The True Cost of Flying Jetstar
Adding a 20kg checked bag at $40-60 each way and seat selection at $15-25 per flight quickly narrows the gap with Qantas on comparable routes. For passengers travelling with bags on return trips, the price difference often disappears entirely making Qantas worth comparing before booking Jetstar automatically.
When Jetstar Makes Sense
Jetstar delivers genuine value for carry-on only travellers, those flexible on timing and passengers booking Tuesday sale fares which represent the best domestic airfare value available in Australia. The Jetstar Plus bundle at $30-40 per way includes carry-on, seat selection and flight change flexibility.
Jetstar vs Qantas Points
Flying Jetstar still earns Qantas Frequent Flyer points making it viable for points-focused travellers who want to accumulate points while spending budget airline prices.