Airline review: Economy class on Jetstar’s next-gen plane

The flight

Jetstar flight JQ141; Airbus A321neo economy class; Sydney to Rarotonga, Cook Islands; departs 9.58pm; flight time five hours 30 minutes (28 minutes behind schedule).

Frequency

Three weekly round-trip flights.

The loyalty scheme

Jetstar Club membership costs $55 a year and offers members discounts.

Jetstar’s new A321neo aircraft has a seatback feature we think passengers will love.

Carbon emissions

0.814 tonnes for flying economy on this route, which you can offset during the booking process.

Checking in

Jetstar has arranged some celebrations at Sydney Airport for what will be the first Australian carrier-operated direct service to the Cook Islands in three decades. Passengers queuing get a Pacific Island welcome with a band and cultural dancers and the mood feels festive.

The seat

My economy window seat in 3F has 29 inches (73.7 centimetres) of pitch and a width of 18 inches (45.7 centimetres), in a single-class, single-aisle cabin in a 3-3 layout. The A321neo LR is the widest single-aisle plane on the market; seats are marginally wider than some other Jetstar aircraft. Overhead bins are 40 per cent larger, but the undisputed highlight are the new flip-down smartphone and tablet cradles with USB power. Although the short 5½ hour service could technically qualify as a red-eye, no amenity kits are offered.

Jetstar’s new non-stop route to Rarotonga cuts the previous shortest route by more than seven hours.Credit: Cook Islands Tourism

Baggage

A Starter Plus fare includes up to 20 kilograms of checked luggage for economy passengers, plus two carry-on items up to 7 kilograms combined.

Entertainment

No inflight entertainment or Wi-Fi is provided on the A321neo but for those hoping for a few hours’ shut-eye, the next-gen aircraft is quieter than previous models. My seatmate sneaks a kip, while I binge TV shows and make use of the device holder, positioned at eye-level to save craning my neck.

Service

The crew is friendly and efficient. Their enthusiasm throughout the inaugural is infectious; one dances and shimmies as we disembark to a soundtrack of drums and local performers on the tarmac.

Food

One meal is served on the flight, with the option to purchase extra snacks. Beware: if you don’t pre-order, you’ll be assigned a ham and cheese toastie. Thankfully, they’re not half bad; a little under-toasted but packing a satisfying cheesy stretch.

One more thing

The simple addition of a cup holder in the device cradle means you can nurse a cup of tea without sacrificing legroom with the tray table down.

The verdict

The new non-stop route to Rarotonga is a game-changer for Aussies; it cuts the previous shortest route (with stopover) by more than seven hours, making this dream destination accessible and affordable at last. The lack of wireless entertainment is felt, but those new device holders are pure brilliance and a happy compromise.

Our rating out of five

★★★½

The writer flew as a guest of Jetstar. See jetstar.com/au

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