Jetstar Flight Switch: Change to a Less Popular Flight & Get a Voucher

Jetstar has developed a clever new way to make even more money, by freeing up seats on more popular flights.

The airline has started offering Jetstar vouchers to passengers booked on busy flights, if they agree to change to a different flight. For example, Jetstar offered one AFF member a $20 voucher to fly a day earlier or later. Another was offered a $110 flight credit to change to a flight the following day.

If you’re eligible for one of these offers, Jetstar will email you a selection of alternative flights that you can choose from. You’ll need to accept one of the alternative flights within 24 hours.

Qantas trialled a similar program in 2019, but that doesn’t seem to have returned since the COVID-19 pandemic.

A win-win for Jetstar and its customers

This offer is known as “Jetstar Flight Switch”, and it’s really a win-win for both the airline and passengers.

Accepting a Jetstar Flight Switch offer is totally voluntary, so passengers who need to travel at a particular time can choose not to accept the change. But if they do, they get a credit they can use towards a future Jetstar booking.

This way, Jetstar can free up seats on the more popular flight which it can then resell at higher prices.

In fact, the higher fare premium is likely to be much more than the value of the voucher Jetstar offers to the passengers who voluntarily offload themselves from the busier flight. Besides, the true cost to Jetstar of giving away vouchers is likely to be less than their face value because some people might not actually redeem theirs before they expire.

Should you accept a Jetstar Flight Switch offer?

If you would actually prefer to fly at one of the alternate times, or it wouldn’t cause you any inconvenience to change your flight time, then why not accept a Flight Switch offer? You won’t have to pay any change fees and you’ll get a voucher which is valid for a year.

One more thing to consider: by default, the new flight will probably have more empty seats. That could also mean you’re more likely to get an empty seat beside you. 😉

Unfortunately, though, you don’t get a completely free choice of alternative flights. The new flights being offered might be at much less convenient times, or even on different days. So, if the voucher is only worth $20 or $30, it might not be worth the hassle.

You should also check the terms of the voucher carefully to ensure you’ll have a chance to actually use it!

But in some cases, the offers are a lot more than $20 or $30. It seems the amounts are dynamic – the more Jetstar wants to resell your seat, the higher the offer.

AFF member experiences with Jetstar Flight Switch

Here’s what a few Australian Frequent Flyer members had to say about this on our forum:

Got this email the other day. I can’t believe they are offering such a piddly amount to completely change travel dates!

NamarrgonFlyer on the AFF forum

I was offered $50 to move to a day later on ADL-SYD which is still way too low but not as much of an insult.

SJF211 on the AFF forum

I got caught out by this. I thought the change was only for 2 hours so I accepted their $110 offer. It was only afterwards that I realized it was for the next day! I quickly got on chat and asked for my old flight back. Lucky they let me get it back because flights on my original travel date were all very expensive.

aikman on the AFF forum

Matt Graham

The editor of Australian Frequent Flyer, Matt's passion for travel has taken him to more than 100 countries… with the help of frequent flyer points, of course!
Matt's favourite destinations (so far) are Germany, Brazil, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. His interests include aviation, economics & foreign languages, and he has a soft spot for good food and red wine.

You can connect with Matt by posting on the Australian Frequent Flyer community forum and tagging @AFF Editor.