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

[bcworld]

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

I was referring to the "repudiated by Red Roo" bit (something like that, I think). That title has disappeared now of course.

If you want to see the old title just google the above quoted term.

 

[nlagalle]

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

I suspect you are a bit behind the thread I wouldn't imagine for a second that you would do anything inappropriate.

I'd just like to see better up-front disclosure here on AFF as to who has been 'briefed' / receive perks / freebies and why. What did Qantas think it would get by briefing mods and others here, where the receivers couldn't pass the info onto the forum?

Good luck to those who get the freebies / inside running. Mods put time into this forum; I don't begrudge them upside. They shouldn't mind up-front disclosure though.

Hoping Admin will clarify policy in due course.

My involvement in the call wasn't anything to do with AFF, much like AusBT. The call made available was to see the information first hand and be able to write it up. We were only embargoed not to release it until 6am today.

I would have replied sooner but had a mad day including some flying!

 

[DC3]

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

I've booked some JASA's and a couple of FASA's on-line in the past. The FASA's that I booked were really good deals because I was flexible with dates and trawled through availabilty/prices for weeks looking for good deals. Some award prices shown were outrageous (like more than one million points one way SYD/MEL-LAX) whereas you could pick up others for a fraction of that.

Going through a Call Centre sounds like a disaster for being able to shop around for a good deal.

 

[medhead]

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

For those who have used xASA:

Will you be reassessing which FF program you credit your flying/credit card points from now?

Yes I will. Just not sure about the point of collecting qantas points now. I have an MR Amex to spread the load, haven't really pushed it hard and now seems to be the time to change that situation.

 

[whatmeworry]

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

We are always looking at ways to improve the member experience. As recently as 2 weeks ago we hosted many of the AFF members at Rockpool where we got some great ideas. We can confirm that Any Seat Awards are here to stay and many members enjoy the flexibility of being able to purchase any fare using points.
When there is any news we will do our best to make sure that AFF are among the first to know.

Where is the flexibility if you have to ring Qantas to book the cheap ASA's?

I suspect you are a bit behind the thread I wouldn't imagine for a second that you would do anything inappropriate.

I'd just like to see better up-front disclosure here on AFF as to who has been 'briefed' / receive perks / freebies and why. What did Qantas think it would get by briefing mods and others here, where the receivers couldn't pass the info onto the forum?

Good luck to those who get the freebies / inside running. Mods put time into this forum; I don't begrudge them upside. They shouldn't mind up-front disclosure though.

Hoping Admin will clarify policy in due course.

I don't mind the mods getting goodies and such from Airlines as they all put in a lot of work.
Having said that, their might be a perceived lack of transparency if the mods do receive gifts/filghts/upgrades from Airlines and whether that might influence mods?

 

[Princess Fiona]

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

For those who have used xASA:

Will you be reassessing which FF program you credit your flying/credit card points from now?

Not at the minute. Most of my FF points are earned from flying, I don't need JASA's to maintain my status.
Prior to this enhancement I used my QFF points in 3 ways
1. J-F Upgrades
2. One World Awards
3. JASA's
I still have two out of three and possibly the third for a little while longer albeit less convenient to book or change.

 

[medhead]

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

I've just got my email. Who claimed classic awards could be booked within 24 hours of the flight. My email clearly says the 24 hour limit still applies.

 

[TheInsider]

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

I've just got my email. Who claimed classic awards could be booked within 24 hours of the flight. My email clearly says the 24 hour limit still applies.

If you actually gave it a try and did it on the website, it allows for it to happen, I can book QF420 using classic for tomorrow and QF500 SYD-BNE at 0600

 

[Ansett]

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

If you actually gave it a try and did it on the website, it allows for it to happen, I can book QF420 using classic for tomorrow and QF500 SYD-BNE at 0600

Is this another example of a VERY sloppy Launch of an enhancement?

