Why JetStar

[moa999]

Because the demise of QF is assisted greatly by the "rise" of JQ

JQ has not allowed QF to survive at all, rather, the complete opposite

I disagree with that.
Without JQ, one of the other global LCCs mentioned above what have set up shop here, and they would have impacted QF far harder and more quickly than JQ has.

The collapse of Ansett gave QFdomestic 10yrs of limited competition and hid that it is not competitive. That torch is now shining brightly.

 

[serfty]

The Australian based Jetstar employees work under the old Impulse umbrella.

Their earnings are based significantly less beneficial terms of employment then those of their Qantas counterparts.

 

[N860CR]

Personally, and of course you're free to disagree, I do believe that if I step onto an Australian aeroplane run by an Australian airline operating from Australia it is not unreasonable to expect Australian crew paid Australian wages. I'm not concerned about "young Thais" not having a job... This is an issue for Thailand. This has simply been a way to replace fair Australian labour cost with cheap labour from Asia. I think the opinions would be very different if we were flying in $350 per month staff to work in our mines.

Actions like this by big companies (importing cheap labour) is going to reduce the quality of life of Australians. There will come a point where we simply import everything cheaply from Asia... But then what do the rest of us do.

As I said, I'm all about a fair wage for a far job, and that's why we live so well in this country.

And it's only the lucky Jetstar staff on the impulse contact... There are now new contracts on ever poorer terms.

 

[lovestotravel]

I disagree with that.
Without JQ, one of the other global LCCs mentioned above what have set up shop here, and they would have impacted QF far harder and more quickly than JQ has.

The collapse of Ansett gave QFdomestic 10yrs of limited competition and hid that it is not competitive. That torch is now shining brightly.

QFd is fine as a standalone entity
JQ has/is draining all the cash out of QF Group

Tiger hasn't done much to anyone
Virgin has gone upmarket to impact Qantas

Only a certain group of people want to fly LCC such as Tiger and JQ

 

[TomVexille]

Only a certain group of people want to fly LCC such as Tiger and JQ

The group who used to travel with Greyhound?

 

[amaroo]

<snip>

Only a certain group of people want to fly LCC such as Tiger and JQ

Interesting comment. I've met many groups/types on my numerous J* flights......families enjoying a holiday, business types and FIFO doing commuting, singles/couples participating in sporting events, kids on school excursions, total randoms that have joined me in the QF Flounge for their next flight, quite a few well known actors and TV presenters, CEOs/MDs and a couple of top 10 company Chairman of the board.

All types - fly all airlines!

 

[Alanslegal]

I love Jetstar ....... regardless of all the bad names (OneStar, Death Star, Orange Cancer etc) people can throw at it

I am very grateful for Jetstar; have been able to visit the QF F lounge multiple times on SYD-MEL-SYD runs, they flew me to HNL four times with them over the past six years, took me to other destinations in the same period of time that include DPS,HKT,KIX,NAN,AKL and various 3K destinations too.

Keep 'em coming Jetstar. I am still waiting for them to open up new routes and destinations. Hopefully after QF's big 27/02 announcement that they will aquire a few A380's and get rights to fly straight to LAS. That is a perfect route in my opinion for those leisure travellers.

 

[Fruitcake]

No. Virgin Blue was never an LCC - it was launched as a 'new age' (I think was Bransons term) carrier and combined LCC and full carrier features and has gradually moved up market.

My recollection is that DJ was quite proud to be a low cost carrier at its launch and for quite some time afterward. The "New World Carrier" moniker only came about in 2005. (http://www.virginaustralia.com/au/en/about-us/media/2005/VB_ANNOUNCES_BIRTH_WORLD_CAPA/)

I also don't recall any "full carrier features" in the original DJ other than assigned seating - although ironically enough with monetisation of assigned seating it is becoming a key LCC profit centre!

 

[boomy]

I also don't recall any "full carrier features" in the original DJ other than assigned seating - although ironically enough with monetisation of assigned seating it is becoming a key LCC profit centre!

You could earn points and status (up to Gold) and use the points to fly to HKG or LHR. They also had lounges.

 

[Fruitcake]

You could earn points and status (up to Gold) and use the points to fly to HKG or LHR. They also had lounges.

Not at launch though - the "Blue Rooms" didn't open until 2003 and I'm not familiar with any points program until Velocity started in 2005.

The facepainting, however, used to be free - I don't think QF has ever offered complimentary face painting .

