JQ MEL-DPS ret & MEL-AYQ ret

[Cruiser Elite]

Just a quick recap on some recent trips that the Ette and I have undertaken on JQ:

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Sep 18 JQ J43 MEL-DPS – we bought these ret fares as soon as it looked like Bali might be a chance again. We went the JQ path as that was only carrier offering both outbound and inbound day time flts – that suits us. ~AU$2.4Kea in J – some might think this is extremely high – I think on the high side but way acceptable for day flts when GA are not operating.

I closely monitored Austman’s posting re his experiences on same route a week or so earlier – our booking on 787 stuck and whilst it is J on JQ the flts were perfect – left on time – crew were extremely efficient and courteous – food and drink was what it was and we arrived intact with our bags.

My #1 man from work visited Bali a month earlier and used a mob called Bali Fast Forward (BFF) to pay for express service through DPS – he raved about the service and how efficient they were – estimated it saved him up to 2hrs wait times when he arrived DPS was a zoo. I had read reports that APEC channel had not been operating so we booked this service too just to be safe.

On arrive BFF were not waiting at top of aero bridge – not further down entrance hall – nor anywhere else – they were just not there. As we were in J we were some of first pax off so our progress the DPS maze wasn’t so bad – luckily I spotted the over 60s channel at immigration and we only had about a 15min wait and we were through to collect luggage – by the time we cleared immig I looked back and saw how long lines were and I reckon others were in for a very long wait.

I emailed BFF next day and demanded a refund for both inbound and outbound service I had paid for. I promptly received a response from Manager Rina who was totally apologetic and openly admitted it was her mistake as she had noted us down to arrive on 19th and not 18th. She promptly refunded ALL monies and insisted she would still provide outbound service FREE OF CHARGE as a sign of goodwill – fair enough – we all can and do make mistakes so I took her up on the offer.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

This was our annual holiday in Bali – well first since Sep 2019 – ‘the Rona’ took care of 2020 and 2021 – we always stay at Double-Six in Seminyak – well actually right on the border of Legian and Seminyak and right on the beach – walk out back entrance across narrow road and straight onto Double-Six Beach.

IMHO this is the best located hotel I have ever found in Bali – we have done the Nusa Dua bit but hated it – I hate feeling like being a captive in a resort and refuse to do it – at Double-Six you are 10min ojek ride or 20-30min taxi ride from all the fabulous restaurants that Seminyak central has to offer.

Staff at Double-Six always allocate us Suite 518 which is the only single bedroom suite on 5th and highest floor nestled between 2 and 3 bedroom suites and penthouses and overlooking the ocean – 80sq mtrs floor space with balcony overlooking pool area and ocean with 24hr butler service – just superb.

All staff in all areas of Double-Six are just superb – words cannot describe how professional and caring they are – not one contact with any staff member could be questioned – just amazing. Double-Six were running at high 80’s occupancy whilst we were there but were expecting drop off once all Australian School Holidays are finished.

Double-Six did try to keep on as many key staff as possible right through pandemic peak but at very much reduced salaries – others just headed back to provinces to fend for themselves. Obviously next to no government support and most were living just a subsistence level – it is so sad.

Australian tourist numbers have bounced back reasonably well but it’s the other huge numbers of foreign tourists from all around the globe who still have not returned and hence Bali’s economy is still very fragile and underperforming – so PLEASE – if you are ever going to consider a holiday overseas PLEASE get off your bums and do it as there are so many of our fellow human beings just begging you to come visit and spread some $$$s around

 

[Cruiser Elite]

 

[Cruiser Elite]

The restaurants we frequented on our visit:

Sunday 18th - Susie Q – in house at hotel – not my cup of tea.

Monday 19th – Barbacoa – one of our all time favourites and we always eat here

Tuesday 20th - Rustica Cuccina Italiana – family owned and operated for years - Mamma Luigina does the cooking and will come out of kitchen in her oversized apron to welcome you - FANTASTIC

Wednesday 21st - Boy’N’Cow – grossly overpriced but we still love it – worth a visit just for a drink and cigar and check out décor – we still love it

Thursday 22nd - Naughty Nuri’s – Best fun we had in any restaurant – fabulous ribs – and check out the Ette receiving her coughTAIL 1 and coughTAIL 2 – this is a must

Friday 23rd -Yamma Yaa – We were booked to go to Santorini but I read a TA review of a group of 4 getting food poisoning a few days b4 and that was the end of it for the Ette – pizza here we come

Saturday 24th - Brazilian Australia BBQ – now being bred and born into meat industry this is right up my alley – great prices great food great free pickup and deliver home ride – what’s not to love?

