Initial JQ impressions

[Deleted member 29185]

Well not having flown with JQ much for about 7 or so years, I have to say I find the web interaction refreshingly easy. Admittedly, VA have more cough to deal with, but JQ is big and easy. I've even changed a booking without a drama.

I have tried asking Jess about booking a hotel connection at the start of a flight rather than at the end and that was sent to error, twice, so I can only assume the virtual assistant union has them out on strike today!

Can anyone comment on the upside vrs the pitfalls of checking in on-line? I know with VA, if you check-in on-line and then need to change the flight, there can be dramas. Is JQ the same? I've been buying max so my seats were selected at booking, so that is hopefully not an issue (unless the have the habit of booting).

One more thing. I think I recall reading somewhere, that the middle exit rows on a A320 are the better leg room seats, rather than the front row. Is this correct? I've been selecting 13C but being in the middle of the aircraft just seems so unnatural!

 

[jackthomas]

I'm flying JQ for the first time in around 8 years in a few weeks, not sure how I feel about it..
Looking forward to hearing what you think.

 

[Dr Ralph]

Jetstar is an absolute disaster. I'll never fly with them again.

 

[Mattg]

Generally, the best leg room seats on the JQ A320s are 1A-C. 1D-F have a bulkhead in front, so not as much room. Failing 1A-C being available, the exit rows are the next best thing.

 

[jxv]

Jetstar is an absolute disaster. I'll never fly with them again.

"Absolute disaster"! Exactly the words my daughter used after she flew JQ to HNL a few weeks ago.

I think they are acceptable for shorter domestic flights, but even then I select an aisle seat in the first few rows, despite the extra cost, just to be able to get off the plane quickly!

 

[JohnK]

Thought about flying Jetstar in 3 weeks time. Saw the airfares and decided Tiger is definitely the way to go.

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

Heading to Queenstown tomorrow on JQ due to the QF flight being extortionately expensive. Have done it to AKL before.
Keep your expectations low and they'll deliver.
We eat in the F lounge, board, put on headphones, and try not to interact with anyone for 3 hours. Works ok. Keep the iPad charged and loaded with movies.
Any longer than that and I think I'd use the emergency exit...
YMMV...

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Generally, the best leg room seats on the JQ A320s are 1A-C. 1D-F have a bulkhead in front, so not as much room. Failing 1A-C being available, the exit rows are the next best thing.

Thanks Mattg, I've just moved all the flights to 1C rather than 13C!

 

[boomy]

I used to select row 1 before but now I prefer exit rows in the middle when flying JQ. Row 1 A-C is too open and too much activity going on in that area, pax quieting up for the toilet, FAs standing in the galley talking or sitting just in front of you when the seatbelt sign is on.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I used to select row 1 before but now I prefer exit rows in the middle when flying JQ. Row 1 A-C is too open and too much activity going on in that area, pax quieting up for the toilet, FAs standing in the galley talking or sitting just in front of you when the seatbelt sign is on.

Thanks boomy, I'll try both and see. I must admit the row 1 seemed a bit so, so as I don't really like eyeballing the crew on take off and landing, but for a quick exit, row 1 must surely take the prize!

 

[Mattg]

Thanks boomy, I'll try both and see. I must admit the row 1 seemed a bit so, so as I don't really like eyeballing the crew on take off and landing, but for a quick exit, row 1 must surely take the prize!

I've sat in both. 1A-C does have the most legroom, but these seats do have their downsides as boomy has accurately described. My preference is still 1A or 1C for the fantastic legroom and quick getaway, but trying both is probably the best way to decide.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

"Absolute disaster"! Exactly the words my daughter used after she flew JQ to HNL a few weeks ago.

What happened in her experience?

 

[dajop]

Generally, the best leg room seats on the JQ A320s are 1A-C. 1D-F have a bulkhead in front, so not as much room. Failing 1A-C being available, the exit rows are the next best thing.

