Does anybody fly Jetstar Business Max??

[whatmeworry]

I have read most of the posts here. As someone with no status, I see Business Max as one of the cheapest ways to obtain status. If I were to know that I would have to be flying regularly in the next coming years, I would seriously contemplate a SC run to Asia/NZ to at least get me to PS. Then again if I had the time and cash, I would contemplate a SC run in the LOTFAP.

I did a dummy run and Lounge access is included in the max bundle.

 

[serfty]

For QP, SG and WP, the only things the MAX bundle effectively buys is "refundability", QFF points and SC's.

Lounge access is already available.

Just looking at a Sale fare to SIN as I'm in AKL.

Starter is NZD299, Business is NZD599, Business "Max" is NZD558 more at NZD1,157.

"Business" already gets one:

• Wide leather seat
• 2 X 10kgs carry on baggage
• 30kg checked baggage allowance
• No fees for date, time, name, origin & destination changes (fare difference applies)
• Personal entertainment system
• Meals, drinks and unlimited snack bar
• Free standard seat selection
• Comfort pack

So basically I would need to consider paying the extra AUD450 for 16000 QFF points and 140SC's.

 

[Ben174]

It seems the business max fares have gone up also? I use to fly JQ to Bangkok return a lot and its base is $699 usually and then with a $200 max fare which i would sometime pay to get the SC if needed. Now its $350 for the Max fare? Surely this can't be worth it anymore, $200 was pushing it already, but $350 is a bit far!

 

[Sprucegoose]

Does SC earned on death star contribute towards the 3600 required for W1??

 

[whatmeworry]

For QP, SG and WP, the only things the MAX bundle effectively buys is "refundability", QFF points and SC's.

Lounge access is already available.

Just looking at a Sale fare to SIN as I'm in AKL.

Starter is NZD299, Business is NZD599, Business "Max" is NZD558 more at NZD1,157.

"Business" already gets one:So basically I would need to consider paying the extra AUD450 for 16000 QFF points and 140SC's.

I guess the QF group have rigged it this way so you can't easily get WP by just flying JQ.

 

[whatmeworry]

Does SC earned on death star contribute towards the 3600 required for W1??

2700 must be earned on QF marketed tickets, so if your flying the death star it would be need to ticketed as QF for the 2700 component or you could use it for 900 SC component that doesn't have to QF.

 

[KVK]

For QP, SG and WP, the only things the MAX bundle effectively buys is "refundability", QFF points and SC's.

Lounge access is already available.

Just looking at a Sale fare to SIN as I'm in AKL.

Starter is NZD299, Business is NZD599, Business "Max" is NZD558 more at NZD1,157.

"Business" already gets one:So basically I would need to consider paying the extra AUD450 for 16000 QFF points and 140SC's.

Nicely summarised. I used the old Starclass, but do not see value in the "max" model. Some very expensive SCs in there

 

[moa999]

So basically I would need to consider paying the extra AUD450 for 16000 QFF points and 140SC's.

Which at 3c/pt (a conservative redemption value if used correctly) could be worth AUD480,
plus the benefit of the 140 SCs (status renewal, lifetime, or the bonuses)

 

[ninin]

It seems the business max fares have gone up also? I use to fly JQ to Bangkok return a lot and its base is $699 usually and then with a $200 max fare which i would sometime pay to get the SC if needed. Now its $350 for the Max fare? Surely this can't be worth it anymore, $200 was pushing it already, but $350 is a bit far!

That $699 base fare to Bkk is still available, it depends on the timing and number of seats available on the flight. I recently booked that flight for that cost (plus $200 for MAX) for just after Christmas 2012 which is unbelievable value. I flew *Class a number of times and generally had no problem with them. You get what you pay for.

The annoying thing now is that the cost of the "Max" component can sometimes be per $1000 on some fares. Even when the base fare is on sale, the "Max" component will push the price up to the full fare. You will never get a discounted "business" fare with the standard $200 max premium. (I stand to be corrected here, but never seen it in my constant scanning).

 

[banger2]

It seems the business max fares have gone up also? I use to fly JQ to Bangkok return a lot and its base is $699 usually and then with a $200 max fare which i would sometime pay to get the SC if needed. Now its $350 for the Max fare? Surely this can't be worth it anymore, $200 was pushing it already, but $350 is a bit far!

I just did a very brief random sample, and it appears the MAX bundle is $200 for the direct flight to BKK, and the flights via SIN is $350. Did you note if this was the case when you saw the $200 vs $350 MAX pricing?

 

[exRAAF]

JQ430 MEL-OOL and JQ19 OOL-KIX, BusinessMax, were marginal at best.

I understand JQ is a LCC, but "Business" really is misleading.

