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

[aus_flyer]

Re: Cliff notes for changes

Given that most QF res agents didn't know how ASAs worked before, I'm not holding my breath now...

 

[Must...Fly!]

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

Marginal awards! What a load of equine excrement. ASA that I've searched, while having the same base points cost (or lower) as classic awards have always involved a higher cash payment than classic awards. How the hell can they describe something that gets more cash or more point - marginal?

I'd say it mostly has to do with the fact that you earn points back, thereby decreasing the overall gain from QFFs point of view. That is not to forget status credits either. I am sure QF place a notional value on SC - if not on an SC itself, then how much revenue (remembering points do have a value to QF) an average member should bring in to achieve PS, SG, WP and WP1. If xASA distort this too much then I understand why, from a business perspective, they are considering their removal (and making them as hard as possible to actually use).

However perhaps this is just an easier way to bring down the number of elites in the system (in various tiers) to compensate for the no doubt many moving up the ladder through DSC without using xASA fares. This is speculation though as I obviously don't know how many xASA fares actually get purchased at these so called "marginal" levels.

 

[Mal]

Re: Cliff notes for changes

Via normal numbers

General/normal... Take your pick.

 

[raleyoz]

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

Wouldn't it be easier to stop sending DSC letters out to reduce the elites

 

[Must...Fly!]

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

Wouldn't it be easier to stop sending DSC letters out to reduce the elites

Absolutely.

But they also need bums to fill more and more seats as they capacity dump and fight Virgin...Fares are astoundingly low at the moment, I can't remember the last time I looked at a JQ or even TT sale and thought "that's cheap".

Which then brings us full circle to making it harder for your customers who have been loyal from at least a revenue standpoint (points from CC) redeeming for premium class travel and the impact that might have on their behaviour.

 

[QF WP]

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

Below is a slide showing most of the changes, what is not covered in that slide:

1. "Marginal Redemptions" are only available by phone for both availability checks and booking, these are the cheaper seats that have a small cost to be reduced to classic award level.
2. "Marginal Redemptions" are not included as their future is currently under review.
3. The cost formulas for point conversions, so the value in using cash vs points is still there.

View attachment 16696

So we just need to adjust our thinking as we have done with every enhancement.

Thank you to Red Roo and the team for the briefing yesterday, the engagement with AFF is as always most appreciated.

My key takeaway, the best value is not yet gone, (but will be going I suspect), and is now harder to get, get them while you can!

Almost choked when he used the term "marginal ASA". Retention of my QF Gold might also be marginal

 

[oz_mark]

Re: Cliff notes for changes

Dedicated desk accessed via general phone number I assume...

So the word 'dedicated' has itself been enhanced?

 

[whatmeworry]

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

So we just need to adjust our thinking as we have done with every enhancement.



Almost choked when he used the term "marginal ASA". Retention of my QF Gold might also be marginal

So much for not getting rid of ASA's.

I wonder what AFF members who asked directly various people in QF about ASA's now think about their honesty?

Had a look at the site and trying to look up redemption's and it sent to page with something in another language.

[h=2]Lorum Ipsum[/h] Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Nam cursus. Morbi ut mi.

 

[shellthom]

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

So much for not getting rid of ASA's.

I wonder what AFF members who asked directly various people in QF about ASA's now think about their honesty?

Had a look at the site and trying to look up redemption's and it sent to page with something in another language.

Hmm quick search tells me thats dodgy wed design right there
What is Lorem Ipsum? Fake Latin

[h=2]What is Lorem Ipsum? Fake Latin[/h][h=3]Using place holder content in your design work[/h]When design agencies present their work to a client, often times the agency choses to swap out readable text for placeholder text in fake latin. The idea is to not influence the client's reaction or permit the client to get caught up in reading the text, in favor of discussing the design elements. The following text is an example of such fake latin text uses in design comps.

 

[medhead]

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

I'd say it mostly has to do with the fact that you earn points back, thereby decreasing the overall gain from QFFs point of view. That is not to forget status credits either. I am sure QF place a notional value on SC - if not on an SC itself, then how much revenue (remembering points do have a value to QF) an average member should bring in to achieve PS, SG, WP and WP1. If xASA distort this too much then I understand why, from a business perspective, they are considering their removal (and making them as hard as possible to actually use).

However perhaps this is just an easier way to bring down the number of elites in the system (in various tiers) to compensate for the no doubt many moving up the ladder through DSC without using xASA fares. This is speculation though as I obviously don't know how many xASA fares actually get purchased at these so called "marginal" levels.

My main objection is the idea there are marginal awards. If we go down that path for asa at classic levels then surely we soon get to classic awards being marginal. It's easy enough to adjust the points requirement to compensate for the earning. I've always maintained that awards (all awards) should earn SC but not points, to recognise loyalty and the value QFF gain from the award.

