Jetstar confirms long haul flights from Singapore

[medhead]

Star Class is usually much cheaper than a QF J booking of the same price. Of course, apples with apples comparisons will be quite difficult as:

• Given say a route like SIN-ATH (or any new city as given in previous posts) where QF has absolutely no way of ticketing, so there is no direct comparable route
• QF J and JQ Star Class are not alike, even though they earn at the same rates
• JQ Star Class has been widely touted as a poor international J; even with JQ's advertising of that fact, compared to other J services around the world it is nothing like. It's more just a premium service, viz. D7's XL seating (which is at least lie-flat rather than JQ Millennium).

At least most Star Class fares, even in non-sale, have an average SC rate not more than $10/SC - $12/SC, and mostly lower. There aren't a whole lot of international QF J routes that have a rate that low, even with most sales.

I wonder what QF has at SIN in order to enable it to fly more flights out of there, i.e. space, rent, gate slots, ground support, etc.. It begs to reason what this will do for the competition on any such new routes.

That is a very good summary of the situation with Starclass. I understand the reason for the comparisons with J, but IMO I don't think it is valid. For my money the comparison is with Y. I'm not going to pony up the cash for an International J ticket on Qantas. So for I can travel Qantas Y or for a bit more I can travel Starclass, in a seat that is better that the Y seat (just) and earn J points. I will cough up the extra cash in that circumstance.

 

[dajop]

For my money the comparison is with Y. I'm not going to pony up the cash for an International J ticket on Qantas. So for I can travel Qantas Y or for a bit more I can travel Starclass, in a seat that is better that the Y seat (just) and earn J points. I will cough up the extra cash in that circumstance.

I think given the product and pricing, Y+ is probably the closest comparison.

 

[futaris]

Jetstar to launch Singapore to Melbourne services

Jetstar will launch direct daily services between its Singapore hub and Melbourne from December 16 before starting daily services between Singapore and Auckland from March.

The carrier said the flights mark the launch of Singapore’s first low cost long haul airline.

Jetstar will operate two wide bodied A330-200s. In making the announcement, chief executive Bruce Buchanan again flagged up the prospect of expanding beyond Singapore to Europe.

 

[futaris]

On Jetstar.com:

JQ7 MEL-SIN 1200-1650 A330
JQ8 SIN-MEL 2050-0655 A330

$700 return, JetSaver Lite
$860 return, JetPlus
$1570 return, JetFlex
$1720 return, StarClass

Doesn't appear as a QF codeshare on qantas.com yet.

 

[markis10]

Flights are loaded into the JQ booking engine and as I promised, they are not 3K but JQi operations!

Around 2K in starclass return to MEL, no loadings of the AKL flights yet.

 

[anat0l]

JQ7 MEL-SIN 1200-1650 A330
JQ8 SIN-MEL 2050-0655 A330

$700 return, JetSaver Lite
$860 return, JetPlus
$1570 return, JetFlex
$1720 return, StarClass

At the prices for StarClass, that's certainly cheaper than a J ticket on QF and much better on the $/SC scale (not spectacular, mind you). Timing isn't stark awful either.

Surprised that the JetFlex / StarClass differential is only $150 return. Sort of a no brainer choice?

The JetSaver price is getting close-ish to QF sale prices, however, and probably almost the same as other carriers' sale prices if not more expensive (viz. SQ, EK, EY etc.). Then there is competition with AirAsia to contend with as well.

 

[futaris]

Jetstar announces Singapore services

The Qantas Airways Ltd-owned Jetstar will begin Melbourne-Singapore services from December 16 this year, while Auckland-Singapore flights will start from March 17, 2011, the airline said a statement on Wednesday.

Both the Melbourne-Singapore and Auckland-Singapore flights will also operate on a code-share basis with Qantas.

 

[markis10]

At the prices for StarClass, that's certainly cheaper than a J ticket on QF and much better on the $/SC scale (not spectacular, mind you). Timing isn't stark awful either.

Surprised that the JetFlex / StarClass differential is only $150 return. Sort of a no brainer choice?

The JetSaver price is getting close-ish to QF sale prices, however, and probably almost the same as other carriers' sale prices if not more expensive (viz. SQ, EK, EY etc.). Then there is competition with AirAsia to contend with as well.

Jetsaver is $99 for sale this afternoon!

 

[futaris]

At the prices for StarClass, that's certainly cheaper than a J ticket on QF and much better on the $/SC scale (not spectacular, mind you). Timing isn't stark awful either.

