Jetstar with Kids - no seat selection

[MEL_Traveller]

@wendlle
Its very easy - just play their game

Sit in seats indicated by the boarding pass.
The airline crew will quickly realise it and will then work to reallocate you.

This happened to me on AC years ago. 4 yr old twins sitting by themselves and adults a few rows back. Checkin agent said ask gate agent. Gate agent said ask passengers myself to change seats. In the end I let the seats be. The cabin crew very quickly reallocated us.

It is the ariline's responsibility. Nothing to do with paid seat selection.

With the caveat that unless your twins have special needs, the worst case scenario is one adult changed seats so each child had a parent with them.

In the OP’s case, if their child is sitting with other adults in the row, not sure how the crew are supposed to work out the child is by themselves?

Domestic seat selection on JQ costs $8…. seems like a lot of stress and hassle for not much of a saving.

That would be $40, or $80 reuturn! After tax! That’s at least a couple hour’s work for the average aussie. That could be better spent on other things!

 

[Quickstatus]

not sure how the crew are supposed to work out the child is by themselves?

In my case, the other passenger sitting next to the twins complained.
One adult changed seats with one of the twins.

The risk though is that the CC might then go on a power trip and evict all of us from the airplane.

 

[Bundy Bear]

Jetstars system keeps suggesting to pay for seat selection, I don't and usually not until check in that better seats show up.

Not good one the website says one thing but when you get to the airport its another and even with a birthday shown on the booking it seems they just haven't bothered to turn this part on.

Maybe something for @AFF Editor to ask a response from Jetstar.

 

[Zero]

Two domestic flights with JQ.

On the first flight parents were seated together and child (5) seated 4 rows away. Had a checked bag. When we went to drop it the agent proactively moved everyone into a single row together, even though we said it was fine to swap with one parent on their own.

Same thing happened on the second flight with child seated alone. At this airport the bag drop was automated so no agent until boarding, but at the gate they gave us all new BPs with entirely new seats.

 

[JohnK]

Have a domestic JQ flight Sunday, myself, wife and daughter, booked with QFF points. Haven't paid for seats.

We're going to have a busy Sunday and wanted to visit lounge as well so thought I would try OLCI. JQ wants $9/per person for seats. No thanks.

Shouldn't seats be allocated for free at check-in? Yes this is OLCI but it's still check-in.

 

[Saab34]

Have a domestic JQ flight Sunday, myself, wife and daughter, booked with QFF points. Haven't paid for seats.

We're going to have a busy Sunday and wanted to visit lounge as well so thought I would try OLCI. JQ wants $9/per person for seats. No thanks.

Shouldn't seats be allocated for free at check-in? Yes this is OLCI but it's still check-in.

They should allocate seats if you skip that part.
I’d be interested to see once you do that if it puts you together.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Have a domestic JQ flight Sunday, myself, wife and daughter, booked with QFF points. Haven't paid for seats.

We're going to have a busy Sunday and wanted to visit lounge as well so thought I would try OLCI. JQ wants $9/per person for seats. No thanks.

Shouldn't seats be allocated for free at check-in? Yes this is OLCI but it's still check-in.

Yes, JQ will seat at least one adult with the child, free of charge at airport check-in.

I’m not sure the system is smart enough to do it, so can require manual intervention.

 

[jb747]

They said they’d be seated with an adult, but they didn’t say it would be you or your wife!

 

[wendlle]

Yes, JQ will seat at least one adult with the child, free of charge at airport check-in.

I’m not sure the system is smart enough to do it, so can require manual intervention.

the system isn't smart enough to do it, which is why this thread was created by me in the first place.

 

[Saab34]

They said they’d be seated with an adult, but they didn’t say it would be you or your wife!

That’s definitely how it does it also, last few Jq flights I’ve notes most families are split up with one kid each. I assume it’s a tactic to also get people to purchase seat selection, and no doubt being in two’s not four’s helps plug some holes around those who have selected seats.

 

[JohnK]

They should allocate seats if you skip that part.
I’d be interested to see once you do that if it puts you together.

I didn't try to complete OLCI. We were going to go airport to check-in tomorrow.

 

[JohnK]

They said they’d be seated with an adult, but they didn’t say it would be you or your wife!

It's been a tough weekend but Jetstar has come to the rescue.

4DEF without asking....