We’re reader-supported and may be paid when you visit links to partner sites. We don’t compare all products in the market, but we’re working on it!
I'm a stickler for a good Jetstar deal, and one of the airline's best and most popular deals is its Japan return-for-free sale.
The sale occurs a few times per year and sees you pay for your outbound flight and then pay nothing to return. That's right, nix.
So when the opportunity arose to jump ship for a week to Tokyo, Japan, for under $527 return, including 15 kilograms of baggage, I couldn't resist.
Flight Details:
Flight Numbers: JQ952 and JQ025 (outbound), JQ026 and JQ957 (inbound) Aircraft Type: Airbus 321 (domestic) and Boeing 787 (international) Route: Sydney to Tokyo via Cairns, return Class: Economy Dates travelled: 24 February - 2 March 2018 Frequent Flyer:Qantas Frequent Flyer
Jetstar: What I liked
Cheap fares. For $527 return out of Sydney, including limited luggage, it's difficult to find anything cheaper. I had to sacrifice in-flight meals to keep the fare this low, but unlike other budget airlines, Jetstar doesn't ban you from bringing your own food on board, so you can pack a meal to save your dosh. I also sacrificed the in-flight entertainment; however, it only costs $10 per flight and includes the latest blockbusters, making it a steal for those who need TV time to fall asleep or are unable to sleep on planes.
Comfortable seats. I'm not a tall person by any means, though I have been in cramped quarters in planes, and Jetstar is one of the few budget airlines that provides me with enough leg room to allow for a relatively comfortable sleep. This was true for both my domestic and international flights.
Solo traveller perks. I experienced both perks and disadvantages of travelling alone on my flights. When travelling from Sydney to Cairns I was lucky enough to have a row of three to myself and from Cairns back to Sydney, I was bumped up to seat 1C (the exit row), right at the front and again with a row of three to myself. I've had this occur before due to the flight being empty and the airline needing to "balance" the plane by upgrading single passengers to the front of the plane where you'd otherwise have to pay more for the privilege. Needless to say, both were comfortable flights.
Online and self check-in. Jetstar emails you when online check-in is available enabling you to check-in and receive your boarding pass before you arrive at the airport. This cuts your time spent in line as you can head straight to the bag drop counter or through to screening and security if you've only opted for carry-on luggage. Unfortunately, for this flight, I could only self check-in my domestic leg and not the international portion of my flight (see below).
Hello exit row/legroom!
Jetstar: What I didn’t like
Having to check-in twice for my flight. Jetstar doesn't fly direct from Sydney to Tokyo, so all flights are via Cairns or the Gold Coast. While this breaks up the flight, it meant I was travelling one domestic leg and one international, so I had to collect my luggage at Cairns Airport, walk from the domestic to the international terminal (not far) and line up to check in again at Cairns for my international flight. For my outgoing flight, this was seamless as the check-in counter was already open, but for my return journey, I had a four-hour wait from 5am, which meant milling around in the wee hours of the morning waiting for the counter to open. Not the most desirable experience.
Solo traveller disadvantages. When checking into my return flight from Tokyo to Cairns, I was left stressed and confused. The lady at the counter said that since I hadn't paid to reserve a seat, I would have to wait until all passengers in line had checked in before they could determine where to place me on the plane. This is something I've never experienced before; however, she was lovely and gave me a seat from behind the counter to sit on as I waited, hoping Jetstar hadn't overbooked the flight and were bumping me off. She called me up immediately after the line cleared and found me a seat between two other solo travellers. While it all worked out, I had to run to the gate since I wound up checking in just one hour before my flight due to the delay.
Strict luggage weight limit. Refusing to allow you to check your bag in if it's over your purchased weight is fairly true of budget airlines, but Jetstar follows this rule to a "T". It will either charge you for the excess kilograms or insist you pull every piece of clothing out of your bag until it meets your purchased checked-luggage weight. Luckily, I weighed myself both ways so I didn't have a problem with my bag; however, I saw passengers who were forced to open up and take out their stuff at the counter next to me.
Would I travel with Jetstar again?
As a budget traveller, I'm content with any seat on a plane to get me from A to B, and for the price I paid, I wouldn't hesitate in returning back to Jetstar for another sojourn through Japan.
The booking process was easy, the check-in was smooth and the service was friendly. Just be prepared to walk between terminals if you're travelling between Sydney and Japan and weigh your luggage well before hitting the check-in.
Available on select flights from February - September 2021 to Launceston, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Cairns, Sydney, Uluru and more. Sample fare is Adelaide-Melbourne. T&Cs apply.
Jetstar sale: Australia-wide flights from $35 each way
Available on select flights from February - September 2021 to Launceston, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Cairns, Sydney, Uluru and more. Sample fare is Adelaide-Melbourne. T&Cs apply.
Available on flights until June 2021 with Jetstar. Destinations include Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sydney, Ballina, Uluru, Townsville and more. Sample fare is Melbourne-Hobart. T&Cs apply.
Available on select flights in 2021 to Sydney, Hobart, Gold Coast, Canberra, Newcastle and more. Sample fare is Adelaide-Melbourne with Jetstar. Other airlines include Virgin Australia and Qantas. T&Cs apply.
Available on select flights in 2021 to Christchurch, Queenstown, Wellington and more. Sample fare is Gold Coast-Auckland with Jetstar. Other airlines include Air New Zealand from $555 and more.
