Jetstar to Honolulu - Best Seating?

[Evan]

Thanks, I found on a cathay flight once that I simply didn't fit :shock:
I got off my butt and looked at the seats we got. Not too bad but a bit close to the toilets. Fortunately the plane behind us is nearly empty. I'm tempted to leave it and hope that there are no more bookings and I will get a row of 4 to myself... perhapsd I may be able to sleep on a plane if I do :mrgreen:

Yeah ! watch those CX seats with non movable arm rests like the exit rows, they are really un-comfortable, the enternatinment control recess is actually not a recess at all but sits out into your seat area. (A333 i was on when i had that problem, but i asked the staff if i could move and i got a nice 2 seats to myself then as i was a tight connection a move to J for the final 3rd of the flight)
But the other seats seem same as QF etc.

E

 

[Mal]

hi Angie
have flown once with jetstar domestically and it was nothing but dramas, attempted to fly again with them from darwin to newcastle and it again had turned into a total mess
see the link below
blog.myspace.com/jetstarsucks
i think i would rather walk than fly jetstar!!
dave

So when do the t-shirts go on sale

 

[AngieP]

Hi everyone ! Have completed the Melbourne-Honolulu trip on the Jetstar and can report as follows. Seats in Row 44 J & K ea way were fantastic - lots of leg room, no cold air around exit door. Hubby did the quick dash each way and got a row of 4 seats for sleeping - we alternated between awake person in exit row and sleeper on the four seats. Interesting arrangement re seating - from Melbourne staff were a little more flexi about moving before take off even though announcements were made about not moving until seat belt off sign comes up. On the Honolulu leg a staff member actually had some sort of electronic device which indicated where everyone was sitting and they checked the whole plane before it took off and made the movers go back to their seats! It was ok to move after seat belt sign was off though. Plane was half full on the way over and less than half full on the way back (how long can they keep that up or was it just a timing thing?). Service was good, staff helpful, food ok and because we purchased the Feed Me, Comfort Me, Entertain Me packages we had soft drinks included the whole way not just with meals. Overall I thought it was good - especially for the price we paid being the intro special. Would do it again.

 

[littl_flier]

Plane was half full on the way over and less than half full on the way back (how long can they keep that up or was it just a timing thing?).

Hi AngieP, I recently travelled MEL-BKK over easter and had a similar experience where there were plenty rows of four on the way over. Coming home though, about a week out the Jetstar booking system online was showing no seats available in economy or star class. seatcounter.com was also showing absolutely no availability.

As our flight was caught up in the Honolulu fiasco in that our plane was in Honolulu, our flight was about 4.5 hours late. Having seen that it was supposedly a full flight, I asked whether to help our connection to Brisbane, we could take either the BA or QF flight that afternoon as they were wide open with availability. Not suprisingly, the customer service guy was great but said he couldn't move us to QF unless the flight was cancelled.

Bottom line is that we were expecting a completely full flight and there were 8 Star Class seats available (we were offered the paid upgrades) and probably 40 economy seats. Do Jetstar have a policy of not booking 100% of seats for added comfort and service to passengers??? Whilst I doubt it, it was quite interesting.

 

[BiziBB]

Hey FFers, [big thank you to AngieP, serfty and each of you for these updates]
I fly out with my Mrs this Thursday, so this thread is very helpful.
On both flights, I had selected seats J, K.

Seats A/B & J/K in rows 23-30 are full but our row had the middle four vacant - so I moved one from K to D, so that in theory, we can legitimately reserve this whole row (fingers crossed).

Is this too clever by half, considering the only seats taken are the pre-allocated ones? Surely these will be allocated at check-in.

SYD-HNL on a Thursday would get pretty full, I expect, so I think it is a long shot to expect nobody getting seats D/E/F in one of these forward-end rows.

Maybe I should move back to seat K?

What would you do? (don't rub in salt and mention the January Starclass upgrade! Can't believe I missed out on getting access to exit rows, either... )

PS. I hope the sleeping tablets kick in and more importantly that we take off/arrive on time and with our sanity. :mrgreen:

 

[littl_flier]

Is this too clever by half, considering the only seats taken are the pre-allocated ones? Surely these will be allocated at check-in.

