I booked a flight with JetStar on the 3rd of January 2014. I chose Jet Star because the flights they were offering at the time were the times I wanted to fly. On the 4th of May they emailed me to advise me that the flight times had changed. The new flight times were simply not convenient. Leaving two hours earlier on Sunday the 3rd of August, meaning I would have to get to the airport at 5am as opposed to 7am. The returning flight was changed from 11:55 am to 8:30 am, again meaning that I would have to be at the airport around 5am. I only chose Jetstar because of the flight times. There were other airlines offering cheaper flights on both legs of my trip, but I chose Jetstar because of the flight times. In the email they sent me on the 4th of May, it mentioned that I could only claim a refund on one of the flight legs. I was forced to take the other flight options as I couldn't afford to pay for another leg. Had I known that Jetstar were going to change the flight times, I would have booked with another airline. Offering flights at certain times then changing them is misleading and deceptive conduct.
Comments
Daniel. Anyone who books a
Daniel. Anyone who books a flight with Jetstar should be doing so with a very high expectation that the flight will be cancelled, rescheduled or arrive/depart late. That's how Jetstar works. It is what is convenient to them. For your information if you contact them now for either a refund or to change to another flight they will tell you that based on your contract you do not have a say in when you fly. They call it "insignificant" change to the original schedule. However, you should be aware that under the Australian consumer laws you are entitled to a refund as the alternative flight is not what you bought in the first instance. I had the exact same problem with them 18 months and got the usual runaround and arrogant response for 5 months. However I took them to QCAT (Queensland version of the small claims tribunal and won. Not only the scumbags had to refund the fare but also my insignificant expense. Its simple, wuick and very inexpensive ($21.50 in Queensland). You can read about my case at http://www.dontflyjetstar.com/complaints/result-my-law-suite-against-jet... . All other states have a similar "Small Claims Tribunal".
Good luck and I let us know if you pursue it further.
Amir, thank you very much for
Amir, thank you very much for the information. I have made a formal complaint to the ACCC, and the Airline Customer Advocate, and my next step will be the small claims tribunal.
Thanks again for your info, I really appreciate it.
Hi Amir, I got a call from
Hi Amir, I got a call from Jet Star after lodging my complaint with the Airline Customer Advocate and the ACCC. The ACCC couldn't do anything, but the Airline Customer Advocate did. I was offered a refund, and booked with another airline which ended costing me $70 less. Thank god for the Airline Customer Advocate, Dontflyjetstar.com and people who actually take the time to get off their bums and do something about their predicament.
DON'T EVER, EVER, EVER FLY WITH JETSTAR!