Jetstar participation in Qantas Group and One World - when it suits

[here2go]

All

I've posted on this issue before (Why can't I book a Jetstar-Finnair on the same PNR ex Darwin), but it would appear that Jetstar aren't delivering on their promises of loading flights into the GDS for the Northern Winter (presumably through QF Codeshare). Last month, they promised the AustFreqFlyer community that it would happen around ten days after my previous thread.

However, this just isn't happening in the timely fashion promised through Twitter. The flights are available for purchase Point to Point on the Jetstar webstie, and are scheduled at least as far as mid-January 2013. So why not publish the fares on the GDS and get the extra cash upfront sitting in their bank account coming through their much vaunted cooperation with One World as soon as possible? (Media Release- Jetstar reaches across the globe with oneworld)

Can anybody think of a good reason why Jetstar is withholding the release of Codeshare Flights? Does anybody know when they will actually be loading the QF Codeshares?

Here in Darwin, and I'm sure in Cairns too, it is annoying Travel Agents and Passengers wanting to book their Christmas Holidays like their relatives and friends in south. Currently, the only options are:
a) Risk connection in Singapore through delays in customs and presenting bags, with Insurance unlikely to cover the rebooking fee if the stopover is less than six hours.
b) long, dear, and unnecessarily environmentally damaging detours via southern capitals
c) even more expensive Silkair/Virgin direct (cheaper to fly via DRW-MEL-SIN) with often very long stopover times.
d) 24 hour plus stopover in Singapore or tricky overnight trip through Bali with extra accommodation fees.

Personally, I'm keen to know when JQ will have the Codeshare loaded for departures 15 December to 11 Jan so I can stop hassling my travel agent and give her some money after the hard work she's done for me.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Here in Darwin, and I'm sure in Cairns too, it is annoying Travel Agents and Passengers wanting to book their Christmas Holidays like their relatives and friends in south. Currently, the only options are:

a) Risk connection in Singapore through delays in customs and presenting bags, with Insurance unlikely to cover the rebooking fee if the stopover is less than six hours.
b) long, dear, and unnecessarily environmentally damaging detours via southern capitals
c) even more expensive Silkair/Virgin direct (cheaper to fly via DRW-MEL-SIN) with often very long stopover times.
d) 24 hour plus stopover in Singapore or tricky overnight trip through Bali with extra accommodation fees.

Personally, I'm keen to know when JQ will have the Codeshare loaded for departures 15 December to 11 Jan so I can stop hassling my travel agent and give her some money after the hard work she's done for me.

Although on the JQ website (link below) it says if your connecting flights are on the one ticket they offer baggage connections to AY & other carriers but I believe there's others who have posted on AFF being surprised when JQ have asked them at checkin if what their final destination was & proceeded to add those flights in (booked in a separate pnr) so the bags have been tagged through to HEL or beyond on AY.

What fare has the travel agent quoted you for the DRW/Europe/DRW airfare?

I wouldn't be at all surprised if you could do it cheaper yourself by booking a cheapie on the JQ website for the DRW/SIN/DRW then look at booking AY separately ex SIN to Europe & back.

Why not have a one night stopover in SIN at least on the way over so if JQ is late you don't have to worry about a missed connection. On the way back it's probably not as crucial as AY are quite reliable & I'd be a lot more confident of them taking charge in a disrupt situation & being able to get you all the way back to DRW. I would think that AY could check your bags through to JQ but make sure you allow plenty of time in SIN (or stopover on the way back) if you had to collect your bags & recheck for the SIN/DRW flight.

Flight Connections | Jetstar

We are pleased to offer baggage connections with selected Qantas and interline partner flights. If your connecting flights are on one ticket, we offer baggage connections between international services with for the following airline partners:

 

[yohy?!]

Doesn't seem surprising that they aren't in a hurry to encourage through-fares where they take the risk of missed connections and the additional costs this would entail.

 

[here2go]

The fare we have been quoted is irrelevant, as much of our travel is in Finland, so AY work out to be the best value. Timing is tight due to one of us being a school teacher. We don't have a final quote yet as DRW-SIN not viable concern, but JQ will be tacked on to the fare. If it was just my partner and I, we'd probably do things differently, but with two small kids, the thought of risking a failed connection due to being forced to clear customs not worth it. The airlines and travel agent don't advise it, and JQ is unreliable enough courtesy of Indonesian volcanoes and funky freight demands to warrant single PNR. Return journey we'll definitely have a stopover, so we'd be happy to have that on a separate ticket.

