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

[JohnK]

What a load of Rubbish John!

Next thing you'll post is that SC's you have earned on discounted business CX travel within Asia via HKG are inappropriate and you are going to give them back to QFF! :shock:

Yes serfty those SCs are totally inappropriate but QF has not seen fit to change those yet. Or YUPs/KUPs, or NAN runs, or LAN runs, or DONEs, or AONES, or Business Any Seat Awards or First Class Any Seat Awards.

What QF has seen fit to change is the *Class earning. While you and others may not agree with the changes I see it as a fair change.

By the way I did say that I may be biased but my opinion is certainly not rubbish....

 

[pshepvic]

Slightly off topic but still related to Jet*.

I got a reminder email the other day about my imminent *Class fare and saw this little gem:


Wonder if this will improve speed in this service.

Interesting - going down the path of the US airlines. Will no doubt annoy a few people if they're not informed before the flight. It's another Today Tonight story waiting to happen really ... you can hear the headlines already - "Passengers refused food and water on Jetstar flight because they didn't have a credit card".

 

[medhead]

Yes serfty those SCs are totally inappropriate but QF has not seen fit to change those yet. Or YUPs/KUPs, or NAN runs, or LAN runs, or DONEs, or AONES, or Business Any Seat Awards or First Class Any Seat Awards.

What QF has seen fit to change is the *Class earning. While you and others may not agree with the changes I see it as a fair change.

By the way I did say that I may be biased but my opinion is certainly not rubbish....

But I think your standard of comparison is rubbish. You are comparing Jetstar (a completely separate airline) earning with QF earning. This line of thinking says that Starclass wasn't business class, again comparing to QF. But it ignores other airlines and ways to earn on those airlines - and class standards (F on domestic AA anyone)

Put simply Starclass was Jetstar's business class and it was treated as such. If it is fair to view earning on different airlines through the prism of QF, then all those other airlines need to be changed as well. Is that going to happen? of course not!

 

[serfty]

On the weekend I was planning to use *Class to do a one way fare in Jan, MEL-HNL in positioning for some travel YUPP I was planning.

This is no longer an option as the fare has jumped from $899 to $1015 (no SC's etc.) or $1270 (full deal). Fare bucket loadings remain all 4's.

 

[JohnK]

But I think your standard of comparison is rubbish.

You are of course entitled to your opinion.

The change has been made so no matter what you or I think it is not going to change anything.

 

[samh004]

Has Simon Westaway posted in this thread yet to try to offer explanations, or is he just ignoring everyone?

 

[Nam Taf]

About the only thing I want to know about this is if I will be able to add on the Plus package at the airport or online after the ticket has been purchased by my employer. Guess it will take a while until someone needs to test this out. Won't be flying on J* for a while anyway but still interested to know. If I can't I will have to make sure I word up the receptionist to book the Plus fair if we have to fly J*.

This was my burning question too, but unfortunately when I talked to JQ today, the answer was not only 'no' but that to do so would constitute a fare change and attract a $50 penalty on top of the $25 fare difference.

Seems utterly suicidal to me considering how attractive I would've thought the idea of earning Y-level SC's for $25 (to an employee) would be. I guess the only logic I can see behind that is that you could book the cheap fare early on then just pay the $25 just before the flight to get the fare change abilities if you suddenly can't make it, but perhaps say that you don't get that particular bonus unless you buy it at booking time?

 

[samh004]

This was my burning question too, but unfortunately when I talked to JQ today, the answer was not only 'no' but that to do so would constitute a fare change and attract a $50 penalty on top of the $25 fare difference.

Seems utterly suicidal to me considering how attractive I would've thought the idea of earning Y-level SC's for $25 (to an employee) would be. I guess the only logic I can see behind that is that you could book the cheap fare early on then just pay the $25 just before the flight to get the fare change abilities if you suddenly can't make it, but perhaps say that you don't get that particular bonus unless you buy it at booking time?

Just had that experience myself. But in a far worse way.

