[Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10April

[medhead]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

Yes agree that its only annecotal but the lounges have expanded, just a shame the VA lounge network is not as geographically extensive as the QF lounges.

It would be interesting to see the breakdown of the expanded VFF scheme with the number of converts from QF, the number of "foot in each camp"ers and the number of new members (and their breakdown in status Red/Silver/Gold/Plat).

I suspect the growth has been maybe 50% status matched QFFers who also kept status with QF, and say 25% new non-QF members and maybe 25% complete converts to VA whom abandonned QF. But no hard evidence for it - just a guess. Maybe we should set up a poll? I know the AFF membership is a bit skewed to the higher tiers but would be intersting to see.

Well I was matched platinum but have now retained it for 2 consecutive years. I well exceeded the requirement last year, but only because of the 200SC bonus for booking a flight. Still maintaining platinum with Qantas for now. But maintaining platinum with Virgin has meant a reduction in my Qantas flights.

 

[froggerADL]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

Well, the decision to move over to VA should be a very simple one. Wonder how many people will actually do it?

I remember the outrage when Virgin stopped the 6900 point + $$ (not many) for J awards. Time seems to heal all wounds.

 

[whatmeworry]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

I got some ASA's over the phone for MEL-SYD return. I asked the sales attendant why they'd gone from the website. She said that Q had decided to eliminate them, but the backlash had been high so they'd be reimplementing it on the website in the next 3 months..... Ever hopeful. I would be glad if they stayed as they were such great value.

If they do come back, it just shows what a little people power can achieve.

 

[markis10]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

Possibly because they are very good at comping Plat members with less than 150 SC's two years running Thanks Virgin!!

Now if they matched QF ASA's line by line imagine the lounges they'd need to build

True re the ASAa but have not heard of anyone getting a comp recently, or even a double Sc offer, unlike QF.

 

[sumthinfornuthin]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

I have been thinking about this and what does being Platinum really give ??

If I simply book Classic awards at low points cost etc I will still get lounge access and still be sitting in Business when I fly anywhere because I have a high annual point earn through my cards.

I won't get any point earn on those flights but is all the extra cost and maybe paying for my own tickets as well on a number of occasions, purely to get SC really worth it at the end of the day ???

Thinking about it I think these changes will save me a lot of money for very little loss of benefit so Qantas might be doing all of us a back-handed favour ( at their expense).

Chasing SC can be like buying the box of breakfast cereal just for the plastic toy, pretty illogical when looked at rationally.

I can get a day spa treatment at the other end for next to nothing rather than at the Qantas First lounge. what else am I missing out on if I am travelling business anyway?

What do others think of the logic ?

Be cruel if you have to but be honest !

 

[Newk]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

I have been thinking about this and what does being Platinum really give ??

If I simply book Classic awards at low points cost etc I will still get lounge access and still be sitting in Business when I fly anywhere because I have a high annual point earn through my cards.

I won't get any point earn on those flights but is all the extra cost and maybe paying for my own tickets as well on a number of occasions, purely to get SC really worth it at the end of the day ???

Thinking about it I think these changes will save me a lot of money for very little loss of benefit so Qantas might be doing all of us a back-handed favour ( at their expense).

Chasing SC can be like buying the box of breakfast cereal just for the plastic toy, pretty illogical when looked at rationally.

I can get a day spa treatment at the other end for next to nothing rather than at the Qantas First lounge. what else am I missing out on if I am travelling business anyway?

What do others think of the logic ?

Be cruel if you have to but be honest !

You are entirely correct from a rational and logical perspective. Certainly on our recent pass through DXB the first lounge(s) was better than the business lounge(s), but the business lounges were still pretty damn good.
But when are we rational beings?

I like being WP because when I ring up for ASAs I get the premium help desk
I get the ASAs so I can be WP

There, **I'm** a rational being

 

[serfty]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

I have been thinking about this and what does being Platinum really give ??
...

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....er-program/platinum-is-it-worth-me-37826.html

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....t-flyer-program/my-plus-1-has-just-47709.html

 

[Newk]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....er-program/platinum-is-it-worth-me-37826.html

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....uent-flyer-program/i-love-being-wp-48239.html

LOL, the second link is mostly a discussion of the mechanics of how someone seemed to get 2 years WP

 

[Newk]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

I have been thinking about this and what does being Platinum really give ??

If I simply book Classic awards at low points cost etc I will still get lounge access and still be sitting in Business when I fly anywhere because I have a high annual point earn through my cards.

I won't get any point earn on those flights but is all the extra cost and maybe paying for my own tickets as well on a number of occasions, purely to get SC really worth it at the end of the day ???

Thinking about it I think these changes will save me a lot of money for very little loss of benefit so Qantas might be doing all of us a back-handed favour ( at their expense).

Chasing SC can be like buying the box of breakfast cereal just for the plastic toy, pretty illogical when looked at rationally.

I can get a day spa treatment at the other end for next to nothing rather than at the Qantas First lounge. what else am I missing out on if I am travelling business anyway?

What do others think of the logic ?

