Jetstar's reduced baggage allowance to Honolulu

[serfty]

So, is your expert advice based on a once off diving trip, Dave?

We go 3-4 times a year to the US via Hawaii and douse the baggage allowance/ As I said, there's good choice with HA et al.

I think you'll find that Dave Noble travels and dives far more than a once off or indeed, less than than 3 or 4 times per year.

 

[Ynotc2001]

Then he should open his eyes a little more.

 

[turtlemichael]

I think you'll find that Dave Noble travels and dives far more than a once off or indeed, less than than 3 or 4 times per year.

Interesting thread. Is there an underlying theme of indignation, which I don't quite understand, or am I imagining it? I am drinking red wine.

To me the bottom line is that Jetstar is a LLC. JQ seems to be about $300 cheaper than QF or HA in economy. On JQ you get a baggage allowance of 20K. On the other two it is a lot higher. If you travel JQ you save money and can't take total advantage of the amazing shopping bargains in Honolulu (which, incidentally, I haven't seen in 10 years particularly with the AUD as it is) because you don't have the luggage allowance to bring it home. If you choose to upgrade to a Starclass fare on JQ you'll earn a wad of QFF points and status credits and pay around $4K less than the HA business fare for which you'll earn nothing (as a QFF member). Now I am sure HA business class is stunning beyond words and not comparable with JQ. So make your choice and move on Is that a summary?

 

[Ynotc2001]

Interesting thread. Is there an underlying theme of indignation, which I don't quite understand, or am I imagining it? I am drinking red wine.

To me the bottom line is that Jetstar is a LLC. JQ seems to be about $300 cheaper than QF or HA in economy. On JQ you get a baggage allowance of 20K. On the other two it is a lot higher. If you travel JQ you save money and can't take total advantage of the amazing shopping bargains in Honolulu (which, incidentally, I haven't seen in 10 years particularly with the AUD as it is) because you don't have the luggage allowance to bring it home. If you choose to upgrade to a Starclass fare on JQ you'll earn a wad of QFF points and status credits and pay around $4K less than the HA business fare for which you'll earn nothing (as a QFF member). Now I am sure HA business class is stunning beyond words and not comparable with JQ. So make your choice and move on Is that a summary?

No, not indignation, just highlighting stupidity. Which you've just emphasized.

 

[Dave Noble]

I think you'll find that Dave Noble travels and dives far more than a once off or indeed, less than than 3 or 4 times per year.

i think so given that I have been home for 3 weeks in the last 6 months and been travelling on business for the rest

I also do a somewhat above average amount of diving around the world

Dave

 

[Dave Noble]

So, is your expert advice based on a once off diving trip, Dave?

We go 3-4 times a year to the US via Hawaii and douse the baggage allowance/ As I said, there's good choice with HA et al.

No... advice on a lot of travel with a fair number of dive trips

Im also lost with these so called amazing bargains that Hawaii is supposed to have

Dave

 

[Dave Noble]

Then he should open his eyes a little more.

My eyes are open and I can focus beyond one person's view that the change of baggage allowance to that which is the norm on most routes is the end of the carrier

For those that want the allowance there are currently still carriers that offer it, but seemingly at a higher cost but cheaper than excess baggage rates. Those for whom baggage is a major issue and I still posit that these are a minority of Australian based JQ economy customers who fit this profile, can use the other options.

I doubt very much that JQ undertook the change without considering the impact

Dave

 

[tuapekastar]

I gave up trying to word a detailed post for this thread. Suffice to say there have been some sensible posts, and some really strange (and inaccurate) ones.

I don't think even Blind Freddie would have much trouble working out which were which.

JQ is a LCC which offers 20kg checked in economy. QF and HA are 'full service' airlines which charge more for an economy ticket, and offer more baggage allowance.

If anyone is on a shopping trip for bargains (not my bag at all, but if other people wish to do it, fine) and wants to load up on the return, they can pay excess fees on JQ if they're above 20kg, or pony up extra for a QF/HA ticket, which offer the same as each other - 46kg - free allowance.

Freedom of choice - what's difficult about that?

 

[misstam]

20Kg is not a low amount of baggage allowance , in fact it is that standard allowance on most airlines other than for Americas. People seem to manage to cope on most routes with the 20/30/40 Kg allowances for economy/business/1st

Dave

I agree. 20kg is plenty of luggage to be dragging around, IMO.
On my recent US trip, i departed with 14kg - including winter clothes & gifts. The return trip was about 15kg (must've been all those Reeces peanut butter cups).