 

[medhead]

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

If you actually gave it a try and did it on the website, it allows for it to happen, I can book QF420 using classic for tomorrow and QF500 SYD-BNE at 0600

Then why did qantas tell me it isn't allowed? That is the point.

 

[RooFlyer]

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

Then why did qantas tell me it isn't allowed? That is the point.

Strange times when medhead and I agree . I finally got the e-mail at about 7:30pm eastern. It says clearly 24 hrs applies.

Its a farce. Its incompetence.

Qantas apologists are invited to correspond.

 

[admin]

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

I suspect you are a bit behind the thread I wouldn't imagine for a second that you would do anything inappropriate.

I'd just like to see better up-front disclosure here on AFF as to who has been 'briefed' / receive perks / freebies and why. What did Qantas think it would get by briefing mods and others here, where the receivers couldn't pass the info onto the forum?

Good luck to those who get the freebies / inside running. Mods put time into this forum; I don't begrudge them upside. They shouldn't mind up-front disclosure though.

Hoping Admin will clarify policy in due course.

Further to my earlier post about what happened at yesterdays briefing (http://www.australianfrequentflyer....-removing-cheap-asas-48705-96.html#post849187), all I can add is that neither myself nor the mods receive any "perks / freebies" from any airline. The only exception was the Qantas-sponsored trip to Dubai which was fully disclosed on the site.

 

[mannej]

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

Further to my earlier post about what happened at yesterdays briefing (http://www.australianfrequentflyer....-removing-cheap-asas-48705-96.html#post849187), all I can add is that neither myself nor the mods receive any "perks / freebies" from any airline. The only exception was the Qantas-sponsored trip to Dubai which was fully disclosed on the site.

I don't think that is the point Roo Flyer is getting at.
The fact that a moderator has received this information from QF and was able to avoid the changes has been perceived to be fairly poor practice by some.
I do share those concerns as the fact that there is a post from that particular moderator flaunting the fact can rub those inconvenienced by these changes very much the wrong way.

Does it need to be addressed? Indeed it does. Perhaps a code of ethics/behaviour would be appropriate, I don't know but I think fair is fair.

 

[burmans]

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

I post this half-expected to be slapped with an infraction, despite that this is not an attack on any single member.

In light of the discussion about AFF being part of the QF 'Mods and Media' briefing on changes to ASAs, I want to add something to my previous post where I was, and remain, in support of AFF taking part in that.

I applaud AFF for gaining this recognition with QF and being in a position to gain insight into those changes being made and report back to AFF members so that we are fully informed on this. That is 100 percent what it should be.

But AFF didn't 'follow through' as much as they should have, and now we have reports of at least one mod making ASA bookings after the media briefing based on the fact that he knew things would change at the stroke of midnight.

I suggest that if AFF want to be treated like media when it comes to events like this then AFF needs to

(1) report on the event, just like media do, to ensure AFF members are fully informed and up to date. Not just post a three-line post that says "Yeah, what so-and-so said yesterday". Media have the embargo to get stories together to inform their readers but I fail to see what work anybody from AFF did along those same lines.

(2) have the same code of ethics as media so as not to take advantage of anything they hear under privilege during briefings like this.

(3) have the same sense of independence as media and not to be swayed by a bit of 'VIP' treatment. These changes are incredibly contentious, maybe as much or more so than the removal of Anytime Access, and when they were first rumoured many months ago people kicked up a storm and that storm is still raging today now that some of the changes have come to pass. But some of 'the chosen few' seem very quiet on this. If you don't like the changes that QFF is making to ASA awards then say so, stand up for the members of the AFF community, don't just roll over like a puppy.

Sorry, I'm not quite sure what you think your relationship with the mods is to that you can tell them what to do. While I too have some moral queasiness with what Markis did at the end of the day we should not lose sight of the fact that the mods contribute more to AFF than most of the rest of us do. We aren't paying them to act on our behalf, they aren't media, in this relationship they are the givers and we are the takers. Given how much they give and we take, my view is that a reasonable level of expectation is close to zero.

