Airline review: Jetstar Asia Airbus A320-200, Bangkok to Singapore

DURATION

1 hour 59 minutes. We depart and land on time.

FREQUENCY

Three times daily; a fourth flight is offered on various days throughout the week.

CHECKING IN

Check-in staff at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok process passengers seamlessly and efficiently (there are self check-in kiosks too, but as we're travelling in a group we need to see counter staff). We whizz through security and immigration too leaving plenty of time to grab a coffee before our flight.

THE SEAT

The cabin features a 3x3 layout with leather seats. Exit row seats (1, 12 and 13) cost an extra THB515 ($22) for additional leg room however the space for seats 1D, E and F is reduced due to the position of the bulk head. All seats on-board offer a 29-inch (74-centimetre) seat pitch. I'm in 1A (window) and due to cabin door protrusion when closed, the leg room for my seat is slightly diminished.

BAGGAGE

Checked baggage allowance is dependent on the type of ticket purchased. All passengers receive a 7kg carry-on allowance, however my cabin baggage is not weighed at check-in.

COMFORT

Even though I have the cabin door immediately to my left, there's still plenty of room to stretch out (1B or 1C are the pick of the seats if you're tall). Blankets are handed out to some passengers but these need to be pre-booked before the flight. There are three toilets (one at the front; two at the rear of the cabin). The plane isn't full and as it's only a short hop between Bangkok and Singapore, it's a relaxing flight.

ENTERTAINMENT

There's no entertainment or Wi-Fi offered (which could come as a rude shock on longer flights) so bring your own device pre-loaded with content and also bring headphones. Alternatively do what most passengers are doing on this morning flight – catch up on some sleep. There's also an inflight magazine and duty free shopping.

SERVICE

The English-speaking staff are efficient and ready with a smile despite having a lot to do on the quick flight.

FOOD

A cart service is offered virtually straight after take off. There's a large selection of affordable food, drinks and snacks available from the Jetstar Asia cafe menu, as well as a selection of hot meals that can be pre-ordered online (at 20 per cent off the usual cost). The bibimbap (Korean rice bowl) and nasi lemak looked particularly good.

ONE MORE THING

One advantage of flying Jetstar Asia, the Singapore-based offshoot of Jetstar Australia, is that passengers with a Qantas ticket can now book up to 16 destinations within south-east Asia in a single transaction.

THE VERDICT

Jetstar Asia is ranked in the top 10 safest low-cost carriers in the world by airlineratings.com for 2017 and 2018 (with no fatal crashes on record). It offers an affordable and easy way to fly within the Asia Pacific region with one of the most extensive ranges of destinations (13 countries and territories) on offer.

OUR RATING

★★★★1/2

Sheriden Rhodes flew as a guest of Qantas and Accor Hotels.