JQ travel to earn FF points - for a Fee [even in 'Business']

[Ben174]

So this puts Mel-Sin Premium Economy Qantas around the same price as 'Business Max" now when Star Class use to be cheaper.

Althogh i wont earn QFF and SC at a Business rate, i think ill go with prem econ option. more reliable, better service. and being QC no problems with lounge

 

[serfty]

The sale did end yesterday as well. Until the next sale it is hard to compare.

Not really.

It's simply $200 each way on top of the base 'business' fare - whatever that happens to be when you book.

So a sale fare of $499 will cost $699 and a $799 fare will cost $999 if you want points/SC's.

 

[ric_melb]

I guess we have to see how this all works out. But I am not liking the situation regarding Business Class from Melbourne to Singapore. I flew Jetstar in non discounted Starclass in April for $699 each way. I can see a Business fare in July for the same amount, but adding the Max package adds $200 each way to the fare. So given I already have Qantas Club access, and don't need flexibility, I have to pay $400 extra for Qantas points and status credits. It may be worth doing that, but still doesn't leave me happy, at this stage.

 

[AnonymousCoward]

MEL-SIN JQ Starclass/Business RT earning QFF points and status credits just went from $981.00 to $1,768.00. Admittedly the $981.00 was a sale fare. But an easily obtainable one.

A $787.00 difference just to maintain lounge access, 9,374 QFF points and 240 Status Credits?

They must be joking! Bring on the sale fares!

240 SCs are only worth it if you're paying $981? Seriously?

My guess is that this is one reason for the changes. Too many people getting status for not much money.

 

[AnonymousCoward]

Not really.

It's simply $200 each way on top of the base 'business' fare - whatever that happens to be when you book.

So a sale fare of $499 will cost $699 and a $799 fare will cost $999 if you want points/SC's.

? For MEL-SIN? I don't think so. It seems to top up your fare to a pre-designated rate. The cheaper the base fare, the more "on top" you have to pay for the bundle.

 

[futaris]

? For MEL-SIN? I don't think so. It seems to top up your fare to a pre-designated rate. The cheaper the base fare, the more "on top" you have to pay for the bundle.

No for Business Max it's capped at 200 AUD for MEL-SIN, or ~265 SGD for SIN-MEL.

NB, for SIN-AKL it's 200 SGD, and AKL-SIN is 200 NZD.

Normal Max does not appear to be capped, i.e. total cost (for a fully flexible economy ticket) is always the same.

 

[AnonymousCoward]

No for Business Max it's capped at 200 AUD for MEL-SIN, or ~265 SGD for SIN-MEL.

Ah - I see what I was doing wrong. I had SYD-SIN instead of MEL-SIN.

MEL-SIN (or SIN-MEL) is capped per the amounts you mention - still a good deal if you ask me! Adding on Sydney causes the "bundle" to grow significantly in cost (to $780 or so each way) yet you're flying in a normal economy seat: not good value IMHO.

 

[TonyHancock]

My guess is that this is one reason for the changes. Too many people getting status for not much money.

Although the recent double SC promotion would seem to counter this argument.

 

[AnonymousCoward]

Although the recent double SC promotion would seem to counter this argument.

A limited promotion would appear to be a tactical move, designed to address some specific issue, or paid for out of a specific budget.

There's a wider, ongoing, issue, if people are paying low amounts of money for top tier status, on an ongoing and indefinite basis. Hence a move to limit this permanently. My guess is that the cheap "at the airport" upgrades to StarClass/Business, will no longer gain you any SCs/points, if they are indeed offered at all anymore.

 

[ausi ski bum]

So much for our plans to book five star class seats to Japan in December, no point now, I wont be paying over $800 each just to get some points, will now use some points and fly Qantas PE for free.

Jetstar just took away the incentive to use their services, not a good move Jetstar.

 

[Austman]

240 SCs are only worth it if you're paying $981? Seriously?

My guess is that this is one reason for the changes. Too many people getting status for not much money.

Not quite what I said but it's a good point. I meant that the price MEL-SIN in StarClass/Business earning QFF points and SCs nearly doubled! But might be better with a sale fare.

As a WP I'll have to decide whether it's worth the $200.00 Business Max fee for 9,485 QFF points and 120 SCs, each way.

 

[Ben174]

Baggage Limits Changed?!?!?!

Just playing around with some Star Class flights as i need to go to Osaka in June. The Business Max option is $315 going over and $505 coming back?!!?! Wow!

Im flying from Mel and this flight is Mel-OOL-KIX and i have done it many times, and when you check in at Melb Airport your 30kg Star Class allowance and hand luggage has always been allowed on the domestic leg cause your connecting to star class.

Now when i put a dummy booking in it asks if i want to pre purchase my Luggage for the domestic leg?!?!?! They dont carry this on any more? Also has down 1 bag at 7kg, not 2 at 10kg for the domestic leg. This an error or an enhancement?


seems its cheaper if i just book the OOL-KIX-OOL on a Max Ticket and then the Domestic separate but then cause it will be separate tickets i would have no choice but to purchase baggage for the domestic leg?

 

[Aussie_flyer]

When I price MEL-BKK in StarClass the max bundle says $____. It is blank outbound, whether I choose a return or a one way. Does this mean its included in the $699 fare? If I choose a return its $200 extra for that sector BKK-MEL.

I wonder what will happen with On Departure cash upgrades, they used to give you points and SC, I assume that wont happen now...

 

[Ben174]

Baggage Limits Changed?!?!?!

Just playing around with some Star Class flights as i need to go to Osaka in June. The Business Max option is $315 going over and $505 coming back?!!?! Wow!

