Jetstar FlexPlus - plus being the operative word?

[dajop]

I understand Jetstar FlexPlus allows time and date changes (free of charge, subject to fare difference) and change of origination destination.

However I did not understand that (supposedly) the underlying fare class is the driver for the fare difference - not the actual fare (rookie error that I should know better?).

I booked a Jetstar FlexPlus MEL-SIN, as I needed a degree of flexibility with my booking that other carriers didn't provide. Sure enough I now need to move the flight two days later, and even though website was selling the exactly same fare (to the cent) , it wanted to charge me $70 to move to that flight (and even if I moved to a day where new bookings were say $100 less than I paid , it still wanted to charge me an extra $70).

On calling they indicated this related to my underlying fare class being not available. They suggested a workaround, that IMHO will highly likely result in me ending up with a voucher for the fare value to use in the next 3 years. (i.e. cancelling and make a new booking for the flight I want, and then requesting they apply the voucher resulting from the cancellation to the new booking and then refund the payment for it).

 

[Ade]

I understand Jetstar FlexPlus allows time and date changes (free of charge, subject to fare difference) and change of origination destination.

However I did not understand that (supposedly) the underlying fare class is the driver for the fare difference - not the actual fare (rookie error that I should know better?).

I booked a Jetstar FlexPlus MEL-SIN, as I needed a degree of flexibility with my booking that other carriers didn't provide. Sure enough I now need to move the flight two days later, and even though website was selling the exactly same fare (to the cent) , it wanted to charge me $70 to move to that flight (and even if I moved to a day where new bookings were say $100 less than I paid , it still wanted to charge me an extra $70).

On calling they indicated this related to my underlying fare class being not available. They suggested a workaround, that IMHO will highly likely result in me ending up with a voucher for the fare value to use in the next 3 years. (i.e. cancelling and make a new booking for the flight I want, and then requesting they apply the voucher resulting from the cancellation to the new booking and then refund the payment for it).

I was caught up with something similar with QF and SQ. Had a Flex fare both on QF and SQ (2 different instances). In both circumstances when I went to make a date change, there was a fare difference, even though the QF and SQ websites showed cheaper fares. In my case the bookings were made thru a travel agent, whom was advised that the fare class code in which I had booked the Flex fare is no longer available for sale on the dates that I wanted to change to. So had to pay the extra $ to have the tickets rescheduled thru TA. My TA explained that not all fare class codes are released for sale via TAs and hence the issue.

 

[dajop]

I was caught up with something similar with QF and SQ. Had a Flex fare both on QF and SQ (2 different instances). In both circumstances when I went to make a date change, there was a fare difference, even though the QF and SQ websites showed cheaper fares. In my case the bookings were made thru a travel agent, whom was advised that the fare class code in which I had booked the Flex fare is no longer available for sale on the dates that I wanted to change to. So had to pay the extra $ to have the tickets rescheduled thru TA. My TA explained that not all fare class codes are released for sale via TAs and hence the issue.

Yes, I was aware of that happening with legacy carriers. With JQ, as origin and destination changes are allowed free of charge as well, I assumed changes related to the amount paid - which still must be for origin and/or destination changes - but seemingly not to changing date/time.

 

[dajop]

OK, I may have jumped the gun. But still worth knowing the process which is rather convoluted.

I was able to have the vouchers applied to the new booking and the payment is being refunded to my mode of payment. So a few hoops and hurdles but it looks like it will work out as planned.