JQ; cure is better than prevention?

[pn1]

I was planning a JQ "day return" from Melbourne to Sydney today Tuesday. Booking made last year. Very good price. Use it or lose it fare.

The Sydney "day return" is something I do a couple of times a year to attend a "coffee morning" of friends and colleagues of more than 50 years standing.

Got a SMS from JQ at 1854 Monday saying flights to and from Sydney today Tuesday were subject to cancellation or long delay due to expected strong winds.

Because I needed to be back in Melbourne tonight Tuesday (and the equivalent flight last night Monday was cancelled due to the strong winds) I decided to "let JQ know" I had decided not to travel. I had accepted I was on a no refund fare but thought it would be better to advise JQ rather than simply be a "no show".

Communicating with the JQ "agent" via the JQ chat line was next to impossible. The person spoke in only standard sentences that did not understand or address the issue I raised.

So the communication ended with my booking not cancelled.

I would have been better not to have bothered?

I accept there was no refund for the (attractive) fare I paid on a use it or lose it basis.

So "no show" was really the way to go?

 

[muppet]

I was planning a JQ "day return" from Melbourne to Sydney today Tuesday. Booking made last year. Very good price. Use it or lose it fare.

The Sydney "day return" is something I do a couple of times a year to attend a "coffee morning" of friends and colleagues of more than 50 years standing.

Got a SMS from JQ at 1854 Monday saying flights to and from Sydney today Tuesday were subject to cancellation or long delay due to expected strong winds.

Because I needed to be back in Melbourne tonight Tuesday (and the equivalent flight last night Monday was cancelled due to the strong winds) I decided to "let JQ know" I had decided not to travel. I had accepted I was on a no refund fare but thought it would be better to advise JQ rather than simply be a "no show".

Communicating with the JQ "agent" via the JQ chat line was next to impossible. The person spoke in only standard sentences that did not understand or address the issue I raised.

So the communication ended with my booking not cancelled.

I would have been better not to have bothered?

I accept there was no refund for the (attractive) fare I paid on a use it or lose it basis.

So "no show" was really the way to go?

Wow you’ve certainly taken all their lines on no refunds way to seriously.

If JQ notified you it cannot get you there per its schedule you have a right of refund under Australian Consumer Law.

Call them and tell them you want cash back (no vouchers).

 

[serfty]

I guess if you wanted a refund you would have to go to the airport to await their cancellation.

If the amount is small enough to not be worth your time then so be it - it is up to you.

 

[pn1]

Wow you’ve certainly taken all their lines on no refunds way to seriously.

If JQ notified you it cannot get you there per its schedule you have a right of refund under Australian Consumer Law.

Call them and tell them you want cash back (no vouchers).

Thanks for the suggestion and maybe I will give it a go. I believe I have good written and verbal communication skills but failed to get my message across to the Jetstar "agent" whose first language was not English and then only communicated in prepared "standard" sentences rather than flowing communication.


I've always understood Jetstar has brutal rules that are enforced with zero tolerance. So with a use it lose it ticket that I didn't use I therefore lost. End of the matter?

 

[opusman]

If they cancel the flight you're entitled to a refund.

 

[muppet]

Thanks for the suggestion and maybe I will give it a go. I believe I have good written and verbal communication skills but failed to get my message across to the Jetstar "agent" whose first language was not English and then only communicated in prepared "standard" sentences rather than flowing communication.


I've always understood Jetstar has brutal rules that are enforced with zero tolerance. So with a use it lose it ticket that I didn't use I therefore lost. End of the matter?

If you didn’t use it because it because Jetstar’s failure to deliver the service, that is completely different to you wanting to change the flight.

You’re in a good position because you only want your money back. What usually get’s people is they still need to travel per their schedule and JQ says “yeah we can get you there in three days”.

If the delay is significant enough (I.e. more than an hour or so) to make your trip in vein then refund is due. If it’s only a small delay then make your case based on what JQ told you last night, but maybe not.

 

[dajop]

Definitely not worthwhile to tell them. It is only downside for you. Airlines factor in a certain amount of no shows, so unless you have remaining sectors on the ticket absolutely no need to tell them.

In fact if you told them and they removed you from the flight and then your flight got cancelled you could miss out on the chance to get your money back.

A few months ago we had a Jetstar booking that we weren’t going to take, but thankfully had a plus package that allowed free changes. As we would have had to pay a fare difference m and move to a date where our plans were only tentative we played the game of chicken and decided to not move until the day before, and guess what .... 2 days before our originally ticketed flight, the flight was cancelled and we secured a full refund.

 

[pn1]

Definitely not worthwhile to tell them. It is only downside for you. Airlines factor in a certain amount of no shows, so unless you have remaining sectors on the ticket absolutely no need to tell them.

In fact if you told them and they removed you from the flight and then your flight got cancelled you could miss out on the chance to get your money back.

A few months ago we had a Jetstar booking that we weren’t going to take, but thankfully had a plus package that allowed free changes. As we would have had to pay a fare difference m and move to a date where our plans were only tentative we played the game of chicken and decided to not move until the day before, and guess what .... 2 days before our originally ticketed flight, the flight was cancelled and we secured a full refund.

Thanks dajop; good advice. At 69, one is never too old to learn!

 

[Saab34]

Usually about 5% of loco flights are no shows so it doesn’t mean much to them to notify, if you don’t make the check in cutoff you don’t make it they wont be calling you.

My last flight Cairns to Melbourne had 225 pax on the manifest but only 215 showed up.

I’ve thrown away a few of these fares over the years also. But when I do, I usually check if it on the off chance was cancelled, which one was once and I asked for a credit. Sadly it was one of the return for free fares, and it was the return leg so they gave me my $6 seat selection fee back plus my $0 fare lol

 

[itchy feet]

Related question. What compensation do I seek? Booked on the last flight of the day. If Jetstar cancel my flight (it happens if they can't make it to Sydney before curfew) their Cancellation conditions state they'll book me "on the next available Jetstar flight". That'll be the next morning. Which doesn't help me as the first flight next morning will arrive too late for me to attend the event that's the sole reason for my travels.