jetstar

[parsonstrish]

I've never flown jetstar but am paying 3 domestic fares for family coming from o/seas. When I checked the fare prices Jetstar was $112 against cheapest QF of $212 for some of the travel.

I was told by someone that Jetstar overbook seats and unless you are at a/port early, you are not guaranteed your paid seat.

I realize some airlines do carry out this practice. The difference in return tickets is substantial to make me pay the cheaper options if seats are guaranteed, etc.

Any current knowledge will be appreciated.
cheers

 

[somebol]

I've never flown jetstar but am paying 3 domestic fares for family coming from o/seas. When I checked the fare prices Jetstar was $112 against cheapest QF of $212 for some of the travel.

I was told by someone that Jetstar overbook seats and unless you are at a/port early, you are not guaranteed your paid seat.

I realize some airlines do carry out this practice. The difference in return tickets is substantial to make me pay the cheaper options if seats are guaranteed, etc.

Any current knowledge will be appreciated.
cheers

Your seats are guaranteed as long as you have a valid booking and checkin before the scheduled close of checkin (iirc 1hr prior).

 

[ksthommo]

You could have selected seating when booking (your seat selection only is
not guaranteed)

 

[serfty]

You generally are able to select seats after booking as well. Online and by 'phone.

 

[vet]

Off topic: If Jetstar offered you cash and a $x AUD voucher for use strictly for flights booked in 6 months for a trip that ends strictly in 12 months, can you use the voucher when making an on-line booking for a cheap flight?

 

[serfty]

You can generally select a "Voucher" payment option when booking a flight.

Here's what comes up if you do:

Vouchers issued by Jetstar can be used for part or full payment of your fare. Note that vouchers are subject to the terms and conditions appearing on them. Vouchers can only be used once and any unused portion of the value of a voucher will be forfeited.

For example, if a voucher is used to make payment for a booking where the total amount comes to of less than the value of the voucher, then the remaining value is forfeited. Outstanding amounts can not be re-used, reimbursed or refunded.

To redeem a voucher as part or full payment for this booking, enter the voucher code and voucher number below then click on the purchase button. If there is a balance remaining to be paid, you must pay this balance with either another voucher or by credit/charge card. You will not be able to pay the balance by direct payment.

It then goes on to request both a Voucher Code & a Voucher Number.

 

[vet]

Thanks Serfty!

Now I'll have to stall the deal to extend the vouicher's 12 month 'life' so a trip to HNL is completed by 25 Jan 2010.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Just make sure what airfare you have booked and read the conditions thoroughly ie the cheapest Jetstar airfare "lite" means no checked in luggage. I would not go for this option unless you know 100% that your family will have carry on luggage only

Like Serfty said re seat allocation - even if you did not do this at the actual time of booking you can go back online and do it or failing that call Jetstar reservations who should do it for you.

As a rule I don't think JQ try to overbook their flights however I have seen situations when the A320 is full (177 pax booked) then due to bad weather at the destination the flight had to carry extra fuel which resulted the capping of the flight at 156 pax and an overbooking situation whereby 21 people missed out. Other airlines offload freight first before pax and I feel this is less damaging to an airlines reputation.

I would always recommend you web check-in 24 hours before. Even if you haven't arrived at the airport you are showing as checked in. The people that usually get bumped off are pax who have not yet checked in yet. As Murphy's Law will have it the people who have a funeral to go to, job interview or travelling with infants will more often than not be the last people to check-in.

You could even check-in for them and email the boarding pass as you can save it to your computer as an adobe pdf doc. They would just need to print it out at a net cafe.

If they have bags to check-in get them to queue up at the Jet Check bag drop queue which is generally shorter than the general check-in queue. If they only have carry on they just need to arrive at the airport then head through security to the boarding gate.

Regardless of whether you have bags to check-in or not I would strongly advise anyone arrive at the airport one hour prior to departure for domestic flights.

Cheers

OBB

 

[gilby08]

I was told by someone that Jetstar overbook seats and unless you are at a/port early, you are not guaranteed your paid seat.

Any current knowledge will be appreciated.
cheers

As a general rule JQ do not over book any international flights at all (only if there are operational requirements and they have to reduce the number of seats being used)

For domestic flight and flights with high amount of services like SYD-OOL they will generally overbook the flights by about 3 or 4 people, just b/c out of a full flight of 177 people at least always 5 will NO-SHOW. And if that's not the case they would only have to wait about 30min for the next service.