Jetstar Check In Melbourne To Ho Chi Minh

[Laidback Aussie Flyer]

Hi Everyone,
I’m flying from MEL-SGN on JQ63 and was wondering if anyone has caught this flight or JQ61 from SYD-SGN?
As mentioned on their website you cannot online check in and you need to visit the counter to show relevant visas and documentation.
I have a couple P1 first class lounge passes (never been before!) and would love to take full advantage of the food, drinks or even massages etc as it’s my partner’s birthday and would love to surprise her.

Would there be any chance for the check in to be open more than the standard 3 hour rule say 4/5 hours prior? Or could I approach another counter for JQ as other international flights will be taking off prior and get checked in there?

We will have both carry on and 1 checked luggage between us. It’s my first time flying JQ international so not sure how strict/lenient they are with this?

Cheers!

 

[jrfsp]

JQ are pretty strict, check in will open 3 hours on the dot - will be dedicated counters for the SGN flight.

 

[dylarr]

Would there be any chance for the check in to be open more than the standard 3 hour rule say 4/5 hours prior? Or could I approach another counter for JQ as other international flights will be taking off prior and get checked in there?

Yes I caught this flight recently from MEL. The check-in counters actually opened about 20-30 minutes early. I arrived before the check-in opened and there was a few people waiting in the line before it opened but not a huge amount. I did a bit of a slow lap around the check-in counters to burn off some time and by the time I got back around at around ~25 minutes prior to the scheduled check-in opening times, the queue was packed full of people and they had opened check-in already and had started processing passengers. My tip would be to get there a bit earlier, otherwise you could be waiting in the queue for ages.

 

[Rayesfeg]

Hey OP, can you please double check your eligibility to access the lounge (I assume you are referring to the Qantas First Lounge, but I could be incorrect). My understanding is that you will not be eligible for the Qantas First Lounge when flying a Jetstar flight, see the post here.

will be dedicated counters for the SGN flight.

Did the SYD-HCM route recently and this is correct.
Jetstar were checking in a flight to New Zealand which had a sign indicating that the queue is for the New Zealand flight only. There was a separate queue to enter for the HCM flight which did not open earlier than 3 hours ahead.

Having said that, it seems that Jetstar are pretty inconsistent in their operations so it's possible that staff could open the queue earlier if they feel like it on the day.

My tip would be to get there a bit earlier, otherwise you could be waiting in the queue for ages.

I would recommend this on both sides (Aus and Vietnam) because the queues for Jetstar are always long, low-cost does attract a lot of people after all.

 

[clifford]

Just tagging on to this thread.

Does anyone know if online check-in is available for JQ7 MEL to SIN?

 

[jrfsp]

Just tagging on to this thread.

Does anyone know if online check-in is available for JQ7 MEL to SIN?

Yep

 

[nancypants]

Hey OP, can you please double check your eligibility to access the lounge (I assume you are referring to the Qantas First Lounge, but I could be incorrect). My understanding is that you will not be eligible for the Qantas First Lounge when flying a Jetstar flight, see the post here.

I did the SYD-MEL leg of this flight recently (~June 2024) and was able to access the QF first lounge in SYD as a QF plat

Qantas Lounge Access Eligibility | Qantas

Find out more on Qantas Lounge access eligibility whether your traveling in First, Business; are a Qantas Frequent Flyer, Qantas Club or oneworld member.

www.qantas.com

Post automatically merged: Aug 31, 2024

ETA I see that you can’t use a first lounge invitation on a JQ flight but otherwise accessible

 

[CaptJCool]

I did the SYD-MEL leg of this flight recently (~June 2024) and was able to access the QF first lounge in SYD as a QF plat

Qantas Lounge Access Eligibility | Qantas

Find out more on Qantas Lounge access eligibility whether your traveling in First, Business; are a Qantas Frequent Flyer, Qantas Club or oneworld member.

www.qantas.com

Post automatically merged: Aug 31, 2024

ETA I see that you can’t use a first lounge invitation on a JQ flight but otherwise accessible

As I did in February 2024 before my status went down to SG (and luckily before the Taylor Swift concerts played havoc with LCC FARE prices

 

[_TheTraveller_]

Just tagging on to this thread, does JQ have bag drop? If the check in counters don't open then perhaps OLIC and bag drop could get us in?

