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

[markis10]

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.

Maybe thats the case or you are just looking at seasonal/demand driving up pricing, until you get a yearly rolling average its pretty hard to pin price changes on the recent structure changes, regardless if the new changes dont work I am sure you will see pricing head south, after all its bums on seats that provide the money, not the empty seat.

 

[nlagalle]

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.

I booked yesterday but who knows if I was number 1, 355 or 1001 in the booking order! Be nice to know

 

[Awesom Andy]

Just an update: I was on 3K402 on 17 May in promo *C, and the points have posted with the new bonus rates.

 

[pshepvic]

I booked yesterday but who knows if I was number 1, 355 or 1001 in the booking order! Be nice to know

Yeah exactly - as soon as the 1000th person books, it really should be advertised on the website. Not a complaint about the offer itself, or the new FF benefits, but more just a comment that it could be a risk of a complaint to the office of fair trading if they don't supply all the information required to make the decision whether to go for the offer not.

 

[connieguy]

Maybe thats the case or you are just looking at seasonal/demand driving up pricing, until you get a yearly rolling average its pretty hard to pin price changes on the recent structure changes, regardless if the new changes dont work I am sure you will see pricing head south, after all its bums on seats that provide the money, not the empty seat.

Lowest cost Mel/Bkk Business Max is now $899. My 15 month StarClass average is ~$720 or a 25% price increase for no additional benefits other than the ticket now says Business Max instead of StarClass.

If QF tried to put up their J prices by 25%, especially doing it with stealth, well the result would be easy to predict.

Not impressed.

 

[turtlemichael]

Maybe thats the case or you are just looking at seasonal/demand driving up pricing, until you get a yearly rolling average its pretty hard to pin price changes on the recent structure changes, regardless if the new changes dont work I am sure you will see pricing head south, after all its bums on seats that provide the money, not the empty seat.

Last night the MEL-BKK "J" fares that I was looking at mid-June to mid-July were at the same rate as prior to the enhancement yesterday. They ranged from $699 to $999 one way. Additionally, the Max bundle was at no additional charge. I also found other fares (eg CNS-NRT) with no additional charge for the MAX bundle. Today, the rates are the same for the basic J MEL-BKK but the Max add on is $200. There is clearly therefore a $200increase on the fares I looked at from earlier this week. Lucky for me I booked last night but bad luck if I have to change again.

The bottom line is you are basically paying $200 more for almost the the same package. The other message for me is that I'll mention these things on AFF and for that matter FT only after I've booked because they won't last long before the spies react. :evil:

 

[connieguy]

The bottom line is you are basically paying $200 more for almost the the same package. The other message for me is that I'll mention these things on AFF and for that matter FT only after I've booked because they won't last long before the spies react. :evil:

Yup. JQ/QF are clearing trying to increase existing JQ StarClass fares by 20-25% during the confusion of the JQ fare bundle changes.

And Red Roo wonders why us WPs question why they have not disclosed the WP1 benefits? Simple, don't trust them and expect another "Enhancement" as they just did with the JQ StarClass to Business Max 25% cost "Enhancement" for no additional benefits.

 

[browski]

To all Starclass folk, I'd suggest a bit of patience.

The reality is that the Starclass loads from MEL-BKK/SIN have been quite bad; even during that 12-month sale period.

So by increasing the price of the Starclass (please let us never refer to it as Business, even if JetStar do) fare, JetStar are basically saying that the loads could not possibly be worse - so we may as well increase the price and see what happens.

However, JetStar has really only one weapon and that is low price; so........I would not worry too much, within 6 weeks their prices will once again fall and you will be picking up AU$ 725 fares with QFF/Status points again.

I mean...................it is not like there is no competition on those JQ routes.

FWIW, on the flight from BKK, the max package is actually THB 6000 = $187.00 - see, the price is coming down already

 

[Austman]

And Red Roo wonders why us WPs question why they have not disclosed the WP1 benefits? Simple, don't trust them and expect another "Enhancement" as they just did with the JQ StarClass to Business Max 25% cost "Enhancement" for no additional benefits.

Red Roo has not commented so far on the JQ "StarClass/Business" devaluation of QFF earning benefits. Let's hope Red Roo does. It's even a bigger devaluation for those who already have access to lounges. Start please, Red Roo, by telling us why Qantas did not give us at least 30 days notice.

 

[oz_mark]

Red Roo has not commented so far on the JQ "StarClass/Business" devaluation of QFF earning benefits. Let's hope Red Roo does. It's even a bigger devaluation for those who already have access to lounges. Start please, Red Roo, by telling us why Qantas did not give us at least 30 days notice.

Why would pricing changes require notice?

