The Jetstar Business Class/Business Max price differential is just absurd

[oz_mark]

Oil companies are getting away with widely varying pricing each week.

Probabluy because there is nothing illegal about it. Qantas telling Malaysia to raise its prices is completely different.

 

[MH_fan]

I don't think we'll see a significant price rise on MH. Look at the price differences between SQ and TG! Anyway, MH will provide a lot of OneWorld customers in Australia a lot more choice (and better prices) for travel to Europe. OneWorld customers will now have one-stop flights from Australia to Amsterdam, Rome and Istanbul in addition to Paris and Frankfurt. They'll also have a choice of stopping over in Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur or HongKong on the way to London! That certainly trumps both StarAlliance and SkyTeam.

 

[dajop]

Qantas don't need to tell MH to do anything. I'm sure, if the new arrangements deliver increased custom/new customers as they would hope (because of the OW linkage and QFs huge customer base in Australia), management would respond to this by increasing prices in accordance with supply/demand(or looking at the other way around, perhaps not increasing prices but curtailing availability of discounted fares). And, to get back on topic, leave the heavy discounting to Jetstar and their Business/Business Max fares from AUS-SIN-wherever in Europe.

 

[Limewood]

As said JQ J is not really business class, but bit more comfortable than Y, for collecting points its a no brainer, we looked at SYD/HNL/SYD in Y on Q were about $2.3K, we booked JQ in J for $2.1K and get stacks more status points.

 

[Hvr]

As said JQ J is not really business class, but bit more comfortable than Y, for collecting points its a no brainer, we looked at SYD/HNL/SYD in Y on Q were about $2.3K, we booked JQ in J for $2.1K and get stacks more status points.

And therein lies the problem. For people who normally travel Y and are chasing status then Jet* is still a viable alternative to QF.

To call is business class is down right insulting to the cachet that is J class. It would ahve been much better retaining the *class title so people would understand exactly what they were getting rather than give them false hope.

I have booked a business MAX trip to SIN in Jan for the FT SIN DO which is also the start of my requalifying for the next year of WP. However, for future years a non-earning fare to Asia for a status run on CX J will definitely be considered.

Also, the denigration of the fare basis means I am less likely to book a trip when on sale as I have done for the previous two years and had a week in BKK. So Jet* has lost money. On neither of those trips was the status cabin full so there is definitely room for lower fares.

I wonder if this is the way of the future? Downgrade the product and call it enhanced? Certainly seems to be the way that the QF/JQ business model is heading. Hopefully this to shall pass.

 

[Robert K]

And therein lies the problem. For people who normally travel Y and are chasing status then Jet* is still a viable alternative to QF.

To call is business class is down right insulting to the cachet that is J class. It would ahve been much better retaining the *class title so people would understand exactly what they were getting rather than give them false hope.

I have booked a business MAX trip to SIN in Jan for the FT SIN DO which is also the start of my requalifying for the next year of WP. However, for future years a non-earning fare to Asia for a status run on CX J will definitely be considered.

Also, the denigration of the fare basis means I am less likely to book a trip when on sale as I have done for the previous two years and had a week in BKK. So Jet* has lost money. On neither of those trips was the status cabin full so there is definitely room for lower fares.

I wonder if this is the way of the future? Downgrade the product and call it enhanced? Certainly seems to be the way that the QF/JQ business model is heading. Hopefully this to shall pass.

It's all semantics anyway. Why do people get so hung up about the name. They could call it 'the most awesomest first class' for all I care.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I have booked a business MAX trip to SIN in Jan for the FT SIN DO which is also the start of my requalifying for the next year of WP. However, for future years a non-earning fare to Asia for a status run on CX J will definitely be considered.

Also, the denigration of the fare basis means I am less likely to book a trip when on sale as I have done for the previous two years and had a week in BKK. So Jet* has lost money. On neither of those trips was the status cabin full so there is definitely room for lower fares.

Or you could look at an MH SC/points earning fare ex Aust to Asia to position for a CX ex Asia/Aust/Asia return fare or mileage run within Asia on CX.

I don't think we'll see a significant price rise on MH. Look at the price differences between SQ and TG! Anyway, MH will provide a lot of OneWorld customers in Australia a lot more choice (and better prices) for travel to Europe. OneWorld customers will now have one-stop flights from Australia to Amsterdam, Rome and Istanbul in addition to Paris and Frankfurt. They'll also have a choice of stopping over in Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur or HongKong on the way to London! That certainly trumps both StarAlliance and SkyTeam.

A while back MH would include a free side trip within Malaysia on selected airfares - I think if your destination was Europe or North America. It may have even included SIN but I'm not sure if it included other destinations within Asia. It gave you more alternatives for a stopover on the way to/from Europe or the US eg Kota Kinabalu, Penang or Langkawi.

I've been wondering myself about this very subject. I quite like the MH product in J international and a cheapy Y domestic MH flight. The service is excellent, planes newish, food good, IFE OK and with a bit of shopping around thousands can be cut off the QF price to Europe by flying MH. I've really enjoyed two return J trips on MH in the last year, one to KUL and one to CDG.

However with QF sponsoring MH's entry into OW I would like to know what MH will be required to do for QF in return. Bumped up prices for example?