I don't feel compromised with 20kg limits - but, if i was keen to do serious shopping on a trip i would consider: 1. packing ultra light to start with or 2. Posting/ freighting the goodies back to avoid excess baggage costs.

There's always options with a bit of pre-planning.

 

[Annuity]

I didn't see large numbers of people trying to check in the kitchen sink

I posit that the people who are that concerned about baggage allowance arein a minority and may choose to go with another carrier which still operates on the piece based system.

regardless, the piece system is used a hell of a lot less worldwide than the piece system and people seem to be able to cope quite successfully. Even QF, as per many carriers, from SYD-LHR only offers 23Kg in economy for example

I found that Starclass with a 30Kg checked allowance was a far better value proposition than Qantas business class which would have been nearly triple the price at $8000 vs $2800.

To fully correct the QF allowance info; any tickets issued now for travel from 1st March it will be 2*23Kg in economy ; only business and 1st class passengers will have 2 * 32

Hawaiian Airline's free allowance is 2*23Kg giving a total of 46Kg rather than 64Kg as referenced earlier (link deleted)

It is an option for those wanting to take larger amounts of luggage but I suspect that the fares are probably typically higher. Picking dates in May , HA started at $1433 ( not sure if that is AUD or USD though) return compared to $1200 on Jetstar. There are probably a fair number of people who would prefer to save $200 a ticket

Dave

This discussion has been about Jetstar's dumb decision to reduce its economy check-in baggage allowance from 64 kg to 20 kg on its Sydney-Honolulu route so any reference to other non-USA international routes by Qantas or other airlines, as well as your constant reference to Starclass, is irrelevant.

We all know that we have freedom of choice to travel on any airline we wish, but we are simply highlighting a stupid, penny-pinching decision by Jetstar which may come back to bite them.

Being a frequent traveller to Hawaii I can assure you that I have been witness to numerous returning passengers arriving at the Honolulu economy check-in with bulging or additional suitcases clearly well in excess of 20 kg. Perhaps while checking in at the Starclass desk you may not have noticed this. It's not what we take Dave but what we return with. That's when the problem will become apparent to most first-time passengers.

It would appear that you are again confused with your reference to Hawaiian Airlines check-in baggage allowance. Hawaiian Airlines mainly fly domestic routes, whereas Sydney-Honolulu is an international flight. The new check-in allowance to which you refer is their domestic allowance, not their international allowance, which remains at 2x32 kg. If you had attended Flight Center's Travel Expo last month you would have noticed that HA heavily promoted among other things their 64 kg weight allowance of 2x32kg.

Once you add the cost of meals, entertainment and comfort packs to Jetstar's fare many people may no longer consider Jetstar as a cheap alternative. With Hawaiian's free meals and other comforts plus the additional weight allowance the suggested additional $200 may well be worth it. I for one believe so and have booked our next trip with HA. And by the way, HA's ff give you full points, unlike Jetstar. Next thing JQ will be charging us to use the loo.

 

[Maca44]

Posting/ freighting the goodies back to avoid excess baggage costs. There's always options with a bit of pre-planning.

I agree, and if you suspect that you might have excess baggage due to shopping or otherwise, check out DHL or one of the other carriers. They are still reasonably expensive, but no way near the cost of paying excess luggage fees.

I also think turtlemichael and tuapekastar have covered it well. If you pay for a LCC then expect them to recoup profit some other way. As others have mentioned, there is a choice.

 

[DontGetMeStarted]

WE are travelling to HNL in May and bought our tickets pre the change to luggage allowance so would be interested to know if anyone who did the same experiences any issues on the return flight. Also can anyone comment on the cost of upgrade at the airport to *class, last year we did this for $300 each AU and $250 US for the return journey. Has it increased at all?
Thx
Noreen

 

[straitman]

This discussion has been about Jetstar's dumb decision to reduce its economy check-in baggage allowance from 64 kg to 20 kg on its Sydney-Honolulu route.

Annuity,

Maybe your post should read 'This discussion has been about Jetstar's dumb decision, in my opinion, to reduce its economy check-in baggage allowance from 64 kg to 20 kg on its Sydney-Honolulu route.'

