Jetstar cancelling flights on the Singapore route

I love Jetstar (as my wife says, love is too strong a word). However, that is quickly flipping to a fear of booking with them because one can never be sure the flight is actually going to depart. Examples, and we have flown Jetstar dozens of times over the last 5 years since I retired. Booked 4 return tickets to Singapore (Melbourne return) May 2017. Come September received an email the outbound flight was cancelled. Travelling in the US at the time - managed to find a local US number and changed all my flights forward a day to avoid an overnight stop in Darwin or protracted flight back via Bali. Fix up our hotel bookings later - a whole other story. In October I rejigged the flights to the day earlier to better fit with the travel insurance for my wife's parents who were travelling with us.

With QF putting two A380s on this route (one already and another from late March) it’s not surprising that they’re cancelling Jetstar flights. With a LCC there’s a much greater risk of cancellations. It’s one of the risks you take when you choose to fly them.

It’s Jetstar, at some point in time the low cost element will manifest into a lack of customer service and leave customers disappointed, that’s how it saves money, by not offering good customer service which is very costly, I have avoided them since they started and will jump on a VA flight or any other rather than JQ if QF don’t offer a flight, this is the only way of avoiding a bad Jetstar experience.

I don't think you will get much sympathy on here when complaining about Jetstar. You seemed to have a lot of problems, but still persist with using them. I understand that the fares are cheap but generally, you get what you pay for. In any case, it sounds like everything has worked out in the end and even being upgraded to a Qantas flight, which i would chalk up to a win.

‘Rolls eyes whenever hears whinge about Jetstar’ They’re rubbish - we know!

They cancelled your flight and put you on Emirates 3hrs later. They then cancelled another flight and put you on Qantas.

Isn't it funny that 99% of these long-winded rants always mention the fact they advocate for the company etc...

There is one place these rants end up and that is the company's wall of shame

Contrary to what people are suggesting, this isn't really a problem with Jetstar or low cost carriers in general - the cancellation rate of flights are actually roughly the same between Qantas and Jetstar (1.7% vs 1.9% respectively).

The "problem" is that you are booking flights 8 months in advance which increases the risk of a schedule change - simple as that. I booked ~30 flights last year 11 months in advance and I think the schedule changed on all but 5 of them with 9 being cancelled/moved to different days. Airlines change their schedule with the season and routes are constantly reevaluated - it's not like they're having mechanical problems or cancelling last minute - in both your examples you were given MONTHS of notice. The customer service of Jetstar seemed fine - put you on another flight or refund the money.

You're also prepaying for hotels which shouldn't be necessary - usually prepaid hotel rooms are discount non-refundable and you take that risk. Just put the money aside, book a flexible rate and pay at the hotel. Even with a non-refundable hotel booking, your travel insurance will cover the cost if the flight is moved to a different day.

Also, you think 20 minutes on hold at Qantas is a record? Hahahahahahha.

For future reference, Jetstar's contact numbers including all local numbers are available here: https://www.jetstar.com/au/en/contact-us/contact-numbers

Thats a bad customer service. They had to provide you phone numbers and assurance that they will help you to resolve the ussue. Shame on a Jetstar.

Originally Posted by Grannular

Bad response

be thankful you are on an emirates flight.things you would have had to pay for on jetstar are now included.

Pays for a fare on a budget airline and expects the service and punctuality of a full service carrier, the mind boggles!

Jetstar are notorious for cancelling flights. I am personally aware of many who have booked, and the flight cancelled.

Fly Singapore Airlines they are miles ahead of Jetstar and Qantas in all areas

Its always funny how some (doubleplatinu grannular ) defend airlines that provide bad service. As customers we naturally demand a better and cheaper service whether it is a budget airline or a premium carrier.