It's not like MH compete directly with QF/JQ by flying non-stop to SIN as you'd have to go via KUL. One thing's for sure it will be cheaper to fly ex PER to the USA or Europe compared to the Eastern States as PER/KUL only 5 hours compared to 7ish from SYD/MEL etc.

Some interesting sectors MH fly are:

a) KUL via TPE to LAX
b) KUL via STO to EWR (gives another OW option trans-Atlantic besides AA or BA)
c) KUL to BUE via JNB & CPT

 

[dajop]

b) KUL via STO to EWR (gives another OW option trans-Atlantic besides AA or BA)

Not quite. They suspended this service in 2009, and it hasn't been reinstated.

 

[MH_fan]

Some interesting sectors MH fly are:

a) KUL via TPE to LAX
b) KUL via STO to EWR (gives another OW option trans-Atlantic besides AA or BA)
c) KUL to BUE via JNB & CPT

MH stopped flying to EWR via STO last year or the year before.

I'm not sure if that free side trip for flights between Australia and Europe still exist but it involved staying at one of their arranged hotels, whch was more expensive compared to you arranging accommodation yourself.

 

[travelislife]

Interesting email from Jetstar today with their latest sale fares. As an example:

Melbourne to Tokyo 'Business Sale Fare' = $673.00
Melbourne to Tokyo 'Business Max' = $1710!! :shock:

But the real interesting bit was the terms and conditions at the bottom (copied and pasted from email):

Business Class fares include:
(please note that Business Max fares are not on sale)

• Dedicated check-in.
• Comfy wide leather seats with lots of leg room.
• 30kg checked baggage allowance.
• Special cabin with dedicated staff
• Business meals, refreshments and entertainment included
• Qantas Frequent Flyers earn points and Status credits on eligible flights.*
• Access to departure lounges (Business Max only)

Must just be slip up by not putting the Business Max bit only on the FF and Status Credits bit. The * only relates to the passenger being a member of the QFF program to receive points.

The price differential is absolutely absurd though!

 

[Austman]

Business Class fares include:

• Qantas Frequent Flyers earn points and Status credits on eligible flights.*
• Access to departure lounges (Business Max only)

Noticed that too! Frequent Flyer points and Status credits for the non Max fares. We can only hope it will come true one day.

 

[richie9x]

Interesting email from Jetstar today with their latest sale fares. As an example:

Melbourne to Tokyo 'Business Sale Fare' = $673.00
Melbourne to Tokyo 'Business Max' = $1710!! :shock:

...

The price differential is absolutely absurd though!

It seems strange that they don't have the sale on the Max fare as well. Surely the only two benefits of Business Max have a fixed cost, of course varying per destination. So for example they could make max +100 of the business fare. You would have to be mad to choose the Business Max fare.

 

[whiteshark]

As a platinum FF i pay for max and get only the points. ie lounge...etc is already covered by my membership grade. Come on Qantas, sort it out you fools are pissing off loyal customers.

 

[pauly7]

As a platinum FF i pay for max and get only the points. ie lounge...etc is already covered by my membership grade. Come on Qantas, sort it out you fools are pissing off loyal customers.

It's actually Jetstar refusing to pay that is the issue.

 

[Awesom Andy]

It's actually Jetstar refusing to pay that is the issue.

Jetstar - a Qantas group airline, but only when it suits.

 

[whughes3]

As a platinum FF i pay for max and get only the points. ie lounge...etc is already covered by my membership grade. Come on Qantas, sort it out you fools are pissing off loyal customers.

What are you saying...that Gold/Platinum/QC members should get a discount on all J fares (presumably also on QF) because they already have lounge access anyway? I think that suggestion would make the proverbial "lead balloon" look downright buoyant...

 

[bossreggie]

What are you saying...that Gold/Platinum/QC members should get a discount on all J fares (presumably also on QF) because they already have lounge access anyway? I think that suggestion would make the proverbial "lead balloon" look downright buoyant...

I can't speak for Awesome Andy but I agreed with his post.

If you have status anyway and therefore lounge access even in Y, it seems a bit unfair to have to pay so much more just for the points and SC's.


Sent from my iPad using AustFreqFly App

 

[wilco]

Noticed that too! Frequent Flyer points and Status credits for the non Max fares. We can only hope it will come true one day.

Note the asterisk!! Eligible flights only, ie: business max.

Cheeky sods!!

With the Y fares you can bundle points and SC's for as little as $20 domestically, so I just don't see how they can justify more than double for international starclass.

 

[rockyroad]

It seems strange that they don't have the sale on the Max fare as well. Surely the only two benefits of Business Max have a fixed cost, of course varying per destination. So for example they could make max +100 of the business fare. You would have to be mad to choose the Business Max fare.

Gone are the days of low cost QF SCs via *Class. Remember paying $650 for 120 SCs, Price is now $899. Still the lowest $/SC ($7.49 / SC) out of Oz that I know of.

 

[markis10]

Gone are the days of low cost QF SCs via *Class. Remember paying $650 for 120 SCs, Price is now $899. Still the lowest $/SC ($7.49 / SC) out of Oz that I know of.

Nope, the good old NAN run nets 360 SC for circa $1700.