You are certainly entitled to your opinion but so are others. Not everyone agrees with you :!:

Next thing JQ will be charging us to use the loo.

That would only be an issue if you ran out of coins :!: Obviously exemptions would be available for the disabled.

I also think turtlemichael and tuapekastar have covered it well. If you pay for a LCC then expect them to recoup profit some other way. As others have mentioned, there is a choice.

I agree entirely.

 

[straitman]

This is starting to worry me as I've agreed with Dave Noble twice in two days.

 

[Annuity]

"There are other options.. QF still allows 2x32Kg for example if luggage allowance is important"

Good for you Dave. You obviously didn't notice all the hordes checking in heaps of baggage. Next time, take a stroll along the queue and ask a few of the punters. Apart from the single surfers, you'll find a hell of a lot of family people who have found shopping in Hawaii a bonanza. Even with our Pacific Peso, it is still worth going o/s for a well priced holiday (compared to Oz) and stocking up on a fantastic array of bargains; a far greater choice than here and at damn cheap prices. Jetstar have made a very, very poor decision. And you are quite right, there's choice: Hawaiian Airlines - and they're a lot more user friendly than either QF or J*. By the way, their (HA's) ff programme is excellent if you get in early for upgrades to the west coast. Yet another plus.

Three cheers for Ynotc2001 for his common sense and unbiased opinion!

 

[Annuity]

No... advice on a lot of travel with a fair number of dive trips

Im also lost with these so called amazing bargains that Hawaii is supposed to have

Dave

No wonder - you appear to spend most of your time under water.

 

[Dave Noble]

It would appear that you are again confused with your reference to Hawaiian Airlines check-in baggage allowance. Hawaiian Airlines mainly fly domestic routes, whereas Sydney-Honolulu is an international flight. The new check-in allowance to which you refer is their domestic allowance, not their international allowance, which remains at 2x32 kg. If you had attended Flight Center's Travel Expo last month you would have noticed that HA heavily promoted among other things their 64 kg weight allowance of 2x32kg.

Once you add the cost of meals, entertainment and comfort packs to Jetstar's fare many people may no longer consider Jetstar as a cheap alternative. With Hawaiian's free meals and other comforts plus the additional weight allowance the suggested additional $200 may well be worth it. I for one believe so and have booked our next trip with HA. And by the way, HA's ff give you full points, unlike Jetstar. Next thing JQ will be charging us to use the loo.

I took the information straight from their website regarding allowance to Sydney

For Travel between the Continental U.S. and Pago Pago, Papeete, Sydney, and
Manila:


The free baggage allowance is two pieces per passenger:


Checked Pieces Charge
1st to 3rd excess pieces USD $105.00 for each excess piece
4th to 6th excess pieces USD $130.00 for each excess piece
7th or any additional USD $205.00 for each excess piece

NOTE: Excess pieces will be accepted on space available basis only. HA is not
responsible for ground delivery at point to where excess piece(s) is/are checked.


OVERWEIGHT BAGGAGE:

If the bag weights more than 50 lbs but less than 70 lbs., there is a $50 charge. Hawaiian will not accept any baggage which weighs more than 70lbs.

Excess pieces are accepted on space available basis only, and Hawaiian Airlines is not responsible for ground delivery at point to where excess piece(s) is checked.

Their checked baggage information states that there is a USD50 charge for each overweight piece with no exception listed for Sydney

For your personal situation, then HA may be a better option but it would seem that you will be paying $200 extra. If you are happy to pay extra to fly on a full cost airline then that is great, but JQ is and markets as a low cost carrier. Just because an airline's change does not suit your personal needs, it does not make it a bad decision for the airline.

There are a lot of people who focus on price and $200 * 4 for a family , for example, may make them lean towards the lower cost, especially if they are not going there for a shopping trip

Dave

 

[Annuity]

Interesting thread. Is there an underlying theme of indignation, which I don't quite understand, or am I imagining it? I am drinking red wine.

To me the bottom line is that Jetstar is a LLC. JQ seems to be about $300 cheaper than QF or HA in economy. On JQ you get a baggage allowance of 20K. On the other two it is a lot higher. If you travel JQ you save money and can't take total advantage of the amazing shopping bargains in Honolulu (which, incidentally, I haven't seen in 10 years particularly with the AUD as it is) because you don't have the luggage allowance to bring it home. If you choose to upgrade to a Starclass fare on JQ you'll earn a wad of QFF points and status credits and pay around $4K less than the HA business fare for which you'll earn nothing (as a QFF member). Now I am sure HA business class is stunning beyond words and not comparable with JQ. So make your choice and move on Is that a summary?

