged and turned the meter on saying "now you pay toll". I did pay tolls; B25 & B40. arriving at the hotel the fare was B293 including B50 airport fee; so total cost was B358.

 

[serfty]

My hotel was the Hilton Millenium; nice place. Upon entering I approached the HHonors desk and after a quick check of my booking I found myself being escorted to the executive lounge for check in.

There I was informed that I had been upgraded to the executive levels as an HHonors Gold. It was too late for the evening coughtails, so I went down to the restaurant and enjoyed the buffet there for ~AUD29.

In the morning I found the "continental" breakfast on the exec floor to be exceptional. They even had a chef cooking egg based meals to order.

Will be staying there again in February. ^

I was out most of the morning and arrived back to hotel around Noon. I had a wonderfully refreshing shower, washing away the grit of the mornings activities. Packing was next as check out was looming.

 

[serfty]

I needed to check out by 1pm; I did so at the executive lounge desk and was able to use the lounge for the remainder of the afternoon. This was great after my mornings wanderings.

At 4:30PM Monday, the Taksin Bridge could be seen from the exec lounge as being totally clogged. I toyed with the idea of using the ferry and getting a taxi from the Sheraton on the other side but decided I did not wish to juggle my bags/equipment across the water. So I decided on a taxi from the hotel.

Heading out down past reception I went out to the desk there. The porters called up by radio to the secure entrance. While waiting (without asking) I was told the meter would be used & it would be about 90 minutes to airport.

The driver actually did not take the Taksin bridge; he drove further South to take the Rama III expressway, thereby driving around the Jam. I was at the Airport in 65 minutes for B290 + B65 in tolls.

 

[serfty]

Arriving at the airport, the taxi dropped me off at the East end around ¾ an hour before checkin was due to open.

As it happens, the JQ checkin is at the West end of the terminal and it was quite a distance from one end to the other. Undeterred, off I went, checking out the new layouts on the way. Reaching the other end, I identified the area where JQ checkin was to occur and then proceeded to explore further.

I was keen on getting a good view of the new airport and I noticed there are two viewing platforms up near the roof inside this vast building. I decided to check the West one out.

These are reached by either elevator or escalator to a restaurant mezzanine level, then a ramp up higher with one 180 degree bend; sort of a zig without the zag as it were. This platform is an area about 40 metres by 20; when I reached the top I was amazed to find about 150 people seemingly camped up there. The platforms' inner edges were covered with blankets/rug/mats taking up over half the available floor space. These people were sitting, lying down and walking around; talking, playing cards, reading books etc. Why they were there I know not; I guess I could have asked someone.

The entry and viewing window areas (to the South of the platform) were the only places without floor coverings and while I could see outside, it was dusk and the windows appeared dirty giving an unclear view. I was able to identify the pier/gate where my flight was scheduled to depart and, slightly disappointed headed back down to the check in area.

Here there was movement with about four staff setting up those flexible barriers and otherwise readying for check-in. Soon thereafter they were joined by half a dozen others and, with blank boarding cards, JQ bag tags and other paraphernalia being handed out, were soon ready to commence check in. Including myself there were 25-30 waiting for this. I positioned myself near the counter that looked like it was to be for :-:class while the other expectant PAX spread themselves around the other 5 or 6 counters.

Five minutes before scheduled check-in was to open several of the other counters opened up; the staff at the counter I was at was still getting ready. The counter next to me became free and I moved across to it. There was some difficulty with printing my BP, but otherwise everything went smoothly. The agent confirmed my preselected seat and handed this back to me along with a gray card with an invitation in silver printing to the "Loui's Tavern" Business class lounge. I was also asked about my luggage and I indicated my laptop bag and my 106cm wheelaboard. I was handed two stickers about 5x20cm with "Jet:-: CABIN BAGGAGE printed on them; telling me I needed to stick them onto both my bags. I assume this was a signal to permit them to be taken on board.

He also instructed me where and how to buy the THB500 tax voucher. I had already identified a booth for this close to the nearest emigration entrance so after a brief stop off to get one I proceeded through the door. I needed to show my THB500 voucher, BP and PP to a uniformed guy at that entrance.

Emigration was again a breeze and shortly after 6pm I was browsing the Duty Free stores.

Grabbing one of those mini trolleys you find airside at many airports I had a good look around. While not quite a labyrinth, Suvarnabhumi Airport is extremely large and after completing my requisite purchases (prices are far less expensive than at any Oz Duty Free Store) I decided to hunt out this "Loui's Tavern".

Ascertaining from the map on the back it was down one level near an intersection with my flight's E concourse I located it. I also espied the F lounge nearby and like any good Frequent Flyer attempted to gain access to that brandishing my QF WP card. No dice; I was nicely but firmly advised that the business class lounge around the corner was my only option. Off I toddled to the Fish Tank lookalike otherwise known as "Loui's Tavern".

 

[serfty]

Loui's Tavern Silver Invitiation

Front:

Silver Printing:

Back: