Lack confidence

With the news and watching closely what jetstar are doing these last two weeks in the middle of a volcanic ash "crisis" (although Air New Zealand can apparently fly round/under and have operated a safe service) I tried to call both Quantas and Jetstar customer services - can't get through at all. I was supposed to be flying from Christchurch to Auckland to catch a non connecting flight (layover one night in auckland), but wanted accurate info in the event of the jetstar flight being cancelled. It'd cost me probably more than a grand to get back to the UK on short notice - seems reasonable to check the outcomes in the event of more ash.

I've ended up having to cancel my interislander ferry ticket (cost me $248, refunded $124) and forget about the budget flight cost ($70) - all in all; $194 because neither jetstar or quantas are capable of (1) providing accurate information about their cooperation (you'd think subsidiary companies would be kind to the parent, but as far as I can tell, apparently not). (2) Answering the phone or (3) having some kind of cooperation with their parent company for travellers passing through domestic and international routes

At least by making it to the international leg of my journey home, Quantas should get me back home eventually I gather, but as far as budget carriers go - I've learned a travel itinerary is only as good as the weakest link - in this case jetstar. They wouldn't even answer the phone to me; I just couldn't get through when it would have made a difference.

Domestic
New Zealand-Christchurch
New Zealand-Auckland

Comments

To add to this - I was spot

To add to this - I was spot on not deciding to fly; more signs of ash and the flight was cancelled, no doubt leaving plenty of people stranded in Christchurch.

Later on in my multi stop ticket deal from Quantas - I did actually get on a jetstar flight from Melbourne to Singapore - very tatty looking plane/dated interior compared to the Quantas planes, food on sale (7 hour flight & you have to shell out), entertainment systems on sale for use (wtf?) for $15 or watch original dukes of hazzard series. Just seems very mean to put people on plane for several hours and then not even provide a few basics.