Jetstar Australia recently assigned the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft to replace the Airbus A330 to fly its long haul routes between Singapore and Melbourne. The Dreamliner offers a more consistent customer experience for the passengers and also allows the airline substantial fuel savings and cost benefits to keep the low cost carrier’s fares low.
We flew on the Dreamliner’s inaugural flight to Melbourne over the National Day weekend.
The Benefits
Just like any full service airline, Jetstar also offers exclusive premium benefits to its Business Class travellers.
Basic Benefits
- Wide Leather Seats for more comfort during the flight
- More Baggage Allowance:
- 2 x 7KG hand carry luggage
- 30KG checked-in baggage
- Personal In-Flight Entertainment System with over ear headset
- Jetstar Amenity Kit
- Express Lane for immigration checks outbound from Melbourne
- No Fees for date, time, name, origin and destination changes but fare difference applies
- Free Seat Selection
The Express Lane pass for the immigration checks has to be my favourite benefit from the lot. To be able to cut through the long queues and get to the boarding gate or duty-free store at the shortest time is what every traveller hopes for.
Business Max Option
By paying S$200 more for your Business Class ticket each way, you will get these additional perks:
- Refundable tickets
- Qantas Points for your flight and Status Credits or Emirates Skywards Miles or Jetstar Rewards Voucher
- Lounge Access at Qantas Club or partner lounges
The Seat
The 19 inch wide leather seats are decent for the 7 hours 45 mins flight to Melbourne. Even though it is not a flatbed seat, I was able to sleep through the red eye flight from Singapore to Melbourne with the help of the eye plugs and eye mask from the amenity kit. Because it is the new Boeing Dreamliner, the humidity in the plane is regulated so I don’t get that dryness in my throat throughout the flight.
Enjoy the latest Hollywood blockbusters like Tomorrowland, Hot Pursuit and Insurgent, as well as Australian classics like Muriel’s Wedding and many more on the large high resolution inflight entertainment display. Jetstar also provides a set of comfortable headphones for the inflight entertainment.
The Business Class seats also comes with USB charging ports and power plugs for charging mobile devices during the flight.
The Food
They feed us well onboard Jetstar Business Class. I had to wake up for two meals through my red eye flight, so I clocked TWO SUPPERS (since breakfast was served just before 5am) before I even reach the culinary city of Australia.
You could always request to skip the meals, but since I was reviewing the experience, I had to try everything.
The food standard was surprisingly good when comparing with economy class food from full service airlines. It was an average standard for taste and below average for presentation when comparing with business class food from full service airlines.
Singapore to Melbourne (Red Eye Flight)
The beef was very tender and flavourful complimented by the springy noodles making it worth my time and calories quota to have this for supper.
We were required to fill up the breakfast selection before we go to sleep, so that our breakfast will be ready when we wake up.
Melbourne to Singapore
The presentation for the Coconut Poached Chicken Breast was unappetising. Fortunately, the taste manage to compensate for its looks and the aromatic coconut flavour grew on me as I ate it. I managed to finish the whole dish with delight.
Snacks On Demand
The Verdict
Overall the flight to & from Singapore and Melbourne onboard Jetstar Australia’s Dreamliner Business Class was decently comfortable. But I would only consider this as Premium Economy in full service airline standard.
The advantage of flying in Jetstar Business Class is the low fare and luxury of having Express Lane Pass when leaving Melbourne makes it an idea choice for travelling Budget in Comfort.
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