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When you buy a Jetstar ticket, the base fare only includes a seat, up to 7kg of carry-on luggage and water during the flight. Extras such as checked baggage, food, seat selection and frequent flyer points are not automatically included. Instead, Jetstar offers several different types of bundles to suit different types of travellers.
Even if you purchase a Jetstar Business Class ticket, you’ll need to purchase an extra bundle to receive lounge access and frequent flyer points.
Jetstar’s default fares are the Economy Starter and Business fares, which are non-refundable. If you’re buying an Economy ticket, you can choose to add a Flex, Plus or Max bundle for an additional fee. This fee can vary by route, but is generally approximately:
- $46 extra for a Flex bundle
- $49 extra for a Plus bundle
- $90 extra for a Max bundle
On long-haul flights where Business Class is offered, Business fares can usually be upgraded to Business Max for around an extra $200.
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Jetstar bundle inclusions
This is what you get with each of Jetstar’s fare bundles…
Economy Plus bundle
If you’re planning to check in a bag, or would like to earn some Qantas points and status credits, it makes sense to purchase a Plus bundle. On the Melbourne-Gold Coast route this costs an extra $49, which is only $20 more than the cost of checking in a 20kg suitcase.
The Economy Plus Bundle includes a 20kg checked bag, as well as:
- Qantas points and status credits (at Discount Economy rates)
- Standard seat selection
- In-flight meal voucher
- Waived change fees (fare difference still applies)
Economy Max bundle
When collecting Qantas points and status credits, it often makes sense to purchase a Max bundle instead of a Plus bundle. It’s not that much more expensive than the other bundles, and you’ll earn Qantas points and status credits at the Flexible Economy rate. On a Melbourne-Cairns flight, that means you’ll earn 30 status credits (instead of 15 with a Plus bundle) for an extra ~$41.
You’ll also receive 10kg more checked luggage, free extra legroom seating and a flexible ticket. Note that cancellations are only to a Jetstar credit voucher, and not a refund to your credit card.
Economy Flex bundle
Aimed at business travellers, the Economy Flex bundle doesn’t include any Qantas points or status credits. Instead, you’ll get an extra 7kg of carry-on baggage, up-front seating and the flexibility to change to another flight on the same day. You’ll also get the option to cancel your flight and receive a credit voucher for the value.
The Flex bundle is a similar price to the Plus bundle, but clearly targeted at a different demographic of traveller.
Business Max bundle
If you’re flying Jetstar on a Boeing 787 flight in Business Class, you’ll have the option to upgrade to a Max bundle for an extra $200.
If you’re chasing Qantas status credits, this is a no-brainer as you’ll earn Qantas Frequent Flyer status credits at the Business rate. On a one-way flight from Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane to most destinations in Asia, this would earn you 8,450 Qantas points and 125 status credits.
If you’re a Qantas Club member or have Qantas Gold, Platinum or Platinum One status, you can use Qantas lounges when flying with Jetstar. But if you don’t otherwise qualify for lounge access – or there is no Qantas-operated lounge at the airport you’re departing – you’ll need a Business Max fare to gain entry. (Lounge access is not otherwise included on Business fares.)
You can find a list of lounges available to Business Max passengers on the Jetstar website.
The Max bundle also gives you the ability to cancel your flight for a refund in the form of a Jetstar credit voucher.
Are Jetstar bundles worth it?
If you just want the cheapest flight, have only carry-on luggage, don’t mind where you sit and you don’t plan to change your booking, you probably don’t need to pay extra for a Jetstar bundle.
But if you need extra baggage allowance and plan to pay for other extras such as seat selection and flexibility, it’s often cheaper to purchase these extras as part of a bundle.
Except for domestic flights in New Zealand (where you’ll get 400 Qantas points with a Starter fare), buying a Plus or Max bundle is the only way to earn Qantas points and status credits.
Personally, I normally add a Max bundle when booking a Jetstar ticket. I find the price reasonable, and the Economy Max bundle comes with a range of benefits that I value. These include the high checked luggage allowance, the ability to choose an exit row seat, fee-free changes, Qantas points & status credits at the Flexible Economy rate, and a $10 in-flight food voucher. I usually redeem my food credit for two packs of cheese & crackers (normally $5 each on board).
Overall, the Economy Max bundle just makes the whole experience of flying with Jetstar that much more pleasant. The status credits are certainly nice, too.
Double Qantas points on Jetstar bundles until 31 March 2024
As a special promotional offer, Jetstar is giving double Qantas points to anyone who purchases a flight with a Plus or Max bundle between 13-31 March 2024. You’ll also win a share of 5 million points (split equally between everyone who is eligible).
