I posted a couple of questions about Formula 1 trips a few weeks back and got some great responses. I was encouraged to post a trip report, so here goes.
22 Sep 11
JQ777 ADL-MEL departed 6.55am seat 1C
Very early arrival at the airport. I am not a fan of such early starts. The flight showed as 'Starter' on the boarding pass, notwithstanding that it was part of an international StarClass (now Business Max) booking. I had previously called the Jetstar call centre three times to try to confirm that it was a Business Max booking and all the fare conditions were the same, notwithstanding that it was domestic. In particular, I needed the two carry-ons. I had a backpack with camera gear and a small roller. After a bit of discussion behind the check-in desk, they agreed that I had the carry-on allowance. Interestingly, the boarding pass indicated a checked baggage allowance of 60kg, but the international legs only said 30kg.
I have since had the flight show up on my Qantas activity page as a Starter -- no points or status credits. I will need to chase up about this, but I am not sure if I call Qantas or Jetstar. I don't hold out much hope of the Jetstar call centre being able to help. The three calls I had to them were among my worst customer service experiences. All three had problems with their English, but none could get their head around the idea that their system showed the flight as Business Max, while the itinerary (and subsequently the boarding pass) showed Starter. They kept insisting that is was right, that it had been fixed, that there was no problem -- each promised to re-send the itinerary with the correct details, each time it was still wrong.
I only got to spend about 5 minutes in the Qantas club before I headed down to the flight It was at gate 26, all the way at the end of the airport -- a long walk. Over all, the flight was good, but it felt weird sitting in the front row without a bulkhead. I had previously sat in 1D, and that side has a screen in front, but not the main door side.
When I arrived in MEL Terminal 1, there was a very long wait for baggage. No check through between Jetstar domestic and international is a pain, but at least MEL international is right next door. When checking in I was told the dreaded 'It's not letting me check you in'. Turns out the system said I owed 99c, despite having purchased the ticket online from Jetstar six months earlier. They waived the 99c. Neither I nor the checkin person had any idea where the 99c had come from.
There was a long wait in security and customs (although, as I would later discover, no where near as long as on arrival back in Australia). I was hoping to try the body scanner, but I was directed to the ordinary security line.
I went to the Qantas club for breakfast. They had sausages, but the bacon had run out and was not replaced. But it did have an automatic pancake machine, which was a first for me. There was 40 minute delay in boarding JQ7, apparently due to 'cleaning', so I had time for a few more drinks. The boards did not update with the delay, and still showed 10.30am boarding, 11am departure even at 11.15am.
JQ7 MEL-SIN due to depart 11am, actual departure 11.57am. Business, seat 2D
Eventually, I was a bit worried by the lack of updates on the departure board. I went down the gate. It opened shortly afterwards and I got on with priority boarding (first, not at convenience). The announcement for priority boarding was for Business class and passengers with 'small children'. A couple of women with about 5 boys 10 or 11 years old lined up. One of the gate staff said, 'Not you, we mean little ones'.
Once on the plane I saw we were provided with nice little amenity packs, a blanket, headphones and a bottle of water. All that is good, except that I had nowhere to put all of that when I sat down. At least there was plenty of space in the overheads for my two bags.
Seven hours in the air is a long time for me. I am used to domestic flights. Overall, the service was good. Similar to domestic business class. Much better than regular Qantas economy and out of sight from Jetstar economy. The crew were attentive and helpful. We started out with a choice of sparkling wine, apple juice, orange juice or water while the other passengers boarded. They did the hot towel thing too.
2D is a good seat in that you have heaps of legroom, but it us annoying that you don't have any storage in front, either seat-back or under seat. I also got bumped a few times by the crew or passengers trying to get through the door to the galley. I was already booked in 2D on the way back, but next time I would probably go for 1E. It still gets good legroom (more than 1ABJK) and has a bit of space to the left side in front of 2D to stand to access overheads etc.
The 2-3-2 layout with the Business seats makes the aisles very narrow. Too narrow to pull roller bags easily, and even difficult for a few wider passengers to get past.A few people were obviously going to the race, but many seem to be transiting, presumably to Thailand or Vietnam. In 2AB were two blokes who were going to the race and who I ended up spending some time with in the SIN lounge coming back as they were on the same flight as me again.
The food was good. Much better than I expected. I had the vegetarian option, which was a pasta with spinach dish. Strange that Jetstar has Pepsi drinks, but Qantas has Coke.
Due to the late start, we also arrived in SIN quite late. We were due at 4.50pm, but did not land until 5.40pm. There was a fair walk from gate C21 to immigration. I had an express pass from Jetstar, but I didn't need it. All the lines were only a few people deep and, because I was in row 2, I beat almost all the JQ7 passengers there. Baggage collection was relatively quick and totally painless. I had some medications with me, so I went to the 'Something to declare' line, but when I explained what it was (normal travel type meds for the runs etc), I was waved through. Total time from arrival to getting through customs was probably about 30 minutes, most of which was spent walking and waiting for my bag. Changi is big but, at least in T1, I didn't get the overwhelming sense of size I had in Beijing last year. I am always amazed by how little emphasis there is on customs outside Aus.
It was half an hour in from the airport by taxi. My driver had a nice Merc E220 which had been hideously decorated with stick-on 'go fast' bits -- speed holes etc -- and Transformers stickers. He had an Optimus Prime doll on the dash.
I stayed at the Ibis on Bencoolen Street. I did not know anything about it except that it was relatively cheap when I booked in about March. The location seemed OK on Google maps. The room was basic but comfortable. Free wifi was a bonus and ran smoothly. My first thought was that the bed was very hard, but when I slept on it I found it very comfortable.
I went to bed without dinner as I wasn't hungry, but I was tired. I had an early tour booked for the next day.