Pros:
- JQ19 seats + inflight service was somewhere between QF Y and Y+
- In-seat iPads were a novelty and worked well, with reasonable IFE movies + TV

Cons:
- Rude check-in at MEL and again OOL. Long story short, I was greeted rudely and CIA asked why I didn't have a return flight booked. I said I did, on QF. She then said I needed to show her, upon which I questioned why she couldn't check herself since JQ are part of Qantas Group. I was told she couldn't access that system, which I thought was ridiculous and went to the dramatic effort of showing her on my iPad (on the QF website). What got me though, was instead of a sorry or acknowledgment that this didn't make sense from my POV, she told me that "JQ and QF are quite separate and I can only do the best with the systems I have." Yes, maybe I had a bit of WP DYKWIA, but I have an expectation when the side of the aircraft I'm on says "A Qantas Group Airline."
- Had to check-in at standard domestic counter in MEL, and transfer/check-in again at OOL
- OOL Business Lounge is very poor (e.g. food understocked and unappetising, dirty, unprofessional)

I was never happier to set foot on QF metal than on the return trip home. Orange cancer, never again.

 

[mannej]

Cons:
- Rude check-in at MEL and again OOL. Long story short, I was greeted rudely and CIA asked why I didn't have a return flight booked. I said I did, on QF. She then said I needed to show her, upon which I questioned why she couldn't check herself since JQ are part of Qantas Group. I was told she couldn't access that system, which I thought was ridiculous and went to the dramatic effort of showing her on my iPad (on the QF website). What got me though, was instead of a sorry or acknowledgment that this didn't make sense from my POV, she told me that "JQ and QF are quite separate and I can only do the best with the systems I have." Yes, maybe I had a bit of WP DYKWIA, but I have an expectation when the side of the aircraft I'm on says "A Qantas Group Airline."

I am sure TheInsider or OzBeachBabe will be able to confirm, but the Check in Agent may indeed be correct.

JQ and QF use separate reservation systems, hence not being able to see the QF reservation.

 

[TheInsider]

I am sure TheInsider or OzBeachBabe will be able to confirm, but the Check in Agent may indeed be correct.

JQ and QF use separate reservation systems, hence not being able to see the QF reservation.

JQ cannot see QF bookings, as QF cannot see JQ bookings (unless it is made through a GDS with a QF segment in it)


Off topic:
This whole spiel of 'JQ are part of the Qantas Group' is a just tiresome, JQ/QF have different CEO's, different Head Offices, different systems and different everything else. Just because they are both airlines of the same group, doesn't mean they are 'together' (yes i know there are some situations that occur, i don't need to know of them!). Just like Coles/Kmart or Target/Bi-Lo are not 'together', even though they are owned by the same 'group'. Remember folks JQ are a Low Cost Carrier, don't expect champagne service for, VB/xx_X prices.

 

[TheInsider]

"A Qantas Group Airline."

Well the Qantas group consists of:
-Qantas Link
-Q Catering
-Qantas Freight
-EGH (express ground handling)
-Qantas Holidays (which includes/is; Jetset and QBT)
-Jetstar
-Jetstar Australia/NZ
-Jetstar Asia
-Valuair
-Jetstar Japan
-Jetstar Vietnam (small percentage)
-Qantas Defence Sevices

Also the Qantas Group has a stake in Air Pacific, AAE, Star Track, and some other carriers i can't think of off the top of my head.

 

[MichaelD]

I understand JQ is a LCC, but "Business" really is misleading.

I was never happier to set foot on QF metal than on the return trip home. Orange cancer, never again.

Jetstar "Business" is what it is, along with the limitations that go along with it which you need to plan for.

If your expectations are of Qantas Business level service for Premium Economy pricing, you will be disappointed. Basically, it's a somewhat more comfortable seat than Economy for medium haul international flying and that's all.

Personally, we are about to get onto a British Airways Club Europe "Business" product from Paris to London - I am fully aware that it is likely to be an economy seat with trivial enhancements over the seats at the back of the plane and trivially better service, but;
1. It cost very little over what the cheap fare was
2. It's a short flight
3. The status credit earn is 4x what it would be for the slightly cheaper fare.

We're prepared for what we are about to receive and if it exceeds expectations, we'll be very happy.

The same expectations apply to Jetstar Business.

 

[serfty]

JQ cannot see QF bookings, as QF cannot see JQ bookings (unless it is made through a GDS with a QF segment in it) ...

Of course, that's the line to be trotted out.

Why then, can I get a BP for a JQ flight in a Qantas Club?

It works for QF / JQ when it suits ... :-|

 

[TheInsider]

Why then, can I get a BP for a JQ flight in a Qantas Club?

It works for QF / JQ when it suits ... :-|

Because those agents have in the QC have been trained and have access to the JQ checkin system.

 

[straitman]

Because those agents have in the QC have been trained and have access to the JQ checkin system.

So people with the appropriate login authority can access both systems then.

 

[TheInsider]

So people with the appropriate login authority can access both systems then.

Only a very small few from Qantas.

 

[reductionist]

CIA asked why I didn't have a return flight booked. I said I did, on QF. She then said I needed to show her, upon which I questioned why she couldn't check herself since JQ are part of Qantas Group. I was told she couldn't access that system

I have had pretty much the same experience with JQ. I had no problems producing proof of my return flight as I usually have print outs of that stuff when I travel internationally.

With Jetstar Business I think you have to have the mindset that you're not paying for better service, you're just paying for a better seat. Otherwise you'll only be disappointed.

Also, as always, ask yourself if the person you're dealing with gets paid enough to care about the outcome of your interaction.