OMG! Where were you last year when the A$ was 97 cents?

 

[Ynotc2001]

This discussion has been about Jetstar's dumb decision to reduce its economy check-in baggage allowance from 64 kg to 20 kg on its Sydney-Honolulu route so any reference to other non-USA international routes by Qantas or other airlines, as well as your constant reference to Starclass, is irrelevant.

We all know that we have freedom of choice to travel on any airline we wish, but we are simply highlighting a stupid, penny-pinching decision by Jetstar which may come back to bite them.

Being a frequent traveller to Hawaii I can assure you that I have been witness to numerous returning passengers arriving at the Honolulu economy check-in with bulging or additional suitcases clearly well in excess of 20 kg. Perhaps while checking in at the Starclass desk you may not have noticed this. It's not what we take Dave but what we return with. That's when the problem will become apparent to most first-time passengers.

It would appear that you are again confused with your reference to Hawaiian Airlines check-in baggage allowance. Hawaiian Airlines mainly fly domestic routes, whereas Sydney-Honolulu is an international flight. The new check-in allowance to which you refer is their domestic allowance, not their international allowance, which remains at 2x32 kg. If you had attended Flight Center's Travel Expo last month you would have noticed that HA heavily promoted among other things their 64 kg weight allowance of 2x32kg.

Once you add the cost of meals, entertainment and comfort packs to Jetstar's fare many people may no longer consider Jetstar as a cheap alternative. With Hawaiian's free meals and other comforts plus the additional weight allowance the suggested additional $200 may well be worth it. I for one believe so and have booked our next trip with HA. And by the way, HA's ff give you full points, unlike Jetstar. Next thing JQ will be charging us to use the loo.

Well said, Annuity. Whilst the changes may suit the Ozzie Oi Oi Oi Kouta type crowd, some of us take more take a change of undies and a dirty shirt. Hawaii is great for bars and dives and has plenty of both. It also has huge malls, not only Ala Moana. At pretty much any given day, the predominant accent is Australian in Macys. As it is the computer hardware shops. Unlike JetStar, Hawaii did its research - they surely didn't build these vast areas for the locals!

Anyway, to the sneering comments from the airline groupies, time will tell who is right. If Jetstar thinks its great policy in a rapidly declining market to shut out a significant percentage of their travellers by charging more than an economy fare for what was once free, good for them. Perhaps they could rebrand as "Hooters" and just party, party, party.http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/images/icons/icon10.gif

 

[Dave Noble]

Well said, Annuity. Whilst the changes may suit the Ozzie Oi Oi Oi Kouta type crowd, some of us take more take a change of undies and a dirty shirt.

Insulting people hardly helps. It is quite possible to go on a week's business trip without taking checked luggage by packing appropriately into a rollaboard carryon; not eveyone needs to check the kitchen sink in.

Again, it would seem that for your personal requirements, JQ will not be the best choice of airline and one of the other options may well be suitable. There are others who would not fly Jetstar economy and would pay the extra for a full service airline in economy for other reasons.

For a premium cabin, JQ's price is $2800 vs $7800 on HA . How much better HA's business class is I am not sure, but I doubt that I would be likely to value it as worth $5000 over JQ.

Different people have differernt priorities on what they look for and for those that want to take large amounts of luggage , JQ is not the choice

Others who may be focused on price may decide that 23Kg per person is quite adequate and in general , evidence would suggest it is given that 20Kg *is* the standard allowance for economy class in most of the world

When I travel to UK, for example, I have a wide choice of carriers. If I need to take large amounts of luggage then I would choose BA for the part of the journey that has the luggage requirements since they allow 3*32Kg in 1st plus an extra bag , if needing more, is GBP72 whereas Qantas would be 40Kg plus 15Kg status bonus and most other carriers allow 40Kg

If not taking large amounts of luggage , then I would take an airline such as CX which has, imo, a much nicer product than BA and am considering given EK a try this year

It is a case of horses for courses. Just because an airline's change is bad for you does not mean that it is bad for the airline. They may , for example, be able to sell more cargo space which is quite profitable

Dave