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

[Joshua]

New Fare Rules!

Hi again everyone. Looks like an interesting Sunday evening.

I am not sure if JQ are progressively updating their pages but I have found the page with the new fare rules... too much to detail to summarize just yet so I'll just link to it atm.

Fare Rules | Jetstar

Changes as I read them.

You can rebook onto an equal or higher fare + bundle only. ie. Starter & Plus Bundle can only rebook to Starter Fare with Plus Bundle, Max Bundle or Business.

Basic fare allows for time and name(!) changes... for a fee

Plus fare allows for free changes... "Change Fees do not apply for permitted changes to a Starter Fare with Plus Bundle"

Max Bundle is more like a semi-flexi ticket. Refunds (with penalty), route changes, name changes. Changes can be made up to the end of the day of departure.

Business fares are equally flexible but not refundable. Business max are refundable.

That is pretty much it from the fares page. I presume there might be some service differences too, however since these are being marketed as 'bundles' there might be a baggage bundle, a food bundle and oxygen mask bundle for all I know.

 

[pauly7]

[Rumor] JQ travel to earn FF points - for a Fee

Busy and exciting night!

Thankfully I held off a few JQ bookings... It was JQ v DJ as QF are basically sold out on the dates I need.... So QFF with JQ is going to probably tip it their way.

Interested to see what Business v Business Max is...

 

[moa999]

Clear from the Fare Rules - Fare Rules | Jetstar that cheap Starclass ( Business) will no longer earn SCs

Also interesting that neither of the flights are eligible to earn "Flight Upgrade Awards"... does this suggest an enhancement to QFF ??
Edit: Maybe just meaning upgrade using points...

 

[proskyneo]

I think Jetstar IS the enhancement to QFF or Qantas as a whole.

 

[Kendall Roy]

cheap Starclass ( Business) will no longer earn SCs..

This really takes the cake! :evil:

 

[nlagalle]

Clear from the Fare Rules - Fare Rules | Jetstar that cheap Starclass ( Business) will no longer earn SCs

Also interesting that neither of the flights are eligible to earn "Flight Upgrade Awards"... does this suggest an enhancement to QFF ??
Edit: Maybe just meaning upgrade using points...

I was wondering that, but is it referring to a business fare as opposed to business class? I didn't see star class mentioned in it

 

[oz_mark]

Hmm, the plot thickens...

Economy Starter fares (including Starter Fares with Plus Bundle and Starter Fares with Max Bundle) do not include any checked baggage allowance, unless you purchase a Checked Baggage allowance in addition to your fare, or for bookings made before 17 May 2011....

The changes may not be so straight forward....

 

[Joshua]

Given that the max package is as flexible as it gets and the other minor references, I'd take a decent bet that business = star class. Would make sense why there'd be a discount business fare too. Looking much more like a legacy's price structure - pressure entirely towards DJ of course.

What we need is for them to hurry up and upload the new fare types page which will probably be located here. It is 404'ing now but when I tried it an hour or so ago it would just sit there waiting on the server's reply.

If anyone wants to stay up and have an intimate night with their f5 key, go for it...

 

[MH_fan]

Clear from the Fare Rules - Fare Rules | Jetstar that cheap Starclass ( Business) will no longer earn SCs

Also interesting that neither of the flights are eligible to earn "Flight Upgrade Awards"... does this suggest an enhancement to QFF ??
Edit: Maybe just meaning upgrade using points...

When does this take effect? By right, it should only apply to new bookings made after the new rules have been published. I will be mightily pissed off if I don't get to earn SCs on my upcoming *Class flights, which I booked earlier in the year.
Anyway, with these new rules, it looks like JQ will be losing my patronage forever for international flights. Earning SCs was the only reason I'd take their *Class over a full-serviced airline's business class.

 

[samh004]

While nothing is firm yet, I’m not too fussed over the supposed losing of points and SC’s on cheap StarClass fares, and am very happy to see not only will SC’s be earned on cheap fares with a bundle, but status bonuses and a minimum points guarantee too. All looks wonderful, and I only hope I can upgrade an existing ticket tomorrow.

Busy and exciting night!

Thankfully I held off a few JQ bookings... It was JQ v DJ as QF are basically sold out on the dates I need.... So QFF with JQ is going to probably tip it their way.