 

[markis10]

All

I've posted on this issue before (Why can't I book a Jetstar-Finnair on the same PNR ex Darwin), but it would appear that Jetstar aren't delivering on their promises of loading flights into the GDS for the Northern Winter (presumably through QF Codeshare). Last month, they promised the AustFreqFlyer community that it would happen around ten days after my previous thread.

However, this just isn't happening in the timely fashion promised through Twitter. The flights are available for purchase Point to Point on the Jetstar webstie, and are scheduled at least as far as mid-January 2013. So why not publish the fares on the GDS and get the extra cash upfront sitting in their bank account coming through their much vaunted cooperation with One World as soon as possible? (Media Release- Jetstar reaches across the globe with oneworld)

Your reading too much into the press release in an effort to make it match your requirements, JQ have never said they will offer codeshares to One World partners for sale on a single PNR, they are simply adding their flights into the booking bucket for the various one world air passes. If you want to go to Europe you can book it now if it's a DONE4.

 

[serfty]

... If you want to go to Europe you can book it now if it's a DONE4.

Interesting, that implies the codeshares have indeed been loaded already.

Posted on a wing and a prayer ...

 

[markis10]

Interesting, that implies the codeshares have indeed been loaded already.

Posted on a wing and a prayer ...

Yes they are loaded:




Although I suspect this will change as JQ are dropping CNS-DRW to three times a week which normally then goes to SIN.

 

[serfty]

For DRW-HEL searches, I can select from DRW-SIN (JQ/QF*JQcodeshare) options on qantas.com for July, but not for December.

Same with the oneworld booking tool.

~Christmas is where here2go is looking to travel.

 

[here2go]

Thanks serfty - have just woken up and confirming that nothing has changed overnight. Interestingly, JQ are not even appearing on the Qantas website for December as a point to point, which it was before.
markis10 CNS-DRW is being dropped from daily to three times a week, but QF271 will only refer to the DRW-SIN sector of JQ61 ex MEL. The CNS-DRW sector of the three remaining flights will have a different Codeshare Number (QF5062 from what @QantasCustomerCare advised on twitter, but they have been known to misrepresent themselves.)

 

[markis10]

For DRW-HEL searches, I can select from DRW-SIN (JQ/QF*JQcodeshare) options on qantas.com for July, but not for December.

Same with the oneworld booking tool.

~Christmas is where here2go is looking to travel.

I am seeing the codeshares loaded until Nov 30 which is well and truly in the NW timeframe, but not in December. I feel sorry for DRW folks, with Silk Air being the only full service airline that flies internationally without the need to visit another Australian port first!

 

[here2go]

I have no problem with Silkair - except that to put them on the one ticket we're looking at $11,000 for the privilege per passenger (multiply that with kids). We are looking at Silkair/Virgin and killing time in Singapore on the way over, but the value for money is not there. We're looking $1250-1450 per pax return with them. For the cost of a meal there with JQ, and the fact we want to just sleep return (and yes, we'll be in economy) Silkair is just not worth the money for a flight that is slightly longer than DRW-MEL.

 

[dfcatch]

Here2go - whilst I share the lack of love for JQ (and personally feel they should be cut loose and left to survive with their own resources)....

As a CNS resident - I have embraced the SYD/MEL/BNE connection when traveling OS.

The path of least resistance is for you to do the same.

Then all your problems are solved.

IMHO - a SYD transit is less taxing on the blood pressure than any JQ interaction!

 

[ozbeachbabe]

The fare we have been quoted is irrelevant, as much of our travel is in Finland, so AY work out to be the best value. Timing is tight due to one of us being a school teacher. We don't have a final quote yet as DRW-SIN not viable concern, but JQ will be tacked on to the fare. If it was just my partner and I, we'd probably do things differently, but with two small kids, the thought of risking a failed connection due to being forced to clear customs not worth it. The airlines and travel agent don't advise it, and JQ is unreliable enough courtesy of Indonesian volcanoes and funky freight demands to warrant single PNR. Return journey we'll definitely have a stopover, so we'd be happy to have that on a separate ticket.

1. Maybe you're not fussed how much you pay for your tickets but for many people on AFF paying the best possible price would be extremely relevant so I will rephrase the question: have you compared the cost of buying two separate tickets DRW/SIN/DRW on JQ & SIN/HEL/SIN on AY to the airfare on one ticket DRW JQ x/SIN AY HEL AY SIN JQ DRW?

