Jetstarred, I narrowly avoided it.

So after months of managing to avoid flying Jetstar, I got seduced into it because it came down to a matter of dollars. When you're smiling down the barrel of a two hundred dollar difference, I can't justify paying for minor details like reliability.

Anyway, being Little-Miss-Anal-Checking-Online-Pants, the day before I was due to fly I looked at my flight's status. And I discovered that, 24 hours out, my plane was already delayed by two and a half hours. Jetstar was already stealing a whole lot of my Friday evening real estate and, quite frankly, that real estate is expensive and I wasn't prepared to give any of it up...let alone to Jetstar.

So on I leapt to the telephone and tried to wangle myself an earlier flight. Unfortunately they were all full.

'Isn't there any way I can there?'

'Okay, I'll see what I can do for you.'

'Pleeease', I grovel-begged, 'that would be really kind of you.'

'I'll see if I can get you on Qantas.'

'Hmmm', think I, 'I didn't think Qantas was flying domestically anymore in New Zealand - but maybe she knows something I don't, best I kept my trap shut'.

After a few minutes she came back on the line, 'I can get you on the Wellington to Christchurch at 5.30 pm.'

'Okaaaay, but how do I get to Wellington?'

'Can't you drive?'

'It's a nine hour drive....'

Silence.

Needless to say, that was a fruitless phone call, but the nice lady did give me access to all the free stuff in the lounge.

However, eventually I did manage to to wangle myself an earlier flight which pleased me alot - especially as I discovered the flight I originally was booked on landed at....2.07 a.m.

The only good thing about being previously Jetstarred, is that it potentially arms you with the weapons of how to avoid it in the future.

I think.