Jetstar suuuuuucks.... why don’t I learn???

[Max Samuels]

Flying to Sydney from MEL on JQ on QF reward ticket coz it is less points and I’m saving them for an upgrade to LAX next month. Anyway, as per usual, flight is late, yet the idiots at T4 make the announcement “go to gate boarding is about to commence”..... I hike all the way there and what do you think??? No plane. No, it’s still in the sky en route from wherever.....

Don’t know whose fault that it is but I have experienced this a lot with JQ.

:-(

 

[Max Samuels]

I am quietly determined to never be in a position to contiribute further to this thread.

Not even tempted by $35 fares?????
Actually, I must admit that I don't mind flying JQ on dom sectors of International flights (they don't seem to have them as much anymore though...)

The reason? Bigger, nicer aircraft. And, if it is delayed or whatever, you can enjoy the F lounge for longer

 

[Oubline]

Get either 'Flight Radar 24' or 'FlightAware' app for your phone and you can track the inbound plane. Never get sucked in by a boarding announcement again!

Not only that, but you'll be able to detect gross lateness, on international flights, for instance and look to alternative arrangements if needs be.

But what about if they decide to substitute aircraft?! That’s always my fear...

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Not even tempted by $35 fares?????
Actually, I must admit that I don't mind flying JQ on dom sectors of International flights (they don't seem to have them as much anymore though...)

The reason? Bigger, nicer aircraft. And, if it is delayed or whatever, you can enjoy the F lounge for longer

Not even.
And as I am based in Perth it would mean a 4 hour flight before I could get near an F lounge.

 

[wandering_fred]

OTOH, JQ in its various forms on the PER-DPS flights is no worse (or no better) than all the other narrow bodies making the 3+ hour flight.

Happy wandering
Fred

 

[Limewood]

Yep, they have been on our banned list for years.

I'd rather not travel than have to travel on Jetstar.

The only time in a decade we went on No Star was CNS/DPS/CNS earlier this year as it was only 4hrs each way, in Y as they have no J (oops PE) on this sector, nothing has changed bloody uncomfortable seat, still had the front seat in our face as passengers seats fully reclined. Getting out of the tarmac bus to board on departure no respect for us oldies, young ones near knocked us over as they rushed to the stairs like the plane was going without them.

 

[kookaburra75]

Hmmmmm.... maybe.... I do admit that flying JQ out of smaller ports isn't *as* bad as a real airport because there really isn't anything to complain about. You can't complain about nothing, right?!? Plus, in SYD JQ use a real terminal so you aren't punished for flying a LCC...... however, if you tried to replicate that experiment, flying JQ weekly between SYD-MEL, I think you'd get a different result... esp on MEL end..... in the coughe T4....

I'm in a funny situation, as being in Canberra we don't even get Jetstar as an option (although there is one flight a day on Tiger). I suppose for a couple of reasons; the main business for airlines here is the Aus Public Service and I can't see them wanting to use Jetstar under the Best Fare of the Day scenario (no status credits), and also Qantas not wanting to canabilise its big $ routes.
I'd like to use Jetstar so I could complain about it, but we're denied that 'pleasure'. Although, the new Melbourne - Busselton flights have caught our attention and we'll that a go in 2020, obviously using a points flight to get to Melbourne as I don't to pay $400 return each

 

[Max Samuels]

So I have to share a really GOOD experience with JQ yesterday. I was flying MEL-BNE on VA and they cancelled the flight. The timing could not have been worse. I was in the lounge early, and the flight before had just started boarding when they cancelled mine, but as flight was closed they couldn't/wouldn't/didn't move anyone on to that. Anyway, we were told to "wait" as they put everyone on other flights, then they called everyone to the service desk to get new BPs..... anyway, I was put on a flight 3 hours later and just couldn't bare to wait in that crowded lounge, so I logged on to JQ and there was a flight going in 1.5 hrs..... I checked every app in the world to make sure the aircraft was going to be on time (didn't want to jump from one sinking ship to another).... and guess what?? The operating aircraft was actually already there!!! So bought a ticket, cancelled VA, walked across and 45 mins later was on board. Crew were great, even gave me a free drink because ipad thing wasn't working

Thank you JQ!

 

[Mistress]

Flew JQ on thursday from OOL to Narita. We used online checkin and printed our boarding passes. our bags were under the 7kg, and we had no issues with boarding, getting baggage space and a early arrival to NRT. Overall the flight was good. It took the service crew about 3 mins to answer my call attendant button to order food, but once ordered it arrived quickly. Flight cost $329 in economy. No bags, no food but had a return for free economy seat.

Last night on the return trip, flight was delayed 2 hours due to aircraft problems - the outside aircraft lights weren't working. Nothing was relayed in to the waiting hordes, and we were just told a thirty minute delay. To make it more interesting when we went through checkin - they had a 50 min delay on the CNS flight for maintenance not the OOL flight, yet the CNS flight left on time. I think someone had a bad day and put down the wrong information on the boards.

In the good news we got to upgrade our flight home into business for $229 (minimum) and we went for the max package to get 120SC and QF points for a extra $100 and $1.20 a SC (so $329 total) - i am now GOLD Just have to wait for the points to post - Checkin process was easy and quick! We weren't expecting to basically walk right up to a service attendant. We checked in our bags (mistake).

Once we got on board we were seated in row 1. Being 5'10 i my legs were into the wall in front of me when stretched out. I found the leg rest completely useless for my height. the back of my knees came out about 10cm past the chair and the leg rest did nothing for me. Better half who is shorter in the legs then me, also found the leg rests were pointless as well.

