Am I really out $1600 - Jet Star

[Alanslegal]

Is there any chance in my receiving a refund?

No, no, and no. I can't get any clearer than that.

I bet my $1600's (worth of nothing) that if the prices went upwards instead of downwards, you would not have come to AFF to share about that good purchase decision on 15 Jan.

 

[JB expat]

Just check to see if the Business fares are on sale too. I had a similar experience recently with some Bali airfares, but I was able to slightly reduce the pain by spending even more money upgrading to sale business fares.

That's interesting and slightly appealing - so, did you pay the difference between your booked economy fare and the sale business fare? could you do it all online?

OK - those fares are not on sale - was a good idea but won't work money-wise - would have spent a bit more for business for that flight but not close to what is required.

 

[greenfish]

Yes, it was just the fare difference (due to buying a plus pack in the first place). Keep an eye out, as the business fares do go on sale from time to time.

 

[DC3]

I've learned to not keep checking the current fares, once booked.

"Tears before bedtime" is almost guaranteed.

 

[JB expat]

Yes, it was just the fare difference (due to buying a plus pack in the first place). Keep an eye out, as the business fares do go on sale from time to time.

Will do - this is a great idea and would certain lessen the mental (and physical pain). I did buy the plus pack (not the max pack) but it looks like the plus pack would easily allow this. Thanks so much!

 

[BAM1748]

I've learned to not keep checking the current fares, once booked.

"Tears before bedtime" is almost guaranteed.

I do the same, in the lead up check check and check again, once the airfare is paid for start looking at something else as there is no rear view mirror in an aircraft (yes, ok there are a couple of exceptions) and I'm happy with my purchase. Why wreck that thought.

Matt

 

[lovetravellingoz]

If airlines had to refund the difference on every ticket whenever they discount....they would never discount.

If you can work out how they should refund you, please let me know as I can then apply to whenever I fill up at the service station, and miss the lowest price. Might be handy in buying shares too.

 

[Scarlett]

Jetstar simply don't do frequent flyer recognition. This will be a case where jetstar and qantas are completely separate airlines. And I'm highly cynical in writing that, qantas and jetstar seem to pick and choose their relationship so the customer always loses.

Weeeeelllllllll, I like giving the Orange cancer a good kicking whenever possible too, but in this case I'm going to disagree: a couple of hours in the QF Flounge yesterday whilst holding an orange tipped boarding pass seemed to be a win for this customer.

 

[ashleyn]

I've learned to not keep checking the current fares, once booked.

"Tears before bedtime" is almost guaranteed.

Same as selling shares, they are down the river, move on.

 

[SuzieQ68]

Try and look on the bright side. It's just money. You still have a lovely holiday in Hawaii to look forward to.

I'm with opusman. As disappointing and frustrating as it is that the fare is now cheaper, you will have a fantastic holiday and the cost will be long forgotten when you're enjoying the gorgeous Hawaii sunshine with your family (and a coughtail or two of course).

 

[Febs]

I'm afraid you are out of luck. Ticket prices fluctuate and it's up to you to decide when to bite. Can you imagine an airline contacting you for more $$ if the price went up after you booked?

Whilst I completely agree with what you've said, there are situations, in certain classes, on JAL, where the scenario you describe can occur (on confirmed / booked tickets). I was shocked. Needless to say, I stayed away from booking those seats...

 

[Vim Fuego]

I use the jetstar price following option, set date range and destination and receive an email each time the price varies. Got my Singapore GP flights at the price I wanted doing that.

 

[amaroo]

I always run with...when you find a price you are happy with buy it and then stop looking.

Indeed ... unless fully flexiable.

OT - I do the opposite with hotel bookings - saved ~ $1K watching prices post booking for our upcoming IST stay. It pays to book early and monitor....

 

[burmans]

OT - I do the opposite with hotel bookings - saved ~ $1K watching prices post booking for our upcoming IST stay. It pays to book early and monitor....

Once again though as long as booking can be cancelled without cost!

 

[coriander]

How many retail places will refund the difference between the normal price and sale price, just because the consumer feels hard done by? .

At least two..... I've had both Officeworks and JB Hifi refund differences when it's been less than a week between stock and sale prices.

ISTR recall that 28degrees credit card have a price protection insurance for 0.5% of cost price if price drops within 6 months of purchase; don't know if it works for airfares.

 

[Simo]

Some CC's will refund the difference if a product goes on sale.

I am not sure where I saw it but it was called buyer protection.

 

[jsoprano]

I always run with...when you find a price you are happy with buy it and then stop looking.

This is always good advice, not only for travelling. Bought a dining table a few months ago, for $1500. Had 3 months delivery time. Two months after ordering we went to the store again to look for a sofa, and saw our table was on sale for $900 (ouch!!). Discussed with the sales assistant and manager but they wouldn't budge. Cancelling our order and buying new was suggested, but would not have saved us anything either due to the non-refundable deposit. Ended up not buying at this store again.

 

[paulobrien56]

Hi

I had a similar problem last year with Virgin flights to the USA. They dropped by $400 a month after I booked them despite being booked 10 months in advance.
I called Virgin to complain and after 45 minutes on the phone and escalation to the call centre supervisor, they agreed to credit the difference into my Virgin Travelbank.

Pretty good considering I had only basic status. At that time I had Qantas Gold status but I now fly Virgin and its partners whenever possible and have found their frequent flyer program to be far superior to Qantas, particularly wrt availability and taxes & surcharges on award bookings.

I am now Virgin Silver & soon to be Gold and to be honest, I don't miss Qantas at all. Amazing how one simple customer service event can result in a new loyal customer. Well done Virgin. It would not have happened at Qantas.

 

[JB expat]

I spent a fair amount of time on the phone with a useless Jet Star agent - asked to speak to a supervisor, held on for 10 minutes only to be told that no one was available. But she did put through a complaint/message as did I online. She promised a response in 3 days...online it promises something like 5 days. I've heard nothing! They have me beaten as I don't have the time or energy to deal with this (although having this thread revived is giving me new energy - I now need to search for the reference number)...but as you point out, this will be it for me & jet star to the extent I have choices in the future. It's one thing to hear "no" - it's another to be promised something (a response) and receive absolutely nothing - the first hurt my wallet, the second infuriates me. Airlines provide no customer service - even to their somewhat higher status members (as per my original post, I am Qantas Gold and have been for about 10 years.

And re: the above poster and their dining room table experience. I find that treatment completely outrageous. The argument that if they gave the sale price to everyone, blah, blah...your table hadn't even been delivered and you could have been a long term customer. Who trained these people in building brand loyalty? I had an experience with a local shop where I pre-ordered some made-to-order party food (I regularly shop there for baked/home made food)...she tripled the order (we still don't know whose error as we figured out what it was but it was either my phrasing or her handwriting)...I paid for the tripled order (and froze 2/3's of it) and she called me 4 hours later to say she was still feeling badly about it and gave me a store credit to use. Needless to say, I have stayed loyal and recommend her shop to everyone. And she is a one-woman business who I am sure runs on very tight margins.

 

[geoffl]

Hi, Would you be happy to pay $1600 more if they had gone up ? Works both ways with Airline Travel, Hotels, Cruises etc.