First time I called I was hung up on after providing all my details. Phoned right back and got someone else who quoted me $95, consisting of a $50 change fee and $25 plus bundle. I then questioned them on where the additional $20 was from considering there was no fare difference and they revised it down to $75, but even that seemed ridiculous. Seems they’re happy to rip you off

Sorry Jetstar, but you just lost yourself $25, and you would have had it too, if not for your stupid change fees, which ironically aren’t present after I would have upgraded. And it’s not like I could have upgraded to said bundle previously. :-|

 

[nlagalle]

Well i have booked a JQ flight on good 'ole JQ35 - 59 + 25. Now i want to know if I was one of the first 1000 FF to book with their number for double points.. pity it's only a SYD-MEL flight! I haven't received an email from them about it though

 

[Nam Taf]

Sorry Jetstar, but you just lost yourself $25, and you would have had it too, if not for your stupid change fees, which ironically aren’t present after I would have upgraded. And it’s not like I could have upgraded to said bundle previously. :-|

Who you get is luck of the draw - my lady was really helpful - I have a former-Jetflex flight on Friday back home on MKY-BNE and given that it has become a starter max fare, i could select *any* free seat. So now I'm on 1E. She was really helpful and gave me a list of seats (I couldn't do it online as it was booked through work travel agent and I couldn't log in to manage booking) and arranged it so I got the one I wanted.

However in regards to the +$25 fee issue, I'd really dearly love to make use of it, but I bet I couldn't even convince work to let me pay that out of my own pocket at the time of booking. Working for a big company means there's too much bureaucracy

 

[connieguy]

JQ "Business" with no miles or SC.

Star Class is now called Business and broken into 2 versions.

1) Business but no lounge access, miles or SCs.

2) Business plus $200 ($400 return) to get lounge access, miles and SCs.

As someone who did fly StarClass Mel/Bkk/Mel a LOT, this is just charging me $400 more for today's JQ's Business MAX with no new additional benefits. So today if I pay what I paid yesterday I get no real "Business" benefits such as lounge access, miles and SCs.

JQ may I suggest your attempt to get your old Star Class customers to pay $400 more per return trip than we did yesterday to get the same benefits we had yesterday is just a plain old rip off and nothing more than over charging your customers.

But then thinking about it, this is just another QF "Enhancement" to customer benefits.

 

[QF029]

It will be interesting to see how this plays out. Given these changes will be unlikely to have a big impact on star class (business) loads, there will still be some form of ODU available.

I think my initial strategy will be to book a starter (plus or max) fare and then try an ODU to the front cabin if the price seems reasoanble. THis may or may not earn J SC's.

 

[Sifor]

In a survey I actually suggested they should provide some J seats without the flexibility options for a cheaper price.... instead they have taken the normal J seat price, striped it of J features and made a more expensive fare with said features. They should have discounted the fare for those who don't want lounge, SC etc not keep it at the same price...Very disappointing!

 

[Alanslegal]

When someone is paying $10,000 and more for a dONEx ... then I sure do hope they will be earning points & SCs when flying JQi 332 rather than a QF 388 on a route like MEL-SIN :shock:

oneworld - News

 

[pshepvic]

In a survey I actually suggested they should provide some J seats without the flexibility options for a cheaper price.... instead they have taken the normal J seat price, striped it of J features and made a more expensive fare with said features. They should have discounted the fare for those who don't want lounge, SC etc not keep it at the same price...Very disappointing!

The "standard" Starclass fare in the past is now approximately equal to the Business Max fare (maybe it used to be a little less, but then fuel costs have also gone up recently). The previous Sale/Promo fares are probably priced around the starting Business fare. You could argue that the fares without SCs/Points are discounted from the full fare, but it's just that in the past you got more benefits. I still think you should get something, as I said previously, maybe a "fair" rate would be the Full Economy or Premium Economy rates.

Seeing they're now calling it Business - I wonder if that means they'll make it a proper Business class service, rather than the Low-Cost Premium Economy that it really is? (Maybe bring in some angled lie-flat seats like Air Asia X when they eventually get the 787s? They might only lose one row of seats, but at least then it would be a true Business Class)

 

[oz_mark]

When someone is paying $10,000 and more for a dONEx ... then I sure do hope they will be earning points & SCs when flying JQi 332 rather than a QF 388 on a route like MEL-SIN :shock:

oneworld - News

I don't think QF codeshares in the *Class cabin. In any case, you'd be on the QF flight number, and subject to the QF rules with regard to point accrual (L fares are available in the economy cabin for LONEx fares.)

