JQ - My Positive Experience

[Cruiser Elite]

So JQ suffers the derision of many - Deathstar - coughstar - just to name a few references. Warranted? Justifiable? Maybe - maybe not. I guess you should only form a view from your own personal experiences. I personally have been guilty of uttering 'Never ever again on Jetstar - I am giving them life'. But like most life sentences I hand out they are willingly commuted where $$$s or convenience are involved.

But on a serious nope - I think we are very fortunate in Oz to have 2 x top tier mainstream carriers in QF and VA and we are also very fortunate to have 2 x LCCs in JQ and TT - we all know what competition does to pricing - for everyone's benefit let's hope all 4 of these carriers not only survive but also prosper. Most importantly they are great employers of so many of our Australian workforce.

This week I did experience 2flts on Jetstar - JQ464 MEL-BNK Thu May 25 16:30-18:30 / JQ465 Fri May 26 19:00-21:15. Ret cost was $299 incl 1 x checked bag + exit row 13D seat selection both sector (VA quote was ~$700 same days).

464 pushed back 2mins post dep sch - seat was way more comfortable than I had expected - crew were excellent with their service - a $15 Shiraz & Tapas x 2 saw me arrive about 5mins post arr sch a very happy little vegemite.

465 was delayed 15 mins due to late arr into BNK - same seat 13D and crew again fabulous. Senior pax in 11F had a melt down once airborne and crew were very attentive to her which delayed snack cart somewhat - but no biggie. Ordered the Shiraz & Tapas selection again to be told sorry our of Crackers & Cheese would you like Pringles instead - only slight downer on flt. About to pay the $15 with CC and crew member says I have been issued a comp $10 F & B voucher via my booking - NFI why but tks anyway.

Flt landed 10mins past sch arr and as we were waiting to deplane I asked crew member reason for delay out of MEL - she replied she didn't really know why as all pax on board by sch dep time but she thinks Capt was not happy about some late loading cargo. AS I was chatting to crew member pax in 12C joined in and noted he does JQ465 / JQ464 every 2 weeks and he could not remember the last time any delay greater than a few mins either end.

So all in all an excellent experience - I would not hesitate for 1 min to fly JQ again.

I am sure others have similar positive experiences so please share.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I stayed in Ramada in Ballina and as I was entering elevator on way down to brekky on Fri morn I was joined by 2 x VA Crew Members who relayed to me that they had exp mechanical prob day before and flt delayed until Fri morn dep - kinda ironical I thought6 - but just goes to show these mechanical probs can and do happen to every airline.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Now to T4 at MEL which is where JKQ dep - I just cannot believe all the negativity about T4! In peoples eyes WTF is wrong with it? Admittedly I checked in online with no bag to drop - but there were no long queues at check-in - security line when I entered looked long but by crikey it flowed so quickly - through in like 5-8mins - once airside there is an excellent boozer with plenty seats - there are quite a few shops - Macca / Oporto / Salsa / Cafes - plenty food outlets - yes there is a reasonable walk to gates but jeez if that is a great concern plenty top tier airports around the world have far longer walks.

It is a budget terminal right? Seemed plenty adequate to me for my first experience - did I miss something?

 

[firstclasser]

I actually T4 is the best terminal MLB airport has to offer!! They have a very nice bar with great beer on tap

 

[Must...Fly!]

Compared to the other food options at MEL, T4 has been a nice breath of fresh air when it comes to food, especially down that end of the terminal.

 

[Robert K]

I flew it once and found it to be fine. you get what you paid for.

I do feel sorry for the staff that have to wear those polo shirts for work. Maybe they'll get proper uniforms one day.

 

[RooFlyer]

I actually T4 is the best terminal MLB airport has to offer!! They have a very nice bar with great beer on tap

Personally, I prefer the International terminal with Champagne on demand in the F lounge

Happy to say I've had a couple of good JQ flights, Cruiser; in fact 100% success. Left on time, seat and service OK for an hour flight etc etc. Where JQ gets its bad reputation is when things don't go to plan - the service recovery.

 

[snabbu]

Sub $500 return fares to USA. For me that is positive.

It's not pretty but you get that you pay for, it is what it is.

 

[yohy?!]

Jetstar Japan is really the only way you'll catch me on JQ these days - the extreme manners of pax make the experience far more tolerable throughout (even factoring in things like bus gates).

I won't say no to a sub-$50 domestic flight but with JQ you're always on the lookout for something to go wrong (sadly it does more often than not)

 

[boomy]

What happened Cruiser, did someone hacked your KF and QF accounts and stole all your points?

There are so many fun options to get to BKK and you went for JQ... must admit, didn't see that one coming

Personally, I prefer the International terminal with Champagne on demand in the F lounge

Best way to go there is booking JQd < $100 from Int then have 4 course meal with wines prior to departure

 

[juddles]

What happened Cruiser, did someone hacked your KF and QF accounts and stole all your points?....

What he says.............

 

[Cruiser Elite]

What happened Cruiser, did someone hacked your KF and QF accounts and stole all your points?

There are so many fun options to get to BKK and you went for JQ... must admit, didn't see that one coming

Shoulda gone to SPECSAVERS! I flew MEL-BNK - Ballina!

 

[boomy]

Shoulda gone to SPECSAVERS! I flew MEL-BNK - Ballina!

Ohhh praise the lord, the world makes sense again!

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Ohhh praise the lord, the world makes sense again!

You would make a pr*ck of a detective:
1. How would I get from MEL-BKK in 2hrs - Concorde back in the skies?
2. You really think I could only consume 2 x red MEL-BKK / 1 x red BKK-MEL? Seriously?

 

[boomy]

You would make a pr*ck of a detective:
1. How would I get from MEL-BKK in 2hrs - Concorde back in the skies?
2. You really think I could only consume 2 x red MEL-BKK / 1 x red BKK-MEL? Seriously?

Sorry my bad. Was sitting in traffic jam due to some nasty accident here in BNE, going through the AFF feed I didn't read your post properly.

 

[JohnK]

It's fantastic when you don't have issues and everything goes smoothly.

Would you have been just as happy if they handed you boarding pass for 29E and said take it or leave it?

JQ is ok if nothing goes wrong. I have a number of flights on JQ coming up and will stress before each flight is completed but money is important to me right now so need to suffer for a little while.

 

[benjy]

I've only ever flown QF and JQ. The only issues I expect from JQ are delays, and they have been few and far between. Food service is quick and on time and cabin crew are pleasant.

 

[boomy]

Would you have been just as happy if they handed you boarding pass for 29E and said take it or leave it?

Did you pre-select a seat and got bumped?
Because on JQ you must pay for seats you are actually entitled to insist on getting that seat or similar.

 

[JohnK]

Did you pre-select a seat and got bumped?
Because on JQ you must pay for seats you are actually entitled to insist on getting that seat or similar.

Yes. Both wife and I had seats changed yesterday by firstly moving her and daughter to have a spare seat next to her and then moving me next to her which sort of defeated the purpose of the move in the first place.

I have paid for seats again tomorrow on the reverse journey. I choose to pay for 2 opposite aisles not to sit next to each other in a middle seat.

 

[boomy]

Yes. Both wife and I had seats changed yesterday by firstly moving her and daughter to have a spare seat next to her and then moving me next to her which sort of defeated the purpose of the move in the first place.

If you paid, pre-selected and moved to inferior seats without justified reason I suggest you write them a feedback. At the very least you should get the money paid for your seats back.