Review: Jetstar Business Class

Business class is not as inaccessible as you might think: Jetstar provides the bells and whistles at a much more pocket-friendly price.

Business class

Flying business class is a rare treat for most travellers, who save up diligently to go on holidays and search long and hard for the best deals.

But the profusion of budget carriers entering the Australian market has made the luxury of ‘turning left’ much more accessible.

Jetstar is one such carrier, with its business class fares coming in at thousands of dollars less than other airlines, but still providing the boost in service and comfort. I took the opportunity to experience it on a night flight from Bali to Sydney, a well-worn tourist route.

At the airport

Upon arriving at the airport to a melee of passengers zig-zagging in a seemingly endless queue at check-in, it is a relief to join the short line for business class.

Due to a computer glitch, the process is a little slower than usual but once we get to the desk it is all efficient and quick. Each ticket comes with a whopping 30 kilograms of check-in luggage, which means no skimping when it comes to shopping while you are away, and you also get to take two seven-kilogram bags as carry-on.

Flying business class also gives you access to lounge facilities – the Business Max Bundle on Jetstar includes access to Qantas lounges where available – meaning you don’t have to wander the airport aimlessly killing time.

On the plane

We heed the priority boarding call and enter the aircraft, one of Jetstar’s fleet of 787 Dreamliners. The cabin is spacious and well configured, with a two, three, two seat set-up. The leather seats are wide and comfortable and there is a decent amount of legroom out front and headspace above.

I also love the bigger windows, which have electronic dimmers instead of blinds that automatically change depending on what’s happening outside. The brilliant amenities cases left on our seats are stocked with all the essentials (it is one of the best I have received on any airline; it turns into an iPad case that can be used at home).

A smiling staff of attendants busy themselves with helping stow luggage and distributing pre-flight drinks.

In the air

Once airborne the benefits of the aircraft itself come into play; I find the Dreamliner to be a very smooth ride. Though we are warned of bumpy weather, which delays the dinner service, nothing eventuates. And to my mind it’s a lot less noisy than other planes and far more comfortable when airborne, thanks to hidden technology that delivers cleaner air and higher humidity.

The staff come around and takes dinner orders; I pass on a meal at 11:30pm but what is served up to my business class buddies looks decent, and wine flows freely.

I busy myself instead with the in-flight entertainment and seeing how far my seat reclines. The screen is a very decent size and there is a good selection of new-ish release and classic movies, television shows, and lots of choices for kids.

As for the seat, they are not full recliners, more like business class seats were before flatbeds, but the pitch is enough that you can stretch out and sleep. If the snoring from the gentleman across from me is anything to go by, he found them plenty comfy.

The flight passes quickly, and the last vestige of business class service is the priority exit from the plane, which means we are up and out before the rest of the passengers have started the long shuffle up the aisle towards the exit.

The whole experience has actually been a pleasure, all the more so because it didn’t cost an arm and a leg.

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The IT Verdict

Service = 7/10

The in-flight service from the smiling crew was attentive but not overbearing.

Comfort = 8/10

The Dreamliner is a very comfortable aircraft, and Jetstar’s business class cabin is a pleasant space with wide, comfortable seats and plenty of legroom.

The amenities case is a real winner and includes a pen for filling in immigration forms without having to rifle around in your bag or borrow from the person next to you.

Food and drink = 7/10

There were bubbles before take-off and a choice of meals and wine in the air. There are also snacks on request.

Value for money = 8/10

The outlay isn’t excessive – I paid $750 for one-way – which makes the benefits in extra service and comfort (and that special feeling that comes from travelling business) well worth it.

Why travellers are increasingly dreaming of a white Christmas – and the best places to experience one for yourself.

If the Euro summer has long been Australians’ defining holiday, the white Christmas may well be emerging as its frosty successor.

Booking data from APT Travel Group has revealed that Australians are planning long-haul travel further in advance and increasingly swapping summer at home for a white Christmas abroad.

Why more travellers are booking a white Christmas

tallinn winter — Find festive spirit in abundance in Tallinn, Estonia. (Credit: Unsplash/Dmitry Sumin)

Part of the shift is practical. With the Australian Government recently downgrading its travel warning for parts of the Middle East, travellers’ confidence in long-haul travel is returning as key transit hubs for Australians travelling to Europe reopen.

But accessibility alone isn’t the reason we’re seeing an incline in festive winter holiday bookings.

This year, Australia has experienced a particularly patchy start to the snow season, reminding travellers of how unpredictable winter has become and leading them to look overseas for their next wintry escape. At the same time, rising global temperatures are making reliable snowfall less certain across many parts of the world. Ironically, the rarer a classic white Christmas becomes, the more alluring it feels.

finland snow — Travellers are increasingly looking overseas for guaranteed snowy escapes. (Credit: Unsplash/Joni Kuusisto)

Behavioural psychologists have long observed what they call the ‘scarcity effect’: we tend to assign greater value and desirability to experiences that feel limited or increasingly out of reach. A white Christmas – once an annual tradition for many – has evolved into a bucket-list experience.