We did however enjoy the service by the crew. They were good. For us being in row 1 we were served first and quickly, however i saw it did take them a bit of time to complete off the cabin for the food service. This may be due to the food choices chosen however.

When we landed in OOL, our bags were one of the last to come off the plane (the mistake part). It took about 10 minutes after the first bags had unloaded, and I would of thought jetstar should of at least had priority on business bags. In the upside we didn't need to drag them through security.

All up, I think Jetstar has upped their game, or was it just that the more you pay the better service you get. I don't know, but will see how our May and June return for free flights to NZ go.

 

[AIRwin]

To make it more interesting when we went through checkin - they had a 50 min delay on the CNS flight for maintenance not the OOL flight, yet the CNS flight left on time. I think someone had a bad day and put down the wrong information on the boards.

They may have swapped both aircraft around?

 

[opusman]

JQ have been on my banned list since the one time I flew their "J" to HNL and during the dinner service, when the hostie asked if I wanted salt and pepper with my meal, she took my meal back and put the salt and pepper on herself and then gave it back to me. Never again!

 

[Gigi]

We flew 11 January JQ from Bne to Dps for one reason, my son wanted the cheapest flight. The grandchildren can get away with 7kg of luggage . With the Maxi Bundle mine ended up more expensive than Virgin. I flew with our son and two grandchildren. We had a quick brekky the QF lounge. I had preordered a meal, the gourmet sandwich. What I got was soggy egg and lettuce and a soggy tomato and cheese sandwich which is not my idea of gourmet. It was a sad offering. I also got 1 cup of water and a teabag and a hot cup of water. We had seats in row 24, I sat with my granddaughter and had a spare seat between us and across the aisle my son sat with his son and had a spare seat between them. Flight was delayed. Our 7kg hand luggage allowance was not weighed. Flight was very good though it may have been the spare seat as that made a huge difference. Surely Jetstar can do better so why don't they?

 

[robtemt]

Surely Jetstar can do better so why don't they?

Because they don't have to. Every penny counts on a low-cost carrier, and there are plenty of people who are happy to pay the lower fare (or have to find the absolute lowest, regardless), and think of flying as just a means of A to B.

Then there are those who put a value on service, comfort, reliability, and are willing to pay a premium for it.

 

[Max Samuels]

Because they don't have to. Every penny counts on a low-cost carrier, and there are plenty of people who are happy to pay the lower fare (or have to find the absolute lowest, regardless), and think of flying as just a means of A to B.

Then there are those who put a value on service, comfort, reliability, and are willing to pay a premium for it.

Has anyone seen how Jetstar advertise for staff? Especially ground staff in Melbourne? I would be interested to see if they actually say something like "looking for the laziest possible people to make our customers' journeys the most frustrating and unpleasant experience possible! If you think you could turn up to work and do the bare minimum, get paid, then please apply"!

A bit mean I know..... but seriously..... apparently every airline gets 1000s of applications for even the most basic of jobs for the perceived glamour and perks (pewk) - so how do they hire the WORST people???????

 

[Rich]

Has anyone had any experience with cancelled Jetstar flights when they are a QF award booking? I.e. would QF help you at all if Jetstar mess up your plans?

 

[woodborer]

Has anyone had any experience with cancelled Jetstar flights when they are a QF award booking? I.e. would QF help you at all if Jetstar mess up your plans?

Possibly, if Qantas are the booking agent. But I guess it depends on what you mean by 'mess up'

 

[p--and--t]

My experience isn't recent and JQ didn't cancel on me.

We had QF return award booking MEL-SYD-SGN-SYD-MEL

Our inward JQi flight was delayed and there was some sort of stuff-up in SYD arrivals and our luggage took nearly an hour to come out (for all passengers on the flight). Obviously we missed our QFd connection.

We went to the QF transfer desk and were told "we noticed your flight was delayed and have already re-booked you on the next service to Melbourne, leave your bags here and I will take care of them, don't rush you will have plenty of time to meet the flight even with the bus trip to domestic".

Was very impressed.

YMMV

 

[Rich]

Possibly, if Qantas are the booking agent. But I guess it depends on what you mean by 'mess up'

I am thinking if they cancelled a JQ flight when QF was flies on the same route. Would QF help you?
I hope to not have to find out but I do have some award bookings coming up where there were no QF award seats available I.e. I would not have gone with Jetstar if I had the choice.

 

[p--and--t]

I am thinking if they cancelled a JQ flight when QF was flies on the same route. Would QF help you?
I hope to not have to find out but I do have some award bookings coming up where there were no QF award seats available I.e. I would not have gone with Jetstar if I had the choice.

My supposition is that if you have a

• JQ issued ticket, you need to talk to JQ and see what they are prepared to do, outcome not guaranteed (LCC)
• QF ticket then talk to QF and they will sort something out.

Others feel free to correct my assumptions

 

[Tejas57]

i've honestly had some really good experiences with JQ

Took them to MEL for a wedding and got the last flight home to BNE on a sunday night. That flight was cancelled so they put me up in a hotel in morrabbin (with bus transfers) and gave me $50 in hotel credit for food. I expected to lose my extra legroom seat but on the way home not only did i get an extra legroom seat i didn't have a seat in front of me so i got even more room.

last year we took my 2 intellectully disabled kids to AKL on JQ. the staff made sure we got priority boarding to allow us to settle them and get them ready to fly.

all in all i'm quite happy with JQ

 

[coriander]

Son was on JQ HBA-Bass Strait -HBA - MEL the other night. He had a meal voucher (shown on his boarding pass) but FA said it wasn't on her list and refused to serve him. He escalated it to CSM who said that the list trumps whatever the boarding pass says. Only $10 but a pain on a 7 hour flight.