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

[dfcatch]

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

I don't mind the new look of the search engine. It's pretty.

ASA removal is very disappointing and was the only reason I continued to have points credited to QFF.
Which in turn, as I had QFF points available was the only reason I choose to fly them over other airliners.
Now that I won't have as many QFF points going in - the reason to fly QF has significantly decreased

It's a real shame to see ASA go down the drain like this.

Personally, I feel that if QF was to get a group of flyers who use ASA and say "hey guys - here's what we don't like about it for our business and this is what we want to achieve - figure it out for us", there would have been a solution that kept ASA around and made them more profitable in the process. Heck, off the top of my head I can think of a few ways to achieve this!

Given the flat out removal of them (phone bookings don't count - nobody likes doing anything via phone) my guess is someone semi-important has a personal issue with them and made them go away.

Like most things at QF........

There are plenty of win-win solutions to many problems (both perceived by QF and those perceived by us).

But RM rules the day - and unless you have the pivot-table to model the answer - forget it

 

[serfty]

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

I have received confirmation of loss, for myself only, via a 1.75hr call with QF Premium desk this morning. I have lost all capability to book the type of multi-city ASA that has been very freely available to me for the past ~2 years. QF are now calling it an "illegal itinerary" & instead are wanting to sell it to me as separate bookings for a total point or point+pay cost many tens of thousands of points / hundreds of dollars more than yesterday & the past ~2 years.

I have also lost the capability to search for &/or book my own FF redemption travel.

I have not received any notification from QF prior to nor after these losses (I hope there are not more that I have yet to stumble across!!!).

My loss will, in turn, be QF's loss of me as a paying passenger across my business & leisure travel.

:!:

Oh Dear - looks like this post from April 11th was accurate:

I would suggest this.

If your intended ASA, JASA or FASA is point to point, you probably don't need to do anything, or panic, about "enhancements".

 

[RooFlyer]

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

<snip>

We need to also remember that people have other things, they can't be available to answer our demands of their accountability within an instant.
So Qantas launched a new website today which seems to have many flaws... how much time do you think redroo has at the moment to jump on here and appease us all... I am sure there are meetings and some nice big issues to deal with for booking etc that need to happen right now...
We all need a few days to wait for it to calm down I think then see what the real impact is

All reasonably put (including my snipped part), but:

* QF is a major corporation and its web site is a critical part of its infrastructure. Launching one with significant changes and major inoperability is a sign of simple incompetence on the part of their IT and indifference on the part of QF's management.

* Remember a week or so ago that the web site was down (or significantly so) and it took a day (incl overnight) for them simply to get a message up saying their site had issues?

* They have been stewing these changes for months. Did they have to wait till last night to write the code and simply fling the web site out there with no testing to see that
a) it worked and
b) would cope with the increase in traffic volume that any child would know would come?

*If there is a major change to the business, especially one that might be contentious, a company rep like Red Roo should be prepared with answers, links to 'Changes explained' web pages. Its should have been part of the change planning. Any competent organisation putting these changes out there AND which has embraced a forum like this would have braced for the forum activity and been ready to answer to it.

Not slink off and hide.

No doubt Red Roo will be back sometime with some more sweeties for selected winners, competitions, lots of "like" things to post compliments. But not to help when we are asking 'how do we do this now?'

 

[lovestotravel]

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

Oh Dear - looks like this post from April 11th was accurate:

Nope pretty much totally incorrect actually

I would suggest this.

If your intended ASA, JASA or FASA is point to point, you probably don't need to do anything, or panic, about "enhancements".

It has already been enhanced
You now can't book JASA/FASA on the QF website because QF didn't want them to be loaded on there, as they are not sure of their future
They have been deemed "marginal redemptions" by QF (pretty much same as my above comment)
People don't want to call QF and QF don't want to spend hours searching/fiddling/playing around with fares/combiations

In 3 months (Phase 2) it is highly likely FASA/JASA as the cheap level will go, like they pretty much already have

 

[AndyGoodyear]

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

I can understand where that train of thought is coming from but what I am referring to is these information sources that were available at about midday/2pm yesterday
View attachment 16702View attachment 16703

maybe Markis10 didn't choose his words quite rightly but I don't think that a seasoned traveller would make such proclamations if they had something to hide. So I feel that a few people are kind of running with this to vent their frustrations.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, frustrations and people will act as they see fit.

