Does anybody fly Jetstar Business Max??

[Oneworldplus2]

It's not as cheap as it used to be, but for $899 one way to Singapore, Business Max is not a bad product for the price that you are paying.

I agree oz_mark.

It has certainly improved since l took a JQ Starclass flight.

Thai-Kiwi posted some pictures on Flyertalk.

Thai-Kiwi

I flew SIN-AKL in JQ biz last Nov, sat in 01A. Plenty of leg room (I'm 1.72m), and 01B was empty. Been some comment over sitting left or right side depending on where the sun might be and if you plan to sleep or not. I was very happy in 01A. Most of teh other seats looked 'cramped when the seat ahead was reclined, and despite the 38" seat pitch. No pics uploaded as yet. OK, so I uploaded some pics: http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...1/P1040259.jpg http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...1/P1040260.jpg http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...1/P1040272.jpg http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...1/P1040262.jpg http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...1/P1040264.jpg http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...1/P1040279.jpg http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...1/P1040281.jpg http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...1/P1040282.jpg http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...1/P1040291.jpg http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...1/P1040301.jpg http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...1/P1040308.jpg http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...1/P1040312.jpg

 

[exRAAF]

I'm flying JQ19 OOL-KIX in a couple of weeks in Business Max. Will put together a brief trip report.

 

[fbrimfield]

I fly business max a fair bit. For someone who can't afford to pay for a full fare QF J product, but still wants the J Status Credits and Points, Business Max is not a bad proposition.

Combine that with the fact that the business max fare from MEL-SIN for example, is usually equivalent if not cheaper than QF Premium Economy, has similar seating, but with the addition of better baggage allowance, lounge access, and priority immigration slips (sometimes you have to ask), it actually makes it not a bad deal.

It all depends on who you're talking to and their financial situation. I'm 21, and if I could afford to fly QF J all the time, then yes of course I would, but I cant. At the same time having, and maintaining status is extremely important to me because of lounge access within One World. To me, $200 (or whatever it ends up being) is a small price to pay for full status earn, on an already relatively inexpensive fare. I think anyone who is casting the business max model as being ridiculous and a rip-off may be being a bit elitist. Everyone has different priorities, and different goals with the Frequent Flyer membership, so just cause it may not appeal to you doesn't mean it wont appeal to someone else. If you think it's ridiculous and a ripoff, don't buy it

 

[11sjw]

I think that just proves what we all know, they are two different and competing airlines despite the BS about being a qantas group airline.
I would say full Y points for business, since (many years ago) Jetstar marketing basically said Starclass would be priced at the full economy price point, I assume that's the QF pricing.
Sent from the Throne

When pricing the SYD-HNL-SYD (purchased late 2011. to coincide with getting two classic award seats for Mrs and Jnr 11sjw) for July departure the QF Y was approx $1400 each way and Business Max was $1800-$1900 each way. I'm sure those prices have altered since.

Again, as others have said, the status/points earn is great. Being a newly minted WP the 320 SCs in July (30June anniversary) is a great way to start out on the maintain WP path (note 40 of those SCs PER-SYD-PER on a YASA).

 

[serfty]

JQi Business is Ok on the eveing MEL-SIN flight; indeed I have flown it. But for the return there are generally better options.

 

[jazza1971]

I flew J* J just last week Syd - Hnl, it was ok, had 2D with plenty of legroom but no where to store anything....had a cough night's sleep, honestly reckon I slept better down the back both ways last year when I had a spare seat next to me....I'll be on Hnl - Syd later on in the week...

Food was ok, service attentive when needed.....be interested to see how it runs over the day flight on the way back.....had Ipads as the inflight entertainment....

 

[browski]

JQi Business is Ok on the eveing MEL-SIN flight; indeed I have flown it. But for the return there are generally better options.

I must admit, I took the opposite approach. On the occasions I have flow JQ Business, I've always been more concerned about JQs on-time record, rather than the on-board provisions. As such, I could not put at risk the (more likely) possibility of missing a connecting flight. So outbound was generally no good, but inbound where JQ was the last flight on the journey was acceptable.

 

[fbrimfield]

I must admit, I took the opposite approach. On the occasions I have flow JQ Business, I've always been more concerned about JQs on-time record, rather than the on-board provisions. As such, I could not put at risk the (more likely) possibility of missing a connecting flight. So outbound was generally no good, but inbound where JQ was the last flight on the journey was acceptable.

I've found JQ to be no more ontime/late than Qantas in reality. The worst I got once was a 5 hour delay from MEL-SIN, and I remember thinking to myself "this wouldn't have happened if I was booked on Qantas, lucky my return flight is".

Skip forward one week, time for my QF return flight SIN-MEL.... all QF flights grounded due to industrial action. Went up to JQ service counter, and $600 SGD later I was on a business max fare to MEL, perfectly on time.

 

[Limewood]

While no Jetstar J lover have done the SYD/HNL/SYD twice in past 3 years, bulkhead seats leave lots of leg room, food on way over just OK butter better on return, the full QFF Status & fly points were great, Nov. last we paid $2150 each. Currently looking to go again, so weighing up what the airlines have to offer but Q prices are ridiculous.

 

[eastwest101]

Suggest you rethink that, Starclass is no more. It is called Business Class not Starclass. I'm pretty sure the OP was simply reflecting that reality.

