Jetstar Misleading Advertising? Problem with "Introductory" Fares?

burgermaniac on 02/05/2018 - 22:05

Hi all,

I was booking a flight on the weekend to Melbourne Avalon, on the 2nd March 2019 (from Sydney). I booked the flights at an introductory offer of $95 (abnormally high due to the Avalon Airshow being that day). I successfully complete my booking, being the first person aboard in Seat 1A. I know that because as I checked the seat map, 1A is the only seat taken. A minute later, my mate eventually tried to book on the same flight for $95, only to see that the ticket is in fact $329 one way! I just want to know if you guys think this is misleading, because Jetstar, unlike Qantas does not tell you how many seats are left at any given price. $95 fares surely can't be presented, and advertised when there is only 1 of them for my given flight? I called up Jetstar, and was given this response "Fares are subject to availability, and can be changed at Jetstar's discretion". Surely this is malpractice (even illegal? I might contact the ACCC to see what they say)
If anyone wants to have a look, it is JQ603 the departure flight. You could see Seat 1B is taken up, as unfortunately we didn't have any choice other than to book on that flight.

Thanks guys,
Appreciate it :)

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Comments

  • spackbace on 02/05/2018 - 22:07
    +1

    $95 fares surely can't be presented, and advertised when there is only 1 of them for my given flight?

    Well it can if it's over a sufficient number of flights

    • burgermaniac on 02/05/2018 - 22:21
      -1

      I understand that, but what about if it was only a singular flight. One flight only each day, with one seat at $95?

  • bobbified on 02/05/2018 - 22:17

    It's entirely possible that there was more than 1 seat at that price and other people just booked at the same time you did, before your mate.

    • burgermaniac on 02/05/2018 - 22:19
      -3

      Just checked now, only 2 seats taken up on the aircraft, between us 2.

      • tomsco on 02/05/2018 - 22:40
        +7

        Perhaps others have booked but not booked a seat?

        Doesn’t it cost to choose a seat, but free if they assign one at check in?

        • WreckTangle on 03/05/2018 - 07:54

          This

        • burgermaniac on 03/05/2018 - 19:59

          That is completely true. I don't normally book with Jetstar anyways, that is why I am a little bit unsure of their procedures.

      • Cyphar on 02/05/2018 - 22:42

        You mean two tickets with a prepaid seat. Far more book JQ flights and DON'T pre-select a seat, you know.

      • jjjaar on 02/05/2018 - 22:44

        As said above, not everyone pays for a seat. What is the "sequence number" on your and your friends tickets?

  • Scab on 02/05/2018 - 22:21
    +5

    I might contact the ACCC

    Don't waste your time, show them you aren't messing about and contact A Current Affair.

    • burgermaniac on 02/05/2018 - 22:22

      Are they interested in news stories like this?

      • Scab on 02/05/2018 - 22:29
        +7

        You bet, Brady Halls would chase down the Jetstar CEO, live.

        • burgermaniac on 03/05/2018 - 20:07

          Didn't it used to be Joyce anyways?

  • altomic on 02/05/2018 - 22:24

    fly down friday nght.

    • burgermaniac on 03/05/2018 - 19:59
      -1

      Unfortunately won't be good for someone without a licence, and it only 17. No hotels at the airport.

  • Cyphar on 02/05/2018 - 22:43
    +1

    I might contact the ACCC to see what they say

    They'll say you weren't misled, that airline pricing fluctuates constantly and that's the way the world works.

    Seriously stop wasting your time with this dude. Tell you friend to shop around on SkyScanner instead

    • burgermaniac on 03/05/2018 - 20:00

      SkyScanner won't work because Jetstar is the only airline that flies down to Avalon Airport, therefore having this entire monopoly. SkyScanner still only shows the prices that we paid for it.

  • JimmyF on 02/05/2018 - 23:13
    +1

    A minute later, my mate eventually tried to book on the same flight for $95, only to see that the ticket is in fact $329 one way!

    Not misleading, you got your ticket for $95, your friend was never shown this price.

    You should have booked two tickets under your booking ;)

    being the first person aboard in Seat 1A. I know that because as I checked the seat map, 1A is the only seat taken

    Not true that you're the first, if you don't pay 'extra' to select a seat, then all 'seats' not booked are still showing as 'free'.

    ie say there are 200 seats on the plane and they have sold 100 seats already, but no one paid to select a seat, when you come along, you get the choice to pick any of the 200 seats on the plane still. ie you think its empty, when its really half sold.

    BTW Seeing lots of $95 flights later in the day, so the pricing changes are supply/demand.

    • burgermaniac on 03/05/2018 - 20:01
      -1

      My mate was originally shown the $95 price, but the thing is, he clicked accept and book, then got a server error. I had a look at booking two tickets for that flight, and Jetstar only quoted me for 1 ticket. This should have been a huge red flag right from the start!

      • JimmyF on 03/05/2018 - 21:40
        +1

        if you had only been quoted 1 cheap ticket, then I guess thats how many had been left!

