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

[kooky]

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

I assume it's easy for QF to datamatch everyone who has booked an MASA in the past year and tally up all the spend to get the perceived/total customer value for those people - however the flow on effect of those people being decision makers in businesses that spend in the $100k's, or, recommend QF to colleagues, etc - the unknown component - it strikes me as the datamatched component as only being the tip of the iceberg. Cause once influential people jump ship they tend to take others with them, and it'll be hard to get them back. I hope whoever did their sums did them well.

 

[basso]

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

Cripes, what a thread. Do you guys really think that people that want 5 star service at LCC prices are the type of customers Qantas wants?

 

[JessicaTam]

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

Cripes, what a thread. Do you guys really think that people that want 5 star service at LCC prices are the type of customers Qantas wants?

Given the # of points required, it is hardly LCC price.

 

[Newk]

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

Cripes, what a thread. Do you guys really think that people that want 5 star service at LCC prices are the type of customers Qantas wants?

Um. It's purely an extension of the classic awards program which is still offered. For a few extra bucks you get points and SCs. I fail to see your issue. But happy to accept you feel differently. All part of life's rich tapestry.

 

[JohnK]

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

Qantas managed to survive after removing Anytime access to lounges.

Qantas has managed to survive for not quite getting priority boarding right.

Qantas has managed to survive for not status matching Velocity Gold and Platinum.

Qantas will manage to survive after the removal of cheap Any Seat awards.

Life goes on but Jetstar worries me though....

 

[codash1099]

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

Qantas managed to survive after removing Anytime access to lounges.

Qantas has managed to survive for not quite getting priority boarding right.

Qantas has managed to survive for not status matching Velocity Gold and Platinum.

Qantas will manage to survive after the removal of cheap Any Seat awards.

Life goes on but Jetstar worries me though....

And then there's the straw that breaks the camel's back. None of these things affected me greatly but in total, they show a company trying to get just too much blood out of the stone.

 

[JohnK]

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

And then there's the straw that breaks the camel's back. None of these things affected me greatly but in total, they show a company trying to get just too much blood out of the stone.

But we know that one already.

For every person it will be a different straw. For some it may well be removal of cheap Any seat awards. For most this won't matter.

And to be honest Virgin is not the alternative. Neither is Tiger or Jetstar. A little more choice for overseas carriers but then status becomes an issue unless you have squillions of points to burn in premium cabins.

The overwhelming majority do not know cheap Any Seat awards existed. It will not make any difference to them. Being vocal on AFF is not going to change anyones mind at Qantas. It didn't for Anytime access and that was much more popular.

 

[amaroo]

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

Cripes, what a thread. Do you guys really think that people that want 5 star service at LCC prices are the type of customers Qantas wants?

+ 1 the airline can't run on points alone. It needs cash and plenty of it.....

I'm a big point earner + a decent cash passenger of QF. Thanks to AFF I've recently been aware of JASA and ATO CC points

For many years I've been happy to spend my points on classic award seats and will continue to do so for many more to come.

Cheap award seats are one thing - gaining status on the cheap is something altogether different.

It seems to me that the AFF "point whales" are happy to cash in on SQ suites - they don't seem to give a toss about status......that's the compromise!

 

[basso]

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

Given the # of points required, it is hardly LCC price.

One way of looking at a classic award is that it is a heavily discounted airfare. This factor remains largely true when using a mASA. They are LCC prices compared to a cash fare. It's why you guys are all having such a cry!

 

[opusman]

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

+ 1 the airline can't run on points alone. It needs cash and plenty of it.....

But the alternative to a MASA for many people is a classic award. Same points, but QF lose the cash they would have got otherwise. How does that work?

 

[amaroo]

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

But the alternative to a MASA for many people is a classic award. Same points, but QF lose the cash they would have got otherwise. How does that work?

If they want status - they'll buy the ticket.

If they just want the award - they'll cash in the points and pay the cash component.