Be cruel if you have to but be honest !

and it depends on what the actual point of everyone's game is. If it is paying as little as possible to get at the front of the plane that's a slightly different game to the one where you try to climb the platinum mountain purely because it's there
But everyone does need to reflect on what their goal is

 

[markis10]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

and it depends on what the actual point of everyone's game is. If it is paying as little as possible to get at the front of the plane that's a slightly different game to the one where you try to climb the platinum mountain purely because it's there
But everyone does need to reflect on what their goal is

And where you live, I find it somewhat ironic that what I suspect is the city with the highest % of elite members is the one that has the poorest facilities for a WP, be it lounges or international flights, Perth.

 

[amaroo]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

I have been thinking about this and what does being Platinum really give ??

Be cruel if you have to but be honest !

I agree. I've travelled for work (on & off) for the past 7 years and have maintained Plat status throughout......when my missing SC post - I'll have LTG locked in.

I've never been a status chaser and now that I've got LTG the pressure is well & truly off. I'll continue to be a Plat for as long as the need to travel remains. In the future - if I only ever fly via classic awards sitting in a J or a rare F seat.......on the back of CC and ATO bills - happy days.

An immediate benefit will be a dramatic reduction in overall travel times when leaving SYD Int......the usual 3+ hours in the Flounge will be replaced with minimum check-in times and a decent sleep in.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

I have been thinking about this and what does being Platinum really give ??

If I simply book Classic awards at low points cost etc I will still get lounge access and still be sitting in Business when I fly anywhere because I have a high annual point earn through my cards.

I won't get any point earn on those flights but is all the extra cost and maybe paying for my own tickets as well on a number of occasions, purely to get SC really worth it at the end of the day ???

Thinking about it I think these changes will save me a lot of money for very little loss of benefit so Qantas might be doing all of us a back-handed favour ( at their expense).

Chasing SC can be like buying the box of breakfast cereal just for the plastic toy, pretty illogical when looked at rationally.

I can get a day spa treatment at the other end for next to nothing rather than at the Qantas First lounge. what else am I missing out on if I am travelling business anyway?

What do others think of the logic ?

Be cruel if you have to but be honest !

I came to this conclusion a few months ago. Platinum seems to give the most benefits if you travel normally in Y - the more you travel F or J, the less value it has. I still want to get LTG just as a safety net for the future, but not interested in chasing it or WP - if they happen as a result of normal travel, great otherwise who cares. I have rediscovered classic awards for domestic travel after a few years of rather going for MASAs and they are quite acceptable.

 

[Pfisher004]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

And where you live, I find it somewhat ironic that what I suspect is the city with the highest % of elite members is the one that has the poorest facilities for a WP, be it lounges or international flights, Perth.

100% agree. I could be in a situation next year whereby I never actually fly on Qantas metal yet still retain P1. For all it's cracked up to be apart from the lounge access in Dubai (which is emirates anyway) I'm at a loss as to the actual benefit for those on the west

 

[JohnM]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

And where you live, I find it somewhat ironic that what I suspect is the city with the highest % of elite members is the one that has the poorest facilities for a WP, be it lounges or international flights, Perth.

PER is certainly WP coughsville :evil:.

That's why I invariably fly out of Australia from MEL or SYD - aka why leave Oz direct, when you can connect . First sector on my DONEx's is always PER-MEL or PER-SYD.

Only breaking that rule tomorrow night PER-JNB because that JASA was so sweet.

 

[medhead]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

100% agree. I could be in a situation next year whereby I never actually fly on Qantas metal yet still retain P1.

Is that possible?

 

[suziec]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

I'm one of irrational people referred to earlier in that I use the circular logic that I do SC runs to maintain status so that they're nice to me while I'm doing my SC runs ... Thinking of making a crazy self funded run for WP now after scoring the double SC offer this week ... and my question is: Can someone please confirm that the following is still the current best practice for trying to book a MASA?
1. Find suitable Classic Award
2. Ring dedicated 1300 number
3. Ask for a 'business any seat award booked into the U fare bucket' (I don't even know what that means!)

So much easier when guru Markis 10 opened my eyes to the then JASA process ... sigh ...

 

[Newk]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

I'm one of irrational people referred to earlier in that I use the circular logic that I do SC runs to maintain status so that they're nice to me while I'm doing my SC runs ... Thinking of making a crazy self funded run for WP now after scoring the double SC offer this week ... and my question is: Can someone please confirm that the following is still the current best practice for trying to book a MASA?
1. Find suitable Classic Award
2. Ring dedicated 1300 number
3. Ask for a 'business any seat award booked into the U fare bucket' (I don't even know what that means!)

So much easier when guru Markis 10 opened my eyes to the then JASA process ... sigh ...

Yes, that should work. Some of the CSOs like "Uniform fare bucket". I think the main thing is to have a mental picture of what the cost SHOULD be and try not to let it get much beyond that. If the CSO obviously knows what you mean it should be fine. If they obviously don't know then it becomes harder, especially if they don't know that they don't know. good luck and please report back

 

[suziec]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

Thanks Newk. And I should still then be able to use points + pay to reduce the number of points required to something feasible?

 

[Kangol]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

Is that possible?

That's a lot of codeshares... and probably booked through QF

 

[Newk]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

Thanks Newk. And I should still then be able to use points + pay to reduce the number of points required to something feasible?

I'd try not to use the term "points plus pay". It's a different booking system AFAIK.
I say "I know there's not a slider anymore but can you give me a few points/dollar points" or something like that. Or ask "can I go down to xx_xx points" (where xx_xx is the the classic award number of points)