Jetstar, you make puppies cry.....

[dajop]

Totally agree dajop - but would be nice to unbundle all the add-ons so everyone can see and choose what they want, I don't know of any other businesses that deny the customer handing over extra $$$/revenue to the service provider.

Let's call a spade a spade though, it's all about the FF points/SCs. Everything else in the "plus" bundle can be unbundled, indeed that is the basis of the Jetstar model. Looking at the 3K plus specifically- you can buy flexibility (by paying a change fee), a meal (buy on board), priority boarding and standard seat selection. The only thing in the bundle you can't buy on it's own is FF points, but I guess the reason for that is to hide the true cost of FF points.

 

[eastwest101]

I take your point about the 3K bundles and prices, but also that these things are not so clear when it comes to JQ. Also agree on hiding the price of FF pts and SC's.

The OP and a lot of other posters also had an issue about the inability to add on bundles after booking but before flying. This is bad business practice as JQ are ruling out extra revenue because "the computer says no".

 

[ReLoad]

Would've just been given to you because they needed to fill up the seats there, no other reason. Check-in can't really looking at booking notes and if you called up quite alot, every time there would be noted implemented.
As for being SG, Jetstar couldn't and wouldn't care less, as it's not their program.
It probably would've been just luck!

4 JQ flights in a row now it has been an exit row. my spidey senses are tingling.
So QF status has zero impact with JQ? you are 100% on that?

 

[ozbeachbabe]

This is the principle failing in the bundle - people usually don't want the fare to be more flexible - they actually want the SC's....or vice-versa. But its all inconveinenty bundled up together.

This is a typical marketing trick similar to what mobile phone carriers do - bundle a whole heap of cough you don't want/need with something that you do, and then aggregate the price of the product so you're paying for XYZ when you actually wanted Z.

When I recently purchased a JQ fare to CNS even after paying for the plus bundle of $22.00 to get points & SC I was still ahead of what the QF fare was plus I had the option of changing as sometimes last minute things come up.

I see your point about phone carrier marketing though, as Telstra always push the bundle thing however I found that their internet cost was $24.95 per month whereas TPG was only $19.95. They also push the old "making it easier having one bill" for home/mobile/landline however having one bill does not always mean cheaper for the consumer. I'd quite happily have 3 separate billls if I was going to save money.

Though in this instance, I don't think people are complaining about paying the amount that JQ is charging for the bundle. It's not about paying for XYZ when all you really want is Z. The cost of the plus bundle is reasonable whether ticket flexibility is included or not (particularly on 3K where meals are included as well as QFF pts). The problem as I see it is that as this ticket flexibility is included you can't add the plus bundle later. They could solve this quite simply by allowing people to add in a bundle later that includes everything BUT the flexibility piece.

I think one issie is that JQ don't let you add bundles after the booking has been made which to me is crazy. What business would deny themselves the opportunity of making more revenue. It''s plain greedy to demand money to change an airfare that you're not changing but merely adding to.

Also another problem is if you're on JQ but booked through QF for whatever reason you can't add the same bundles because the QF booking engine is different to the JQ one. Why can't programmers update the QF website to offer the same bundles when booking a JQ flight on www.qantas.com?

 

[trungiez]

Effectively the plus bundle is more than just the SC's and points. You are making the fare more flexible, hence JQ charging the fee to add it.

I wouldnt mind if it's just a fee of say $50 + plus bundle price for changing it, but jetstar insist on me buying a new ticket.

The guy on the phone said they don't have the tools to add the plus bundle once booked.

Oh well...

 

[mr_osborne]

My main thought on this, is that it's related to the fact that it adds flexibility, and I'd say it was an active decision made, to avoid giving the impression that flexibility could be added at a later date (disincentive to purchase). I also agree with the hiding the cost of FF points.

I know what with Air NZ, it is easy to upgrade from seat to seat+ bag etc, but this does not introduce flexibility. It is specific policy that if you upgrade to a flexi fare, on the additional cost is eligible for refund. Not sure if this is relevant.

 

[dajop]

I think one issie is that JQ don't let you add bundles after the booking has been made which to me is crazy. What business would deny themselves the opportunity of making more revenue. It''s plain greedy to demand money to change an airfare that you're not changing but merely adding to.

I will state it again to make it clear - a significant reason Jetstar don't allow it to be added later is that this particular bundle allows flexibility for no additional charge. It is entirely reasonable for you to only be able to add the bundle when purchasing the ticket. Otherwise if you want to change the ticket later on you could circumvent change fees by adding the bundle if you want to change. ie. Say you didn't include the bundle originally, but want to change your flight. Instead of paying $50 change fee, you simply ring up and pay $22 to add the bundle in, and then ring back later to change the flight. Rather defeats the purpose of change fees?

Also another problem is if you're on JQ but booked through QF for whatever reason you can't add the same bundles because the QF booking engine is different to the JQ one. Why can't programmers update the QF website to offer the same bundles when booking a JQ flight on www.qantas.com?

Totally agree!

 

[mr_osborne]

I will state it again to make it clear - a significant reason Jetstar don't allow it to be added later is that this particular bundle allows flexibility for no additional charge. It is entirely reasonable for you to only be able to add the bundle when purchasing the ticket. Otherwise if you want to change the ticket later on you could circumvent change fees by adding the bundle if you want to change. ie. Say you didn't include the bundle originally, but want to change your flight. Instead of paying $50 change fee, you simply ring up and pay $22 to add the bundle in, and then ring back later to change the flight. Rather defeats the purpose of change fees?