2. You don't necessarily have to clear customs just because you have separate pnrs. As I said in my original post there are people on AFF who have had 2 separate pnrs whereby JQ have through checked their bags to their final destination saving them the hassle of clearing customs in SIN. You could probably even web check with AY for the SIN/HEL flight or get your AY boarding passes from the transit desk in SIN which is airside ie you don't need to clear customs.

3. Being booked on the one pnr will not stop you missing your AY connecting flight if JQ is delayed for other reasons eg flight late in from downline port, DRW airport being closed if there is an afternoon thunderstorm which can happen often in the wet season. Also in the wet season flights will be required to carry more fuel for holding & alternate destinations in case of diversion etc which means it's even more some peoples' bags are likely to get left behind due to weight restrictions on the A321 or A320. Even if JQ do have to rebook you it won't do much good if the AY flights are full just before Xmas so for that reason I would staying one night in SIN on the way over.

4. If we're talking about volcanoes whether Indonesian, Chilean or Icelandic, any disruption to airline schedules whether JQ or otherwise should not be minconstrued as unreliability as it is a safety issue which affects all airlines not just JQ.

Several friends of mine in DRW holidayed in Europe recently all of whom booked JQ $99.00 one way specials DRW/SIN/DRW then bought separate tickets ex SIN to Europe directly on the websites of the carriers below:

a) EK SIN/xDXB/ATH return
b) TG SIN/xBKK/ATH return
c) LH SIN/xFRA/FCO return

The SIN/Europe return flights about were all about AUD1100.00 return including taxes. None of them booked through fares DRW/Europe though travel agents. Note that if you book through an NT travel agent and they go bankrupt you won't be covered as travel agents in the NT do not have to be in the Travel Compensation Fund.

 

[here2go]

OzBeachBabe. I have my reasons for wanting to book on those dates, and we are getting a very good deal ex Singapore. We're going through an agent in Brisbane, so we're not impacted by the shambles of the NTG's refusal to legislate entry to the Travel Compensation Fund.
Jetstar have advised me that flights will only be checked through using QF Codeshare, and will be made available, "After Easter" so while your friends may have been lucky, I'll stick with the single PNR with QF numbers, and that way we're not going to be footing the bill for missed connections, and twiddle my thumbs in the meantime.
With a failed connection being a foreseeable possibility (flying around mildly active volcanoes, storms in Darwin, etc) and tightness of turnaround en route to Europe, insurance is unlikely to cover it either.

I will let everybody know when JQ Post the fares.

 

[travelislife]

The issue as here2go and I have discussed in another thread I that of insurance for flights on seperate PNRs, noone seems to have a product they have used before which raises the risk significantly.

 

[Timtammi]

I've had JQ check my bags through when I had another ticket on a separate PNR.
I booked one way MEL-BKK with JQ (*class or what they now call Business) and then AY BKK-HEL-FCO. I fully expected to have to collect bags and clear customs in BKK before rechecking but JQ offered (I did not ask!) to check my bags all the way through when I checked in at MEL for the JQ flight. They simply asked me where I was going after BKK (as my flight with them was one way) and when I told them/showed them my ticket said they could check it all the way to FCO. I was pretty surprised and pleased! Bags made it too.
Of course, YMMV.

Cheers

Timmi

 

[here2go]

QF271 is up for December now, but my travel said it is pricing at $1000, which makes Silkair attractive as point to point. Have to wait for the return to be posted to see what the GDS comes back with in terms of a Single Finnair price to Darwin now.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

[h=4]Interline partners[/h]We are pleased to offer baggage connections with selected Qantas and interline partner flights. If your connecting flights are on one ticket, we offer baggage connections between international services with for the following airline partners:

Flight Connections | Jetstar

Note that on the JQ website it specifies that they offer flight connections to other carriers which includes AY if on the one ticket, which is not the same thing as being booked in the same pnr.

If you are doing separate tickets SIN/HEL/SIN on AY whether you book your DRW/SIN/DRW flights direct on the JQ website or pay more to book the same flights as a QF codeshare flight through the QLD travel agent via a GDS, neither of those options will result in all of your flights being issued on the same ticket. In other words booking a your flights DRW/SIN/DRW under a QF codeshare flight number would be a fruitless exercise.

Jetstar have advised me that flights will only be checked through using QF Codeshare, and will be made available, "After Easter" so while your friends may have been lucky, I'll stick with the single PNR with QF numbers, and that way we're not going to be footing the bill for missed connections, and twiddle my thumbs in the meantime.

