Your guide to understanding Jetstar fare bundles

Jetstar is Australia’s primary low-cost carrier – just about everything apart from the base fare will cost you extra. If you’re new to booking Jetstar fares, it may be daunting to understand all the different options, as you’ll usually need to pay for extras such as seating assignments, meals and baggage.

This quick guide explains how Jetstar fare bundles work and, more importantly, how to earn Qantas Frequent Flyer Points on bookings. Since 4 June 2024, the earn rates and inclusions have changed.

What are the different Jetstar fares?

Jetstar Domestic flights

There are four distinct Jetstar fares on Australian domestic flights:

• Starter (base fare)
• Starter Plus (tailored to general travellers)
• Flex (tailored to business travellers)
• Flex Plus (for those who want an all-inclusive fare)

You can only add bundles through the Jetstar website at the time of booking. Here’s a quick summary of fare inclusions, though bundle costs are indicative only and will vary.

	Starter	Plus	Flex	Flex Plus
Add-on cost	–	~$41+	~$52+	~$62+
Carry-on baggage	7kg	7kg	14kg (AU and NZ domestic) 7kg (other routes)	7kg
Checked baggage	–	20kg	–	20kg
Seat Selection	–	Standard	Standard or Upfront	Standard or Upfront or Extra legroom
Food and Drink	–	Included	– (Long-haul international and NZ domestic only)	Included
Qantas Points + Status Credits	– (NZ domestic only – Discount Economy rate)	– (NZ domestic only – Discount Economy rate)	Yes (Economy rate)	Yes (Economy rate)
Fare Flexibility	–	–	Date & time changes Free same-day changes	Date & time changes Free same-day changes
Origin/Destination change	–	–	–	Yes
Flight Cancellation	–	–	Credit Voucher	Credit Voucher

Jetstar International flights

While Jetstar International flights follow the same table as above (albeit with higher bundle pricing), there’s also the option of Business Class on the Boeing 787. A Business fare includes a 14kg carry-on allowance, a 30kg checked baggage allowance, seat selection, entertainment, a comfort pack, plus meals and drinks.

But for $220 more, the Business Max bundle unlocks:

• Flight cancellation (refundable for a fee)
• Lounge access
• Earn Qantas Points and Status Credits at the Discount Business rate

It may be worth paying for the bundle if you’re chasing Qantas Status Credits, as the rate is quite good for the price.

Booking Jetstar flights through Qantas

If you book a Jetstar flight through Qantas’ website, things are slightly different. There are only two Economy options – Bag & Meal or Max. With either option, you’ll get a luggage allowance of 23kg on domestic and 30kg on international routes (Economy and Business).

Bag & Meal fares don’t earn any Qantas Points or Status Credits. Max fares earn Qantas Points and Status Credits at the Flexible Economy rate.

Fares booked this way are typically more expensive than going directly through Jetstar’s website, even with the meal and luggage included.

How do I earn Qantas Points with Jetstar?

As noted above, the only way to earn Qantas Points and Status Credits on Jetstar fares is by purchasing an appropriate bundle through the Jetstar or Qantas website:

• Flex (Standard Economy earn)
• Flex Plus (Standard Economy earn)
• Max (Qantas website only, Flexible Economy earn)
• Business Max (Discount Business earn)

You’ll earn points and Status Credits according to the Qantas Points Calculator. The earn rates are good for the price. For example, on a Melbourne-Honolulu Jetstar flight, you could earn:

Sydney-Honolulu	Qantas Points	Status Credits
Flex bundle	4,500	45
Flex Plus bundle	4,500	45
Max (Qantas website only)	10,500	70
Business Max bundle	9,000	140

However, points from Jetstar flights may take a few weeks to appear. This is in stark contrast to Qantas flights, which are often credited to your account before you’ve even landed at the destination.

Summing up

On a per-dollar basis, you’ll usually find that Jetstar bundles offer Qantas Points and Status Credits more cheaply than Qantas, even after taking into account the extra costs of the bundles.

Overall, Jetstar’s fare structures and bundles are a good way to approach the leisure market, which is cost-driven, while offering value add-ons for those more discerning customers.

Frequently asked questions