Jetstar Business Online Upgrade Experiences

[yohy?!]

Hi

Thought it might be useful to have a thread to post observations of these, I'll get the ball rolling:

Have a Starter Plus /Business SYD-DPS-SYD ticket, the upgrade offer is appearing at about T-13.5 days. Price is $240 / $340(Max) respectively on the SYD-DPS leg, had prepaid for upfront seat & entertainment so reluctant to pull the trigger as I would lose the fees paid for these.

Also have a Starter SYD-DPS-SYD for the same dates/flights which is receiving no offer

 

[moa999]

Starter Pus SYD-HNL. Offer at T-13 days for $300 Business / $400 Business Max. Hadn't prepaid much at all but have lounge access.

What I don't get is the number of SCs..
Offer page says Business Max gets 9000 Points / 45 SCs.

From what I can tell this is incorrect
Starter Plus = Economy = 4500 /45 (at Bronze level, obviously more points for other tiers)
Starter Max = Flex Economy = 6000 /70
Business Max = Business = 9000 / 140


If I'm correct with my calcs $400 to shift from 45-140 SCs and a more comfortable seat isnt bad.. but not worth it if only 45 SCs.
Any thoughts

Trying a new Booking today the difference between Starter and Busines is $980 with 8 business seats available at that price. Business Max an additional $200 but does show the expected 9000 / 140

 

[ozbeachbabe]

We got a similar offer to upgrade to J BNE/HNL last year ie $300.00 no points, SC or lounge access or $400.00 for 140SC and 9,000 points - a no brainer IMHO.

We already had lounge access as both of us are WP but being able to use the J checkin was great as tbere was a really long queue for whY.

Take a hard copy of your ESTA with you as they asked us for it.

 

[moa999]

Thx. I jumped on it in the end. Good advice on the ESTA - I always carry it

 

[annielee]

didnt know that Jetstar offer Biz Upgrade.. never been offered before..

 

[MEL_Traveller]

didnt know that Jetstar offer Biz Upgrade.. never been offered before..

When they first started international services it was often offered at the airport - around the $250 mark to upgrade, paid in cash at the service desk. First come first served. They then moved to the email method.

 

[blu]

so it's targetted only, wonder if there's a criteria for selection (ie: not deep discount sale fares)?

 

[kallinch]

MEL-NRT on 12/11 $199 for Bus and $299@ Bus Max (which is ~50% off considering what I paid)
From what I can see on seat selection bus cabin is now virtually full. And my partners booking had no offer (seperate booking but on exact same flights and both of us bought start plus at same time) which makes me think it has something to do with customer value/status.

Also our initial fares were bought during Japan return for free sale. So ~$550return each with a Starter Plus

 

[moa999]

Above examples seem to suggest booking the Starter Plus package helps your chance of getting an offer.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

MEL-NRT on 12/11 $199 for Bus and $299@ Bus Max (which is ~50% off considering what I paid)
From what I can see on seat selection bus cabin is now virtually full. And my partners booking had no offer (seperate booking but on exact same flights and both of us bought start plus at same time) which makes me think it has something to do with customer value/status.

Also our initial fares were bought during Japan return for free sale. So ~$550return each with a Starter Plus

lol. Looking around the business cabin on my flight which completely filled with upgrades (bar three pax originally booked)... I can assure you there was no status or customer value taken into account

It was strictly the singlet and thongs brigade, with one couple in their 60s in matching polyester pant suits and white sneakers. Everyone was having a lot of fun enjoying the 'experience' as far as I could tell.

 

[Austman]

I have a starter plus MEL-HKT less than 14 days away.

No offer for me . And business class has 12 of the 21 seats still empty.

But I can change to Business Max for $690.00 ! That's using the "Change Flight" function.

"Online Upgrade"? Do you see it when you use the "Manage Booking" function?

 

[moa999]

Got an email with a link to an offer page with option of Business and Business Max.
I don't think seats not allocated necessarily equates to free seats

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I don't think seats not allocated necessarily equates to free seats

agree in principle, but I think with JQ business where seat selection is free, and passengers will want to avoid middle seats and being separated when upgrades are offered... unallocated probably does mean 'free'.

 

[Austman]

I don't think seats not allocated necessarily equates to free seats

If I change to a Bus Max fare, I get a seat automatically allocated in the J-cabin before even completing the purchase... So I think it might... It seems the system automatically gives you a seat.

Regardless, if I start a new ticket purchase on my flight, I can book 12 business class seats at the same price as if I change my flight. Booking 13-15 seats sends the price up a lot and at 16 seats it states "Sold Out".

I think I can be pretty sure 12 seats (at least) are free.

 

[Austman]

A week to go and still 12 of the 21 J-class seats are free and still for sale.

And no upgrade offer. Well not to me. Well not yet anyway.

So a couple of observations:

1. If an offer was made, it's clear that no-one took it up. At least not yet.

2. Maybe selling 9 of 21 J-class seats is enough for JQ not to send out offers.

 

[yohy?!]

A week to go and still 12 of the 21 J-class seats are free and still for sale.

And no upgrade offer. Well not to me. Well not yet anyway.

So a couple of observations:

1. If an offer was made, it's clear that no-one took it up. At least not yet.

2. Maybe selling 9 of 21 J-class seats is enough for JQ not to send out offers.

Seems plausible they must be losing money at the level of fares they can charge, my flight last week and a couple of months back in JQ J were both similarly empty. Perhaps we'll see the service being wound back in line with the spartan scoot and AAx offerings in terms of F&B.

 

[Austman]

Data point. I took a look at at the business cabin on the flight and there were indeed 10 or 12 seats empty. Y was fairly full. At the last minute I paid $29 for an "up-front" seat when I saw a few groups of 3 seats empty. Assuming JQi pax are generally tight paid off this time and I had 3 seats to myself near the front of Y class.

 

[moa999]

Agreed surprised that they aren't trying for more upsale.

Possibly they only do it when Y is near full.
Create revenue by moving pax Y-J AND by selling more last minute Y tickets

 

[Austman]

So if the seat map looks like the above, a few hours before departure, you might snag 3 seats for the cost of a single "up-front" (which have the orange star). You might need to guard it a bit because after take-off they let any pax move into these rows.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Agreed surprised that they aren't trying for more upsale.

Possibly they only do it when Y is near full.
Create revenue by moving pax Y-J AND by selling more last minute Y tickets

it was offered on my flight which was less than half full in economy. business went out full, down the back everyone had (at least) a spare seat in the middle, with some getting blocks of three. in that case I think JQ just wanted whatever revenue they could get!