Jetstar refusing to accept money on flights under trial of cashless cabin system

[Archphoto]

I guess everyone has a different idea of a LLC, for me it's a carrier that charges everything on top of a base ticket price.

If I need to pay extra - it's a LLC. (I travelled on DJ once as an emegency flight as I'd missed the last QF due to mechanical failure in Bali. The *only* flight I could get, was the most expensive DJ ticket - PER-SYD. That included nothing. I couldn't even get a pillow or blanket on board and yes, I was willing to pay - I was freezing my butt off. Forget it. They told me bluntly that I should have booked it with my ticket. Well guess what? It was an emergency and my TA booked it for me - last seats, and I had to be back in ADL the next day. That was the last thing on our minds.

If I'd been able to get on my original flight - it would have been 1/3 of the price and I could have any number of blankets and pillows.

That in my opinion separates LLC from Full service carriers. I pay upfront and get what I want. No having to add on luggage, food, drinks, pillows, amenity kits - it's included in the price and I know if I need it, I won't be expected to pay with a CC for something as rubbish as an $8 "pillow" (and I use that term loosely.)

Thankfully J* Asia is still more than happy to take my cold hard cash, as is AirAsia (BKK-MFM). I don't fly them often, I prefer CX (BKK-SIN), but when I need to fly in and out same day, J*A is more than adequate.

 

[pauly7]

Can this (Skytrax) really be believed????

Nope. It doesn't get past my browsers BS filter that's for sure.

I pretty much ignore anything that comes from that site.

 

[rechoboam]

I had this on a return flight from Ho Chi Minh City.

Worst. Idea. Ever.

So much for cash being legal tender and having to accept it.

Who started this full. Stop. Business.? Anyway under circumstances where it's impractical to handle cash clearly you don't have to. If I buy a DVD online noone expects to receive envelopes full of money.

 

[harvyk]

With regards to point #1 all the airlines you mention classify themselves as full service carriers meaning that those incidentals are included in your ticket so it's little wonder you never had to buy them.

You obviously haven't flown AA dom of late...

For non-status members flying AA in Y, everything from checked baggage to meals is an extra cost (Buy on board). As far as I'm concerned that put them into the realms of a LCC with a first class cabin...
I believe you need to be a OWE before they approach the sort of levels in Y which non-status pax get by default on QF.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Nope. It doesn't get past my browsers BS filter that's for sure.

I pretty much ignore anything that comes from that site.

LOL. Good one.

 

[NM]

So what happens to say a 15yo child travelling unaccompanied. Parent drops them at the airport and hands them $20 for some food on the flight. While most adults may have a means of paying by card, not many children would be able to produce anything other than cash. I know my under-18s could only pay by cash.

 

[oz_mark]

So what happens to say a 15yo child travelling unaccompanied. Parent drops them at the airport and hands them $20 for some food on the flight. While most adults may have a means of paying by card, not many children would be able to produce anything other than cash. I know my under-18s could only pay by cash.

They go cold, thirsty and hungry! And hit you for a prepaid Visa next time you try to put them on a plane.

 

[Justchecking]

You obviously haven't flown AA dom of late...

For non-status members flying AA in Y, everything from checked baggage to meals is an extra cost (Buy on board). As far as I'm concerned that put them into the realms of a LCC with a first class cabin...
I believe you need to be a OWE before they approach the sort of levels in Y which non-status pax get by default on QF.

Correct, I haven't flown AA lately. Personally I hate the buy on board concept, if I'm buying an airline ticket I just want everything included. I don't care to save $4.99 on my ticket price if it means I won't get a coffee. Rather have the coffee without rummaging around for coins or card, thanks. So to me it doesn't matter whether they want my coins or card, it matters to me that they want anything at all once I board. There us no ticket cheap enough to make me happy to forgoe what I call 'the airline experience'. A seat, a snack, luggage included. Accordingly I make my airline choice based on what's included in the standard fare, not the price of the fare itself and don't buy LCC.

Other people could make that same choice and not be up in arms about a LCCs decision to no longer accept cash. However, most people buy on price alone and whinge about it later.

I have a saying that I use to remind myself everytime I purchase...

Cheap can be very expensive, but I never regret buying quality.

 

[harvyk]

Personally I hate the buy on board concept, if I'm buying an airline ticket I just want everything included. I don't care to save $4.99 on my ticket price if it means I won't get a coffee. Rather have the coffee without rummaging around for coins or card, thanks.

<snip>

Cheap can be very expensive, but I never regret buying quality.

Agree wholeheartedly on that, I find it a little amusing everytime I see someone who flew a LCC complaining that they ended up paying more than had they simply flown a full service airline...

 

[Justchecking]

Agree wholeheartedly on that, I find it a little amusing everytime I see someone who flew a LCC complaining that they ended up paying more than had they simply flown a full service airline...

the only reason to fly LCC is because you can't avoid it.

 

[Archphoto]

the only reason to fly LCC is because you can't avoid it.

So true and hopefully once QF Asia is up and running I can say goodbye to LLC here in Asia!

 

[tuapekastar]

I don't like the idea of cashless flights (I cannot see how it is to a customer's advantage to have one traditional and - IMHO - perfectly acceptable, payment method removed), but ultimately a particular airline adopts the practice that it wishes to and it is up to me whether I choose to fly them (I guess sometimes there is no choice depending where and when you want to fly, but usually there is).

