Too big for regular JQ seats?

[whereishome]

So I'm flying OOL-NRT on a JQ A332 in a few days - my question is to do with seat size. I know that JQ has a 31" seat pitch and that they have the new slim-line seats, but they're essentially repainted QF A332s.

I'm 6'4", mostly in the legs and I've always managed to wangle an exit row seat on various flights. However, in this case I didn't pay the extra $60 they asked for an exit row seat because the small print says that they can't guarantee that you actually will get it.

I've never flown JQ before so my question is basically "Can I plead for an exit row at check-in?" Usually this works on the other carriers I've flown (QF/JL/AA/BA).

In a B737 and an A320 I've had the unfortunate experience (three times) of being told "no exit row" at check-in (often thanks to late arrivals on connections), then having to plead my case onboard to an FA and show them my feet on tippy-toes with my knees jammed against the back of the seat in front and managed a re-shuffle of seating, with an exit-rower being turfed to the old seat (which makes you feel like cough) and once on JL I managed a relocation to business class.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Hvr]

then having to plead my case onboard to an FA and show them my feet on tippy-toes with my knees jammed against the back of the seat in front and managed a re-shuffle of seating, with an exit-rower being turfed to the old seat (which makes you feel like cough) and once on JL I managed a relocation to business class.

You're not the only one who doesn't fit comfortably in seats and if I got the exit row, as I often do I would not be moving for you unless it was up to J. Still if you can convince someone to do so good luck to you.


Have no idea about JQ but I suggest that they may be hard to convince especially if they any corporate customers on board. If they can charge money for these seats and get it I cannot see them giving them away for free.

 

[whereishome]

You're not the only one who doesn't fit comfortably in seats and if I got the exit row, as I often do I would not be moving for you unless it was up to J. Still if you can convince someone to do so good luck to you.


Have no idea about JQ but I suggest that they may be hard to convince especially if they any corporate customers on board. If they can charge money for these seats and get it I cannot see them giving them away for free.

That's why I'm hoping that being amongst the first to check in and being the nice chappy that I am I may be able to talk myself into an exit row (provided they are not all sold).

 

[Lord Mud]

Have you considered a last minute paid upgrade to *class? I have seen some of the posters mentioning that you can get an upgrade to *class if you ask at the airport just before boarding and its only like $200 which then includes all amenities. Not sure about the seat dimensions in *class but could safely assume that they are better than cattle class JQ.
I know $200 sounds a bit high but you do (apparently) get the added bonus of business class mileage and SC's too

 

[garyjohn951]

If it was me I would be paying the $60.

I certainly wouldn't move if I had the exit.

 

[whereishome]

If it was me I would be paying the $60.

If paying $60 guaranteed you the exit row, I would have done it. It doesn't though. Good tip on the ODU - I wouldn't have thought that JQ would do that but I'll be checking in bang on the 3 hour prior mark, so I'll try for an exit row or failing that an upgrade.

Thanks for your help, everyone.

 

[file51]

Given that I am of the same stock (i.e. not a small chap) based on height, and knowing my luck probably a few kg's heavier. I simply cannot "comfortably" fit in a JQ cattle class seat.

In the past this hasn't proven to be a major issue as I have flown with the minister of war and finance who weighs no more than a meat pie and is as wide as my left ankle (well a little more anyway). So once airborne, up goes the armrest and all is good.

When flying on my own, I don't like to encroach on my fellow passenger and this can't be helped when my shoulders usually extend 10-15cm's into their turf.

During low season (Feb-May, Aug-Nov) or midweek for flights to the U.S. (HNL mainly) I have primarily relied on obtaining an ODU. I would prefer to pay $300-$400 to ensure my comfort, and relieve myself of any embarrassment in the case that I may inconvenience another passenger due to the fact that I am by no means a light weight.

In the case of my upcoming trip to and from HNL, given that I leave on Christmas day and get back early January I was not going to take the risk of hoping for an ODU, so confirmed seats in *Class were purchased, given that this was done some time ago, a good fare was obtained which worked out (at that time) to only be $700 more than the cheapest Jetsaver fare, so all in all not a bad deal at all.

Based on all of this, if you can't get an exit row seat, pay the extra $$$ and sit up the front.

 

[serfty]

If you want an exit row; pay for it - once you have done this it's 99.9% certain you will get the seat. Note the T&C's state you are "Purchasing" that seat, so only extraordinary circumstance would result in you not getting it.