Would like to access the F lounge a bit earlier for a MEL-CHC flight if possible.

 

[jrfsp]

Just tagging on to this thread, does JQ have bag drop? If the check in counters don't open then perhaps OLIC and bag drop could get us in?

Would like to access the F lounge a bit earlier for a MEL-CHC flight if possible.

For NZ you can do online check in and bag drop - even so depends on what flights are going as to whether bag drop will be open any earlier

 

[_TheTraveller_]

For NZ you can do online check in and bag drop - even so depends on what flights are going as to whether bag drop will be open any earlier

JQ29 departs at 2:20pm and JQ17 departs at 3:50pm. My flight to CHC departs at 6:50pm. What do you reckon?

 

[jrfsp]

JQ29 departs at 2:20pm and JQ17 departs at 3:50pm. My flight to CHC departs at 6:50pm. What do you reckon?

Check in for Thailand flights should be from the same area as NZ, but unlikely they’ll keep check on open between flights. JQ can be fussy about accepting early bag drop I wouldn’t like to say whether it will be accepted earlier than 3 hours

 

[Harrison_133]

JQ29 departs at 2:20pm and JQ17 departs at 3:50pm. My flight to CHC departs at 6:50pm. What do you reckon?

I highly doubt it. Jetstar don't let you drop off bags early for domestic. Even just a minute early and the computer says no.

I imagine international would have similar rules, especially if it's an automated bag drop which would be programmed to only accept bags from a certain time.

 

[_TheTraveller_]

I highly doubt it. Jetstar don't let you drop off bags early for domestic. Even just a minute early and the computer says no.

I imagine international would have similar rules, especially if it's an automated bag drop which would be programmed to only accept bags from a certain time.

Yeah that's fair. I think QF might have all day bag drop but that's QF.

I'll sacrifice myself to give this a test...

 

[clifford]

Yep

Unfortunately that's incorrect. I've just tried to check in online for JQ7 on Tuesday and this was the response:

"For now, you'll need to check in at the airport counters for all international flights".

What's the matter with Jetstar?

 

[Austman]

What's the matter with Jetstar?

I checked-in online for JQ7 earlier this week OK. And, as I was HLO, I could go straight to the gate.

It all worked fine for me at least…

 

[clifford]

Well, I don't know why it's forcing me to the check in counter when I'm HLO, but in future I'll stick with Scoot (to the gate) on this route.

Who wants to waste half an hour or more standing in line for no reason when flying business class?

 

[Austman]

They were using kiosks. There was no waiting when I walked past but it might have been a few minutes before they opened.

I was in business class too.

Have you completed all the passport declaration?

 

[clifford]

They were using kiosks. There was no waiting when I walked past but it might have been a few minutes before they opened.

I was in business class too.

Have you completed all the passport declaration?

I don't see any way on the Jetstar website to enter my passport details etc, as I can't access the check in screens. I'll just have to accept that the check in gods have decided that this trip will involve me in a lot of unnecessary hassle.

I'm travelling from CBR to GVA, via MEL, SIN. HKG, MNL, AUH. The airlines, VA, JQ, CX and EY won't let me check in online for any flight, for various (mainly spurious) reasons.

VA won't as the computer can't handle a ticket issued by UA. JQ won't for (unknown) reasons of its own. CX won't because it says I need a visa to travel to Manila (AU and UK passports) for a short transit to the EY flight. EY can't issue me a boarding pass online because MNL doesn't accept electronic BP's.

So there we are. It will cerainly make a mess of my 7 hours layover in Singapore.

 

[_TheTraveller_]

I wasn't able to check in online to CHC. AU passport. Bit strange..