Do all JQ aircraft have 1A-C without a bulkhead? I haven't flown JQ (Australia) for some time, but I'm pretty sure that at least some of the 3K (Jetstar Asia) aircraft do have bulkhead in front of 1A-C.

 

[dajop]

Thought about flying Jetstar in 3 weeks time. Saw the airfares and decided Tiger is definitely the way to go.

Not close enough in timing for a price beat?

 

[Mattg]

Do all JQ aircraft have 1A-C without a bulkhead? I haven't flown JQ (Australia) for some time, but I'm pretty sure that at least some of the 3K (Jetstar Asia) aircraft do have bulkhead in front of 1A-C.

AFAIK the 3K aircraft have a bulkhead in front of 1A-C. The JQ (Australian) aircraft don't.

 

[jxv]

What happened in her experience?

The flights themselves (SYD-HNL vv) were not too bad, apart from the food being sold out and service in general being non-existent, but the booking and check-in experiences were just unbelievable.

Our daughter travelled with her husband and 4 and 1 year old children, but wanted a seat for the 1 yr old. She selected "2 children" on the website, but when on the "passenger details" page she entered the birthdates, the 1 yo was rejected, because she was an "infant". On the phone for assistance. After a long wait came the answer: "change her birth year to make her look older, complete the booking and then ring back to have the birthdate fixed". All went well until she did ring back. The CSA could not work out what was going on. After a drawn-out discussion it was time for HUACA! Second person insisted on selling her an additional infant fare, HUACA. Left it for a few days to let blood pressure settle. Finally she got it all sorted out on the fourth call.

A friend suggested that little ones are more comfortable in a car-seat on the plane. Our daughter thought that was a good idea, because they were going to take a car-seat anyway (car rental companies charge excessive amounts for renting children's car-seats). Checked out the J* website, where it was actually encouraged. Just to make sure that there are no special requirements, gave the call centre a ring. Can you guess? Long wait, CSA has never heard of car-seats on-board, can't find any info on her computer, will ask supervisor, put on hold, never returns, HUACA. Next try: "yes, you can bring a car-seat on board, but only in the very last row and you will have to pay the seat-selection fees". Daughter paid up and was reasonably happy.

Fast forward to check-in at SYD airport. Long lines, over-excited kids... Finally got to the front. The birthdate of one of the children did not match her passport, the year was wrong! Trying to stay calm explaining the birth year trick was not easy. Supervisor called and situation solved after lots of fiddling with computer. Next question: "Do you really want to sit in the last row? The seats don't recline." Answer: "No way!". Got moved one row forward, but now could not take car-seat on board, had to go as checked luggage. Luckily this was within the child's luggage allowance and there was no extra charge. Daughter now wanted money back from previous seat-selection. Called the supervisor again, who did know the rules: "you will have to ring the service centre to sort that out."

Daughter did ring the service centre on her return, stated her case, but has little confidence of hearing any further. She is not going to follow it up, the seat selection fees are insignificant compared to the total cost of the holiday and not worth the aggravation.

Her next holiday will be without the children. The grandparents will look after them.

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

The flights themselves (SYD-HNL vv) were not too bad, apart from the food being sold out and service in general being non-existent, but the booking and check-in experiences were just unbelievable.

Our daughter travelled with her husband and 4 and 1 year old children, but wanted a seat for the 1 yr old. She selected "2 children" on the website, but when on the "passenger details" page she entered the birthdates, the 1 yo was rejected, because she was an "infant". On the phone for assistance. After a long wait came the answer: "change her birth year to make her look older, complete the booking and then ring back to have the birthdate fixed". All went well until she did ring back. The CSA could not work out what was going on. After a drawn-out discussion it was time for HUACA! Second person insisted on selling her an additional infant fare, HUACA. Left it for a few days to let blood pressure settle. Finally she got it all sorted out on the fourth call.