If you want to take the risk by not prepurchasing, I offer the following advice:

1. You can check up to see if it's still available until about 2 days before the flight by doing dummy bookings.
2. Passengers start queuing WELL before check-in opens, I would be at the airport 3¾ hours before scheduled flight time and be ready to queue as soon as it's set up.

Here's the T&C for extra leg room seating:

Extra Leg Room seats are selected seats located in the Exit Rows of our aircraft. In order to sit in an Extra Leg Room seat, you must satisfy the following general criteria applicable to Exit Rows:

• Be at least 15 years or older
• Be able to understand and carry out instructions
• Not be travelling with someone that requires your assistance in an emergency
• Not have any permanent or temporary impairment (e.g. deaf, hearing impaired, blind, vision impaired, any strength or mobility limitation, intellectual impairment or travelling with a service dog)
• Be able to check outside conditions and react to crew commands
• Be able to reach, open, lift and throw out the 15kg (approx 33lbs) exit door in an emergency
• Acknowledge the exit row briefing given by Cabin Crew once onboard the aircraft
• Be willing to assist in the unlikely event of an emergency
• Not be seated with an infant
• Not require the use of an extension seat belt
• Not be elderly

-- Additional Terms and Conditions --
Extra Leg Room Seats are non transferable and non refundable.

Jetstar has the sole discretion at check-in, or boarding, to determine whether a passenger meets the requirements to sit in an exit row seat (which may include an Extra Leg Room Seat). If the passenger does not meet the requirements, the passenger will be assigned a regular economy seat and Jetstar will not provide a refund of the additional amount paid to sit in an Extra Leg Room seat.

If between the date of purchasing the seat and 24 hours before travel, you become unable to fulfil the requirements to sit in an exit row, you should notify Jetstar immediately. You will be transferred to a regular economy seat, and, at its discretion, Jetstar may refund you the additional amount paid to sit in an Extra Leg Room seat.

In the event of a flight disruption, Jetstar will attempt to seat you in an Extra Leg Room seat, but cannot guarantee that such a seat will be available on your new flight.

If, in accordance with the JetSaver or JetSaver Light fare rules, you choose to move to a different flight, you will be allocated an Extra Leg Room seat if available at the time the change is made. However, if an Extra Leg Room seat is unavailable, Jetstar will not provide a refund of the additional amount paid to sit in an Extra Leg Room seat.

 

[serfty]

If considering an ODU, here a couple of threads that may be of interest to you:

• http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com...yer-program/odu-jetstar-kix-to-ool-15565.html
• http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com...lyer-program/odu-jetstar-starclass-10590.html

 

[whereishome]

Serfty's encyclopedic knowledge of threads past comes to to rescue again!

Thanks for this - interesting reading. I'll let you now how I get on.

 

[N860CR]

Not intending to have a JQ bash.... but am I the only one who thinks its disgusting that they can get away with writing that in their T&C's? In what other industry could you say "yes, you can pay for something, but we might not give it to you, and if we don't, we aren't giving you your money back"

 

[whereishome]

Not intending to have a JQ bash.... but am I the only one who thinks its disgusting that they can get away with writing that in their T&C's? In what other industry could you say "yes, you can pay for something, but we might not give it to you, and if we don't, we aren't giving you your money back"

We do it in my industry too (corporate events). In my case it's similar to what JQ do - you want to do a certain kind of event, you are prepared to pay $X, this is how we do it for $X. You want to fly to Z, you are prepared to pay $X, this is how JQ do it for $X.

JQ basically claim that they will get you to your destination, somehow and at some point in time. They offer various classes of service from some that are priced into the ground (bad analogy for an airline?) to some that are not.

I'm interested to see how this experience goes because I have never flown JQ before. My friends have and they had no problems at all (both domestically and to KIX & HNL). I have family that work in QF corporate and in travel who flew to HNL and missed their flight back (because they assumed that they could check in 30 minutes before the flight like they always do with other airlines) but in that case that's their fault.

Basically, as I say to my clients day in day out, you get what you pay for : if you decide to go for the cheaper option, don't be surprised when it turns out to not be as flashy as the more expensive option. In the end, it basically did what it was supposed to do and given the amount you paid for it it's still pretty good. JQ should change their slogan "Jetstar - We Are A Low Cost Carrier, You Moron!" and maybe people would stop expecting EK-level service from them

Did a dummy booking and all the exit rows are gone - seatcounter is showing some availability in *class so I'll try for an ODU.