Jestar Max Seat Allocation

[nonscenic]

Only because its my only option of returning home from TSV to MEL the same evening after a meeting that's likely to run too late for me to catch the 1640 QF flight to BNE, I am stuck with flying on JQ919 (at least it's direct).

I booked a Max Bundle through my corporate travel provider so that I can get a larger legroom seat , but then found that despite what the max fare conditions state the only away to avoid paying a fee for selecting a seat is at the airport. The lack of visibility of JQ flight bookings in QF Manage My booking is almost as bad as the problems fliers encounter in getting their points and SC's credited. It's not even possible to view other than the basic flight booking in the JQ website, since the booking was not made through the website.
Is it any wonder that I only use JQ as an airline of last resort (well maybe in preference to Garuda)

 

[medhead]

Remember Jetstar on line check in is available 48 hours before the flight. Good way to get a decent seat.


Sent from the Throne

 

[eastwest101]

I second that motion - if you have a booking no. you can do seat selection on line. I was very surprised to be able to do this as OLCI (on the jetstar site) and even got a half decent seat even though I am only QF Silver. For the JQ A320 you really want row 1 or an exit row seat, everything else is very cramped. You will appreciate them if you get them as I find even the SYD-TSV flights in a JQ A320 a bit much for me....

 

[ButFli]

For the JQ A320 you really want row 1 or an exit row seat, everything else is very cramped.

For row 1 you only want the ABC side. DEF are right up against a divider between the cabin and the "galley". Leg room in row 1 DEF is even worse than a regular seat.

 

[nonscenic]

I second that motion - if you have a booking no. you can do seat selection on line. I was very surprised to be able to do this as OLCI (on the jetstar site) and even got a half decent seat even though I am only QF Silver. For the JQ A320 you really want row 1 or an exit row seat, everything else is very cramped. You will appreciate them if you get them as I find even the SYD-TSV flights in a JQ A320 a bit much for me....

Thanks for the advice. The nearest I've got to Row 1 ABC in the past was about row 4A on a HBA-MEL flight. I noted that those in rows 1 and 2 have to find an overhead locker somewhat aft of their row as the lockers above are used for safety equipment. Hoping for an exit row - I regularly get offered them on QF, either at booking time for a 767 or after T-80 on a 737 etc.

 

[eastwest101]

Thanks for the advice. The nearest I've got to Row 1 ABC in the past was about row 4A on a HBA-MEL flight. I noted that those in rows 1 and 2 have to find an overhead locker somewhat aft of their row as the lockers above are used for safety equipment. Hoping for an exit row - I regularly get offered them on QF, either at booking time for a 767 or after T-80 on a 737 etc.

Yeah - its really difficult to garantee 1ABC, as others have said 1DEF are pretty ordinary, and right hand side 2DEF through to 11DEF are pretty cramped as well. Its true about the limited overhead locker space for Rows 1 & 2 - which defeats the whole purpose of being there if you have to swim against the tide to retreive your overhead locker carry-on when exiting. As a matter of fact there are really no decent seats on a JQ A320 at all except for Rows 12 & 13 (exit rows) - thats why I avoid them for anything like >2 hrs, you may have to pay extra to allocate yourself 1ABC or Rows 12 & 13. Being TSV-MEL you most likely won't get an A321.

I try not to "encourage" JQ myself and try to fly QF or DJ in Y if I can....

 

[BVT]

For row 1 you only want the ABC side. DEF are right up against a divider between the cabin and the "galley". Leg room in row 1 DEF is even worse than a regular seat.

This is correct. 1C is the only viable option. 1A has leg room impeded by the door.

But beware in 1A if you get on early as you are right in the line of "fire" for other pax boarding after you and within the arc of their luggage as it swings around. After one OOL passenger (where else?) took exception to me boarding early - I had paid for PB* she apparently hadn't and took exception that I "jumped" the queue, swung her overstffed shoulder bad aimed right at my head! Luckily I saw her and it coming and ducked.

* OT but, even JQ can do PB!!!!

 

[nonscenic]

I try not to "encourage" JQ myself and try to fly QF or DJ in Y if I can....

Yes, flying TSV-MEL on JQ was a last resort. I * paid for the Max Bundle as I have long legs and painful memories of a leisure flight MEL-ZQN in an A320 earlier this year.

* actually my work is paying this time.

 

[Boris spatsky]

I usually select the back row on JQ A320. Frequently empty, first off via back door. Try it!

 

[nonscenic]

I usually select the back row on JQ A320. Frequently empty, first off via back door. Try it!

Back row is a good trick if arriving at NTL, HBA, OOL, ZQN etc, but not for MEL, where JQ only ever use the front door from my experience. DJ load through both doors in MEL, but preumably it costs JQ too much to staff the boarding via the rear exit.

 

[eastwest101]

Back row is a good trick if arriving at NTL, HBA, OOL, ZQN etc, but not for MEL, where JQ only ever use the front door from my experience. DJ load through both doors in MEL, but preumably it costs JQ too much to staff the boarding via the rear exit.

Yep there is not much consistency there - I have arrived on a JQ A320 into TSV a few times and sometimes they disembark from the front and rear stairs (which is great if you can be first out the door) and other times they disembark from the front doors only - which really sux if you are in row 29! In TSV when boarding a JQ A320 its usually front and rear stairs boarding.

 

[Boris spatsky]

Oh i have never seen the leave the back door shut. Then again, i only fly them when i absolutely have to (MEL not one of those)