Jetstar/Qantas Domestic question:

[Adam.S]

Just a quick one for those more learned on the subject:

Somewat hypothetical scenario:
I am looking at flying Sydney-Melbourne(YMML) on Jetstar and need to arrive in MEL no later then 9:30am (for example).

There is a Jetstar flight which departs Sydney around 7:30/45am which will get me to Melbourne in time....all going well.
However if this flight is cancelled or delayed (30+mins), the next scheduled JQ flight arrives in MEL approx 11am - too late for me.

In this scenario what is my options and what is standard procedure for the airline?

Will Jetstar put me on their next flight to Melbourne (getting me there well after the needed 9:30am arrival time) or can Jetstar put me on the next available Qantas flight instead as part of the codeshare agreement?

cheers

[Villy Curtin]

Your concerns are valid, however I am compelled to make mention that Qantas/Jetstar operations are kept pretty far apart. Qantas` relationship with Jetstar are sperated by cost base issues. I would consider it to be highly unlikely that you would be "put on" a Qantas flight if your Jetstar flight went unserviced for any reason.

Your best bet would be to initially book with Qantas (sorry to fly in the face of your planning) as their flight frequencies are greater and there shouldn't be too many issues with being reassigned to the next flight, so long as there are seats on the next flight that match your fare type (i.e. the cheaper the fare the less likely this is on the day of travel).

I would also recommend analysing the conditions of carriage associated with the fare type you also book yourself on; Red eDeal vs Super Saver vs Fully Flex etc...

I could also reccomend finding cheap travel insurance that would reimburse you with any associated cost with re-organising your travel plans due to unforeseen circumstances. Same day travel ticketing purchases can be quiet expensive and would easily be more than the cost of basic travel insurance. Once again find out what the travel isurance actually covers you for, a simple phone call should do the trick as it is easier than reading through the encyclopedia they call a PDS (product disclosure statement).

The codeshare agreement is mainly utilised by the Qantas Group at ticketing level. As we know there are destinations Qantas Mainline does not fly to anymore and thusly the codeshare agreement is in place to make this process more transparent. I would not put too much weight on this agreement that would otherwise help you on the day of travel.

Hope this is helpful....and good luck!

[Adam.S]

Your best bet would be to initially book with Qantas (sorry to fly in the face of your planning) as their flight frequencies are greater and there shouldn't be too many issues with being reassigned to the next flight, so long as there are seats on the next flight that match your fare type (i.e. the cheaper the fare the less likely this is on the day of travel).

Couldn't agree more. If I really do have strict deadlines to meet in regards to arrival times, then Qantas is certainly the safer option.
However just thought I'd just question the Qantas/Jetstar relationship.


I could also reccomend finding cheap travel insurance that would reimburse you with any associated cost with re-organising your travel plans due to unforeseen circumstances. Same day travel ticketing purchases can be quiet expensive and would easily be more than the cost of basic travel insurance.

I was aiming to make this small trip as cheap as possible, hence the consideration of Jetstar over Qantas and travel insurance would make the final cost a little more expensive then hoped for.
Although travel insurance is very sound advice.


Hope this is helpful

Very much.
Thankyou!

[Sarah C]

Adam, I can give you some personal experience. I have travelled with JQ on plenty of times without any issues. The rate of cancelled flights across JQ, DJ and QF is quite low so you would be unlucky for an aircraft to go u/s.

In saying that, travelling first thing in the morning is probably better. Either the aircraft you will be travelling on will be operating its first sector of the day, or the second at worst. An aircraft going u/s is more likely to impact operations for the rest of the day if they can't get a replacement quickly.

I think if you are really concerned about it, go with the QF option.

[James K]

JQ are forever dumping their pax on QF off their cancelled or delayed flights. Nothing to do with any codeshare arrangement though I might add.

So if its cancelled you may end up on QF or the next JQ flight depending if they have seats or not.

[Gareth U]

I would consider it to be highly unlikely that you would be "put on" a Qantas flight if your Jetstar flight went unserviced for any reason.

Happens regularly enough. When disrupted, Qantas is Jetstar's preferred option when accommodating passengers on another carrier, or even to move the passengers before the next JQ service.


And don't believe everything you hear. I have had Jetstar customers complain (for various reasons) that they have ended up on a QF service.

[Scotty B]

... Qantas is Jetstar's preferred option when accommodating passengers on another carrier.....


What a fascinating choice of words.

[Jamie D]

i got a text message from JQ when flying from mel to per in february saying my afternoon flight to per had been cancelled and to call them to make arrangements. They offered me a choice of 2 qantas flights, tomorrows jq flight or a full refund. I naturally took the qantas flights, was a nice upgrade to per!