Im flying from Mel and this flight is Mel-OOL-KIX and i have done it many times, and when you check in at Melb Airport your 30kg Star Class allowance and hand luggage has always been allowed on the domestic leg cause your connecting to star class.

Now when i put a dummy booking in it asks if i want to pre purchase my Luggage for the domestic leg?!?!?! They dont carry this on any more? Also has down 1 bag at 7kg, not 2 at 10kg for the domestic leg. This an error or an enhancement?


seems its cheaper if i just book the OOL-KIX-OOL on a Max Ticket and then the Domestic separate but then cause it will be separate tickets i would have no choice but to purchase baggage for the domestic leg?

When i price this stand alone without the domestic legs on it the outbound has the MAX available at no extra charge? And the return leg has the MAX avail at $200.

FAR Cheaper. I think this is cause they book you in to the Full Econ option on the domestic leg too when doing it all together. Just wondering about baggage choices now if i had a domestic and a international (starclass) itinerary (separate) whether or not i would get the baggage all the way across? hmmmm this sucks!

 

[medhead]

Not really.

It's simply $200 each way on top of the base 'business' fare - whatever that happens to be when you book.

So a sale fare of $499 will cost $699 and a $799 fare will cost $999 if you want points/SC's.

The couple of searches that I've done, it actually varies between $200 and $400. Cheaper base fare add $400 for business max. Of course, that might also be related to having connecting flights.

 

[Austman]

Shouldn't we have had least 30 days notice of these changes?

Frequent Flyer - About the Program - Terms & Conditions

3. Changes to Qantas Frequent Flyer

3.1 Subject to clause 3.2, Qantas reserves the right to make any changes (whether material or otherwise) to Qantas Frequent Flyer, the Terms and Conditions, the Awards or Benefits offered and the Fee Schedule, including:
a) changes to:
- the ways in which Points are earned and redeemed;
- Point earning and redeeming rates and Eligible Flights;
- Award Flight blackouts or non-bookable periods;
- limitations on the number of Classic Awards and Flight Upgrades redeemable on particular flights;
- Awards or Benefits, including the continued availability of Awards or Benefits;
- Award restrictions or conditions;
- Status Credit restrictions and conditions;
- membership level requirements and benefits;
- ticketing procedures;
- ticketing and service charges and other fees; and
- the expiry of accrued Points;
...
3.2 Qantas will use best efforts to advise Members of material changes to these Terms and Conditions and, where such changes will limit Benefits:
(a) where the Benefit is provided by Qantas, to give Members at least 6 months' notice;
(b) where the Benefit is provided by a third party, where possible give Members at least 30 days' notice.

 

[Ben174]

Ok last thing i post here for a while lol just need to vent some frustration!

Flights im looking at are 21st June MEL-OOL-KIX 28th June KIX-OOL-MEL

If i book this all at once on a Business MAX fare the total comes to $2753.00 !!! (outrageously high). It also mentions in the booking section to add in luggage for the domestic leg?!!? When i use to fly this star class the 2 pieces of cabin baggage and 30kg would apply to the domestic leg as well? now its saying that only for the international segment, and for the domestic you buy checked luggage and only 1 hand luggage?!!?


IF HOWEVER, I book OOL-KIX-OOL on a Business MAX Fare (no additional cost for outbound strangely enough?) and then a Starter PLUS Fare MEL-OOL-MEL and purchase 30kg of baggage and pick a upfront seat each way the total comes to $2263??!! Still more than normal, but about 500 bucks cheaper?!?!!


Booking all at once gives me a Full Econ Earn sure, but this is minute on such a small flight, and the Starter PLus fare is more than suitable incase i change the flights.

Why cant JetStar make this so it doesnt pick the domestic legs as Full Econ and do Starter Plus instead?!?! Would make things far easier being on one itineracy too!


Every Star Class flight ive taken the cabin is never full, so if they are trying to boost numbers i dont think this will help.

JQ You just made flight bookings a whole lot harder!!!

 

[Wannabee]

Just looked up my June SYD-HNL-SYD flight that I booked back in February and it has been amended from Starclass to Business and not Business Max.

I am not holding out high hopes that points will be credited

Then again, as it was a Starclass Promo fare, according to this page it is correct.
http://www.jetstar.com/au/en/planning-and-booking/fares/booking-changes

I hope that they can tell which Business fares get points (ex Starclass promo fares) and which new Business bookings don't.

Time will tell...

 

[futaris]

Has anyone tried to book a flight using the Jetstar Price Beat Guarantee yet?

Availability – If you are comparing a package which includes another airline’s flights, the comparable Jetstar flight or flights must also be available at the same time. If the lower package includes fares comparable to Starter fare, you will only be able to purchase a Starter fare (carry-on baggage only) under this promotion.

Starter Fares with Plus Bundle, Starter Fares with Max Bundle, Business Fares and Business Max fares are excluded from this promotion.

Subject to payment of Change Fee and Fare Difference applicable at time of change, Starter fares can be changed to an available Starter, Starter Fare with Plus Bundle, Starter Fare with Max Bundle, Business Fare or Business Fare with Max Bundle.

You should be able to get BNE-MEL without luggage for around 50 AUD return, if you match Tiger Airways...

 

[Ben174]

Just looked up my June SYD-HNL-SYD flight that I booked back in February and it has been amended from Starclass to Business and not Business Max.

I am not holding out high hopes that points will be credited

If you read through this forum a bit you will see some people have called and quryed this and you will be entitled to points and SC. It will be honoured. However it could mean a few phone calls upon your return! BUt yess your entitled to em