Flight Evaluate: Jetstar’s Worldwide Economic system on the 787 Dreamliner – Honolulu to Melbourne (JQ2)

As a part of their lengthy haul fleet, have the excellence of being the price range provider that takes Australian passengers on to the USA.

The airline travels a couple of occasions per week between Melbourne, VIC or Sydney, NSW and Honolulu, providing an inexpensive various to its competitors, in addition to being the one airline that may permit you to e-book a a method flight throughout the Pacific that isn’t costlier than a return flight, which for sure travellers (particularly those that might wish to incorporate frequent flyer factors into one leg of their journey), may be notably excellent.

And for me it completely was. So final month, I flew again to Australia from Toronto, Canada for lower than A$700 a method (complete… in ), by combining a flight with one airline to Honolulu, the place I stayed on the unbelievable , earlier than persevering with on to the Jetstar flight to the Victorian capital.

Additionally – sizzling tip – that is one of the best ways to keep away from jet lag when flying west certain over the Pacific.

However that’s to not say reserving with a price range airline doesn’t come with out its personal set of dangers. Final September, entered the information for all of the flawed causes, with half of its lengthy haul fleet grounded, resulting in substantial cancellations, folks caught at worldwide locations, and a common PR catastrophe.

However unsurprisingly, since then, issues have vastly improved (although it’s nonetheless removed from excellent – 7.2% of Jetstar flights in November 2022 had been cancelled), whereas the airline sits comfortably on the checklist of the 20 most secure low price airways on this planet. This in keeping with https://airlineratings.com/, who ranked Jetstar’s mother or father airline Qantas on the high of the checklist.

So, with all that in thoughts, how did my expertise on the price range airline honest? Right here’s a run down of the expertise.

Jetstar Airways
Honolulu HNL to Melbourne MEL (JQ2)
B787-800 Dreamliner
31D – Aisle, center part in a 3-3-3 format.
10 hours 55 minutes (barely longer than normal on account of headwind)

Checking in at Honolulu Worldwide Airport

The 8am flight time ensured it was nonetheless darkish after I arrived at Daniel Okay. Inouye Worldwide Airport, and the Jetstar flight to Melbourne was one of many solely counters seeing substantial passenger backlog.

With no on-line check-in accessible earlier than the flight, there was a considerable queue two and a bit hours earlier than take off. Fortunately it moved pretty shortly, and I acquired by it in about half an hour. Workers had been useful and, regardless of the hour, served passengers with jovial spirits. Then safety (made up largely of the Australian travellers) took one other 25 minutes.

After safety, there wasn’t a lot open earlier than 7am, with simply obligation free, Starbucks, Burger King and the California Pizza Kitchen open. Issues began progressively opening as we acquired nearer to boarding, and should you didn’t pre-purchase a meal (which is barely attainable greater than 24 hours earlier than your flight), I’d suggest getting your self one thing to eat on board. I had a Caesar salad from CPK and it was a godsend on that lengthy flight.

I’ve to say, Jetstar do a extremely nice job on the boarding entrance. They board by rows, from the again to the entrance (bar enterprise class), the just about excellent system to expedite the method. I’ll by no means perceive why extra airways don’t do that, however then once more given how many individuals line up regardless of their line not being known as, you possibly can perceive why some received’t trouble.

However, very a lot to their credit score, they wouldn’t allow them to board, and saved making bulletins to make sure solely the fitting folks had been within the queue. The one issue was the crowded gate made it very tough to kind strains, even when your row was known as. But it surely all labored and there was no backup on the jetbridge! Magic! Different airways take observe.

There’s a contact display screen on the again of each seat. The airline cost $13 so that you can use the in flight leisure, or you possibly can pay $9 to look at a film like . You can even hearken to a single album for $6, or all albums inclusive within the $13 “all entry cross”, which can be the one solution to watch the TV programming. And simply value noting – radio stations and music movies have been faraway from the methods.