$7.20/SC isn't bad. NB, I wouldn't use Jetstar on a StarClass Any Seat Award since the cost is the same as flying the A380 on QF31.

 

[gilby08]

Jetstar’s Singapore A330 flight schedule (Departure / Arrival times shown)

Commencing 16 December 2010
Melbourne-Singapore* Singapore*-Melbourne
JQ 7 12.00 – 16.50 JQ 8 20.50 – 06.55 (+1)
Operates daily by A330-200

Commencing 17 March 2011 Commencing 18 March 2011
Singapore* - Auckland Auckland – Singapore*
3K 401 19.50 – 11.00 (+1) 3K 402 12.20 – 18.00
Operates daily by A330-200

So from Australia it will be operated by JQ, yet from NZ it will be operated by 3K... Interesting choice there!

 

[auriga]

I find it quite interesting too.

 

[markis10]

Jetstar’s Singapore A330 flight schedule (Departure / Arrival times shown)

Commencing 16 December 2010
Melbourne-Singapore* Singapore*-Melbourne
JQ 7 12.00 – 16.50 JQ 8 20.50 – 06.55 (+1)
Operates daily by A330-200

Commencing 17 March 2011 Commencing 18 March 2011
Singapore* - Auckland Auckland – Singapore*
3K 401 19.50 – 11.00 (+1) 3K 402 12.20 – 18.00
Operates daily by A330-200

So from Australia it will be operated by JQ, yet from NZ it will be operated by 3K... Interesting choice there!

That is interesting, I was only half right in that case , must be something to do with the air rights, I suspect the aircraft will be JQi assets at worse on wet lease.

 

[futaris]

Commencing 17 March 2011 Commencing 18 March 2011

Singapore* - Auckland Auckland – Singapore*
3K 401 19.50 – 11.00 (+1) 3K 402 12.20 – 18.00
Operates daily by A330-200

Times are fairly close to those for Singapore Airlines:

SQ282 AKL-SIN 01:10-06:40 772
SQ286 AKL-SIN 13:55-18:55 77W

SQ281 SIN-AKL 08:50-23:40 772
SQ285 SIN-AKL 21:05-11:55 77W

 

[gilby08]

Times are fairly close to those for Singapore Airlines:

SQ282 AKL-SIN 01:10-06:40 772
SQ286 AKL-SIN 13:55-18:55 77W

SQ281 SIN-AKL 08:50-23:40 772
SQ285 SIN-AKL 21:05-11:55 77W

I'm pretty sure JQ will win the price war that has now started on this route..

 

[proskyneo]

This is fairly short notice! But they're having a sale for these at 5-7pm this afternoon for only $99.

Who wants to bet their website will not be able to process the masses that wish to get cheap tickets?

Sales page link: Sale fares

Edit: Sale fares are for travel 18 January - 23 March 2011, limited availability during Chinese New Year and school holidays. Sale fares are one way and are available on selected days and flights only, subject to availability.

Double edit: Sorry I didn't notice the other thread on this!!

 

[Keith009]

I wonder if they'll allow through-fares and through-check facilities via SIN? I'm finding PE to SIN for as low as $1400 return. Then tag on a cheapie to TPE, PEN, HKT etc for next to nought. If so, this will be a comfortable and efficient way to get to various parts of Asia yet still earning points and SCs, notwithstanding the inability to upgrade with points.

 

[Harry G]

I'm pretty sure JQ will win the price war that has now started on this route..

Tiger airways keep pushing regulators to try and get the New Zealand routes - a back door push by SQ

 

[dajop]

Tiger airways keep pushing regulators to try and get the New Zealand routes - a back door push by SQ

???? Don't understand relevance of Tiger - the original quote about Jetstar winning price war related to the SIN-AKL route. AFAIK, Tiger are not trying to get SIN-AKL rights, just Australia-NZ.

 

[JohnK]

I know this is more about long haul flights than the regional flights in Asia but I was actually surprised this morning at SIN T1 observing the departure boards. I don't know the exact count but there was well over 10 3K flights before 7:30-8:00am and only a couple of other airlines operating at that time of the morning.

 

[medhead]

Thanks for the observation. It puts some really numbers onto the Jetstar claims about their success in SIN as per the story reported in this thread:
http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/travel-news/jetstar-plans-base-more-aircraft-23594.html