 

[Hvr]

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!

So I wonder what would happen if you were on a Business starter fare with no lounge access but had lounge access anyway by virtue of being a QC member, SG, WP etc?

Would you be denied entry noting that eligible pax on Jet* 3K etc were recently granted lounge entry?

A conundrum that needs to be answered ASAP.

Agree also with the 1,000 2x FF point bookings, you should know immediately.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

The $0 Max option yesterday was clearly a website error turtlemichael. It has since been corrected.

The standard non sale price prior to this change was $789 on MEL-BKK. It is now $699 or $899 with the points. So compare $789 to $899. Obviously sales will come and go and the price will vary as it did before, but I am comparing the NON sale price here. So the increase is there, and I dont like it either but it is about 15%. Now, we shall wait and see what happens when a sale comes and whether the $499 sale requires a $200 or $400 increase to get SC's. We wont know until the sale is announced.

 

[Austman]

Why would pricing changes require notice?

The former "benefit" was that you earned Qantas FF points and Status Credits in StarClass - JetStar's "Business Class" (as the ads called it).

You don't earn them any more... Unless you choose the MAX option. That's a big change in QFF earning conditions.

If they just upped the fares, that would be a completely different matter,

 

[oz_mark]

So I wonder what would happen if you were on a Business starter fare with no lounge access but had lounge access anyway by virtue of being a QC member, SG, WP etc?

Would you be denied entry noting that eligible pax on Jet* 3K etc were recently granted lounge entry?

A conundrum that needs to be answered ASAP.
.

No conundrum - access is provided to Business Max passengers and Qantas Club members.

Lounges | Jetstar

 

[Hvr]

No conundrum - access is provided to Business Max passengers and Qantas Club members.

Lounges | Jetstar

Thanks for that, I just couldn't find that page.

Not that I would ever take such a flight... (without FF points and SCs)

 

[JohnPhelan]

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:

Well, just do what I do - make sure you fly on days and routes when you get a QF aircraft, not JQ. From the major cities, it's not difficult .......

 

[JohnPhelan]

So I wonder what would happen if you were on a Business starter fare with no lounge access but had lounge access anyway by virtue of being a QC member, SG, WP etc?

Would you be denied entry noting that eligible pax on Jet* 3K etc were recently granted lounge entry?

No, of course not - the JQ website notes that Qantas Club members will have lounge access as normal, in that situation.

 

[Nam Taf]

Just checked in to my formerly-jetflex-now-starter-max trip for Friday.

When I first tried, it had me listed as no checked baggage. I had to call up and get that fixed as it wasn't carried over when it was converted from the old to new system. I'm glad I spotted that! Beware and check your booking before checking in!

Secondly, I see on the boarding pass it lists it as 'Starter Premium' at the top and bottom. I guess this is a mistake - perhaps the old name for it? They're called 'Plus and Max bundles' in the information in the middle of the printed boarding pass, so it's just the details next to the barcode that are wrong.

 

[medhead]

Maybe thats the case or you are just looking at seasonal/demand driving up pricing, until you get a yearly rolling average its pretty hard to pin price changes on the recent structure changes, regardless if the new changes dont work I am sure you will see pricing head south, after all its bums on seats that provide the money, not the empty seat.

However, Jetstar seems to think it is the extras that provide the money. Guess the bundles are there to get the average ancillary revenue up from $20.
Ancillary revenues add to Jetstar earnings | The Australian

The former "benefit" was that you earned Qantas FF points and Status Credits in StarClass - JetStar's "Business Class" (as the ads called it).

You don't earn them any more... Unless you choose the MAX option. That's a big change in QFF earning conditions.

If they just upped the fares, that would be a completely different matter,

I don't think that Qantas T&C have changed, no doubt they still say eligible jetstar flights earn points. What has changed is the eligible jetstar flights. So not a change to the Qantas program and no notice required.

 

[pshepvic]

I think instead of bundling everything, I'd like to see an a la carte style options list. Personally I'd like to pick and choose from the following options:

- Points (I'd take these in some cases, but prob not domestic)
- Status Credits (I'd take these)
- Lounge Access (I don't want to pay for this in a bundle, considering it's free for me now as WP)
- Flexibility for changes (either free changes, or full flexibility options)
- Standard Seat selection
- Extra Legroom seat selection
- Baggage
- Food and beverage
- Entertainment

Then maybe they could have a couple of bundle options or caps - eg. you could pick $25 of value of these for $20, or $50 worth for $40 or something like that.

And maybe have the Max package that includes all of it for a total price.

But Jetstar have always said they want to provide flexibility in fares to passengers - here is an opportunity to do that by giving us the option to pick which items we want (not just baggage or bundles).