Jet Airways Fare Choices explained
It's not been 24 hours yet that Jet Privilege substantially gutted JP mileage and tier point earnings, as part of their move to "Fare Choices". Which, by the way, is clearly Etihad-inspired, possibly even mandated! In effect, Jet Privilege goes back to being a revenue-based program for earning miles, which they were up until a couple of years or so ago, before they actually made the program much better for their members. That said, time to look at the future.
In this post, we take a look at what Fare Choices means, other than in respect of earning JP miles and tier points (which I'd explained in my previous post).
Effective date
Fare Choices takes effect for all travel starting 17 August 2016, irrespective of when the ticketing was done. This is important by itself, so if you booked a ticket hoping to earn a lot of miles or tier points on a low-fare, that may not happen if you're traveling on or after 17 August 2016.
Lowest and group fares
The "B" class is used by Jet Airways as the lowest fare class, and "G" for group bookings. Tickets booked on these two fare classes will get absolutely nothing in terms of added benefits. No miles, no tier points, no nothing. It's surprising they actually continue to let you even board the flight, and not hang off the sides!
Future of B and G class tickets? Pic courtesy this article on LinkedIn
Before you travel
Here are the changes to things that are prior to travel.
Any time changes to tickets
First, unlimited changes are out - even for JP Platinum members - which used to be one huge advantage of JP Platinum irrespective of fare class. Only one change can be made, where it is permitted, your JP tier being irrelevant.
Secondly, even if you're booked on the highest fare class in economy, as a Silver/Blue Plus/Blue member, you aren't entitled to any changes. I think that's absolutely ridiculous.
Look at this chart below, which is what applies for ticket changes.
| Indian Subcontinent | International | ||||||||
| Fare Choices Booked | Booking Classes | Economy | Première | First | |||||
| Deal ( W, O) | Saver (V, H) | Classic (K, S, Q, L, N) | Flex (U, T, M, Y) | Saver (P) | Classic (I) | Flex (Z, J, C) | First (A, F) | |
| Platinum |  |  | | | | | | |
| Gold | | | | | | | | |
| Silver | | | | | | | | |
| Blue | Blue Plus | | | | | | | | |
Cancellation fee waiver on refundable tickets
On refundable tickets, cancellation fees continue to be waived for Platinum members, barring a few of the travel classes. For all other member levels, nothing but the very highest of Premiere tickets, or First Class tickets, qualify for this waiver.
| Indian Subcontinent | International | ||||||||
| Fare Choices Booked | Booking Classes | Economy | Première | First | |||||
| Deal ( W, O) | Saver (V, H) | Classic (K, S, Q, L, N) | Flex (U, T, M, Y) | Saver (P) | Classic (I) | Flex (Z, J, C) | First (A, F) | |
| Platinum | | | | | | | | |
| Gold | | | | | | | | |
| Silver | | | | | | | | |
| Blue | Blue Plus | | | | | | | | |
Seat selection fee waiver
As a JP Gold and Platinum over the last 2 years, I'd forgotten what the seat selection charges are! Now, even Golds will have nothing by way of a fee waiver, except for the highest of fare classes in economy (Business and First class continue not to charge for seat selection, thank God for that!).
| Indian Subcontinent | International | ||||||||
| Fare Choices Booked | Booking Classes | Economy | Première | First | |||||
| Deal ( W, O) | Saver (V, H) | Classic (K, S, Q, L, N) | Flex (U, T, M, Y) | Saver (P) | Classic (I) | Flex (Z, J, C) | First (A, F) | |
| Platinum | | | | | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Gold | | | | | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Silver | | | | | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Blue | Blue Plus | | | | | NA | NA | NA | NA |
At the airport
Additional checked-in baggage allowance
This is huge. Elites have been largely cut out of the additional baggage allowances their tier entitles them to. Even Platinums don't get additional baggage for cheap tickets (W, O), and even co-branded credit card holders get only half (5kg) of what they used to get as allowance (10kg).
| Indian Subcontinent | ||||||||
| Fare Choices Booked | Booking Classes | Economy | Première | First | |||||
| Deal ( W, O) | Saver (V, H) | Classic (K, S, Q, L, N) | Flex (U, T, M, Y) | Saver (P) | Classic (I) | Flex (Z, J, C) | First (A, F) | |
| Platinum | | 15 Kg | 20 Kg | NA | ||||
| Gold | | 10 Kg | 15 Kg | NA | ||||
| Silver | | 5 Kg | 10 Kg | NA | ||||
| Co-Brand Card Holders | | 5 Kg | 10 Kg | NA | ||||
| Blue | Blue Plus | | | | | | | | NA |
| International | ||||||||
| Fare Choices Booked | Booking Classes | Economy | Première | First | |||||
| Deal ( W, O) | Saver (V, H) | Classic (K, S, Q, L, N) | Flex (U, T, M, Y) | Saver (P) | Classic (I) | Flex (Z, J, C) | First (A, F) | |
| Platinum | | 20 Kgs or 1 pc @ 23 kgs | 20 Kgs or 1 pc @ 32 kgs | NA | ||||
| Gold | | 15 Kgs or 1 pc @ 23 kgs | 15 Kgs or 1 pc @ 32 kgs | NA | ||||
| Silver | | 10 Kgs or 1 pc @ 23 kgs | 10 Kgs or 1 pc @ 32 kgs | NA | ||||
| Co-Brand Card Holders | | | | NA | ||||
| Blue | Blue Plus | | | | | | | | NA |
Lounge access
Once again, even Platinums and Golds are not spared. On domestic low-fare tickets, nobody gets to go to the lounge! No more DYKWIA!