Sunday 25th - Sambal Shrimp – love this place too – they had their whole BBQ red snapper on special at ½ price - $9 for a 500gm whole red snapper OMG sensational



I know Bali is not everyone’s cup of tea but we love it and it is back as good as ever – don’t waste time just get there.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Sep 26 JQ44 J DPS-MEL – again on 787 and again it stuck so all was good. BFF were indeed awaiting us as we arrived DPS to dep Bali – flying J and holding an APEC card there really is no upside in using BFF to dep – but it was free and again I had no idea if APEC channel would be operating but it was.

Again like arr flt the JQ J experience was totally acceptable – flt left on time – young enthusiastic accommodating JQi cabin crew were fantastic – seats are what they are and quite OK for a 6hr flt – F & B not spectacular but did the job – see pics – all in all I would def buy and fly JQi MEL-DPS if GA not operating and no other carrier offering 2 way daytime flts.

 

[Austman]

I spotted the over 60s channel at immigration

I saw that too but I'm sure it said over 70s! Maybe they brought it down 10 years since?

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Tue Oct 4 JQ664 MEL-AYQ - A niece had planned her 40th bday at Uluru with total 13 family and friends in group all travelling up and back on same flt - 3nts at Uluru Resort culminating in Field of Lights dinner on Thu Oct 6 - then return home Fri Oct 7 JQ665 AYQ-MEL. We chose the package whatever it was that gave us Row 1 up and back - $15 F & B inclusion etc.

We stayed at Emu Walk Apartments - self-contained apartment with 1 bedroom, living room, dining table, kitchen with toaster kettle etc so we could simply self-cater brekky. We did all the touristy things like rock visit / walks, cultural centre visit, helicopter ride and F.O.L. Dinner and viewing. Undoubtedly the helicopter ride viewing rock and Olgas was highlight - F.).L. dinner totally overrated and very very average F & B - F.O.L. viewing well its a whole bunch of LEDs in the desert - yep very pretty as you walk through it but still scratching my head as to it's purpose ofrhow people can go WOW - still we are all different.

Tue and Wed nts we all gathered at Outback Pub for a few bevvies and tucker - you get to cook your own steak? Yeah well I do plenty that at home don't see why you would expect me to cook your second-rate cuts on an averahe bbq - still we are all different huh? But kit was still great fun sitting there listening to the live music and enjoying the company.

Uluru Resort do not miss on pricing - a bottle of Moet at the bar in Desert Gardens Hotel $210 and Taittinger $195 or $185 - can't quite remember exactly.

Fri Oct 7 JQ665 AYQ-MEL - flt departed on time and again we were in Row 1 - service on both flts up to and home from Uluru was just superb - Crew were FANTASTIC.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

CONCLUSION: The main reason I have posted above information was to really give a shout out to both JQi and JQd - the 4 flts we had were all perfect* - they all departed on-time - crew on all 4 flts were perfect - F & B were fine.

*Undoubtedly where you start from is the important point here - JQ is a low-cost carrier - if you keep this front of mind you should not be disappointed.

YES I fully understand there have been significant JQ cancellations and many many flight delays over recent times - every airline in every country has experienced same - is JQ better or worse on this front I have no idea.

What I do know is that we booked and paid for 4 flts on a low-cost carrier - maybe we were verey lucky not to experience any problems with our flight timings - J on a low cost-carrier is nowhere near J on a 5-star airline - yep fully understood that when we booked so were never going to be disappointed with what we got - staff on all 4 flts were just FANTASTIC.

I would have no hesitation in booking JQ again if there were no better alternatives on a 5-star airline - but we do not always get that choice. To those numb nuts who trot out terms like DEATHSTAR etc it says more about them than Jetstar IMHO. As a low-cost carrier Jetstar provided us with 5-star service on a low cost carrier - it aint complicated.