SYD-HNL on a Thursday would get pretty full, I expect, so I think it is a long shot to expect nobody getting seats D/E/F in one of these forward-end rows.

Maybe I should move back to seat K?

What would you do? (don't rub in salt and mention the January Starclass upgrade! Can't believe I missed out on getting access to exit rows, either... )

Hey BiziBB, as for seating requests just ask at check-in. I was very lucky in that I had a great CSA who did everything to shuffle seats for us and then put blocks on the seats beside us so we could have a row of 4 together.

As for the StarClass upgrades, they are now just on-departure upgrades. Simply ask at check-in where they will inform you either way. They are $300 each now but for the FF points and status, not to mention the other stuff, it's a pretty good deal!! As I mentioned, on the way home we were on a "full flight" and upgrades were available and on the way out due to connecting flights, we checked in about 70mins prior to departure and Star Class was wide open. Give it a shot if you can afford it!!!

 

[AngieP]

Hey BiziBB ! Nice you and the wife are off to Honolulu next Thursday - lucky! Weather is good at the moment - not too hot (83 or 84F ea day) so good for beaching or shopping. I looked at your flight and saw the seating allocations - looks ok where you are. We found that further back in each Y cabin there were less seats filled - more opportunities for a four seat row to yourself. Also any children seemed to be in the first Y cabin so that may be another factor to consider. Re the starclass upgrade - I guess the question is where you would sleep better - reclined seat or flat out in a four row? Here are some tips for the shopping - take the shuttle ($15 return) to Waikele Premium Outlets for discount name brand shopping - Polo Ralph Lauren, Coach, Anne Klein, Saks, all the sports shoes, Guess etc. Hotel desk can arrange. Well worth the 45 min travel each way. Do this first before you hit the shops in Ala Moana or Waikiki. Another tip is get hold of some voucher books from your hotel - lots of 2 for 1 offers like photo processing, surfboards at Waikiki beach etc. Re dining out - we had a lovely evening at the Sheraton Moana Surfrider on the terrace by the beach - band and hula dancers included in the evening drinks so we stayed for a pretty good meal - cheaper than some of the other places around town and just beautiful sitting by the waves in the warm evening air! Also the Starbucks at the DFS Galleria on the main drag has a sensational Chinese Chicken Salad which I wish I could get here! Transport to and from the airport - $9 ea for one way shuttle into Waikiki - ok on arrival but recommend taxi ($35) or stretch limo ($45) for return. I booked the limo as a surprise for hubby and it was a lot of fun if only for 20 mins ! Best coffee we had was at Seattle's Best which is in the lower lobby of the Outrigger Waikiki where we stayed - they also had pretty good flaky donuts. Bon Voyage and have a great time! AngieP.

 

[BiziBB]

Thank you AngieP for such detailed advice!~

 

[coco50]

As for the StarClass upgrades, they are now just on-departure upgrades. Simply ask at check-in where they will inform you either way. They are $300 each now but for the FF points and status, not to mention the other stuff, it's a pretty good deal!! As I mentioned, on the way home we were on a "full flight" and upgrades were available and on the way out due to connecting flights, we checked in about 70mins prior to departure and Star Class was wide open. Give it a shot if you can afford it!!!

This sounds like a good tip. Can you ODU from a Jetsaver fare? couldn't afford it when I booked but after writing a few books, can now. BTW is it possible to UG an AA fare using QF points?

AngieP sounds like you had a great time. Thanks for the thread!

 

[JohnK]

BTW is it possible to UG an AA fare using QF points?

Only if the flight is on QF metal.

 

[NM]

BTW is it possible to UG an AA fare using QF points?

QF points can be used to upgrade a QF flight number operated by QF, regardless of who the fare was purchased from. You cannot use QF points to upgrade an AA flight number.

 

[NM]

Only if the flight is on QF metal.

And a QF flight number. Cannot upgrade an AA flight number on QF metal.

 

[littl_flier]

Can you ODU from a Jetsaver fare?

No problems at all. It's the same price whether you are travelling Jetsaver or Jetflex.