A delayed Jetstar flight from Gold Coast to Adelaide has seen the full wrath of a passenger online, but was it warranted?

A rumour of a sky-high fashion shoot causing delays to a Jetstar flight took off on Thursday, but the cause of the delay was actually in ‘plane sight’.

Was a Jetstar flight fashionably late or held up by paperwork and a late arriving aircraft?

The answer, it turns out, is not straight forward but the plane was definitely 19 minutes late arriving into Adelaide.

An annoyed passenger blamed the Jetstar boss holding up takeoff for a filming opportunity to show off the airline’s stylish new uniforms.

However, Jetstar says while the TV media call delayed boarding, the actual takeoff delay was due to a combination of paperwork and the later arrival of the previous flight.

They are adamant the media call to show off Jetstar’s new uniforms — the first in 20 years — did not affect takeoff time.

Jetstar crew are turning out in a brand new uniform from Thursday. Picture: Hilary Walker

The turbulent claim came from an Instagram post under the handle “luluran” or Lucy Randall, and was made as flight JQ 499’s estimated arrival at Adelaide Airport on Thursday was pushed back from the scheduled 2.05pm to 2.35pm, but ended up 19 minutes late.

In her post which showed passengers in the interior cabin, “luluran” ranted about a delay in take off.

At the finishing end of the flight, The Advertiser landed at Adelaide Airport Thursday afternoon and spoke with passenger Lorraine who said “there was a lot of sympathy for the Jetstar crew.

“Most passengers were understanding and didn’t make a scene,” Lorraine said.

“I’m not that phased.”

Jetstar aircrew and staff officially launched the new Jetstar uniforms at a media event at Gold Coast Airport, including a fashion show in the aisle of one of their planes. Picture Glenn Hampson

Another passenger said the delay wasn’t “anything too crazy”, and that “not many people were too stressed about it.”

The Advertiser contacted Jetstar who confirmed a delay but attributed this to paperwork issues and the late arrival of the previous flight into the Gold Coast.

Jetstar staff wearing the new uniform at Adelaide Airport. Picture Emma Brasier

They emphasised that the media call for TV crews to film the uniforms did not affect the departure time and the CEO Stephanie Tully “only happened to be present”.

In 2023, chief executive Stephanie Tully has previously issued an apology to “everyone it has let down”, pleading with Aussies to give the budget airline “a go” as she promises better on-time performance and fewer cancellations.

Originally published as A delayed Jetstar flight from Gold Coast to Adelaide has seen the full wrath of a passenger online, but was it warranted?