[Adam.S]

Intersting feedback, thanks for your replies.

For a seperate flight, another question has arisen regarding flight changes:
I have booked a Qantas red E-deal, however would like to change my booking to the next scheduled flight departing an hour later.
Am I correct in reading that changing a flight booking online will result in a $50 fee?

If so, what is stopping me from cancelling the flight, getting the flight credit from that, then using the credit to book a 'new' flight.....thus avoiding the 'change of flight' fee ?

[Greg McDonald]

If so, what is stopping me from cancelling the flight, getting the flight credit from that, then using the credit to book a 'new' flight.....thus avoiding the 'change of flight' fee ?

Not 100% sure but I think if you cancel a red-e deal, there is no refund.

[Ash W]

Intersting feedback, thanks for your replies.

For a seperate flight, another question has arisen regarding flight changes:
I have booked a Qantas red E-deal, however would like to change my booking to the next scheduled flight departing an hour later.
Am I correct in reading that changing a flight booking online will result in a $50 fee?

If so, what is stopping me from cancelling the flight, getting the flight credit from that, then using the credit to book a 'new' flight.....thus avoiding the 'change of flight' fee ?

Here are the rules for a Red E-deal. Note in particular the bit where it says if you cancel you cannot use a credit for a canceled flight for a flight on the same day!

Also if you look at the fee's you will see it does indeed cost $50 to change but no fee to cancel

Booking Changes
Changes can be made online at qantas.com/yourbooking, otherwise call 13 13 13.
Exception: For changes to combined Qantas and Jetstar bookings, and to multi-cty bookings call 13 13 13.
Changes before the day of scheduled departure:
Your original fare may be used as credit towards a new fare of equal or higher value, provided the new fare conditions are met.
For changes made over the phone, you must pay the service fee applicable as at the date of change.
At the time of making the change you must pay:
the change fee applicable as at the date of the change
any fare difference between the fare for your new booking and the original fare.
Once your booking is made the current change fee and service fee can be viewed anytime at qantas.com/your booking
Your new booking must be for travel anywhere on the Qantas network within 12 months of the date that the original ticket was issued. However, you cannot re-book and travel on the same day.

Changes on the day of scheduled departure:
Not permitted. Loss of fare.
Name Changes Not permitted
Cancellations (including no show) Before the day of scheduled departure:

Re-booking - see 'Booking Changes' above.
Ticket value can be used towards a new booking for travel anywhere on the Qantas network within 12 months of the date that the original ticket was issued. However, you cannot re-book and travel on the same day.
Any credit is the Australian dollar price
No refund.
On the day of scheduled departure:
Not permitted. Loss of fare.

[Adam.S]

Here are the rules for a Red E-deal. Note in particular the bit where it says if you cancel you cannot use a credit for a canceled flight for a flight on the same day!

Also if you look at the fee's you will see it does indeed cost $50 to change but no fee to cancel.
Thanks for this.
Seems a bit harsh on Qantas' behalf, although somewhat understandable.

So am I correct in thinking that I can cancel, receive credit to be used in 12months, then make a new booking for the same day (paying in full this time, not using the credit just gained)?

[Ash W]

Nothing unusual or harsh in their rules. Consider yourself lucky Qantas allows cancellation, many airlines don't allow that.

And yes I read it the same that you can cancel anytime before the day before and receive a credit which can be used on any day other than the day of the flight you canceled.

[Ricky T]

So am I correct in thinking that I can cancel, receive credit to be used in 12months, then make a new booking for the same day (paying in full this time, not using the credit just gained)?

Yes, you can cancel your original booking and do a new booking for the same day. You will receive a credit equal to the value of the original booking which is valid for 12 months and the cancellation/flight change fee of $50 will be deducted when you use the credit in the future.

[Ash W]

Ricky if you click on the T&C for the red e-deal and then click on the change fee link you will get a full list of appliciable charges.

Note that the fee's for changes and cancellation differ. The fee's for red e-deal are:

Changes
Before day of departure: Any fare difference plus: A$50.00
On day of departure : Lose fare

Cancellation
Before day of departure: Keep value (T&C states in credit not refund)
On day of departure : Lose fare

There may be other fee's based on how the booking and changes were made again covered by the T&C for the fare type.

[Adam.S]

I have booked 2 flights for the same day, only need to be on one of them however.
Will cancel one closer to the departure date in the understanding(hope) that I will receive flight credit of the amount I paid for the ticket and not be punished any fees.
Seemed like the better option instead of changing the original flight and paying a fee to do so.
Time will tell how it all plays out.