Are Jetstar Australia’s worst domestic airline?

Flight review: Jetstar SYD- ADL

Let’s be honest, Jetstar doesn’t have the best reputation. Product Review’s over 5,000 respondents give them a mere 1.4/5, with adjectives like terrible, appalling and worst featuring prominently in the critiques. Some other reviews are even more scathing! 

The biggest gripes are around delays and cancellations, as well as a lack of professionalism from the staff. A couple of reviewers suggested they’d prefer to walk than fly Jetstar again.

So it was with some trepidation I took a flight with Jetstar, to a time sensitive event interstate. 

At the Airport

After checking in online 48 hours before, I noticed the fine print requesting passengers turn up for a domestic flight two hours before departure.  Gone are the days of rocking up to the gate with minutes to spare. But was two hours really necessary?

Jetstar departs from Terminal 2 at Kingsford Smith Airport, sharing the terminal with other budget carriers. With memories of the check in mayhem and lengthy security screening when I last flew REX I allowed 90 minutes but this time it took only 10 minutes from stepping into the terminal to arriving at the gate. However, those checking in luggage were in for a long wait.

The trick really is to fly with carry on only whenever possible, saving time, money and the stress of missing luggage. Read more about packing small and light for this flight.

On time performance?

Contrary to the reviews, the flight wasn’t cancelled and pushed back from the gate early. However the usual morning rush on the tarmac left us waiting on the apron for some time. Not Jetstar’s fault.

Time was made up enroute, landing just shy of the estimated 1hr 55 flight time.

The hard product

We were jammed in like sardines on a full Airbus A320-200. 

In a 3-3 configuration, seats are a mere 45cm wide with a pitch of 73.7cm. Jetstar manages to pinch a whole inch/3 cm off the pitch compared to the other budget domestic carriers. Something I notice despite being shorter than average, it was a snug fit. If there was any seat recline, it was minimal.

What’s more the seats themselves really put the ‘hard’ into hard product. They’re amongst the most uncomfortable airline seats flying our skies. 

Other than the seat and a tray table, there’s little else – no inflight entertainment (IFE), USB or power sockets.

The toilet was small but clean. 

All round nothing to write home about. This is a bare bones product.

Service

The crew was friendly but had little to do. With no free drinks or food, service was limited to those buying beverages and lack lustre snacks at exorbitant prices.

Don’t board hungry. Serving sizes are small, for example party pies and small cups of instant noodles. While the airline makes a stab at catering for dietary options, some of them are limited to olives or chips (crisps).

For those who are tempted to splurge, a physical credit card is required. Digital cards/Apple Pay etc along with cash are not allowed. And with no complimentary water, on a longish domestic flight you’ll go thirsty.

Verdict

With many Australian domestic flights costing at least twice pre-covid prices, budget airlines like Jetstar are raking it in. Flights are full. Service is minimal. Seats are hard. Entertainment BYO. You may be in for a long, boring and uncomfortable flight.

While this one departed and arrived on time, Jetstar’s reputation can cause a lot pre-trip anxiety – will I make it to my destination in time, will it be delayed or cancelled? It’s not the airline of choice for a time sensitive holiday or work trip.

There are better and cheaper budget airlines flying this route. My money is on REX over Jetstar any day.

Read: Trip Report REX airlines

Packing hacks: 5 days/1 day pack

As a woman I really hate those carry on packing videos made by men. Life is so much easier if you can fly in your professional clothes and happily reappear in the same outfit for days in a row. For some leisure time, just add a t shirt or two and a pair of jeans and/or shorts. Throw in a small dop kit/toilet bag and a bit of tech and you’re done. Day pack travel for a week or more – no problem!

While I’m relatively low maintenance, I’m not a minimalist. I tend to overpack a little for the ‘just in case’ moments, like thet time I went to a conference and spilled juice down my ‘good’ clothes before it even began!

But I hate the endless wait at the carousel plus the additional cost to check in luggage (hello post-pandemic Australian flight prices!), especially on a short trip. 

The challenge

My travel challenge this year is to fly with carry on only. A weekend away staying with friends interstate is relatively easy but add a couple of extra days and professional attire, as well as strict weight limits, it gets a little trickier. 

These interstate trips are just a warm up for the main event – will I be able to travel in SE Asia for almost a month with only carry on? Stay tuned!

The trip

Duration: 5 days/4 nights
Work (conference ) and play
Weather variable/ rain, sun, 13-28c 
Carry on luggage: Hedgren day pack 
Personal item: one small purse

Flying Australia’s strictest airline 

While the homeward flight was with Qantas (who have a more generous carryon allowance and a free checked in bag), my outward leg was on their budget carrier.

Jetstar is probably Australia’s most notorious airline when it comes to enforcing carry on limits. Most domestic tickets come with a strict 7kg (15.4 lbs) allowance, with both scales and a baggage sizer on prominent display at the gate. If caught exceeding the limit, they’ll hit you with a $50+ fee to check in your bag.

All Australian domestic airlines have a maximum height/width/depth limit of 56cm x 36cm x 23cm (with some variations of sizing by shape), while Qantas has a generous 14kg weight limit (if spread over two smaller bags), Jetstar, Rex and Virgin are half that. All allow an additional ‘personal item’ such as a purse, though if being picky an airline can include its weight towards the total allowance. Bonza the newest carrier in our skies, has an 8 kg limit.

The bag 

Instead of risking an international sized carry on wheelie bag, I went for my old faithful day pack, for 5 days of work and fun. 

My ancient blue Hedgren day pack, has been long discontinued. I have a sneaking feeling it was bought it in the late 1990s. While I’ve splashed out on flashier upgrades, none have the space and versatility of this old faithful. No padding means you can pack more in and it still fits beneath the seat in front. Being short (under 5ft 2), it makes the perfect foot rest on longer flights. When flying internationally, the front pocket fits my passport holder and liquids and gels bag perfectly for easy access. 

What I packed

Medium packing cube:
4 pairs trousers 
3 short sleeved cotton tops
3 t-shirts 
light cardigan
1 pashmina (scarf)

Small blue compression cube:
4 pairs underwear
1 bra
2 necklaces
vitamins
Dental splint

Loose items:
1 pair of sandals
toilet bag with all the usual things
Bluetooth headphones
glasses
Small umbrella
Work tote (rolled up as small as possible)
Phone charger
laptop (1.4 kg) and charger

Personal item:purse
money, phone, sunglasses, mask

I flew wearing sneakers, jeans and long sleeved top, going from 30+c to a chilly and damp 16c on arrival.

Did my cunning plan work?

No problems boarding. Total weight came in at 8.5 kg (it’s the laptop that pushed it over) but being a backpack rather than a suitcase it wasn’t weighed.

I didn’t wear 1 top and 1 pair of trousers but always like a spare because I’m essentially clumsy.  So more or less spot on packing.

This is the Tardis of day packs! Most surprised the quilted tote could squeeze in as though soft is a bit bulky. Although was prepared to wing it to use as my ‘personal item if it didn’t.  Exactly what I did on the Qantas flight home, after being gifted a bottle of wine and various other conference goodies.