Available on select 2021 flights to Gold Coast, Sydney, Ballina, Cairns, Brisbane, Canberra and more. Sample fares are Avalon-Adelaide and Melbourne-Hobart with Jetstar. T&Cs apply.
Available on select travel dates in 2021. Sample fare departs from Newcastle with Jetstar. Other flights depart from Sydney, Melbourne, Cairns and more.
Available on select travel dates in 2021. Sample fare departs from Newcastle with Jetstar. Other flights depart from Sydney, Cairns, Townsville and more.
Available on select travel dates until August 2021. Sample fare departs from Melbourne with Jetstar. Other airlines include Virgin Australia from $139 and more. T&Cs apply.
Available on select flights in 2021. Sample fare departs from Brisbane with Jetstar. Other airlines include Virgin Australia from $364 and more. T&Cs apply.
Available on select flight dates in 2021. Sample fare departs from Adelaide with Jetstar. Other airlines include Virgin Australia from $543 and more. T&Cs apply.
Available on select flights in 2021 to Christchurch, Queenstown, Wellington and more. Sample fare is Melbourne-Auckland with Jetstar. Other airlines include Air New Zealand from $542 return and more. T&Cs apply.
Available on select dates in 2021 to Christchurch, Wellington, Queenstown and more. Sample fare departs from Coast with Jetstar. Other airlines include Air New Zealand from $549 and more. T&Cs apply.
Available on select flight dates from January - March 2021 to Brisbane, Cairns, Hamilton Isaland, Gold Coast and more. Sample fare is Sydney-Sunshine Coast with Jetstar. Other airlines include Virgin Australia from $113, Qantas from $123 and more. T&Cs apply.
Available on select flights in 2021. Sample fare departs from Brisbane with Jetstar. Other airlines include Qantas from $159, Virgin Australia from $199 and more. T&Cs apply.
Available on select dates in 2021. Sample fare departs from Melbourne with Jetstar. Other airlines include Virgin Australia from $119 and more. T&Cs apply
Available on select dates in 2021. Sample fare departs from Sydney with Jetstar. Other airlines include Virgin Australia from $179 and more. T&Cs apply
Stephanie Yip is the travel editor at Finder and has been writing about travel and lifestyle for over a decade. She has written for Travel Weekly, Escape, Showpo, The Nibbler and Hostelworld. She was also the editor of kids magazine DMAG. Stephanie has a Bachelor of Communications from the University of Technology Sydney and has visited 55 countries (and counting).
Health screenings, added time at the airport, digital hotel check-ins and restaurant ordering are just a few things to expect when travelling during COVID-19.
How likely would you be to recommend finder to a friend or colleague?
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Very UnlikelyExtremely Likely
Required
Thank you for your feedback.
Our goal is to create the best possible product, and your thoughts, ideas and suggestions play a major role in helping us identify opportunities to improve.
Important information about this website
finder.com.au is one of Australia's leading comparison websites. We compare from a wide set of banks, insurers and product issuers. We value our editorial independence and follow editorial guidelines.
finder.com.au has access to track details from the product issuers listed on our sites. Although we provide information on the products offered by a wide range of issuers, we don't cover every available product or service.
Please note that the information published on our site should not be construed as personal advice and does not consider your personal needs and circumstances. While our site will provide you with factual information and general advice to help you make better decisions, it isn't a substitute for professional advice. You should consider whether the products or services featured on our site are appropriate for your needs. If you're unsure about anything, seek professional advice before you apply for any product or commit to any plan.
Products marked as 'Promoted' or 'Advertisement' are prominently displayed either as a result of a commercial advertising arrangement or to highlight a particular product, provider or feature. Finder may receive remuneration from the Provider if you click on the related link, purchase or enquire about the product. Finder's decision to show a 'promoted' product is neither a recommendation that the product is appropriate for you nor an indication that the product is the best in its category. We encourage you to use the tools and information we provide to compare your options.
Where our site links to particular products or displays 'Go to site' buttons, we may receive a commission, referral fee or payment when you click on those buttons or apply for a product. You can learn more about how we make money here.
When products are grouped in a table or list, the order in which they are initially sorted may be influenced by a range of factors including price, fees and discounts; commercial partnerships; product features; and brand popularity. We provide tools so you can sort and filter these lists to highlight features that matter to you.
We try to take an open and transparent approach and provide a broad-based comparison service. However, you should be aware that while we are an independently owned service, our comparison service does not include all providers or all products available in the market.
Some product issuers may provide products or offer services through multiple brands, associated companies or different labelling arrangements. This can make it difficult for consumers to compare alternatives or identify the companies behind the products. However, we aim to provide information to enable consumers to understand these issues.
Providing or obtaining an estimated insurance quote through us does not guarantee you can get the insurance. Acceptance by insurance companies is based on things like occupation, health and lifestyle. By providing you with the ability to apply for a credit card or loan, we are not guaranteeing that your application will be approved. Your application for credit products is subject to the Provider's terms and conditions as well as their application and lending criteria.
Please read our website terms of use and privacy policy for more information about our services and our approach to privacy.
Can I travel Sydney/Japan/Borneo/Sydney with anyone? Thanks
Hi Noni,
Thanks for leaving a question.
Yes, you can travel with anyone, just please note rates are per individual – bookings will be separate. Please read the T&C if checking on deals.
Cheers,
Val