More to come ...
22 Sep 11
JQ777 ADL-MEL departed 6.55am seat 1C
Very early arrival at the airport. I am not a fan of such early starts. The flight showed as 'Starter' on the boarding pass, notwithstanding that it was part of an international StarClass (now Business Max) booking. I had previously called the Jetstar call centre three times to try to confirm that it was a Business Max booking and all the fare conditions were the same, notwithstanding that it was domestic. In particular, I needed the two carry-ons. I had a backpack with camera gear and a small roller. After a bit of discussion behind the check-in desk, they agreed that I had the carry-on allowance. Interestingly, the boarding pass indicated a checked baggage allowance of 60kg, but the international legs only said 30kg.
I have since had the flight show up on my Qantas activity page as a Starter -- no points or status credits. I will need to chase up about this, but I am not sure if I call Qantas or Jetstar. I don't hold out much hope of the Jetstar call centre being able to help. The three calls I had to them were among my worst customer service experiences. All three had problems with their English, but none could get their head around the idea that their system showed the flight as Business Max, while the itinerary (and subsequently the boarding pass) showed Starter. They kept insisting that is was right, that it had been fixed, that there was no problem -- each promised to re-send the itinerary with the correct details, each time it was still wrong.
I only got to spend about 5 minutes in the Qantas club before I headed down to the flight It was at gate 26, all the way at the end of the airport -- a long walk. Over all, the flight was good, but it felt weird sitting in the front row without a bulkhead. I had previously sat in 1D, and that side has a screen in front, but not the main door side.
When I arrived in MEL Terminal 1, there was a very long wait for baggage. No check through between Jetstar domestic and international is a pain, but at least MEL international is right next door. When checking in I was told the dreaded 'It's not letting me check you in'. Turns out the system said I owed 99c, despite having purchased the ticket online from Jetstar six months earlier. They waived the 99c. Neither I nor the checkin person had any idea where the 99c had come from.
There was a long wait in security and customs (although, as I would later discover, no where near as long as on arrival back in Australia). I was hoping to try the body scanner, but I was directed to the ordinary security line.
I went to the Qantas club for breakfast. They had sausages, but the bacon had run out and was not replaced. But it did have an automatic pancake machine, which was a first for me. There was 40 minute delay in boarding JQ7, apparently due to 'cleaning', so I had time for a few more drinks. The boards did not update with the delay, and still showed 10.30am boarding, 11am departure even at 11.15am.
JQ7 MEL-SIN due to depart 11am, actual departure 11.57am. Business, seat 2D
Eventually, I was a bit worried by the lack of updates on the departure board. I went down the gate. It opened shortly afterwards and I got on with priority boarding (first, not at convenience). The announcement for priority boarding was for Business class and passengers with 'small children'. A couple of women with about 5 boys 10 or 11 years old lined up. One of the gate staff said, 'Not you, we mean little ones'.
Once on the plane I saw we were provided with nice little amenity packs, a blanket, headphones and a bottle of water. All that is good, except that I had nowhere to put all of that when I sat down. At least there was plenty of space in the overheads for my two bags.
Seven hours in the air is a long time for me. I am used to domestic flights. Overall, the service was good. Similar to domestic business class. Much better than regular Qantas economy and out of sight from Jetstar economy. The crew were attentive and helpful. We started out with a choice of sparkling wine, apple juice, orange juice or water while the other passengers boarded. They did the hot towel thing too.
2D is a good seat in that you have heaps of legroom, but it us annoying that you don't have any storage in front, either seat-back or under seat. I also got bumped a few times by the crew or passengers trying to get through the door to the galley. I was already booked in 2D on the way back, but next time I would probably go for 1E. It still gets good legroom (more than 1ABJK) and has a bit of space to the left side in front of 2D to stand to access overheads etc.
The 2-3-2 layout with the Business seats makes the aisles very narrow. Too narrow to pull roller bags easily, and even difficult for a few wider passengers to get past.A few people were obviously going to the race, but many seem to be transiting, presumably to Thailand or Vietnam. In 2AB were two blokes who were going to the race and who I ended up spending some time with in the SIN lounge coming back as they were on the same flight as me again.
The food was good. Much better than I expected. I had the vegetarian option, which was a pasta with spinach dish. Strange that Jetstar has Pepsi drinks, but Qantas has Coke.
Due to the late start, we also arrived in SIN quite late. We were due at 4.50pm, but did not land until 5.40pm. There was a fair walk from gate C21 to immigration. I had an express pass from Jetstar, but I didn't need it. All the lines were only a few people deep and, because I was in row 2, I beat almost all the JQ7 passengers there. Baggage collection was relatively quick and totally painless. I had some medications with me, so I went to the 'Something to declare' line, but when I explained what it was (normal travel type meds for the runs etc), I was waved through. Total time from arrival to getting through customs was probably about 30 minutes, most of which was spent walking and waiting for my bag. Changi is big but, at least in T1, I didn't get the overwhelming sense of size I had in Beijing last year. I am always amazed by how little emphasis there is on customs outside Aus.
It was half an hour in from the airport by taxi. My driver had a nice Merc E220 which had been hideously decorated with stick-on 'go fast' bits -- speed holes etc -- and Transformers stickers. He had an Optimus Prime doll on the dash.
I stayed at the Ibis on Bencoolen Street. I did not know anything about it except that it was relatively cheap when I booked in about March. The location seemed OK on Google maps. The room was basic but comfortable. Free wifi was a bonus and ran smoothly. My first thought was that the bed was very hard, but when I slept on it I found it very comfortable.
I went to bed without dinner as I wasn't hungry, but I was tired. I had an early tour booked for the next day.
More to come ...
Last edited:
