Has Jetstar Gotten Any Better? Would You Trust Them?

Minimum chips on 11/02/2024 - 14:38

In the middle of last year there were a flurry of stories about Jetstar's cancellation rates and general unreliability. There were also numerous anecdotes on these and other forums about last-minute cancellations and rescheduling. There was also an implication that the cancellations were just an easy out of running low-profit flights, with no regard for the massive inconvenience and cost to customers.

Since then I haven't heard as many bad things, even around christmas. I don't know if people just aren't flying with Jetstar, or if maybe they've got their act together. "Airline is kind of ok now" doesn't make the headlines.

I'm planning a family trip SYD-HBA and Jetstar is almost half the price of the other two. I'm trying to gauge how much of a risk we'd be taking by booking with Jetstar. Flying with young children and visiting relatives, I don't want to risk major disruption/difficulty - but on the other hand how bad can a major carrier operating in Australia still be?

Please vote below based on your own experience - or that of friends / family / coworkers whose experiences you have a full picture of.

Poll Options

  • 8
    Flew with Jetstar recently and had major (Jetstar-specific) delays or cancellations.
  • 42
    Flew with Jetstar recently with no issues.
  • 16
    Previously had serious issues with Jetstar, now refuse to use them.
  • 1
    Flew with jetstar recently and had poor service, but no delays or cancellations.
  • 12
    Have not travelled recently, but like to feel included.
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Comments

  • HamBoi69 on 11/02/2024 - 14:53

    I guess it’d depend if you’re flying when it’s really busy, ie School Holidays. If so, likely delays and cancellations, other “off peak” times, less likely.

  • trustnoone on 11/02/2024 - 14:58
    +1

    IMO I feel Jetstar is great when everything simple and nothing goes wrong. BUT you need to change a flight, a flight is cancelled, you start introducing luggage etc and they're a nope if I can help it.
    I personally just assume that when I buy a ticket with Jetstar that money is gone.

    FWIW I do find that their price doesn't deviate too much from Qantas as one would expect, especially if you are buying early or aren't able to use some special Jetstar sale (and of course depending where you're going).

  • Ughhh on 11/02/2024 - 15:02
    +3

    If you're flying for an important event ie. weddings, maybe land a day earlier.

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 11/02/2024 - 15:15
    +1

    I wouldn’t roll the dice with them
    That’s not to say big boys like virgin and qantas wont stitch ya up though

    Source: been stitched up by qantas AND virgin over the years

  • SnowDragon on 11/02/2024 - 16:29
    +1

    Live in Hobart and use Jetstar frequently. At most had a delay of 45m because the plane hadn't arrived yet.
    I find they're good if you only have one flight to do since it doesn't really matter if it's slightly delayed.

  • DashCam AKA Rolts on 11/02/2024 - 16:53
    +1

    Used Jetstar for 3 return flights in last 9 to 10 months -
    2 x ADL -> CNS -> ADL,
    1 x ADL -> DPS -> ADL.
    No issues, flights mostly on time, no cancellations.
    Acquaintance who is a volunteer worker at ADL has reported far more Virgin cancelled flights than Jetstar or Qantas, from personal observation/assisting confused passengers etc.

  • Drakesy on 11/02/2024 - 17:16

    Honestly, i'd choose any budget carrier over jetstar.

  • Ryk on 11/02/2024 - 17:33

    I last flew jester in 2019, I haven't made that mistake again.

  • Hugh G Rection on 11/02/2024 - 20:23

    nothing wrong with jetstar, but if you are flying jetstar you dont have much disposable income or options. whether you trust them or not, you are going to fly with them guaranteed. lol.
    you are better off flying qantas or virgin after you add your bags and pick your seats, the price is actually comparable. I dont mind paying extra for qantas, they always have excellent service and i consistently use them internationally and domestically.

  • p1 ama on 11/02/2024 - 20:53
    +2

    How much of an inconvenience cancellations are depends on the frequency on your route. For all of my MEL-SYD / SYD-MEL flights, delays and cancellations don't bother me too much, as the next flight is never too far away.

    SYD-HBA is not the most regular route, but it's not so uncommon that a cancellation will leave you stranded for days. I wouldn't worry too much about it.

    Ultimately, you get what you pay for with JQ. Think of it as a flying bus. Travel light, don't sweat the small stuff, and you'll be fine.

    The worst thing about flying JQ vs. QF/VA in my opinion is that you're just much more likely to be in proximity of "shithousery" from other customers. I've been in proximity to drunk, obnoxious, unpleasant passengers on JQ much more frequently than QF or VA, and with the volume of flights I've been on, it's definitely a trend. That said, most JQ flights are fine, just that if there's an incident, it always happens to be JQ.

  • payless69 on 11/02/2024 - 22:50

    Out of around 60 Jetstar flights I had zero real issues.

    Out of 20 Virgin flights I would say lousier value for money.

    Prior to Jetstar I would say Qantas had above others safety combined with rough cabin service. Even this is fixed now.

    • OMGJL on 12/02/2024 - 00:57

      would be good if you share when you did you fly those 60 times (more specifically, busy season/school holiday season/Xmas/Easter/other, etc)

      • payless69 on 12/02/2024 - 04:25

        Nearly half were overseas flights, comfy dreamliner, even got free food on legs of a larger overseas trip.
        Oh forgot, there was the "ferral" shuttle, an Airbus A319 CNS Bali with not so good behaving passengers. But hey when you pay $129 for such a trip it is still good value! Not the airline's fault when such specials attract travellers from low cultured backgrounds.
        Main issues are usually with overworked security checks, They make you go back into the scanner because of a paper tissue in your pocket and then confiscate your itinerary printout.
        My last Virgin trip was Haneda CNS in a brand new B737 with uncomfortable plastic seats and despite being on a leg of a larger overseas trip and have paid for food they gave me the Virgin salute: Thanks for nothing!

  • jj2trappy on 12/02/2024 - 01:12
    +1

    flew Jetstar 5 times in a trip around aus this school holidays, no major problems, had luggage added, maximum delay of half an hour on 1-2 flights

  • DingoBilly on 12/02/2024 - 06:16

    I've had way more issues with Virgin flights the past year than Jetstar. More than 50% of my flights have been delayed, massive pain in the ass.

  • subwoofer on 12/02/2024 - 13:38

    I had Jetstar flight canned last Friday but they arranged for an overnight hotel with breakfast and transport

  • Sweet3st on 12/02/2024 - 21:13

    I don't think Jetstar flights are that much more unreliable than the others, it's just that when something goes wrong, there's little customer service. So long as you're on the ball and adaptable it shouldn't be a problem.

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