^ That's what I was trying to say

 

[eastwest101]

.. Instead of paying $50 change fee, you simply ring up and pay $22 to add the bundle in, and then ring back later to change the flight. Rather defeats the purpose of change fees?

I'm not having a go at you dajop - but if that is the case then something is either wrong with the change fees in the first place or are you trying to say that JQ's entire additional product line is dictated to by its change fee policy? Either way - its still dumb - and forgoes extra revenue that JQ could be getting. I realise it may be a legacy and IT issue as well. I still maintain its almost as dumb as VA flying B737-700's around the country with empty PE seats on board.

Last time I checked - an IT system should enable the core business to be conducted - not impede it.

 

[Casual Class]

Just a thought couldn't JQ allow plus bundles to be added at check-in, just as baggage can be added at check-in. This would get around the flexibility issues methinks as presumably you aren't going to change a flight once you have checked in

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Just a thought couldn't JQ allow plus bundles to be added at check-in, just as baggage can be added at check-in. This would get around the flexibility issues methinks as presumably you aren't going to change a flight once you have checked in

AFAIK the checkin people would have to follow the same steps as reservations if you called up. If the JQ system does not have the ability to 'add' these bundles other than at the time of booking then it would be the same procedure at the airport to to system functionality or lack of as the case may be.

Generally airports are busy checking people in so I don't think they would want to have to do this. Just imagine if you were fast approaching the 30 minute close off for checkin & the person in front of you lin the queue was mucking aorund trying to add a $22.00 plux bundle to a fare.

 

[Casual Class]

I was more thinking that this is something JQ could implement rather than something that can be done now. Even if JQ refuses to allow it to be added at other times due to change fee issues. Adding it at the airport gets around the flexibility issue. So maybe there should be a simple way to add it at check-in

 

[dajop]

I'm not having a go at you dajop - but if that is the case then something is either wrong with the change fees in the first place or are you trying to say that JQ's entire additional product line is dictated to by its change fee policy? Either way - its still dumb - and forgoes extra revenue that JQ could be getting. I realise it may be a legacy and IT issue as well. I still maintain its almost as dumb as VA flying B737-700's around the country with empty PE seats on board.

Last time I checked - an IT system should enable the core business to be conducted - not impede it.

It would be good, at some point after the initial booking you were allowed to simply add a bundle with everything except the ability to change flights dates/names etc for free. (for arguments sake lets call this the "plus minus" bundle).

I was just thinking maybe there is an issue that the ticket does actually require changing to add in the ability to earn points (ie the fare class booked into would require changing from a non-earning fare class to earning fare class - ie not as simple as just adding a bundle). But if they had separate fare classes for the plus and the plus minus bundles a business rule could waive fees for changing when simply adding the plus-minus bundle.

 

[mr_osborne]

It would be good, at some point after the initial booking you were allowed to simply add a bundle with everything except the ability to change flights dates/names etc for free. (for arguments sake lets call this the "plus minus" bundle).

I was just thinking maybe there is an issue that the ticket does actually require changing to add in the ability to earn points (ie the fare class booked into would require changing from a non-earning fare class to earning fare class - ie not as simple as just adding a bundle). But if they had separate fare classes for the plus and the plus minus bundles a business rule could waive fees for changing when simply adding the plus-minus bundle.

Does Red Roo also represent Jetstar? If so, possibly he could give us a bit more insight into the issue?

 

[markis10]

Does Red Roo also represent Jetstar? If so, possibly he could give us a bit more insight into the issue?

Jetstar have had their own rep in the past.

 

[ReLoad]

Jetstar have had their own rep in the past.

Have they been "Enhanced"?

 

[TheInsider]

4 JQ flights in a row now it has been an exit row. my spidey senses are tingling.
So QF status has zero impact with JQ? you are 100% on that?

Yep 100% sure about that. JQ cannot see a status level in their system and i can guarantee their check-in staff don't care either

 

[TheInsider]

I was just thinking maybe there is an issue that the ticket does actually require changing to add in the ability to earn points (ie the fare class booked into would require changing from a non-earning fare class to earning fare class - ie not as simple as just adding a bundle). But if they had separate fare classes for the plus and the plus minus bundles a business rule could waive fees for changing when simply adding the plus-minus bundle.

For the bundle products it's not an extra 'add-on', it is a different fare class. Starter may have a fare code as N, as a Plus bundle may be NP. So by adding on the extra bundle you are changing the ticket class.

 

[oz_mark]

Yep 100% sure about that. JQ cannot see a status level in their system and i can guarantee their check-in staff don't care either

Not so sure they don't care. On my last JQi flight, when I checked-in I made sure that my FF number was included. On seeing my gold card got moved to a better seat.

So there may be some low level recognition, even if it is not official, or consistant.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

It would be good, at some point after the initial booking you were allowed to simply add a bundle with everything except the ability to change flights dates/names etc for free. (for arguments sake lets call this the "plus minus" bundle).

I was just thinking maybe there is an issue that the ticket does actually require changing to add in the ability to earn points (ie the fare class booked into would require changing from a non-earning fare class to earning fare class - ie not as simple as just adding a bundle). But if they had separate fare classes for the plus and the plus minus bundles a business rule could waive fees for changing when simply adding the plus-minus bundle.

I understand that the Business Max (points/SC earning) fare is booked into "JF" class whereas the Business Starter (non points/SC earning) is just booked in "J" class.

Also with changing flights at the airport, AFAIK you can't change JQ flights in the checkin system (Navitaire) as it must be done in reservations (Flightspeed) so you may well have checkin people who are only trained in checkin procedures & not reservations.