Qantas Removing Jetstar Flights

[Tock]

Not sure if this has been discussed before or if it is normal practice for Qantas - not somehting I have experienced before regardless of the travel period.

I have (multiple times) been able to book flights between Melbourne and Denpasar/Bali using the Qantas site (points, reward seats, or cash). However in recent weeks i have noticed that the 2 x direct Jetstar flights from Bali to Melbourne (e.g. JQ44 and JQ36) are no longer listed on Qantas site searches in anyt form. When I looked 5 or 6 weeks ago, there were plenty of options to book these flights via Qantas. Now only Bali --> Perth --> Melbourne seems to be an option with Jetstar.

Is this normal across other routes? Is this a post-covid and peak period change to force poeople to Jetstar direct and spend a lot more $$?

 

[encryptededdy]

force people to Jetstar direct and spend a lot more $$?

To my knowledge booking Jetstar fares on the Qantas website has never been cheaper than on the Jetstar website directly.

 

[Tock]

To my knowledge booking Jetstar fares on the Qantas website has never been cheaper than on the Jetstar website directly.

Probably poorly worded - to force people to spend $$ directly with Jetstar inclduing no rewards seats or using points.

 

[Mwenenzi]

Are JQ44 & JQ36 for sale on the JQ web site?
Jetstar are having aircraft issues on the Bali routes
-->Jetstar is swapping Dreamliner for Airbus with no J Class on MEL-DPS

 

[Tock]

Are JQ44 & JQ36 for sale on the JQ web site?

Yes, still available to book direct across the next few months... just not available on the Qantas site. Has meant I've gone from looking at 18,000 points to $600-$900 for a one way flight.

I am now trying to work out if I simply wait and watch after xmas in the hopes that prices drop or rewards seats are added for these flights.

Thanks for info on aircraft issues... I have JQ business MEL - DPS in january.

 

[ksthommo]

Booked JQ CNS/DPS one way for early June next year.
No frills price was $199, it's now jumped to $459.
Crazy Prices.

 

[aikman]

It is still there...

 

[Tock]

Looks like 19th December is the last date available for these flights via Qantas - nothing across rest of December or in January/February. They become available again from Feb 28th.

Can only hope that they add rewards flights back on after Xmas for this period (or prices drop...)

 

[MELso]

Qantas's award inventory is poor in late December and January for the simple reason that it's peak holiday period and flights are selling for top dollar; it's understandable that award availability is poor in January as it's school holidays (although I would've expected it'd ease up in mid-February - EDIT it does, with nonstop DPS-MEL award flights becoming available on 12 and 16 Feb, and heaps of availability from 21 Feb)...

 

[Xizor]

Its a similar issue across many routes. Take your pic, Hawaii, Thailand, Vietnam etc huge gaps in Jetstar availability let alone any form of business class on any airline out of Sydney.

 

[drron]

This morning’s SQ flight out of BNE is full and quite a few school aged children on board. Looks like an early start to school holidays so no surprise that no award seats available even on JQ.

 

[Tock]

What do people think the chances are of this improving after xmas in terms of pricing and availability?

I've never watched flights over this period before... although assume pandemic/economic impacts are unknown.

 

[aikman]

What do people think the chances are of this improving after xmas in terms of pricing and availability?

No chance. As mentioned above January is super peak season for Asia to Australia.

Chances are a little better for mid Feb onwards but maybe not because uni students are still on holiday.

March is better because everyone is back at school.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

To my knowledge booking Jetstar fares on the Qantas website has never been cheaper than on the Jetstar website directly.

That's up for debate. Certainly if using QF points to make the booking as part of a classic award, it can be cheaper than buying a cash fare direct with JQ. In addition, since the flight is ticketed by QF that means you'll have a backup plan when JQ cancels your flight. Seen in this regard, you are effectively paying slightly more than JQ prices for what will end up to be a QF flight.

-RooFlyer88

 

[willclan]

That's up for debate. Certainly if using QF points to make the booking as part of a classic award, it can be cheaper than buying a cash fare direct with JQ. In addition, since the flight is ticketed by QF that means you'll have a backup plan when JQ cancels your flight. Seen in this regard, you are effectively paying slightly more than JQ prices for what will end up to be a QF flight.

