BestJet in Administration

[programmerguy]

Jeez, why doesn’t this surprise me!
I worked for BestJet as a programmer. I left as I got sick and tired of being yelled at by Michael James for doing work that he asked for and then him changing his mind. I thought he was the owner of the company as he ran it. His wife never came in, I don’t even know what she looks like. Not long after I left another 2 programmers also walked out. Michael would just sit in his office and shout. We would all hope that he would go home early so we could actually do some work! When they lost their accreditation, he just ran everything from home most of the time.... Wouldn’t surprise me if he has thrown his wife under a bus she didn’t know anything!

 

[Must...Fly!]

Jeez, why doesn’t this surprise me!
I worked for BestJet as a programmer. I left as I got sick and tired of being yelled at by Michael James for doing work that he asked for and then him changing his mind. I thought he was the owner of the company as he ran it. His wife never came in, I don’t even know what she looks like. Not long after I left another 2 programmers also walked out. Michael would just sit in his office and shout. We would all hope that he would go home early so we could actually do some work! When they lost their accreditation, he just ran everything from home most of the time.... Wouldn’t surprise me if he has thrown his wife under a bus she didn’t know anything!

I suspect the relevant government authorities might be interested in this behaviour...

 

[AIRwin]

I worked for BestJet as a programmer.

Welcome to AFF! Thanks for joining and sharing the inside info...

 

[drron]

But 3.5 years ago we were warned here on AFF.
is Bestjet reliable?

Follow the link in Post 2.

 

[Virgin Bart]

So I got an email from VA asking me to update my details so I can get a call from their "pilot partner" - again, whatever the hell that is!

 

[Scott K]

I never saw Rachel James in the Office at all, BestJet was started in 2012 and I only saw Michael James in the Office.

I spoke to Rachel on the phone once. That’s the only time I came across her.

 

[33kft]

Amazing how little teeth ASIC have that this could go on so blatantly without raising red flags/triggering audits.

Seems pointless that they crack down on it now, after the fact.

 

[BAM1748]

That is just outrageous and so dodgy!

What are you surprised. But that's what some business does when then cards are down

 

[williamsf1]

But 3.5 years ago we were warned here on AFF.
is Bestjet reliable?

Follow the link in Post 2.

They also had a 1.5 out of 5 on review sites with many many issues reported

 

[moa999]

But FC has 1.6 on the same site... People rarely leave +ve reviews

 

[Virgin Bart]

Something official from VA: https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/en/bookings/flight-status/travel-alerts/

As a result of Bestjet being placed under administration, guests who have booked Virgin Australia flights through Bestjet may have changes to their booking.

Guests booked through Bestjet for travel on international Virgin Australia flights from 1 February 2019 may be impacted and are advised to contact our Guest Contact Centre on 13 67 89 to check the status of their booking,

We have been advised that guests booked for travel through Bestjet on Virgin Australia flights prior to 1 February 2019, or on domestic flights, should not be impacted.

Virgin Australia has no affiliation with Bestjet, who operate as a third party online travel provider.

 

[cvmceg]

I have a trans tasman trip booked 13th Aug, e ticket received 14th Aug. For travel March 2019.

Will call air NZ...

UPDATE: Went to 'manage booking' on airnz online. booking is there.

Seems promising, but based on reports I will still need to call to check!

Sorry to those who got caught

 

[moa999]

You might be lucky with an Aug booking that it has been paid for.

Big thread on Whirlpool with cancellations from a variety of airlines. From
Bestjet - Air Travel - Travel - Whirlpool Forums

 

[Must...Fly!]

Why do so many people use OTAs. I'll never understand it. Imagine how much lower fares would be direct from the airline, if they didn't have to shell out commission to most of these shonky operations....who then farm out a % of that commission as commission to skyscanner/IWTF/kayak etc etc which they need as without them, no one would even know most of these OTAs exist...

 

[JohnK]

Why do so many people use OTAs. I'll never understand it. Imagine how much lower fares would be direct from the airline....

Zuji and even Expedia had some really good deals for routings one couldn't find/book on QF site. Not so sure about Webjet.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Zuji and even Expedia had some really good deals for routings one couldn't find/book on QF site. Not so sure about Webjet.

Very fair and valid point. At least they're reliable - you wouldn't expect solvency to be an issue there.

 

[dajop]

Very fair and valid point. At least they're reliable - you wouldn't expect solvency to be an issue there.

Expedia yes. Zuji ... no. Zuji Australia long since taken over by bestjet. Elsewhere. .... IATA suspends Zuji's air booking license

 

[moa999]

So Zuji started with Travelocity, then sold to Webjet and then ended with bestjet?

 

[AviationNZ]

So Zuji started with Travelocity, then sold to Webjet and then ended with bestjet?

Bestjet never bought Zuji. They were bought by Webjet from Travelocity, then from there sold to an overseas company (Singaporean from memory).

 

[dajop]

Bestjet never bought Zuji. They were bought by Webjet from Travelocity, then from there sold to an overseas company (Singaporean from memory).

Oops yes I meant Webjet. Confusing. If you go to zuji.com.au it redirects there. Also had zuji.com.hk and zuji.com.sg sites, which are both suspended (temporarily, apparently). In any event just mentioning to illustrate strong brand doesn’t necessarily translate to successful business. Expedia on the other hand seem to be lower risk.