I don't care what JQ want to call it - the product is not Business Class. When you actually sit down and work out the numbers, and what you actually get its actually a premium economy product but often at ridiculous business class prices. And this is not an elitist rant - I am perfectly happy flying in Y, Y+ or J depending on my budget but am not paying extortionate amounts of money for PE domestic J seats, pissy points and SC earn and non-existent lounges or lounges I could already get into.

 

[serfty]

I don't care what JQ want to call it - the product is not Business Class. When you actually sit down and work out the numbers, and what you actually get its actually a premium economy product but often at ridiculous business class prices. And this is not an elitist rant - I am perfectly happy flying in Y, Y+ or J depending on my budget but am not paying extortionate amounts of money for PE domestic J seats, pissy points and SC earn and non-existent lounges or lounges I could already get into.

IMHO, the Business class prices, even with "MAX" are not ridiculous for "Business Class" per se; the problem basically is that the product is physically of PE or Domestic standard, not of an International Business class standard.

 

[dajop]

and what you actually get its actually a premium economy product but often at ridiculous business class prices.

Not that I have flown it, or are likely to, but this is a bit of a gross generalisation. On some routes where they go head to head it is usually, if not always, cheaper than premium economy on QF - but then again IMHO QF Y+ is way overpriced, better off flying in someone else's J for not that much extra.

A couple of examples for SIN-MEL-SIN:

Later this month: JQ Business $1881 SGD, JQ Business Max (J class pts): $2176 QF Premium economy (via BNE or SYD - not direct): $2576
November: JQ Business: $1292 SGD, JQ Business Max (J class pts): $1931 QF Premium economy (direct): $2528

 

[oz_mark]

I don't care what JQ want to call it - the product is not Business Class.

One should expect that if an LCC such as JQ create a Business Class, then it's going to reflect their model of unbundled items, and a quality level below that of the premium carriers. I suspect that had they not inherited aircraft from Qantas that came with a domestic J config, they would not even have a business class.*

As always, there are times when, to me, the JQ Business class makes sense, and there are times when it doesn't.


* I do wonder if there will be any all economy 787's in the JQ fleet when they come.

 

[Daver6]

What is the actual earn rate of SC and points? Is it that same a QF J?

 

[wingspan]

What is the actual earn rate of SC and points? Is it that same a QF J?

Yes, a business max fare earns at the QF J rate. Including status bonuses.

 

[medhead]

I don't care what JQ want to call it - the product is not Business Class. When you actually sit down and work out the numbers, and what you actually get its actually a premium economy product but often at ridiculous business class prices. And this is not an elitist rant - I am perfectly happy flying in Y, Y+ or J depending on my budget but am not paying extortionate amounts of money for PE domestic J seats, pissy points and SC earn and non-existent lounges or lounges I could already get into.

Mate. I deliberately made no comment about cabin class standards or comparisons with other airlines. The simple point remains that Starclass no longer exists, which is the relevant point to my post, in context.

The OP has asked a question about a product and whether people would buy that product. Comparisons and ranting about the name of that product is of marginal relevance.


Sent from the Throne

 

[kevrosmith]

There are more and more cases of varying degrees of "Business class" being shown in the LCC market. Just look at AirAsiaX and the new Scoot: they both offer Business Class, and these don't necessarily compare well to other full-service airline International business class products. What each airline calls its variations of products is up to it! (for example, 'coach' vs 'economy', or even US domestic 'First' class). The fact that I can earn full J SCs on a fare that is cost effective is a bonus as far as I'm concerned.

 

[elbarto]

There are more and more cases of varying degrees of "Business class" being shown in the LCC market. Just look at AirAsiaX and the new Scoot: they both offer Business Class, and these don't necessarily compare well to other full-service airline International business class products. What each airline calls its variations of products is up to it! (for example, 'coach' vs 'economy', or even US domestic 'First' class). The fact that I can earn full J SCs on a fare that is cost effective is a bonus as far as I'm concerned.

Scoots 'Business' is little more than Premium Economy, as is the same for Jetstars 'Business'. AirAsiaX is probably the closest to having a proper J product.

 

[eastwest101]

Mate. I deliberately made no comment about cabin class standards or comparisons with other airlines. The simple point remains that Starclass no longer exists, which is the relevant point to my post, in context.

The OP has asked a question about a product and whether people would buy that product. Comparisons and ranting about the name of that product is of marginal relevance.


Sent from the Throne

Fair enough - didn't want to sound too ranty - but for what the product is - I think that it can be good value or very bad value depending on the size of the Max bundle. Its all in the value of the product, and thats always related to its varying competitors and varying times/routes.

And I take dajop's point in his post - in some cases the Max bundle is okay, but in others its a bit out-there in terms of its pricing....

 

[fbrimfield]

I don't care what JQ want to call it - the product is not Business Class. When you actually sit down and work out the numbers, and what you actually get its actually a premium economy product but often at ridiculous business class prices. And this is not an elitist rant - I am perfectly happy flying in Y, Y+ or J depending on my budget but am not paying extortionate amounts of money for PE domestic J seats, pissy points and SC earn and non-existent lounges or lounges I could already get into.

1. Business class prices: huh? when?
2. Pissy points and SC earn: is full business class earn not enough for you? would you prefer to be earning it at a first class rate? I don't really understand what you're complaining about here.
3. Lounge access: okay, so you complain about it because you can already get into those lounges anyway, well... some people can't, so if you hate the product so much maybe you should just not buy it? it's not like you're being forced to...