BNE to ADL on JQ, should I risk it?

[cdp88]

I have a work trip coming up which requires a flight to ADL. The direct flight options first thing in the morning from BNE are VA at 6:10am (no lounge access for me) or JQ at 6:45am (lounge access as QP member). Either flight will get me to where I need to go with plenty of time assuming they are on time. I would be able to get a plus bundle fare on JQ. I won't have any luggage to check in but will appreciate the ability to pre-select my seat and get my food voucher for onboard purchases as well as QF points and SC. The trip home that same day will be QF.

Does anyone have experience on this flight? I am particularly concerned about whether it is likely to leave on time, be subject to random cancellation or be more difficult for me to board than a similar VA flight. As this is an early morning flight I will get to BNE not too long before take off, perhaps grab a snack in QP and then walk to gate in time for boarding.

Although I would prefer to fly QF because I have QP membership work insists on cheapest fare which for most destinations is VA. I don't find them disagreeable although I resent the defrosted choc chip muffin that always gets served on early morning flights. Otherwise, they tend to leave on time, arrive on time and be reasonably comfortable for my short haul domestic flights.

I would appreciate any insights that fellow AFF members could offer.

 

[Deleted member]

I hate flying at that hour and ( in my case) fly down the night before ( I have family in ADL who live close to town) cab it to the city and fly home after there is a 6.45 PM BNE-ADL. For $20.00 more the night before

 

[cdp88]

Sadly, overnight stays for these meetings are not an option. I doubt work would pay for it and these meetings do not benefit me personally so I don't feel inclined to meet the costs of overnight stay and additional meals.

It is surprising what you get used to and, now that I've been doing this job for 12 months, I think 6am flights are ok. Come daylight saving time and the need for 5am flights I might reassess the overnight stay situation.

 

[russ]

I don't understand why anyone would get up in the middle of the night to save their employer a few bucks

Personally, I'd ask the employer for overnight accommodation or I wouldn't go

 

[cdp88]

I don't understand why anyone would get up in the middle of the night to save their employer a few bucks

Personally, I'd ask the employer for overnight accommodation or I wouldn't go

I would have to agree with you there Russ. However, I work in the public sector so the focus is on saving taxpayers' money, not my comfort and convenience. I am grateful that we are permitted to use full service carriers and may accumulate frequent flyer points. Attending in person is much more productive than tele or video presence so I do value the ability to attend.

I would certainly argue for overnight accommodation if it was going to be an unworkable arrangement and my productivity would suffer for example, if it was a 9-5pm event I would probably want to fly down the night before so that I was in good shape for the day. Most of the time the meetings are 10am-3pm so it is hard to justify overnight accommodation.

As it happens a 6am flight is not as bad as you might think. I can get up around 430am, eat at home (VA's breakfast muffin is not breakfast in my view) and be there on time. And sometimes I would prefer not to have to go overnight if I can avoid it.

But, to return to the topic of this thread, assuming that I am prepared to take an early morning flight, my interest is in the difference, if any, between VA and JQ on that route at that time.

 

[defurax]

I managed to avoid JQ for three years, but SWMBO convinced me to give them a chance on a MEL-CNS flight a few weeks ago. I will NEVER again fly JQ if not in an exit row seat, if you are taller than 6' avoid at all cost and fly VA. I'm not sure how seats can be that uncomfortable. I once flew CNS-DRW-SYD to avoid JQ. I truly admire people who can fly more than 45 minutes with them.

 

[JohnK]

A colleague at work is from SYD as well but doesn't commute as often. When he does commute he comes back to BNE Monday morning. One time with JQ he was 3-4 hours late getting to work. Not really good enough.

In the 7 years I have been commuting I have probably had 4-5 morning flights. Each time I regret it and say never again. By the time I get to work ~10:00am I have been awake for nearly 6 hours and feel terrible. By lunchtime I want to go to sleep but somehow have to get through to ~6:00pm-7:00pm. Not good.

 

[boomy]

I've done that JQ flight a few times in the past when it was significantly cheaper then QF and never had delays or cancellations. In fact I've booked it again today: QF cheapest rate $539, JQ Plus bundle + front row seat $235. At these rates it's a no brainer for me despite the shocking departure time (btw it's 6:35am so you have less 10 minutes to sleep then you previously thought ).
I chose JQ over VA purely for the QFF points & SCs earn. The slightly better departure time is another bonus but I still have to get up at 5am

 

[cdp88]

Thanks all for your advice. I am now to fly the night before so don't have to risk/choose jetstar. It seems that even in the service there are limits to how much inconvenience staff are to put up with.

 

[snabbu]

For the few years QF pulled out of the SYD-OOL market I flew JQ with bundle and didn't suffer from any substantial delays. Can't say I was ever relaxed heading to the airport knowing I was scheduled on a JQ sector but luckily things always panned out ok.