        • burgermaniac on 04/05/2018 - 10:29

          That is what I should have realised from the beginning

  • Almost Banned on 02/05/2018 - 23:14
    +3

    If it was an advertised sale then there would be a requirement to have a reasonable quantity for a reasonable time (s.35).
    However, I don't think there is any such requirement for a dynamic price which is not advertised to the general public.
    Why didn't you buy two tickets when you had the chance?

    • burgermaniac on 03/05/2018 - 20:03

      As stated earlier, the two tickets didn't work as when I tried Jetstar only quoted me for one ticket. Under that trip to Melbourne, Avalon, the ticket on that day was advertised at $95, and the fact that (bear in mind the flights were only announced the day earlier) it was only 2 days old, and the price already rose was concerning.

  • Flying Ace on 03/05/2018 - 05:33

    You can't use the seat selection map as a signal of how many seats are available.

  • Ocker on 03/05/2018 - 07:57

    Airlines use sophisticated dynamic pricing models to set their ticket prices. Supply/demand is one obvious factor. A lesser known factor is that when you make a price inquiry a cookie is placed on your PC, if you check the price again it will be recognised you are a return visitor and the price can/will change.

    • burgermaniac on 03/05/2018 - 20:04

      No offense, but isn't that the way that Jetstar can just say "We can just choose the price at any time, and you're stuffed if you don't want it?"

  • TheMindsetTraveller on 03/05/2018 - 08:19
    +3

    I know this is OzBargain but who the wants to fly Jetstar moving forward?

    You stuff up, Jetstar tells you to Foxtrot Oscar. And when Jetstar stuffs up, they says it is allowed under their terms and conditions and then tells you to Foxtrot Oscar.

    I have been there and done with Jetstar, they have tried giving my vouchers for my complaints and I have told them to put in places where the sun doesn't shine as I refuse to fly them, ever.

    JetStar aka OneStar, NoStar, Orange Cancer, JetScam, Sh*tStar

    Oh, and they banned me from their Facebook page too. They couldn't handle my advocacy of my terrible experiences.

    • Almost Banned on 03/05/2018 - 11:29
      +1

      People who are ok with a low-cost carrier and want cheap flights?
      I have flown Jetstar many times and never had a problem.
      On the other hand, my brother refuses to fly Jetstar now because they stuffed him around quite badly.
      I guess you weigh the risks and make a call.

      • TheMindsetTraveller on 03/05/2018 - 16:55

        You have valid comments; everyone indeed has a "price" and has to weigh in the risks flying this budget low cost carrier that I call the "Orange Cancer" of the skies.

        My dissatisfaction with Jetstar is so high that they could pay me (they tried throwing me several vouchers) and I would still refuse to fly with them.

    • burgermaniac on 03/05/2018 - 20:04

      Jetstar is the only airline to fly to Avalon, and it is too inconvenient to stay overnight/fly to Tullamarine. I never fly Jetstar, only ever Qantas. That's basically the start of all my confusion.

  • Randxyz123 on 03/05/2018 - 11:01

    Surely you should have paid for both tickets ? You’d have gotten seats next to each other and the same price…

  • josetann on 03/05/2018 - 12:05

    I routinely have to pay for five tickets at a time, so I almost always search for all five. If they show five tickets available at $X, I expect them to honor it. On the other hand, there's many times I've done a quick and dirty search for one fare and on further research it's not available for all five (maybe 3-4 left at that price). Sometimes I can work around that using Webjet, but still….

    The fact is that you searched for one ticket and was shown a price of $95 which you purchased. At some point in the future (whether it was a minute or a week later doesn't matter) you searched for one ticket and was shown a price for $329. They honored that price. No deception in my mind. Yes, it does suck.

    Next time, either #1. Search for two tickets and lock in a low price if you see one, have your mate pay you for their half, or #2. If you see a cheap ticket, have your mate search for it too. If you both see it, start going through the checkout process. Assuming you book before it times out, you should each get the price that was advertised.

    • burgermaniac on 03/05/2018 - 20:07
      -1

      Unfortunately we tried both of your suggestions. We we're both about the book at the exact same time (was on a call with him), I clicked submit, and paid. He went to go pay, and he got stung with server connection error. Bear in mind, I haven't booked at that point, I just paid the $360 for my tickets (return).

  • lainey13 on 03/05/2018 - 20:47

    Of course they can only have one seat of that price on your flight.

  • Meho2026 on 03/05/2018 - 22:02

    Its totally within the law for them to advertise a flight at a specific price if there is at least one seat available at that price.
    Challenging them on their advertising will fail because you purchased at seat at the advertised price therefore you cannot claim deceptive or misleading conduct.
    Your friend booked a minute later, its not unreasonable to think it takes 60 seconds for the booking system to update.

  • Associatedlawyerz @ Jetstar Airways on 04/05/2018 - 20:16
    +1

    You will not see other booked seats on the seat map if they have not prepaid for their seats. Seats are not assigned until check in for anyone who has not prebooked their seats. There are more people than the two of you on that flight, although not by a huge margin. Also - all the 6 other flights for the same day is still $95 at time of writing.

    • burgermaniac on 09/05/2018 - 20:53

      On the 2nd March 2019, the two early morning flights (0640 and 0755) are at $329.

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