Bring back Qantas they were good! Ummmm I don't think so - how many times did you arrive at the airport and your flight had either been rescheduled, was late, or cancelled altogether!?

Congratulations to Air New Zealand for offering to help and provide free flights....what a great New Zealand airline we have to be proud of.

I wonder what has changed or whether flying Jetstar out of CHCH makes a difference. I flew a couple of years back with a 12month old and a 4 year old with out question but after hearing of this incident I wont do it again!

Had a very similar experience to you Dale, and it wasn't the fact that we weren't allowed to board that annoyed us so much as the self satisfied smirk on the face of the guy who gave the news. Honestly, he seemed to enjoy it. Ironically we had to wait for ages for them to book us on the next flight because..... the one we were supposed to be on hadn't closed yet and their system wouldn't let them change the booking until it had!!

If #91 Fergus or whatever your handle is was a successful young professional he wouldn't have to fly with a budget airline...spend the money Fergus and leave the budget travel to people of lesser means

@ Andy... Umm actually...Pacific blue/virgin blue does have a frequent flyer programme...I am member, so am absoloutly certain you are wrong. Sorry. Its not just Qantas and Air NZ. JetStar et al implies pacific blue when the general context of discussion mentions budget airlines.

I book travel for our entire company - I no longer will book any of our staff with Jetstar as their performance and service is shocking. I understand they are budget but please, there must be someone there that knows how to get it right??? Bring back qantas - they were really good!

I think Jetstar are recruiting staff and management direct from local Councils... same level of insanity, same level of service.

I think all of those people out there who say young children should be banned from flying need their heads read! Everyone has a right to travel both domestically and internationally, i have a young child and used to live in auckland and all of my family in chch, i wasn't exactly going to drive all that way to take him for visits. all you have to do is keep the kid entertained, and if they are babies give them a bottle on take off and landing and you won't have a screaming kid with sore ears. as for airlines, with young children i would say qantas #1 then air nz. Qantas used to (when spare seats available) would book out the seat next to me so i could secure my sons capsule during the flight, so he didnt have to sit on my lap. Now that hes over 2 hes well travelled and even entertains other passengers with pretending to help the pilot land the plane!! shane on jetstar...BIG FAIL. and i have used them before and wouldnt again... very substandard service!!!

The airline could have easily accomidated the women and her children,but were fearing a backlash from the pc brigade in case anything went wrong. She paid the money for the extra child seat and thats that. Kicking a mother and her children of a flight is barbaric and mindless.who do they think they are?.I suppose they were just following protocol being robots and doing what they are told. WE ALL NEED TO STOP BEING PC AND WRAPPING CHILDEN UP IN COTTON WOOL.