Interested to see what Business v Business Max is...

Likewise, it’s either DJ or JQ for ZQN and it’s looking like it might be JQ suddenly.

 

[markis10]

Starclass cabins will be very empty without the FF points on the cheapies, the value is not there compared to real J!

 

[OverrideServlet]

Am I the only one that hates the name of these new fares?

"Starter Max Bundle" sounds like something I'd sign up for with Telstra, or some other ISP.

 

[oz_mark]

I am going to wait to see just what is meant by Business and Business Max. I am not sure that Business is the starclass promo, but some sort of unbundled business class fare.

Guess we have to wait and see just what the new fares are!

 

[MH_fan]

I am going to wait to see just what is meant by Business and Business Max. I am not sure that Business is the starclass promo, but some sort of unbundled business class fare.

Guess we have to wait and see just what the new fares are!

Are these new "fares" not even in the booking engine yet?

 

[oz_mark]

Are these new "fares" not even in the booking engine yet?

Everything is pointing to them coming in tomorrow.

 

[MH_fan]

Everything is pointing to them coming in tomorrow.

Oh, yes, I forgot...May 17. Silly me.
I just checked the booking engine again and it is still reflecting the old system. I'd better get those SCs for my flight next month... I don'tsee why I wouldn't though. They were bought before these new rules, after all.

 

[serfty]

It does not look good for earning on what were previously Starclass promo fares.

 

[djfuzz]

It does not look good for earning on what were previously Starclass promo fares.

TBH, this doesn't really feel like the 'pay a fee to earn points on a Jetsaver fare' idea that QFCSA mooted initially - more like the type of enhancement we've come to love and expect: changing the names and structures for the appearance of greater choice and flexibility on the one hand, while taking away incentives that attracted people to use their services with the other hand. (Judgment naturally reserved until it's announced, but does it seem a bit clearer here with the pre-publication of the fare rules.)

Which is all fair enough, as it's up to them how to run their business - but you have to wonder how this is serving their objective of increasing throughput, compared to their existing fare structure. (Seriously, how?)

 

[serfty]

I'm quite sure the T&Cs for Jetstar earning has changed recently:

[COLOR="gray"]________________________________________________________________________________________________[/COLOR]
Jetstar(JQ)(3K)(VF) VY (JetFlex)               Economy             1              -
                          [COLOR="silver"]______________________________________________________________________
               [/COLOR]     DJ (StarClass)             Premium             1             25%
                          [COLOR="silver"]______________________________________________________________________
              [/COLOR]      Status Credits are earned on all eligible booking classes. Flights operated 
                    by Jetstar Asia (3K) and Valuair (VF) do not offer StarClass.  
                    Excluded: Points and Status Credits are not earned when travelling in the 
                    Economy Cabin on flights with a Jetstar (JQ), Jetstar Asia (3K) or Valuair 
                    (VF) flight number as part of a Qantas International fare.
[COLOR="gray"]________________________________________________________________________________________________[/COLOR]

The part about connecting Qantas international fares and the actual reference to the booking class rather than "JetFlex" and "Starclass" stand out.

This is a sample of what it used to indicate:

[COLOR="gray"]________________________________________________________________________________________________[/COLOR]
Jetstar(JQ)(3K)(VF) Jet Flex                   Economy             1             -
                    StarClass                  Premium             1             25%
[COLOR="silver"]                    ____________________________________________________________________________
[/COLOR]                    Status Credits are earned on all eligible Booking Classes. Flights operated 
                    by Jetstar Asia (3K) and Valueair (VF) do not offer StarClass.
[COLOR="gray"]________________________________________________________________________________________________[/COLOR]

 

[oz_mark]

Oh, yes, I forgot...May 17. Silly me.
I just checked the booking engine again and it is still reflecting the old system. I'd better get those SCs for my flight next month... I don'tsee why I wouldn't though. They were bought before these new rules, after all.

I have found a page that describes how bookings are going to be changed to the new structure. It does say existing bookings will retain the sc and point earning

Booking changes | Jetstar

StarClass Promo (Sale) -> Business + retain lounge access + Qantas Frequent Flyers earn Qantas Frequent Flyer points and Status credits

(NB The new Business class seems not to include lounge access either )