Changes to the Starter Max Bundle

[samh004]

I just got a Jetstar Trade Mail to highlight some changes coming to the Starter Max Bundle after October 12th. In summary, it appears the Starter Max Bundle will be cheaper? The change deadline will also be prior to check-in opening time and a refund will only come in the form of a voucher. I'm not sure how much of a change this is, but I would imagine if I bought a completely flexible ticket I would want my money back, not a voucher, if cancelled... so that's not great!

Dear Trade Partner,

Jetstar has recently made some changes to the Starter Max Bundle.

Changes can be defined as follows:

1) Increased availability: The Starter Max Bundle will be more readily available at a competitive price​

2) Fare Rule Changes: The Change Deadline for cancellation is now prior to check-in opening time* for the scheduled flight. The form of refund will now be a Jetstar Voucher and no refund fee will apply.

The changes outlined will only impact the Starter Max Bundle purchased through WEB/API channels.
For bookings made prior to October 12th, existing fare conditions will apply.

Starter Max bundles purchased via the GDS channel will be subject to existing fare conditions. Please refer to your GDS fare rules for more information.

Note: This advice is applicable for the Starter Max bundle only. The Business Max Bundle remains unchanged.

Regards,
The Jetstar Sales Team

*Check-in opening time is 2 hours prior to the scheduled flight for Domestic and 3 hours prior to the scheduled flight for International

 

[oz_mark]

I just got a Jetstar Trade Mail to highlight some changes coming to the Starter Max Bundle after October 12th. In summary, it appears the Starter Max Bundle will be cheaper? The change deadline will also be prior to check-in opening time and a refund will only come in the form of a voucher. I'm not sure how much of a change this is, but I would imagine if I bought a completely flexible ticket I would want my money back, not a voucher, if cancelled... so that's not great!

Interesting. Just had a look at some Starter Max prices, and they do seem to be lower than I remember them. Certainly may tempt me next time I fly Jetstar.

As for completely flexible - I am not sure any economy tickets in Australia are truly fully flex any more...

 

[samh004]

Interesting. Just had a look at some Starter Max prices, and they do seem to be lower than I remember them. Certainly may tempt me next time I fly Jetstar.

I can never seem to go past JQ57, so had a look at an upcoming flight for this Tuesday, 24th October. The difference between a Plus and Max bundle was $40!!

QF wants $200 for all discount Economy flights and $508 for all flex Economy flights that day. That's between 15 and 30 SC.

JQ wants $184 for the Max bundle, giving 30 SC, F lounge if you're WP and upfront seating (something you won't get on QF).

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

A few months ago I had an email from the Jetstar Advisor Panel ( I didn’t know I was selected as a member, so not just Qantas have these it seems) with open questions and input encouraged on suggestions to improve the JQ fare structures.

I’ll have to say I certainly did make reference to the ridiculous price points of “Max bundles”, when on many occasions two passengers could ticket on a “starter plus” fare lower than one passenger on a Economy “max bundle” .

Maybe the penny has dropped!

So I have Just done some dummy bookings on MEL > NTL ( the route I travel the most domestically ) and the “max” bundle has indeed dropped in price to + $95, which earns 20 SC and 1200 QFF points instead of 10 SC and 800 QFF points for a “starter plus” fare ( based on being QF platinum) free seat selection of all seats, and a 30 kg baggage allowance.

If these max bundle fares are indeed priced this way moving forward, I would certainly seriously consider paying for max bundle fares in the future.

On the MEL > HNL route, The Starter plus bundle is +$99 on top of starter fare, the Max bundle, is +$180 on top of the starter fare which is a vast improvement of previous fare structures, and with quite a bounty of additional points & SC. Ie: 9000 QFF points + 45 SC V 12,000 QFF points + 70 SC ( based on QF WP status or higher) this fare type is seriously worth considering.

Whilst Jetstar certainly doesn’t provide the same product as Qantas to the Aloha state, these changes are certainly food for thought.

 

[samh004]

Whilst Jetstar certainly doesn’t provide the same product as Qantas to the Aloha state, these changes are certainly food for thought.

I would certainly consider a Max bundle on all fares now, as the premium seating combined with better earn rates make it very compelling. Rare that such an enhancement is good!

 

[Deleted member]

I have only ever used the business max bundle. It seems to be reasonable value for what it provides.

 

[Pleb Status]

If you are going for a bundle, the Max is definitely the go now. Using the PBG is still far cheaper when booking 3K however.

For a possible upcoming flight -

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

If you are going for a bundle, the Max is definitely the go now. Using the PBG is still far cheaper when booking 3K however.

For a possible upcoming flight -
View attachment 108761

That example is a very good one that highlights how Max bundles are now seriously worth taking up.

 

[Jacques Vert]

A few months ago I had an email from the Jetstar Advisor Panel ( I didn’t know I was selected as a member, so not just Qantas have these it seems) with open questions and input encouraged on suggestions to improve the JQ fare structures.

If you get the chance again, perhaps you could take up the pricing of their business class.

I have only ever used the business max bundle. It seems to be reasonable value for what it provides.

I've always thought that they should have three options for business (similar to the economy fares). The business max includes everything including flexibility, points & SCs, refunds, etc. The basic business fare doesn't. If they had a business fare in between (like the PLUS bundle), which included points and SCs but not fully flexible and no/limited refunds, then it would be a goer for those of us wanting to fly business on holidays, etc., where the need to cancel/change at the last minute is not required.

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

If you get the chance again, perhaps you could take up the pricing of their business class.



I've always thought that they should have three options for business (similar to the economy fares). The business max includes everything including flexibility, points & SCs, refunds, etc. The basic business fare doesn't. If they had a business fare in between (like the PLUS bundle), which included points and SCs but not fully flexible and no/limited refunds, then it would be a goer for those of us wanting to fly business on holidays, etc., where the need to cancel/change at the last minute is not required.

I’m receiving emails quite regularly seekingfeedback on all matter of things regarding Jetstar at the moment. If
any questionnaires comes up regarding Business class I would be happy to provide feedback such as the example you just provided on where J class ticket options could be improved.

 

[jetpack]

I bought my first ever max bundle today thanks to this thread. I otherwise wouldn't have picked up that I could double my SC earn.

 

[wandering_fred]

Got an email highlighting a Jetstar "return free" offer - Ends in about 48 hours.....

Happy wandering
Fred

 

[wandering_fred]

Seems the jetstar web servers are a bit "overwhelmed"......... at the moment

Happy wandering
Fred

 

[ChrisDPom]

Being Bali based, I fly Jetstar quite a bit (connecting flights for Asia to Europe and back to Perth).

This change is going to help me make Gold again this year (especially after Qantas disallowed SCs & Points on a Cathay return & 2 Malaysian returns to London, as the category of booking did not apply - which you cannot tell when initially booking on Cathay and Malaysian!!).

I usually just take the Plus bundle for 25SC's and 20kg luggage costing $65 as the Max Bundle was a further $200 per leg on top.

The Max bundle allows use of the private lounge in Denpasar (which you cannot use otherwise on a Jetstar flight even if Gold or Platinum).

The lounge is basic can get crowded when a Chinese flight or 2 is departing, but its a good place to have a drink and recharge a phone.

Just be aware, if you want to take maximum luggage on a Jetstar Bali flight (40kg), the cost difference for the final 20kg on the Plus bundle or 10kg on the max bundle is quite high (a way to claw back their "discount").

So if the Mrs gets carried away with her Bali shopping, it can be a bit ouch on the max luggage top up.

 

[justinbrett]

Who's confident that the Starter Max bundle will keep earning Flex Y QF SCs? I'm not.