 

[boomy]

What I do find interesting is the suggestion that JQ is reducing the quality of life for Australians, is there any examples that provide proof to this, or is it just conjecture?

If anything, it only improved the quality of life of many Australians. I know many people who can afford traveling more often using cheap J* rates.

 

[dajop]

I also don't recall any "full carrier features" in the original DJ other than assigned seating - although ironically enough with monetisation of assigned seating it is becoming a key LCC profit centre!

Not just a key LCC profit centre.... legacy carriers do it as well (QF, BA, others ..).

 

[drron]

Sometimes there is really nothing better.My local airport is MCY.Tomorrow VA have 1 departure for SYD and 1 for MEL.TT have 1 for MEL.JQ have 3 for SYD and 2 for MEL.
So often much more convenient to use JQ.And as amaroo alluded if a Sydney businessman/woman has some business on the Sunny Coast the only choice for a day trip is JQ.

 

[boomy]

On long haul flights I will avoid JQ at (almost) any cost, but when flights in the "golden triangle" reach almost $300 one way with QF and JQ is less then half price (same route, same time) I will choose JQ. I can survive flying 1 hour on LCC (with the help of a few drinks in the lounge before departure)

 

[knasty]

Whatever you think of Jetstar it increases competition which is a good thing in my view. I choose not to fly Tiger but I am very happy they operate as I can often get great price beat deals with Jetstar

 

[Steelo]

Whatever you think of Jetstar it increases competition which is a good thing in my view. I choose not to fly Tiger but I am very happy they operate as I can often get great price beat deals with Jetstar

I agree - some people have short memories - do you remember the prices on QF before the LCC started. Its all about choice - and good luck to those who can afford to fly more often because we have such choices.

 

[dajop]

On long haul flights I will avoid JQ at (almost) any cost,

Comparing in economy - travelling on QF A330 vs JQ A330, the difference onboard is barely noticeable, and for the perks including plus package on the JQ fare makes IFE and extra drinks the main difference (ameliorated by refillable water bottle and ipad). Having said that, since QF tied up with EK and put A330 on MEL/SIN the QF pricing on that route (ex-SIN in general, or ex-MEL using expedia.com.br) is usually is better than JQ, once factoring in luggage cost and the value (in myer/woolies vouchers) of QFF points earnt- with the added advantage of superior timing, IFE and meals on EK codeshares.

 

[samh004]

I think the principle reason was to pay their staff a lower wage. They realised long ago that they couldn't do that under the existing structure. I don't see this reason as being evil though, because some of the wages I have heard the more senior crew members get paid is quite frankly, outrageous. Despite a lot of questionable decisions, crew who are being paid in the 6 figures should feel responsible if things fold.

All that said, if you fly Jetstar expecting nothing, you can sometimes be nicely surprised. When you fly them expecting good service, that's where you're going to be disappointed. It's unfortunate that what they have created is almost a polar opposite to Qantas sometimes in terms of looking after customers. Somewhere in the middle, there's a sweet spot they need to hit to bring wages to a level that works for both sides (management and staff) and looks after the customer well enough to foster loyalty.

 

[Hvr]

I think the principle reason was to pay their staff a lower wage. They realised long ago that they couldn't do that under the existing structure. I don't see this reason as being evil though, because some of the wages I have heard the more senior crew members get paid is quite frankly, outrageous. Despite a lot of questionable decisions, crew who are being paid in the 6 figures should feel responsible if things fold.

<snip> .

And what about management who are being paid seven figure sums and have clearly failed?

Oh and given you seem to have a good knowledge of what some crew members are paid, what do you think is a fair wage? And why are their current wages outrageous?

 

[samh004]

And what about management who are being paid seven figure sums and have clearly failed?

Oh and given you seem to have a good knowledge of what some crew members are paid, what do you think is a fair wage? And why are their current wages outrageous?

I have no clue, but I can't imagine legacy wages in the 6 figures are competitive. And this is only from what people have told me, I've heard things... have you not?

I'll grant that execs need to be given massive pay cuts too... that's a no brainer, but that wasn't the reason they created Jetstar. They simply wanted to start from scratch with a contract that wasn't absurd.

I'd say their current (going by what I've been told) wages are outrageous as they make the airline uncompetitive with their neighbours.

Is their a link somewhere to how much crew from SIA are paid, how much EK are paid, how much ANZ (closest neighbours) are paid, and then how much QF are paid? That'd be helpful. Oh, and to keep this on topic, how much JQ staff are paid