Usually I am proud to be a member of this forum but there are occasions where I have to stop and think...
No disrespect to you or the others who feel the same way, I am sure there are a lot of people feeling a little sore for a number of reasons.
I didn't book anything yesterday or over the last 3 months because I simply didn't have the points to book the flights I wanted - J to JNB.. and now I might just have to fly classic so be it. Its not Markis10's fault I didn't ... David Flynn and Nick La Galle all told me to book... and I didn't

We need to also remember that people have other things, they can't be available to answer our demands of their accountability within an instant.
So Qantas launched a new website today which seems to have many flaws... how much time do you think redroo has at the moment to jump on here and appease us all... I am sure there are meetings and some nice big issues to deal with for booking etc that need to happen right now...
We all need a few days to wait for it to calm down I think then see what the real impact is

I do agree with what you wrote and things can get out of hand. As for the references to the Facebook posts - I didn't see those. And I was not suggesting in any way that anyone not booking flights was the fault of another person/member/moderator. There has been lots of comments on this thread and it is easy to get peoples comments or the general feel mixed up. I never demanded replies, checked the new search engine (and I still won't as anything on day 1 release is full of bugs - you have to expect that) and have not commented on RedRoo at all.

I am disappointed with the changes to ASA but it is what it is and we will live with it or jump ship - that is every consumers right.

Thins can easily get mis-interpreted on a forum and I apologise for any offence caused.

 

[Hvr]

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

Lets not let QF off the hook.

Why did they provide a private briefing to some here? If the recipients couldn't share the info with the rest of us, until its all public anyway, why do it? The recipients here aren't journalists who might need to digest the info then write a story and go off and check some facts.

<snip>

I think the fact that Qantas did provide a private briefing to representatives from this site shows how well they think of the site and demonstrates its credibility.

The information was provided in confidence and failure to respect this would mean the provision of information and support would immediately (and rightfully) cease. With a specific time mentioned for release of the information it meant we had it as soon as possible.

Qantas has provided many members (including myself) with benefits. The benefits I have received include FF points (won at last years' Xmas party) and a tour of the Dreamliner. Other members have won trips and so on.

Qantas also provides a representative to assist members of this site which costs them money (in wages).

All of this suggests that Qantas sees a lot of value in interacting with the management and members of Australian Frequent Flyer. I suggest (and hope) that management of AFF will support and maintain that relationship including respecting embargoes. I see lots of benefits for both parties.

 

[shellthom]

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

All reasonably put (including my snipped part), but:

* QF is a major corporation and its web site is a critical part of its infrastructure. Launching one with significant changes and major inoperability is a sign of simple incompetence on the part of their IT and indifference on the part of QF's management.

* Remember a week or so ago that the web site was down (or significantly so) and it took a day (incl overnight) for them simply to get a message up saying their site had issues?

* They have been stewing these changes for months. Did they have to wait till last night to write the code and simply fling the web site out there with no testing to see that
a) it worked and
b) would cope with the increase in traffic volume that any child would know would come?

I am stunned that they did a PR demo and it didn't work yet they still put the site up. Like jaw hit floor when I read about that...

 

[serfty]

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

Lets not let QF off the hook.

Why did they provide a private briefing to some here? If the recipients couldn't share the info with the rest of us, until its all public anyway, why do it? The recipients here aren't journalists who might need to digest the info then write a story and go off and check some facts.

I question the motives and ethics of QF entirely in this matter. And I'm leaning to put a formal complaint into QF about their behaviour.

I see markis10 at least is still posting here. About that elephant in the room?

And where the HELL is my e-mail from Qantas telling me about their nifty enhanced web site?