 

[Pushka]

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

I guess the fact that people here are so fired about the removal of ASA's means that they were a better deal for us than Qantas. But maybe we should look at this as an opportunity to explore other options and they have removed the golden handcuffs.

 

[OATEK]

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

I guess the fact that people here are so fired about the removal of ASA's means that they were a better deal for us than Qantas. But maybe we should look at this as an opportunity to explore other options and they have removed the golden handcuffs.

As a relative newcomer to AFF, I never knew about the xASA booking method until about the time it was withdrawn from the website. So I am not one who is reacting to the withdrawal of a service I enjoyed (although I bet given time I would have made good use of it).

I am like many others here, something of a long time promoter of QF to family, friends and colleagues. However now I am also feeling the shackles are off (mine were never golden) and I am actively looking elsewhere for my big spend in 2014, and telling others to do so as well. I had recommended QF J to a colleague (when discounted at the time of the EK merger) who snapped up a couple of seats.

But now I am pointing to some of the other options, CX with the new J fitout, MH with A380 services into Europe etc. Other work colleagues are off on the MH option this Friday, booked in to the new upper deck Y cabin and feeling very pleased about it.

Eventually what starts out as a trickle becomes a flood.

 

[markis10]

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

But the alternative to a MASA for many people is a classic award. Same points, but QF lose the cash they would have got otherwise. How does that work?

its not the same points for many MASAs, it's often less before you take into account the earn.

 

[RooFlyer]

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

Qantas managed to survive after removing Anytime access to lounges.

Qantas has managed to survive for not quite getting priority boarding right.

Qantas has managed to survive for not status matching Velocity Gold and Platinum.

Qantas will manage to survive after the removal of cheap Any Seat awards.

Is that so?

What exactly do you call 'survive' ?

Qantas has been losing money hand-over-fist. If it wasn't for the QFF program (ie selling points to third parties like Woolworths) and JetStar, I reckon "Qantas" corporation may not have survived at all in its current incarnation. Geoff Dixon and co are still in the wings (so to speak).

As I've said in other posts, I want Qantas to survive as a profitable, full service carrier, so if they need to trim or cut things, including FF benefits, so be it.

But they have lost me entirely (except for some long booked QFi flights coming up) because of the way they go about these things and the obvious incompetence wrt their web site. I respect a company for saying "Sorry, we are losing money on this, its finishing." But Qantas is doing this slow strangulation of MASAs, not being honest with its 'engaged customers' and spinning all the time. Its grubby.

Lets see what 'survival' looks like in a year or so.

 

[Limewood]

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

I respect a company for saying "Sorry, we are losing money on this, its finishing." But Qantas is doing this slow strangulation of MASAs, not being honest with its 'engaged customers' and spinning all the time. Its grubby.

Very good points.

Its not being told anything really other than it is another "enhancement" what a joke, IMO booking a ASA on line was a huge feature, so easy to use.

 

[EmilyHoward]

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

Looking online for classic awards then getting on the phone with the lottery of whether the person on the other end knows what you are talking about..... It's just so ..... 90s! LOL.

EH

 

[Limewood]

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

That it is.

I'm annoyed because we are not being told the real story after 2 months of this ASA removal online charade.

 

[JohnK]

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

Is that so?

What exactly do you call 'survive' ?

....

Lets see what 'survival' looks like in a year or so.

Removal of cheap Any Seat awards and upsetting a few AFFers is not going to be the end of Qantas.

They have other much more serious issues to worry about.

And by the looks of things AFFers think cheap Any Seat awards were a much better deal for them than Qantas. Why do you need to have an explanation for their removal? I have seen serious "enhancements" since May 2005 and not once did we get a proper explanation. At the end of the day each of those "enhancements" has been about money.

Oh, and the next "enhancement" is going to be about money as well.

 

[Deleted User]

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

the sooner the goose is cooked the better me thinks..... its just an Airline no matter what RR or AJ think....

If its good value then good, if not then next please