Jetstar- how they allocate seats?

[Esilef]

Just wondering if you are flying Jetstar international & don't choose to pay to choose your own seats, how & when they are allocated?

If you do choose to pay to select your seat, can you see where others have been allocated to sit prior to the flight & move if you want to?

if you don't pay & hate the seats allocated to you can you complain & they will change them for you at checkin?

 

[Esilef]

BTW I have paid for my seat allocation but due to medical reasons I am trying to select a seat for my husband where there is a greater chance of getting a spare seat next to him.

Jetstar has advised that there is 90 spare seats in economy on the flight (not flying until may subject to change)


is $7000 to upgrade us all to starclass with limited seat recline

 

[Deleted member]

BTW I have paid for my seat allocation but due to medical reasons I am trying to select a seat for my husband where there is a greater chance of getting a spare seat next to him.

Jetstar has advised that there is 90 spare seats in economy on the flight (not flying until may subject to change)


is $7000 to upgrade us all to starclass with limited seat recline

Where are you going that costs $7000 to upgrade?
Does everyone need to parade to be with your husband?
It would appear you don't currently enjoy any status with QF or Jet*
So my advice ( budgets allowing) fly in the pointy end , even start class is better than a std Y seat IMHO
I notice there is a sale on biz class seats at the moment.

 

[Esilef]

We are off to Hawaii (all going well medically) The flight is about 12 hours. My Dad and handicapped brother are already going starclass but my husband, son and my self are in economy. worse comes to worse hubby can change seats with my Dad or brother but wants to be with my son and I.

We were advised that the seat recline in Jetstar star class is not that good (not real business class) and he was better to try and get a row of economy seats so that he can lie down.

His medical condition is two broken discs in his back with shredded the nerves right down both legs leading to immese pain and incorrect nerve signals being sent.

We had hoped that he would have improved by now but the nerves can take years to heel if they do at all.

If he gets sick in the US we have been advised to put him on a Hawaiian airline business class seat and get him home ASAP.

It has been suggested that he stays home but after 9 months of pain and being in the house all day every day he WANTS OUT...

Jetstar has been made aware of our situation and has been most helpful.

 

[Hvr]

Jet* business class is more like premium economy on other airlines. Having said that the recline is not too bad but of course it's not flat.

Even with a full row of economy hubby will have to sit up a fair amount of the time so this of course needs to be considered.

You may want to look at what HA provide in business class. Word is that it's not much better than the Jet* seat.


I'm sure you've discussed his travel insurance with your provider. Noting that this is a pre-existing condition there may be extra premiums etc. All of which needs to be organised beforehand. You do not want to be in the USA without appropriate travel insurance.

 

[mannej]

Hawaiian don't provide that much extra room in business either. The airline who provides the most room on a direct flight is Qantas.

 

[Boris spatsky]

For what it is worth, as a Platinum QF FF without paying for selection, i got 59 E on MEL-SIN (back row in the middle)! Nothing changed when i requested a change at check in. It's Jetstar! Who knows how the allocate seats...

 

[jetlagger]

For what it is worth, as a Platinum QF FF without paying for selection, i got 59 E on MEL-SIN (back row in the middle)! Nothing changed when i requested a change at check in. It's Jetstar! Who knows how the allocate seats...

Certainly no enchantment with that allocation..

 

[Esilef]

Someone said that they allocate from Front to back but that info cant be trusted. Nor can we trust that there will be spare seats available.

We have been told to travel with a letter from his specialist as if there is spare seats and others decide to "claim" them he can request on medical grounds but that all depends on what FA you get!

Another option is simply that he takes the two seats we have purchased for my toddler and I and I hold my toddler on my lap for 12 hours.

We have booked the middle part of the back section of economy & have requested an upgrade when they become available noting that they prefer to sell the seats prior & not to count on it.

Dad is a QF FF and has offered to upgrade using his points if needed but waiting until closure to the time.

As for travel insurrance as it is a preexisting injury they will not cover it especially to the US. Have been told the best thing to do in the case of emergency is to drug him up and put him on the next flight home.

Lets be honest he really should not be flying BUT there is no way he will miss out on this holiday. He needs it.

 

[trooper]

Just be careful... airlines won't necessarily allow the "drug him up" and ship him home plan! Once onboard he becomes THEIR responsibility.... so that's hardly surprising...

 

[Esilef]

Good point!!!

 

[eastwest101]

Where are you going that costs $7000 to upgrade?

That is the more interesting parts that has come out of this thread. $7000 for each person or for 7 passengers to upgrade to JQ Starclass? :shock:

 

[Esilef]

$7000 for 3 of us to upgrade on both legs of the flight. At time if request starclass was $1399 per person 1 way. Plus I would have had to pay a fee for booking changes ect.

 

[eastwest101]

$7000 for 3 of us to upgrade on both legs of the flight. At time if request starclass was $1399 per person 1 way. Plus I would have had to pay a fee for booking changes ect.

World's worst value/most expensive SC run perhaps?

 

[Hvr]

World's worst value/most expensive SC run perhaps?

Who says the upgrade includes SCs and points? That might be more. And of course no points etc means no lounge access.

 

[Esilef]

Yep just the basic fare. Extra if you want ff points & lounge access.

There is 13 seats available in star class on both legs.

Hoping I get the email 4 weeks out offering the $200 upgrade. Not sure if that still happens?

 

[Esilef]

It's $3500 one way from Sydney business class. If need be hubby will have to look into that option.

heres hoping Jetstar do not have anymore sales to Hawaii & flight does not fill

 

[Hvr]

Just be careful... airlines won't necessarily allow the "drug him up" and ship him home plan! Once onboard he becomes THEIR responsibility.... so that's hardly surprising...

And if this occurs then you'll need to get a clearance from a medical practitioner prior to being allowed to travel. Also, depending on the type of fares you've purchased they may be forfeited without compensation leaving you to purchase new seats home.

Not having travel insurance in the US can bankrupt you.

 

[Esilef]

We have heard horror stories of those whom have needed medical attention in the us. Before we go he is going to have to get clearance from his specialist to fly & also for the medication he is taking.

worse case and his specialist won't let him fly then he will need to work out if my son & I can still go or if we need to stay home with him. At the moment he is determined to go.

i might need to try & talk to travel insurance companies to see if we can get cover. Last time I tried we could not

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I wouldn't rely on any spare seats being available particularly if you're travelling to Hawaii in high season.

Looking at airline seat maps when you online checkin will only show you seats that have been pre-allocated and/or people who have already checked in.

Any 'empty' seats does not mean they will stay that way. It could be a full flight so all those seats that are unallocated when you are doing OLCI will be allocated to travellers when they checkin at the airport. The airline won't really know exactly how many seats are left over, if any, until they close the flight for checkin which will be about one hour prior to departure.

As always you've got to assume the worse case scenario ie no upgrade coming through & your husband stuck in economy with no spare seats next to him.

On almost full flights any spare seats will generally be scattered middle seats throughout the aircraft not rows of three or 4 seats together suitable for lying down on.

Have you considered travelling on NZ ex AKL to HNL? You'd need to fly to AKL the day prior but it is a day flight 1100/2145-1 & they have special J fares on www.airnewzealand.com for approx AUD1,800.00. I think at least one adult family member should accompany him in a carer role. Coming back the NZ flight is an overnighter so you may be better off taking a day flight HNL/SYD on QF, HA.

You absolutely must contact the airline re medical clearance and obtain approval to travel & they will need to liaise with his treating Doctor.

The other hurdle will be trying to get travel insurance but it may be worth calling Iselect who can do comparisons with the different travel insurance companies.