There was an online briefing given at 4pm yesterday - I was part of it, and received the invitation after 2pm. Being a part of the briefing was conditional on agreeing to a 6am embargo on the information given.

I also made an ASA booking yesterday at approx 1:40PM - I posted about the booking on the FFA FB page. Now, I was already looking to make that booking; had identified the availability and the flights I wanted to book. The only reason I had not booked it was that I actually waiting for my charge card "end of month" to tick over for with the ~$660 co-pay. I saw 787800's post and decided to proceed in any case. I did not make the booking because I had non public information.

The cliff noted I posted this morning was a basic summary of that briefing:

- Pretty new booking engine

- ASA still available online but not at award levels (aka Marginal)

- Award (Marginal) level ASA a will still be available, but with a dedicated phone at no charge/service fee.

Other things of note was that QFF were going to send emails about the changes to all members who had redeemed an award in the last year or so.

I do regret not asking about the non point to point fares.

 

[simongr]

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

I think that QF didnt actually give a private briefing to a few on this site but to relevant travel media (no offence to people who might or might not want to be called media) people and that included people on this site. It was clear from some who attended that briefing that they would not use the information until it was publicly available. If people did use the information rom the briefing to make bookings after the briefing knowing that marginal ASAs were going to be harder to get then I think that is misuse of the privileged information that they received. If they made their decisions and bookings before the briefing as they guessed what was coming then that seems fine. Any bookings made after 4PM by attendees of the briefing is morally questionable behaviour.

 

[serfty]

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

Nope pretty much totally incorrect actually



It has already been enhanced...

No - you miss the point - it seems you won't be able to book those DRW-TSV bookings via BNE/SYD any more.

 

[admin]

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

Let me clarify a few things. Red Roo contacted me yesterday to invite AFF mods + myself + other media reps to the 4pm media briefing. I can't speak for Qantas so I don't know what their intention was other than this is pretty common practice. We were all advised that the information would be confidential until 6am this morning. Again, nothing unusual.

The briefing consisted of a Powerpoint presentation of the changes to the booking system + a walk through of the new system (via their staging server). That, I believe, was the only item on their Agenda.

Qantas also advised that QF FF members who had booked frequent flyer tickets recently would be advised of these changes by email today.

The issue of availability of "Marginal" ASAs only came up, when I asked the direct question as to whether there was any truth in the rumour that they will be discontinued. Their response is pretty much covered in this thread.

Again, I can't speak for Qantas, but I don't believe the intention of the briefing was to advise us of the new procedures about booking ASAs, but rather the changes to their booking website.

 

[TheInsider]

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

Nope pretty much totally incorrect actually



It has already been enhanced
You now can't book JASA/FASA on the QF website because QF didn't want them to be loaded on there, as they are not sure of their future
They have been deemed "marginal redemptions" by QF (pretty much same as my above comment

I think the telesales memo from what I was told, was something along the lines of, "Any seat awards are still available with the fee waived for those members who are highly engaged with the ASA product." - Which is basically AFF/FT members.

 

[vantage03]

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

For anyone interested, over the phone this morning I have successfully booked a return FASA which was available earlier this week online (lucky I wrote down the details).
The points cost and $$ cost were identical to when I 'moved the slider to the left' on the Points-Plus-Pay option in the Any Seat Award booking screen as it was on Monday.
The Qantas rep on the phone was very helpful, couldn't have been nicer, and said they were only informed of the changes this morning and I was this particular agent's first cab off the rank for this scenario.
A few calls had to be made, but we successfully booked me into 'P' class. Interestingly on their system a pop-up came up saying the ASA was NOT refundable. Another internal call said this is a new generic message and was incorrect, the old ASA rules apply and it is refundable.
I think what helped here is that I knew exactly what I wanted.

Also, reading through the posts here, I understand that these changes are a disappointment for many QF loyalists on these forums (including for me to be honest), however Qantas are perfectly within their rights to make these changes. They are a business, and must remain profitable if we want them to stay in the air. If management don't see value in retaining this product, why would they keep it? As has been said, many of us have received great benefits from Qantas over the years, and while we can all get frustrated at times, I think some things just need to be put in perspective.