A friend suggested that little ones are more comfortable in a car-seat on the plane. Our daughter thought that was a good idea, because they were going to take a car-seat anyway (car rental companies charge excessive amounts for renting children's car-seats). Checked out the J* website, where it was actually encouraged. Just to make sure that there are no special requirements, gave the call centre a ring. Can you guess? Long wait, CSA has never heard of car-seats on-board, can't find any info on her computer, will ask supervisor, put on hold, never returns, HUACA. Next try: "yes, you can bring a car-seat on board, but only in the very last row and you will have to pay the seat-selection fees". Daughter paid up and was reasonably happy.

Fast forward to check-in at SYD airport. Long lines, over-excited kids... Finally got to the front. The birthdate of one of the children did not match her passport, the year was wrong! Trying to stay calm explaining the birth year trick was not easy. Supervisor called and situation solved after lots of fiddling with computer. Next question: "Do you really want to sit in the last row? The seats don't recline." Answer: "No way!". Got moved one row forward, but now could not take car-seat on board, had to go as checked luggage. Luckily this was within the child's luggage allowance and there was no extra charge. Daughter now wanted money back from previous seat-selection. Called the supervisor again, who did know the rules: "you will have to ring the service centre to sort that out."

Daughter did ring the service centre on her return, stated her case, but has little confidence of hearing any further. She is not going to follow it up, the seat selection fees are insignificant compared to the total cost of the holiday and not worth the aggravation.

Her next holiday will be without the children. The grandparents will look after them.

Sounds like the trademark JQ customer service to me.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

As much as I would like to jump on the JQ hate bandwagon none of that sounds disastrous to me.

 

[jxv]

As much as I would like to jump on the JQ hate bandwagon none of that sounds disastrous to me.

DrRalph's words "absolute disaster" struck a chord, as they were exactly the words our daughter used as we picked her and her family up at the airport in HNL. (We had arrived there on QF a week earlier.)

No JQ hate bandwagon here: I live in Geelong and have used the AVV-SYD route often enough and without complaints. AVV is really good compared to MEL. You park the car over the road from the terminal and with HLO and OLCI you can just go through security straight into the gate lounge. Twenty minutes before departure gives you more than enough time!

The seats are rather cramped for tall people and I always choose an aisle seat near the front to be able to get out quickly. OK for short hops.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Well, there's no complaints from me for yesterdays trip. Admittedly, boarding was very amateurish, almost comical even, but 1C was fine although I do see what some mean by the being a "busy" spot on the plane. Actually, 1C is the only front row seat that I'd choose. 1B is of course the middle, 1A has the pregnant door protruding into the converted leg space (why pay for extra leg room?) and 1D,E&F are all a bit pointless with the bulkhead.

I don't need entertainment but the price for the stupid iPads is over the top given the time it takes to hand them out and then collect them again and what's with the $5 voucher? When do we get that? Is it a paper voucher or on-line or what, but it seems I didn't get one!

I also finally got through to Jess to ask about booking a transfer for the beginning of the flight and all Jess did was give me a link to Con-X-ion, which I already had and already tried and the issue is that link costs more than booking with the flight. As an example, CNS-CITY-CNS transfer with the flight is $20, but with the link is $30. The booking with the flight seems to be only possible at the destination, not for the origin, so I asked to text with a real person. They were busy and th message says an approximate wait time of 1 min......yeah right. Every two minutes that passed a new box would pop up saying my approximate wait time was 1 min. After 1/2 hour, the message changed to state my approximate wait time was 2 min! I was connected to a real person after 36 min. That person did a lot of wasting time until finally stated she didn't know and I'd have to ring JQ holidays.......which I haven't had the stamina to do yet.

In all, it wasn't terrible, but I dare say the time will come when it is. I really liked flying into OOL rather than BNE as it's only 1/2 hour from OOL to home whereas it's up to 1.5 hours from BNE to home. The flying time is similar so it does save me time, which is what I need.