When it comes to cheap flights, Ryanair is the undisputed king of Europe. Despite facing its fair share of criticism over uncomfortable seats, hidden fees, and militant baggage limits, for a no-frills trip, you really can’t go wrong. So, when I was looking to book a similarly budget-friendly jaunt from Cairns to Bali, I was pleased to discover JetStar – Australia and the Asia-Pacific region’s answer to the Irish wunderkid. However, having flown with both low-cost carriers, I can tell you that one is definitely better than the other. And the answer, at least part of it, might surprise you (it certainly did me).
Similarities and Differences
On the surface, these airlines share a lot of similarities. They offer enticingly cheap fares, have similar baggage rules and equally bad TrustPilot ratings – JetStar holds a 1.2 compared to Ryanair’s 1.3. But dig a little deeper, and the differences show. With an almost 20-year head start on the subsidiary of Qantas – it was only founded in 2003 – Ryanair’s 600-strong fleet overshadows JetStar’s mere 121 aircraft. It also operates roughly 25,000 flights a week compared to the Australia-based firm’s 2,700.
Despite being the smaller operator, though, JetStar is clearly doing something right. It has been consistently recognised as one of the best and safest low-cost airlines, ranking second in both categories by AirlineRatings.com for 2026. But let’s be honest, when travelling, these aren’t the statistics we look at. We’re more interested in whether our flight will be delayed or cancelled altogether. For reference, in May 2026, 91% of Ryanair’s flights took off on time, compared to 76% of JetStar’s. Personally, though, I care most about the three C’s: cost, comfort and customer service.
Cost Comparison
Like Ryanair, JetStar offers tiered fares: the ‘basic’ package naturally being the cheapest, and gradually increasing in price depending on your desired add-ons. However, there are key differences between what these include. For example, JetStar’s basic fare allows for a 7kg carry-on, whereas Ryanair’s basic only covers one small underseat bag. To include 20kg checked luggage, you’ll need to upgrade to the Starter Plus and Plus fares, respectively. We did exactly that and it cost us around £60 total with JetStar. That same upgrade on Ryanair would have been more than double.
We also needed to add more checked luggage – that’s what happens when you’re on the road for four months and gain a suitcase just for souvenirs. And while Ryanair offers passengers up to 60kg, we were only allowed up to 40kg each with JetStar. JetStar only charged us $96AUD (around £51) for this last-minute add on. On Ryanair, the app said it would cost £100 for an extra 40kg. All in all, a flight from London to Paphos with 80kg of luggage on Ryanair costs around £570. Whereas we only paid £515 to fly from Cairns to Bali with JetStar – and that included a complimentary in-flight meal, too. JetStar wins this round.
Comfort and Onboard Experience
As for on-board experience, I have to say that JetStar just pips it again. Despite the seat itself having similar measurements to Ryanair – roughly 18in wide and 29in of legroom – JetStar’s seats actually reclined by roughly 3in, making them feel more spacious. Even my 6ft2 boyfriend had sufficient leg-room for the five-hour stint. Plus, with a headrest and a plastic seat pocket, I was able to watch a film on my phone and catch some Z’s without getting neck strain.
Customer Service and Delays
I must start by saying that the JetStar cabin crew were warm and welcoming – and incredibly accommodating when my in-flight meal had congealed somewhat. However, the same can’t be said for my overall experience. In the weeks leading up to our flight, I’d heard horror stories about JetStar’s customer service, from lost baggage to overbooked flights and last-minute cancellations. So when, three hours before our departure, I received a text from JetStar saying that our flight was ‘delayed [by at least two hours] due to crewing requirements’, I started to panic.
At the check-in desk, a staff member confirmed that not only was there no crew available for our flight, there wasn’t even a plane at the airport. Thirty minutes later we were told a plane and crew had ‘luckily’ been located in Brisbane and were en route. Say what you want about Ryanair, but one thing they’ve never done (to me, at least) is turn up to the gate without that very key bit of kit. Asked about the situation, a JetStar spokesperson told Metro: ‘Sometimes crewing changes are made for reasons outside of our control such as weather and illness. In this case, flight JQ90 on 30 March departed on time and arrived into Bali early.’
But ultimately, the experience left a bad taste in my mouth. Despite all its positives – low-costs, decent legroom, accommodating air attendants – those hours of stress and, what appears to be lack of organisation has put me off JetStar for life. Travelling can be stressful enough as it is, there’s no excuse for not having a plane or crew in the right place. All it does is add to worry and confusion, and that’s the last thing any traveller wants. Ryanair may not be perfect, but if I’m ever in Australia again, I’ll pay a little bit more just to save myself the headache. Ryanair did not respond to a request for comment.