 

[markis10]

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

Those waiting for news from Qantas would be best to check their email:

[TABLE="width: 545, align: center"]
[TR]
[TD]Use your Qantas Points, pay in cash - the choice is yours at qantas.com
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]To make your life easier we have improved the way you search and book flights as a Qantas Frequent Flyer member. It's now clearer than blue skies and simpler than ever to book flights at qantas.com when using your Qantas Points.^
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Start your search at qantas.com homepage. Once you log in, the new search panel is your single point of entry to search for cash fares,[SUP]+[/SUP] Classic Awards or Any Seat Awards. We've also introduced a new look and feel and a handy notification if you're about to be logged out due to inactivity.
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Find the flight you want, faster
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]To start, simply enter your destinations and travel dates at qantas.com and select 'Search Flight'. You will be shown all available cash fares for your search. To view these fares as an Any Seat Award,˜ simply select 'View in Points'. If you wish to book a Classic Award*, then simply enter your flight details and select the 'Show Classic Awards only' checkbox before searching.
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[lovestotravel]

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

No - you miss the point - it seems you won't be able to book those DRW-TSV bookings via BNE/SYD any more.

So you are saying that cheap JASA/FASA's are here to stay then ? That was my point

Your point is yet another enhancement which I did miss because I was still thinking of my point


PS: Thanks for your open and honest explanation of the briefing you received and that you booked a JASA before the 4pm briefing and not last night......

You are a highly respected mod on here in my books and your advice/help on Flyertalk (I post under a different name on there) to me has been great over the years as well

 

[ReLoad]

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

Given the loss of the cheap JASA/FASA in a few months, does anyone want to take a mathematical punt on the reduction in value of our points?

Also totally anecdotally I overheard a discussion about the "maturing value" of FF points and how they need to have a reduced value line to compensate for the marketing hyperbole in giving away value.

I wonder if these types of discussions inside QF lead to a decision to can things like our JASAs

 

[dfcatch]

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

Interestingly - all JQ fares displayed are priced to include baggage......

If you click to bring up the fare rules for "Starter" it states that cheaper fares excluding baggage may be available via JQ.com.

It does however state that all changes must be made via the service centre (and incur a fee), and the changes can NOT be made online.

Basically, from the looks of it - you should always make your JQ bookings at JQ.

Which means QF should drop JQ from the search completely unless it includes bags and points/SC

 

[lovestotravel]

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

Also, reading through the posts here, I understand that these changes are a disappointment for many QF loyalists on these forums (including for me to be honest), however Qantas are perfectly within their rights to make these changes. They are a business, and must remain profitable if we want them to stay in the air. If management don't see value in retaining this product, why would they keep it? As has been said, many of us have received great benefits from Qantas over the years, and while we can all get frustrated at times, I think some things just need to be put in perspective.

Exactly! I said it a few weeks/months back but it was "interesting" that VA started to offer status credits on reward flights, and now QF is looking/going to remove that feature. It makes me smile when insiders at each company pass on information to competitors. It really couldn't have been a co-incidence...

As for me, without a DSC or a JASA for an extra 200SC per year I will struggle to retain platinum.

So what does that mean ?

More domestic flights in J and an extra few QF flights for me - Seems like a win/win for QF at the end of the day...... :shock:

As it stands I am Plat until the end of this year, already retained
Flights booked for 2014 will retain plat again for 2014 and until the end of 2015. So I am good for quite a while

 

[cgoh]

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

I made a JASA booking yesterday MEL/ADL via SYD and ticket was issued. Would my booking still stand? A bit confused with what's happening at this stage.

 

[TheInsider]

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

I made a JASA booking yesterday MEL/ADL via SYD and ticket was issued. Would my booking still stand? A bit confused with what's happening at this stage.

Of course it will. The only main change is that ASA at classic award prices will no longer be available for booking through the QF website. Only the contact centre, with the assistance fee waived.