I'm a bit like recent posters - I don't like to part with a cent after I have purchased my ticket, so I expect baggage allowances, pillows, blankets, food, drinks, seat selection, IFE etc. to all be included in the price. I can see why some people are seduced by the upfont price, especially someone having to fork over for 4 or 5 tickets for their whole family, for example. Some younger people who have grown up in LCC era have possibly never even flown on a full service airline, hence are not used to those 'extras' being included in the ticket price. A lot view it as a challenge to get somewhere for the fewest bucks possible - class of airline doesn't matter. And good luck to them if that's what they want. But sometimes when you add up the cost of the 'extras' on an LCC it can bring the flight's cost pretty close to a full-service carrier. Throw in FF points and lounge access, priority checkin etc. and the full-service option is more attractive, if a little pricier.

Then there is the issue of what happens when things go belly-up, both in terms of alternative flight availability and willingness to assist you. Typically a full-service airline will do this better. On a trip to CHC a few years back I had a choice between JQ MEL-CHC-MEL for maybe $560 (including the price of the 'extras'), and QF MEL-AKL-CHC-AKL-MEL for around $100 more, plus points and SCs and QP benefits, not to mention a return flight that did not depart at sparrow-fart. Oh, and only one JQ flight per day, maybe would have been set back 24 hours had the a/c gone tech, and that would definitely have messed my plans up somewhat. So it was a no-contest.

Sorry, strayed a little OT there.

 

[Justchecking]

Here's a perfect example.


Air Asia on a particular route return $132 return cheapest fare class available.
Includes bag allowance and seat selection, inflight food but with pre-booked discount, not purchased onboard.
No changes within 48hrs of departure allowed.
Date change incurs $40 fee (66% of the fare price paid for the sector)

Bangkok Airways on same route $160 return cheapest fare class available.
Includes bag allowance, seat selection, in flight food and catered lounge access prior to departure.
Changes allowed up to check-in time.
Date change incurs $27 fee (33% of the fare price paid for the sector)

The low cost component refers to the airlines internal savings, not yours. Basically they do everything on the cheap and deliver you an inferior product for pretty much the same price as you would pay elsewhere. all LCC do the same thing. They come into a market with loss leading fares that are very limited in availability. The next fare bucket up is only slightly discounted on their competitor or is the same once extras are thrown in. After they've established themselves most fares are equivalent to their competitor in pricing but with punitive fees if any change of plan is required. Often it's more cost effective to lose a fare with a LCC than it is to tryand change it.

 

[Archphoto]

BKK Airways is a nice airline and I love the fact *everyone* has lounge access - was superb when my family visited a while back, they could relax before flying.

They also offer specials to AIS Serenade VIP Customers (AIS is a Thai telco), such as business check-in and business lounge access, (currently some special flight deals too) which I use all the time when I fly with them, and you can guest 1 person as well.

Can't fault their service - and compared to a LLC, they are streets ahead for very little more in airfare price.

 

[Archphoto]

. . . . . . Often it's more cost effective to lose a fare with a LCC than it is to tryand change it.

Yes. I had to change an airfare for my producer when flying Airasia - she'd been hospitalised and couldn't fly the day we were due back in BKK. The effort to get a simple change was horrendous - wanting me to fax information on a Thai Public Holiday, and endlessly explaining I couldn't do so as I was at the hospital and all offices were closed, was an extreme headache.

In the end, they slugged me an extra $75 to change, rather than losing the original and buying a new one which was good, but the hoops I had to jump through. . . . . Compare that to CX who were happy to change the BKK-SIN flight the following day for nothing - and that was on their cheapest fare!

LLC vs Full Service Carrier? Seriously, only if I have no other alternative and even then I'll think twice. :mrgreen:

 

[Robert K]

I for one can't wait for the day of cashless society. It is only a matter of time.

It's unsanitary, it's a waste of resources, a waste of money to produce and a waste of time processing cash.

I am not pro credit cards ( some people just cant control themselves)

 

[harvyk]

I for one can't wait for the day of cashless society. It is only a matter of time.

You'll be waiting a long time me thinks, considering not everywhere accepts cards right now... For a true cashless society to exist, I need to be able to give a company or an individual money easily and quickly (and with some degree of security) without the need to purchase expensive equipment to do so.

 

[yohy?!]

Must have missed this on my 3K flight last week however if it's happening on JQ flights in Aus domestically they should remove the ridiculous 50c surcharge on credit cards if they're too lazy to take cash...

Credit where it's due...first time back on JQi in awhile and the surcharge is gone (and advertised).

On the other hand, is it so hard to keep the 330s from looking worn and ropey? Busted call bells, broken screens and my 3rd flight in a row with a stealth-reclining chair that wouldn't stay up.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

On the other hand, is it so hard to keep the 330s from looking worn and ropey? Busted call bells, broken screens and my 3rd flight in a row with a stealth-reclining chair that wouldn't stay up.

I wonder what your reaction will be when you step on a QF 767.........

 

[yohy?!]

I wonder what your reaction will be when you step on a QF 767.........

Ha ha well putting the obvious gap in age aside ive always found the seats to be good in the 767s.