With a failed connection being a foreseeable possibility (flying around mildly active volcanoes, storms in Darwin, etc) and tightness of turnaround en route to Europe, insurance is unlikely to cover it either.

I will let everybody know when JQ Post the fares.

In the even of a JQ delay resulting in you missing your AY connection what would you do if JQ say "you'll have to sort it out with Finnair direct as we'll only rebook your connecting flights if they're on the same ticket". I would be asking Finnair what happens if your JQ flight is delayed ie what is the penalty for changing your AY flights on the day to a different day. Do not rely on JQ rebooking your whole itinerary you will be on your own.

Forget what you are told by Jetstar res as the answers you get given over the phone are by people who have probably had zero operational experience at airports. If that was the case then Timtammi would not have had their bags checked through on different pnrs.

I've had JQ check my bags through when I had another ticket on a separate PNR. I booked one way MEL-BKK with JQ (*class or what they now call Business) and then AY BKK-HEL-FCO. I fully expected to have to collect bags and clear customs in BKK before rechecking but JQ offered (I did not ask!) to check my bags all the way through when I checked in at MEL for the JQ flight.

They simply asked me where I was going after BKK (as my flight with them was one way) and when I told them/showed them my ticket said they could check it all the way to FCO. I was pretty surprised and pleased! Bags made it too. Of course, YMMV.

JQ also contract different companies to handle their checkin at airports in Australia so whoever does it in MEL may have a different interpretation of the baggage interlining rule to the company who does the checkin at DRW Airport. JQ checkin in DRW is now done by Menzies Aviation (was Skystar prior to this) so the only people I would be asking would be them.

I would head out to DRW Airport mid afternoon on any day of the week and ask them "if I have made my booking DRW/SIN/DRW on the JQ website but have connecting flights SIN/HEL/SIN made separately on the AY website will you check my bags all the way through DRW/HEL"? The answer they give you is the only one that counts.

QF271 is up for December now, but my travel said it is pricing at $1000, which makes Silkair attractive as point to point. Have to wait for the return to be posted to see what the GDS comes back with in terms of a Single Finnair price to Darwin now.

Will Silk Air through check your bags to AY to HEL? Again, head out to the airport around the time they would be doing the MI checkin and ask them the question in person.

 

[here2go]

Forget what you are told by Jetstar res as the answers you get given over the phone are by people who have probably had zero operational experience at airports.

Not disputing the nil operational experience, but here's the tweet (I don't use call centres if I can avoid it, and I figure people running social media for an airline have to have some training!) Twitter / Jetstar Airways: @letterboxfrog those fligh ...

I will go and check out DRW check-in and see what is said this weekend.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Not disputing the nil operational experience, but here's the tweet (I don't use call centres if I can avoid it, and I figure people running social media for an airline have to have some training!) Twitter / Jetstar Airways: @letterboxfrog those fligh ...

I will go and check out DRW check-in and see what is said this weekend.

The tweet just mentions the through checking of bags to other carriers if you book the JQ flights under a QF codeshare flight number. Was it this comment that gave the assumption that you would be protected ie rebooked if you missed your AY connecting flights if your JQ flight is delayed or did your travel agent tell you that?

I would expect that a social media position for an airline would require some kind of degree in marketing or communications & it would not be a prerequisite of the job to have any previous airline experience. As for training, even if they do get some there's really no substitute for actual experience on the job.

Also on reading the JQ website again there are a couple of other things that are worth noting:

Baggage transfers
Baggage transfers and/or check-in for multiple flights may be available when booked on one itinerary and where sufficient connection time is allowed. These connections will only be offered for selected airports and are only available for the following connections:

JQ International to & from JQ International
JQ International to & from QF International
JQ International to & from interline partners
JQ Domestic NZ to Qantas International (Auckland only)

Our staff at check-in will advise you whether your baggage will be transferred. You may still need to check-in at the connecting airport to obtain your next boarding pass. It remains your responsibility to ensure you make your connection.

If you book multiple Jetstar flights in separate bookings or connect to/from other airlines with Jetstar, we recommend that you leave at least 3 hours between flights. It is your responsibility when making bookings to allow sufficient time between the first flights arrival and the next flights departure.

Playing Devil's Advocate here, reading the above leads me to think that you'd be on your own when it comes having to rebook your AY flights.

By simply having one night in SIN on the way over would mean you don't have to worry about your bags being interlined or being disrupted big time if your JQ flight is delayed outbound & you miss your AY connecting flights.