It’s also a novel antidote to the Australian festive season. Rather than scorching pavements and beachside barbecues, travellers want to experience the Christmas they’ve spent their whole lives watching in films: snow-dusted pines, chestnuts roasting over an open fire and streets glowing beneath tinsel garlands and fairy lights. Nostalgia sells, but even more so when we feel like it might not always be available to experience.

For decades, Australians have sought to escape winter in search of a European summer. Now, the pendulum is swinging the other way. Below are the top places to have yourself a very Merry Christmas in the snow.

The best places to have a white Christmas

Finland

best places for white christmas — Finland is one of the best destinations for a white Christmas. Credit: APT)

When you’re set on experiencing a blanket-white Christmas, your best bet is to go north. Thanks to its chilly temperatures and geographical proximity to the Arctic Circle (nearly one third of the country’s landmass lies within the Arctic region), travellers are guaranteed to see snow during Finland’s winter months. Plus, the possibility of witnessing the northern lights ribboning across the sky makes the experience all the more magical.

Tallinn, Estonia

tallinn old town — The city of Tallinn has a UNESCO-listed medieval town. (Credit: Unsplash/Ilya Orehov)

While places like Finland and Norway are coveted Christmas destinations, they certainly aren’t easy on the wallet. Estonia’s charming medieval capital of Tallinn is one of the best places to have a white Christmas on a budget, boasting Gothic spires, an intimate atmosphere and toasty market stalls selling everything from handicrafts to sugar-coated almonds. While snow over the Christmas period isn’t guaranteed these days, the country is further north and generally colder than Western European countries such as Germany and the Netherlands.

Canada

whistler christmas — Explore the Christmas lights of Whistler. (Credit: APT)

With its festive spirit, friendly locals and picturesque landscapes, Canada is a top contender for the best place for a white Christmas. Victoria in British Columbia has just about every Christmas tradition covered in one town: a main street of snow-frosted stores, a gingerbread competition, a visit to see the reindeer and horse-drawn trolley rides; while Alberta will see you embracing cosy holiday traditions with the spectacular Canadian Rockies as your backdrop.

If you can’t choose just one destination, the Twelve Days of Christmas tour by APT includes Christmas in Banff, sleigh rides at Lake Louise, Vancouver’s Canyon Lights and the Canadian Rockies. “It’s a relaxed, accessible way to get a proper white Christmas, snow guaranteed rather than hoped for,” says Sarah Latimore, Head of Product at APT for Europe.

New York, USA

new york winter — Central Park dusted with snow is all but magical. (Credit: Unsplash/Caitlyn Wilson)

Yes, films have been romanticising Christmas in New York for decades, but there’s a reason: the cool shift transforms the grand metropolis into what feels like a cinematic village where families glide over ice skating rinks in Central Park, dazzling displays illuminate the streets and carollers sing outside cosy bars with crackling fireplaces.

Germany

Browse bountiful Christmas markets in Regensburg. (Credit: APT)

Germany does Christmas with all the trimmings, especially the Christmas markets; there are hundreds (if not thousands) to choose between in picture-postcard historical towns across the country. Dresden has one of the oldest markets in the country, while Regensburg offers four fairy-light festooned markets within its UNESCO-listed medieval old town.

London, UK

london snow — Cosy up in London for the winter. (Credit: Unsplash/Zhang Kaiyv)

London is a prime place to celebrate a white Christmas with little people: Hamleys alone is worth getting on a plane for! Not only do many hotels offer holiday packages for families, but the sight of latticed snowflakes drifting from the sky on a rugged-up stroll along the Thames is nothing short of enchanting.

Prague, Czech Republic

prague snow — Escape to the charming city of Prague. (Credit: Unsplash/Lukas Konvica)

Offering Gothic architecture, charming cobbled streets and spiced pastries in spades, Prague is among the best places to spend a white Christmas. Come Advent season, when a dusting of snow may cover its ancient castle, and the smell of roasting ham rises from the market stalls, it becomes utterly unforgettable.

Niseko, Japan

niskeo skiing — Hit the slopes for a Christmas spent skiing in Niseko. (Credit: Unsplash/Kristian Klausen)

You don’t need to fly all the way to Europe to enjoy a wintry Christmas abroad. On Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido, Niseko is a wonderland for travellers wishing to spend the Christmas season carving up the ski slopes. Promising festive events such as fireworks and giant illuminated trees, as well as plenty of the fluffy white stuff, this ski resort town doesn’t disappoint.

Is Europe or Canada better for a white Christmas?

Europe and Canada are the two most popular destinations among Australian travellers booking wintry Christmas escapes. But which is right for you? Sarah Latimore, Head of Product at APT for Europe, says the answer hinges on your travel interests and preferences.

“Europe suits travellers who want depth, variety and a bit of indulgence, moving through centuries-old Christmas market traditions city by city,” Latimore says.

“Canada is for travellers chasing that classic, snow globe white Christmas. Think twinkling lights and decorations through Whistler and Banff, evenings by an open fire in a Fairmont hotel, and the kind of moments that define the season: dog sledding, sleigh rides, snow underfoot rather than sand.

“Neither is the ‘right’ choice universally; it comes down to matching the traveller. Someone chasing romance and heritage will lean Europe. Someone chasing a classic, white Christmas will lean Canada.”