-RooFlyer88

Tend to agree. I often compare Qantas with Jetstar on flights, and often find that a Qantas booked flight for Jetstar is cheaper when you have to add on luggage costs with Jetstar.

 

[FiFo28]

To my knowledge booking Jetstar fares on the Qantas website has never been cheaper than on the Jetstar website directly.

True, never been cheaper than Jetstar. Also I booked Jetstar flights via Qantas website from Perth to Sydney return only because of STATUS Credit and Points. Unfortunately, when I'm claiming both points they keep requesting me for either a boarding pass or an email from Jetstar to state that I boarded to that flight plus the E-ticket itinerary. To make it short, I provided them what they wanted. And to my surprise they email me back telling me that they can't give me the status credits as the flight I bought is in Starter Fare but it's clearly mentioned on their website that I can claim both as I still have the screenshot of that.
From now on I will just let my company to book Qantas only for my work but I won't book Qantas for my personal one. I would rather go and book flights to Virgin and Jetstar which both are easy to deal with.

 

[encryptededdy]

And to my surprise they email me back telling me that they can't give me the status credits as the flight I bought is in Starter Fare but it's clearly mentioned on their website that I can claim both as I still have the screenshot of that.

I'm not sure where you're seeing this, but they are correct. Just because it's booked on the Qantas website doesn't necessarily mean you will earn status credits. You need a bundle.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

And to my surprise they email me back telling me that they can't give me the status credits as the flight I bought is in Starter Fare but it's clearly mentioned on their website that I can claim both as I still have the screenshot of that.

Any JetStar flight on a Starter fare attracts 0 status credits or Qantas Points. There are only two fare types (called bundles in JQ parlance) that attract status credits and QF points: MAX fares and Plus fares. MAX fares attract the equivalent of a Flexible Economy ticket on QF whereas Plus fares are equivalent to Qantas discount economy fares in terms of accrual of status credits and frequent flyer points. Interestingly, on the QF website you can often book the MAX fare for a given JQ flight which would attract those status credits you are after. Aside from the QFF benefits mentioned, a MAX fare will also let you choose any seat where you want, provides 30 kg checked bag allowance, and provides an inflight meal credit whose amount varies on distance travelled (i.e. $10 for short haul flights like Sydney to Melbourne, $15 for longer flights like Sydney to Cairns, on international flight you'll get a catered meal of your choosing)

What I think you learned (the hard way) is you cannot assume anything when booking a ticket. Just because you booked with QF doesn't mean you'll earn QF points and status credits. Indeed, the amount of points you'll earn for a given flight will vary wildly based on the fare purchased even if you're seated in the same cabin. For instance, a JetStar Business fare attracts no status credits or points whereas the Business Max fare attracts a healthy amount of status credits and points at the Qantas Business class rate (i.e. 150 status credits one way for something simple like Sydney to Honolulu). So what should you do? Take a look at the fare you are interested in booking and look up the accrual using this Qantas tool. Qantas also makes a variety of tables available that will help you determine what fare code is what fare type in Qantas' eyes, how many points and status credits earned when travelling on QF or JQ across their route network and with their partners. Look I know it's complicated, it seems like you need to have a PhD in points to work this one out but it's true in virtually every frequent flyer program. Become diligent at looking at the fares and you'll know where you are after each flight.

-RooFlyer88

 

[JohnK]

To my knowledge booking Jetstar fares on the Qantas website has never been cheaper than on the Jetstar website directly.

I've got 2 x $50 vouchers expiring very soon and BNE-SYD is ridiculously priced at $200+ one-way. From memory Qantas used to sell JQ airfares at the same price as JQ website or is that my imagination.

I see a $93 JQ airfare on sale for $153 on QF, BNE-NTL is $75 on JQ but $132 on QF website.

Why such a huge difference in airfare?

 

[malwcal]

I had a similar issue with vouchers - they were hard to use due to QF flights being overpriced or just not available. So I used the vouchers on QF to buy JQ flights.

Usually the QF price is about the same as JQ once you factor in luggage. But it can be quite different.

One thing that is annoying: often the QF flight will about the same price, but for some reason won't include points or status credits (even if it does include luggage?). And there doesn't seem to be a way to "upgrade" a JQ flight to include a bundle.