Anyway maybe I'm just upset because the hotel thought the daily telegraph is a suitable alternative to The Oz or SMH or even AFR.

 

[markis10]

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

So much for not getting rid of ASA's.

I wonder what AFF members who asked directly various people in QF about ASA's now think about their honesty?

Had a look at the site and trying to look up redemption's and it sent to page with something in another language.

Lorum Ipsum is placeholder text in the publishing world, ie Rubbish to retain format.

 

[oz_mark]

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

Lorum Ipsum is placeholder text in the publishing world, ie Rubbish to retain format.

Maybe they should have delayed another month, to finish the content off

 

[QF WP]

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

So much for not getting rid of ASA's.

I wonder what AFF members who asked directly various people in QF about ASA's now think about their honesty?

Had a look at the site and trying to look up redemption's and it sent to page with something in another language.

Well to be fair, I asked AJ on 2/4 and he said they were not being removed - this is correct.

"Marginal" ASA's are under review, not gone - who knows what that review will produce. Whether the review was underway at that point is anybody's guess.

 

[admin]

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

With the launch of the new website set for 08 April QF will no longer offer Any Seat Awards - it will simply being the points+pay option. The new site will offer commercial seats and award seats on the same search page. So I guess this is the end of cheap FASA/JASA which share the same revenue class as the classic awards. It was good while it lasted.

I'd like to publicly thank 747800intercon for bringing this to our attention some 3 months ago. AFF is all about sharing information for the betterment of all our members and readers - and thats exactly what 747800intercon did.

The changes came in a bit later than the OP predicted - that could be for a whole lot of commercial/technical/political factors at Qantas - but the OP was pretty accurate. I suspect the fact that cheap FASA/JASA seats haven't been completely eliminated (yet) is due to Qantas taking note of the outrage posted on this forum and the potential backlash.

Thanks again 747800intercon and everyone else who contributed to this valuable discussion.

 

[Must...Fly!]

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

My main objection is the idea there are marginal awards. If we go down that path for asa at classic levels then surely we soon get to classic awards being marginal. It's easy enough to adjust the points requirement to compensate for the earning. I've always maintained that awards (all awards) should earn SC but not points, to recognise loyalty and the value QFF gain from the award.

Understandable. I do agree this does potentially start us down a rather slippery slope of what is neutral, what is profitable, and what is not profitable enough.

PS

Anyway maybe I'm just upset because the hotel thought the daily telegraph is a suitable alternative to The Oz or SMH or even AFR.

No good. I find this quite annoying as well...sorry for o/t mods

 

[ferni]

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

So last night i was looking at a couple of cheap FASA MEL-LHR with no issue, this morning, GONE (classic still there)...

Thy went to all the effort of revamping the booking engine but still left the dreaded exclamation mark next to a Business flight MEL-LHR that says "Your flight sydney to london will be in economy" ffs...

Also does anyone else find when looking at classic awards the colour between a business and first seat is very hard to tell the difference?

Who do we write to to express our views on the fact cheap xASA's have been removed?

/this WP is not happy....

 

[SteveJohnson]

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

I think that Qantas description of FASA and JASA as 'Marginal' Any Seat Awards (MASAs?) tells us all we need to know about their likely fate. They are marginal, they are on the edge, they will at some point go.

AusBT quotes Qantas as saying MASAs are being "reviewed" and they have "an uncertain future". Not much reading between the lines needed there!

Qantas revamps website: better bookings, fewer frequent flyer seats - Flights | hotels | frequent flyer | business class - Australian Business Traveller

Also nice to see Clifford from AFF quoted in the AusBT article. Everybody friends again?

 

[Limewood]

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

Red Roo what imbecile designed this new QFF incarnation, its time consuming, awkward to navigate, stupid and ridiculous.

I for one will now have to rethink my long allegiance to QFF.

 

[Anna]

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

(Dons asbestos suit) This change is going to make no difference to me. I've only ever done 1 JASA and that was domestic.


I think it makes sense for QF to reduce the ability for people who don't fly much to earn high status by flying occasionally using points earned through CCs etc (sometimes not even their own CC but a business CC). QFF is on a big campaign to boost points earning but QF's core business remains flying. It makes sense to me that the highest status pax should be the ones frequently patronising QF's core business, not the frequent points earners through means other than flying.

 

[Newk]

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

Red Roo what imbecile designed this new QFF incarnation, its time consuming, awkward to navigate, stupid and ridiculous.

I for one will now have to rethink my long allegiance to QFF.

Yep

The "marginal" ASAs were the attraction to me with QFF. Other programs with possibly better award availability and flights from Adelaide may beckon.
Now what to do with my newly re-minted WP and the family's seven figure QFF points?