The USB energy although comes free and will probably be a lifesaver for individuals who come pre-prepared with cell content material. There’s some restricted free Jetstar produced content material in addition to the power to view particulars concerning the flight and the compulsory dwell flight map (which someway appeared to assume we had been concurrently in Melbourne and Honolulu?).

Seats have 5″ max recline and moveable headrest with flaps, with 30″ of leg room. Extremely, this was extra recline than United’s Dreamliner affords over the Pacific (solely 3″ except you’re in an “Economic system Plus” seat); although United provide an additional inch of seat pitch. So, whereas many airways provide extra, the consolation ranges had been surprisingly aggressive in an business which by and enormous has been actively lowering Economic system consolation ranges through the years.

That stated, the Dreamliner is an extremely comfy jet, constructed to assist present higher inside cabin strain; the contact display screen home windows do nicely to maintain lights dim even on a day flight, the airplane itself in addition to the bogs had been clear and cozy, and a shout out to the distinctive swivel door on the bogs of the Dreamliner which I get pleasure from aesthetically.

Turbulence was minimal, and although sturdy headwinds meant the flight was slightly longer than regular, the distinction between 10 and a half hours within the air and 11 hours within the air (not together with time on the tarmac) was fairly insubstantial – it’s a protracted bloody flight to not get any sleep both approach!

After take off, cups of water had been distributed, after which the primary meal & drink service not lengthy after that. They take time to distribute pre-paid meals between the 2. If you wish to pre-purchase (which comes with a reduction I imagine and a assure of a sizzling meal), you want to take action 24+ hours earlier than your flight. Every little thing bar water must be paid for, although they had been joyful to provide out some sizzling water (sizzling tip: BYO tea bag!).

One other service with pay as you go meals, after which shortly after for buy, about 6 hours into the flight. There was nonetheless a superb 5 hours to go. They repeatedly walked down the aisle with water and it appeared like should you wished one thing outdoors of these occasions, they’d allow you to buy one thing.

Customs types for Australia, which stay bodily (a missed alternative over the pandemic was altering this, as has occurred within the US and Canada), are handed out together with the cups of water shortly after take off.

On touchdown, there was an acknowledgement of nation – which was the primary time I’ve ever heard that on a flight touchdown in Australia. Great! However past that, the arrival course of for an Australian passport holder couldn’t be simpler; it’s precisely was it was pre-pandemic now.

With all of the reported cancellations in September, I booked this flight with loads of trepidation. They solely provide two flights per week between Honolulu and Melbourne, and may the flight be cancelled, I’d have possible been caught there for days.

Such is the danger of price range airways internationally – however on the value level they supplied, it proved nicely well worth the danger. And fortunately, although there was a brief delay on take off, and we had been within the air slightly longer than regular, all of it went off and not using a hitch.

Past this, there’s little to put in writing residence about in the case of a Jetstar flight. You don’t get something inclusive, and the 11 hour flight time ensures it’s a expertise with out these inclusions. However they’re there if you wish to pay for them, it’s a day flight so that you don’t must sleep, and you’ll convey by yourself meals and leisure.

Throughout the board, workers had been nice, the flight as comfy because it may very well be, and so they make sure you’re hydrated on the very least (which hasn’t all the time been my expertise flying on price range airways – I’m you !). And most significantly – there aren’t any surprises that they don’t actively promote once you’re reserving your flight.

So in contrast to airways who change their insurance policies repeatedly, you very a lot know what you’re getting once you fly on this route. You’ll be able to’t complain about one thing you recognize you’re not going to get.

To get throughout the Pacific this affordably generally is a godsend once you want it, and although the restricted variety of flights means there may be inherent danger in a cancellation (a danger with any airline, however the extra flights they’ve the better it’s to be rescheduled), I’d argue it’s nicely well worth the danger. And I’d completely fly them on this route once more. And severely – fly again through Hawaii should you can, Jetstar or not. I prevented jetlag utterly by getting a while on the seashores of Honolulu on the way in which residence.

Jetstar flies between Melbourne and Honolulu on Sundays and Wednesdays. For tickets and extra particulars head to jetstar.com.