Jet Star

South Pacific Based Discount Carrier

With destinations such as Honolulu, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, Australia’s Jetstar could have been founded by a surf club. But no, this Qantas subsidiary caters for every traveller.

As discount carriers go, Jetstar is better than average. Booked well in advance, Jetsaver Light offers excellent value on routes to Australasia, Hawaii, and the Far East – even to Japan. On the downside, there is a sneaky, per flight, credit card charge, and no checked bags. Carry-on limits are policed without mercy, so going for the Jetsaver ticket (extra US$8 per sector) with 20kg allowance could save heartache in the long run.

Seats can be selected in advance and a small fee buys the Extra Legroom Option. This is either 8 or15 inches more, so worth a look. On board, the spirit of capitalism continues unabated, with drinks, snacks, amenity kits, and even portable video-on-demand players available at a price. Search!