First time Jetstar user, any tips?

[cdp88]

After avoiding it for years I am now talking Jetstar for a work trip.

They have put me on a max bundle out of cairns so I am hoping the extra benefits will make up for the choice of carrier.

Anything I should look out for? I seem to have been able to choose 1a exit row for free. And I believe I will be getting lounge access and a voucher for food on board.

 

[defurax]

After avoiding it for years I am now talking Jetstar for a work trip.

They have put me on a max bundle out of cairns so I am hoping the extra benefits will make up for the choice of carrier.

Anything I should look out for? I seem to have been able to choose 1a exit row for free. And I believe I will be getting lounge access and a voucher for food on board.

I think you did the best thing to keep your sanity i.e. selecting seat 1a (1b and 1c are also great). I flew JQ once in a standard row and I seriously was thinking about going to the loo and commit suicide. I absolutely do not understand how people can cope with this amount of legroom and uncomfortable seat.

Haven't flown JQ since as I think I now have post traumatic stress disorder

So row 1 or exit row and you'll be fine.

 

[RooFlyer]

Keep your expectations low and you won't be disappointed.

 

[yohy?!]

Alcohol wipes..lots of them, try and avoid touching any surfaces...

 

[There'sOnlyOneJimmy]

'Accidentally' miss the flight, and get a ticket on the next flight with any other airline!

 

[Pushka]

Expect a really noisy flight. Makes you realise just how quiet Qantas passengers are. Jetstar - everyone seems to talk. Loudly. All the time.

 

[moa999]

I suspect most of the above have never flown JQ.
For short flights or the right price it's perfectly acceptable.

1A/B/C have the best legroom of any economy seat in Australia. Like most front row seats however limited storage so suggest boarding early, stowing luggage, then sitting down and keeping your legs out of the way.

Keep your boarding pass on you as they sometimes want to confirm the voucher - should be VA05 on the boarding pass.

 

[defurax]

I suspect most of the above have never flown JQ.
For short flights or the right price it's perfectly acceptable.

1A/B/C have the best legroom of any economy seat in Australia. Like most front row seats however limited storage so suggest boarding early, stowing luggage, then sitting down and keeping your legs out of the way.

Keep your boarding pass on you as they sometimes want to confirm the voucher - should be VA05 on the boarding pass.

Don't know who you are referring to, but I flew JQ 11 times (10 times in row 1 or exit row) and RooFlyer's flight map indicates 15 flights on JQ

 

[Paddy55]

I suspect most of the above have never flown JQ.
For short flights or the right price it's perfectly acceptable.

1A/B/C have the best legroom of any economy seat in Australia. Like most front row seats however limited storage so suggest boarding early, stowing luggage, then sitting down and keeping your legs out of the way.

Keep your boarding pass on you as they sometimes want to confirm the voucher - should be VA05 on the boarding pass.

Well I have had the pleasure of riding with Jetstar and as others have said, keep your expectations low.
I won't fly them if I need to be somewhere at a particular time.

Flying SYD - HBA/LST it's hard to find QF flights so in a couple of flights I'm flying VA, not JQ.

 

[Pushka]

I suspect most of the above have never flown JQ.

Why would you say that? You are saying we are being dishonest. Check out my trip reports.

 

[yohy?!]

Have flown many times with JQ in Oz and Asia, my comments stand - in Oz their cabins are revolting.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