 

[Aussie_flyer]

The current standard $699 MEL/BKK is cheaper than the previous standard which was approx $789. So they have reduced *Class non sale prices, not as much as the cost to get the points/sc's added, but they have been reduced.

$699 even without SC's is still a very good deal really.

 

[obrienja]

I received a Jetstar promo email today offering double SCs for the first 1000 QF FF to book eligible fares on Jetstar:


** Jetstar and Qantas Frequent Flyer double points promotion terms and conditions
Double points offer available for the first 1,000 Qantas Frequent Flyer members booked on an eligible Jetstar Starter Plus, Starter Max fare or Business Max fare from 11am on 17 May 2011. The offer is available until the first 1,000 eligible seats have been booked or until 23.59pm on 24 May 2011 (whichever is earlier). Bookings must be for travel between 17 May and 17 December 2011. Eligible flights are flights operated by Jetstar Airways, Jetstar Asia or Valuair with a 'JQ', '3K' or 'VF' flight number. Excludes Jetstar Pacific (BL). If multiple passengers on one itinerary are Qantas Frequent Flyer members, all Qantas Frequent Flyer members may earn double points provided each member's Qantas Frequent Flyer number has been entered in the booking at the time of booking. You must be a member of the Qantas Frequent Flyer program to earn points. A joining fee may apply. Membership and points are subject to the Qantas Frequent Flyer program terms and conditions Qantas Frequent Flyer points and Status credits may take up to six weeks after completion of your travel to be credited to your Qantas Frequent Flyer account. This offer cannot be combined with any other extra points offer and points are not earned on Classic Flight Award bookings. Points will not be awarded for cancelled bookings. Jetstar reserves the right to extend the promotional period at their discretion.

 

[pshepvic]

I received a Jetstar promo email today offering double SCs for the first 1000 QF FF to book eligible fares on Jetstar:


** Jetstar and Qantas Frequent Flyer double points promotion terms and conditions
Double points offer available for the first 1,000 Qantas Frequent Flyer members booked on an eligible Jetstar Starter Plus, Starter Max fare or Business Max fare from 11am on 17 May 2011. The offer is available until the first 1,000 eligible seats have been booked or until 23.59pm on 24 May 2011 (whichever is earlier). Bookings must be for travel between 17 May and 17 December 2011. Eligible flights are flights operated by Jetstar Airways, Jetstar Asia or Valuair with a 'JQ', '3K' or 'VF' flight number. Excludes Jetstar Pacific (BL). If multiple passengers on one itinerary are Qantas Frequent Flyer members, all Qantas Frequent Flyer members may earn double points provided each member's Qantas Frequent Flyer number has been entered in the booking at the time of booking. You must be a member of the Qantas Frequent Flyer program to earn points. A joining fee may apply. Membership and points are subject to the Qantas Frequent Flyer program terms and conditions Qantas Frequent Flyer points and Status credits may take up to six weeks after completion of your travel to be credited to your Qantas Frequent Flyer account. This offer cannot be combined with any other extra points offer and points are not earned on Classic Flight Award bookings. Points will not be awarded for cancelled bookings. Jetstar reserves the right to extend the promotional period at their discretion.

What I want to know is how are we supposed to know when the first 1000 bookings have gone??

I need to book a domestic NZ flight, and if I can get this offer I would book with JQ, but if not I would book with NZ (considering they are $70 cheaper on the same date and time). The points and SCs could be worth that if doubled, but otherwise they wouldn't be.

 

[connieguy]

The current standard $699 MEL/BKK is cheaper than the previous standard which was approx $789. So they have reduced *Class non sale prices, not as much as the cost to get the points/sc's added, but they have been reduced.

$699 even without SC's is still a very good deal really.

I fly Mel/Bkk/Mel a lot. I had no problems paying $699 or less for a StarClass fare before the "Enhancements". I checked out months in advance. $699 or $899 (max) is the lowest fare. Sorry but JQ have, in effect, increased their "Business" / old StarClass Mel/Bkk prices by $200.