QantasLink DHC8 vs Jetstar A320 flying BNE-MKY

[juddles]

Hi all,

am intending taking the wife and kids up to Mackay soon - party of four. I don't do much domestic travel so am at a bit of a loss - my main thing is trying (as any good FF does) to "get the best seats"

The best options for me given my dates and my desire to redeem points tickets via QF has similar options flying either a QantasLink DHC8 or a Jetstar A320.

But I think I understand the following:

1.- You cannot preselect seats on these award redemptions.
2.- QF status (am WP1) does not help this.
3.- I would find out seats only at checkin.

Given this, would anyone recommend the DHC8 or the A320 in this lottery?

 

[Hvr]

Surely as a WP1 you would be given prime seats on the Dash 8?

Qantas will recognise your status whereas Jet* won't.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

QF status does help this. As a P1 probably will find yourself in row 1 or 2 at olci

 

[Conrad_S]

Of those options I'd take the dash 8 anyday. No seat selection till OLCI but as mentioned above p1 will more than likely get allocated row 1 or 2. On the older models (200 and 300) there is are 4 seats on the front rhs that might be ok if your kids are small.

 

[Steady]

Surely as a WP1 you would be given prime seats on the Dash 8?

Qantas will recognise your status whereas Jet* won't.

IMO the prime seats on a dash8 are exit row so no good when traveling with kids under 15.

I haven't flown J* much but I think I get better onboard service from Q Link than Q, so I would think Q Link would be better than J*

As a WP I cannot select seats until check in - I find it best to do so right on T-24 to select what I want

 

[tmdellit]

Personally I prefer Q link over J*. I find that the seats on Qlink are more comfortable and you have slightly more room.
Also, the 2+2 layout of the dash 8 rather than the 3+3 layout of the A320 might be more suitable to a family of 4.

Furthermore, as everyone above have said, as a WP1 you'll at least have your status recognised.

 

[yohy?!]

i cant stand turboprops, i find the combination of the loud/unstable ride & the tiny seats unbearable - even a JQ 320 would be preferable

 

[Princess Fiona]

Another who would choose QFLink over JQ.
Have now taken quite a few sectors as P1 and on all but one flight got an exit front row at OLCI.
Just beware that the 300's have a row at the front facing backwards so don't select those seats. No such issues on the 400's or 200's.

I would not do an Award flight on JQ, you may well end up somewhere near the back by the toilets.

 

[Quickstatus]

Hi all,

am intending taking the wife and kids up to Mackay soon - party of four. I don't do much domestic travel so am at a bit of a loss - my main thing is trying (as any good FF does) to "get the best seats"

The best options for me given my dates and my desire to redeem points tickets via QF has similar options flying either a QantasLink DHC8 or a Jetstar A320.

But I think I understand the following:

1.- You cannot preselect seats on these award redemptions.
2.- QF status (am WP1) does not help this.
3.- I would find out seats only at checkin.

Given this, would anyone recommend the DHC8 or the A320 in this lottery?

DHC8 anytime over JQ
The reason seat selection is not available on DHC8 and the like is because of Centre of gravity issues. You will be seated according to technical reasons, however WP1 and WP seem to be allocated the best seats first and then everyone else get seated to get CG right.

Im told that ideally tweaking the CG would mean sitting the biggest passengers over the required CG point and the smallest passengers at front or back. .I think the passenger cabin is divided into 4 sections and the weights of each section goes into the CG calculations. Section A (front) and Section D (rear) would be the most critical.

A big fat WP1 may still be seated over the wing.

Maybe a DHC pilot can comment.

 

[Mattg]

+1 for QantasLink. The service, even if it's a Dash 8, is far superior. And as P1, you should be able to pick up-front seats when online check-in opens.

 

[feezable]

If you choose to fly JQ you can access your booking, click through to JQ via QF manage my booking, then you can purchase seats - usually $12pp upfront or $7pp from row 7 back domestically. I just did this with a reward booking on JQ to NTL-MEL-DPS, I paid $7 for row 7 NTL-MEL and $25pp for front row on the 787.

 

[dajop]

Probably only a minor consideration, as I am sure as a WP1 you have a huge points balance, but Jetstar awards are 20% less than QF awards, and from memory they also have slightly less surcharges, so you would save 6,400 pts flying JQ for a family of four, and perhaps $5-10/person in surcharges.

 

[Mule]

You may also want to consider the 1 piece (23kg max.) baggage allowance on Dash 8 services.
I've been over the allowance on the shorter Brisbane - Bundaberg flight with no questions asked, however they may enforce the longer Mackay route a bit more vigorously.

 

[dajop]

You may also want to consider the 1 piece (23kg max.) baggage allowance on Dash 8 services.

As opposed to the 20kg limit on Jetstar awards?

 

[juddles]

.....you should be able to pick up-front seats when online check-in opens....

Can anyone confirm if the "best seats" (ie front row) are blocked for lower status pax when OLCI opens?

 

[Mule]

As opposed to the 20kg limit on Jetstar awards?

Spend some extra and at least it will be on the aircraft.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Can anyone confirm if the "best seats" (ie front row) are blocked for lower status pax when OLCI opens?

I think it's the opposite (blocked for higher status and those on the same booking as them).
Cannot confirm this but it's based on my experience with QFLink.

 

[juddles]

yeah, bad wording - that is what I meant - should have said blocked "to" not "for"

 

[Conrad_S]

The Dash 8 seating seems to be blocked at OLCI based on status and booking ref. If there are 3 CL or P1 on 3 separate bookings they will be allocated 1c/d and row 2 a/b and c/d. It then rolls back with platinum in the next couple of rows then gold. All status pay travelling alone seem to be allocated with a shadow then they fill the plane from the back. At some point they will then take up the shadows based on status. With golds losing their shadows before platinum and so on. One thing I do see quite regularly is that if I was travelling alone I'd be in the first 2 or three rows. Travelling with my family (3 or 4) of us we are sometimes back in 5, 6 or 7. I suspect this is the loading issue at play.
IMHO the aisle seats are better as they have better legroom. Don't forget to get some tags at the airport for your carry-on if it is a normal domestic size rollaboard as they usually won't fit in the overhead. They just take the at the steps and put them in the hold.

 

[bsb]

I did Mackay recently (with a stop inRocky) on the Dash 8. I liked it because I got great views, which you will in nearly all seats. The Petstar 320 will be quicker but no lounge and no recognition for you, you lucky WP1. I'm WP and got the first row with no one next to me on an otherwise full plane, it was comfortable enough, but the 320 seat will be better. But then again it's Petstar and I'd avoid it and the ensuing zoo, at all costs