| Indian Subcontinent | ||||||||
| Fare Choices Booked | Booking Classes | Economy | Première | First | |||||
| Deal ( W, O) | Saver (V, H) | Classic (K, S, Q, L, N) | Flex (U, T, M, Y) | Saver (P) | Classic (I) | Flex (Z, J, C) | First (A, F) | |
| Platinum | | Self Only | Self Only | |||||
| Gold | | Self Only | Self Only | |||||
| Silver | NA | Self Only | ||||||
| Blue | Blue Plus | NA | Self Only | ||||||
| Co-Brand Card Holders | NA | Self Only | ||||||
| International | ||||||||
| Fare Choices Booked | Booking Classes | Economy | Première | First | |||||
| Deal ( W, O) | Saver (V, H) | Classic (K, S, Q, L, N) | Flex (U, T, M, Y) | Saver (P) | Classic (I) | Flex (Z, J, C) | First (A, F) | |
| Platinum | Self Only | Self Only | ||||||
| Gold | Self Only | Self Only | ||||||
| Silver | Self Only at Abu Dhabi | Self Only | ||||||
| Blue | Blue Plus | NA | Self Only | ||||||
| Co-Brand Card Holders | NA | Self Only | ||||||
As it is, they cut out guests (+1) for Platinums some time back. The silver lining is that in Abu Dhabi, even JP Silver members get lounge access when flying economy, irrespective of fare class. The only other saving grace is that as JP Platinum, you can still take a guest along to the Etihad First Class Lounge & Spa at Abu Dhabi. And that could well change soon!
Fewer miles for direct bookings
JP used to offer 500 miles for bookings on their website or using their app. That's now halved to 250 miles. What a shame!
Using upgrade vouchers
An update to the previous post. Previously, Platinum upgrade vouchers could be used irrespective of fare class and the person using it (so you could be a JP nothing, yet use a Platinum voucher to be upgraded on a low-fare ticket). Going forward, what matters are both the fare class and your JP elite status. So while the vouchers are still transferable, here's how it will work:
| Indian Sub Continent (India, Bangladesh, Nepal & Sri-Lanka) | ||||||||
| Fare Choices | Booking Classes | Economy | Première | First | |||||
| Deal ( W, O) | Saver (V, H) | Classic (K, S, Q, L, N) | Flex (U, T, M, Y) | Saver (P) | Classic (I) | Flex (Z, J, C) | First (A, F) | |
| Blue | Blue Plus | | | | | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Silver | | | | | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Gold | | | | | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Platinum | | | | | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| International | ||||||||
| Fare Choices | Booking Classes | Economy | Première | First | |||||
| Deal ( W, O) | Saver (V, H) | Classic (K, S, Q, L, N) | Flex (U, T, M, Y) | Saver (P) | Classic (I) | Flex (Z, J, C) | First (A, F) | |
| Blue | Blue Plus | | | | | | | | NA |
| Silver | | | | | | | | NA |
| Gold | | | | | | | | NA |
| Platinum | | | | | | | | NA |
Goodbye, upgrades to the forward cabin!
Conclusion
I sort of expressed my feelings in the previous post, more questioning if JP as a program was gutted. I'm now quite convinced that it is.
Is there a devaluation? Yes and no, depending on what you're asking about. Award miles requirements haven't changed, though Jet's now adding a "carrier charge" in addition to the taxes, etc (which are now low, after last year's changes - also see previous post). Therefore, our valuation of JP miles won't change. So that's why it is a "No". However, the program as such is, clearly, no longer as attractive as before, after these changes. Which is why I say that the JP program has devalued.
JP Platinum still has some benefits left, but they're limited. Put differently, earlier there were fairly substantive reasons to try and achieve or retain Platinum status (eg, those Platinum upgrade vouchers against any fare category was a great magnet). Those reasons are gone now, so there isn't much to look forward to even as a Platinum member.
I understand businesses need to evolve, and this is probably part of that process. I think it is the en-masse nature of changes that's really hitting me hard. I've been depressed these last 24 hours or so. In all, this is one of the worst changes to an Indian aviation loyalty programs (that's not saying much, considering Air India Flying Returns is the only compete!). I know I'm exaggerating when I say that there isn't much to differentiate now, between flying Jet Airways and low-fare airlines in India, but that's actually closer to the truth than calling Jet Privilege a rewarding program.
Absolutely agree with you.. Jet no longer rewarding and no longer my first choice..
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