I have flown them twice within in Aust, and also flew them twice as a dom pax on an int flight, also within Aust. Total 4 flown, and got 1 cancelled on me, saga as next lines down.
Knew what to expect, re their service, and being squashed into a narrow seat, VA is tight, but JQ is worst. but the worst of all was yet to come...
had one of the worst things happen, had booked to fly them a third time, totally flight within Aust, in 2015.
Came into MEL from NZ, tried to do OLCI with JQ website, within 24 hour window, website said NO, "tech" prob on the website meant I couldn't do OLCI, they knew then 24 hours prior that the plane wouldn't fly, but I didn't know they had cancelled the flight then.
Got to MEL airport 4 hours within time to fly, tried a kiosk checkin, nope, cannot do that either.
Thought, ah, why not go to the QF's QP in T1 of MELd airport, and come back later.
2.5 hours prior to flight, had a sms that the flight had indeed been cancelled, and that I should go to a counter.
JQ was going to put me up in a hotel for a fixed price, but the hotels around MEL airport are not cheap, exc the Ibis Budget of course. Don't think that they were going to put me there.
The flight I booked was the last JQ flight of the day, but I had an early start the next day in ADL so couldn't do it, ie, fly JQ the next morning.
I was fuming.
Went to QF's counter, and bought a whY ticket, lucky that they still had seats, for a 17:00 dep from MEL.
Got back to ADL, rang JQ's phone number, and of course, the call went to the Philippines.
She offered me the chance of "trying" to get back my fare I paid to JQ, too troublesome I thought to myself.
So, I got 20 QF SC, 10 QF SC for the QF flight I flew, and found out, 10 QF SC for the replacement JQ flight the next day I didn't fly, but they gave it to me.
JQ are ok to fly, if you are flexible, and have no commitments the day of the flight, or the day after, (just in case they cancel flights).
Granted that QF also might cancel flights, but at least you won't be stuck, if you flew QF as they can put you onto the next flight (99% of the time).
Anyways, best of luck for your JQ flight, OP, and hope you do make it where you need to go.

 

[cdp88]

Thanks all for the comments and suggestions. I have just left the airport and can say I have survived Jetstar. Seats were uncomfortable as predicted. I didn't find it too noisy or dirty. Luggage came through quickly. I was able to easily redeem my voucher. I would still avoid them where possible but they were fine for a short flight.

 

[wandering_fred]

I have yet to take JQ flights domestically. Though 3K in SE Asia and JQ in NZ have been acceptable.

The basic package on 3K includes QFF points/SC, a meal (if applicable) and a premium seat choice. It also provides a discount if you wish to "upgrade" to a more legroom seat. Given that I find the only OW/QFF flights with acceptable arrival times in PER are 3K133 at 0730 and CX137 at 0600 (I don't do DPS) other than the departure time 3K has been OK. (and earns more points than the QF flights). The flights in NZ are short enough all of the above are really not an issue (but I take the basic QFF package anyway)

Happy wandering

Fred

 

[JohnK]

I avoided Jetstar for a long time. I have now had 1 JQ flight and 4 3K flights.

They are nothing special but if the pricing is right could be good value. Just hope nothing goes wrong.

 

[Strategic Aviation]

Just recently flew JQd for the first time and found it largely similar to 3K/GK. The seat and legroom were fine, same as 3K/GK and much better than what I can dimly recall of a few TT flights pre-grounding. No loud bogans, though have occasionally encountered them on JQi.

Departed on time and landed ~20mins early. Not a remotely difficult flight and the price was very good.

I liked how the slimline self-service kiosk produced a cardboard BP. If only the chunky QF kiosks did the same ...

 

[Limewood]

Not long back from CNS/DPS/CNS seats in row 13 exit as seats 12 do not reline, seat was hard as a rock, food disgusting, we lasted the 4.5 hour trip, not again.

 

[JohnK]

Not long back from CNS/DPS/CNS seats in row 13 exit as seats 12 do not reline, seat was hard as a rock, food disgusting, we lasted the 4.5 hour trip, not again.

The first thing I thought about on Friday night sitting in 12G was this seat is uncomfortable. Hard as a rock. How am I going to get through 5 hours?

VA A330 PER-BNE. Awful seat for that length of flight. Quiche in paper box and drink for an 8:30pm flight. Not much food in lounge bafore flight. Think may have had some tortellini and as flight was delayed had some crisps. Luckily. They did come round a few times for water/juice.

It's great to try out what some people are raving on about. It's not that special. The JQ 787 was more comfortable.

 

[andyhui01]

Knew what to expect, re their service, and being squashed into a narrow seat,.

Just curious as it has been a long time since I flew anything but VA for Domestic. Why would the JQ A320's have a narrower seat width compared to VA/QF/TT? Don't they all have the same cabin width and 3x3 seating? Unless the A320 is narrower than the 738?

 

[yohy?!]

Just curious as it has been a long time since I flew anything but VA for Domestic. Why would the JQ A320's have a narrower seat width compared to VA/QF/TT? Don't they all have the same cabin width and 3x3 seating? Unless the A320 is narrower than the 738?

Certainly feels that way don't know the exact measurement but have always found the JQ/TT 320s to feel more squashed that 737s