Now if you want to volunteer your own time to do all these things and behave in the manner you expect I'll be very supportive.

 

[ashleyn]

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

Possibly slightly OT but I do like the revamped booking engine.

 

[ALH]

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

For those who have used xASA:

Will you be reassessing which FF program you credit your flying/credit card points from now?

Yes. Definitely will look at changing cards and transferring the points to another airline. All of my business expenses are paid on credit cards. We'd be mad not to make the most of our points

 

[StatusRunner]

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

I've booked some JASA's and a couple of FASA's on-line in the past. The FASA's that I booked were really good deals because I was flexible with dates and trawled through availabilty/prices for weeks looking for good deals. Some award prices shown were outrageous (like more than one million points one way SYD/MEL-LAX) whereas you could pick up others for a fraction of that.

Going through a Call Centre sounds like a disaster for being able to shop around for a good deal.

This is also my issue. Also the award flight values won't be transparent, so how would one know what a cheap JASA is.

 

[RooFlyer]

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

Further to my earlier post about what happened at yesterdays briefing (http://www.australianfrequentflyer....-removing-cheap-asas-48705-96.html#post849187), all I can add is that neither myself nor the mods receive any "perks / freebies" from any airline. The only exception was the Qantas-sponsored trip to Dubai which was fully disclosed on the site.

Thanks Admin. Apologies if my post implied otherwise. What I'm asking /suggesting is that any receipt of benefits / freebies / private briefings (no matter how infrequent) be disclosed up-front. Not as part as jocular postings of 'a bit of moderation in Dubai' or "by-the-way" references in postings. Just straight disclosure. Any problem, with that?

What I think is required is just a statement some where on the site (a sticky?) of what's been offered by an airline / service provider, any conditions attached, and those who accepted. In an ideal world, recipients of freebies etc would also then not be able to post re the benefit received, or at least not in ways where positive 'editorials' are the result.

Moderators and Admin are in privileged positions, capable of influencing debate here. I cast no aspersions about their performance here - none. I'm, grateful for the time they put into the site.

But if they wish to continue to have the unfettered respect of members, then I would respectfully suggest again that AFF need to formalise some policy about receipt of benefits etc and disclosure about same. This isn't a tin-pot site; its influential in the FF community and I think with most airlines operating into Australia.

If AFF doesn't think mods etc benefits / privileges shouldn't be clearly and transparently disclosed (no matter how infrequent) - well, it's "their" site to manage and decide that. But its ours to wonder why.

 

[medhead]

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

I don't think that is the point Roo Flyer is getting at.
The fact that a moderator has received this information from QF and was able to avoid the changes has been perceived to be fairly poor practice by some.
I do share those concerns as the fact that there is a post from that particular moderator flaunting the fact can rub those inconvenienced by these changes very much the wrong way.

Does it need to be addressed? Indeed it does. Perhaps a code of ethics/behaviour would be appropriate, I don't know but I think fair is fair.

It's a bad look is about as far as I would go on that event. There was plenty of smoke around to prompt action. But it is still a bad look, especially to be so noisy about it.

 

[RooFlyer]

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

Sorry, I'm not quite sure what you think your relationship with the mods is to that you can tell them what to do. While I too have some moral queasiness with what Markis did at the end of the day we should not lose sight of the fact that the mods contribute more to AFF than most of the rest of us do. We aren't paying them to act on our behalf, they aren't media, in this relationship they are the givers and we are the takers. Given how much they give and we take, my view is that a reasonable level of expectation is close to zero.

Now if you want to volunteer your own time to do all these things and behave in the manner you expect I'll be very supportive.

burmans : it was a suggestion as to what SteveJohnson thought would be appropriate - not "telling them what to do"; the words were pretty clear weren't they?. I applauded SJ's being so straight talking and appreciate the mods for allowing debate to continue.

I too have been making a few suggestions / requests etc to the site 'execs'. I hope I've been respectful in them and I've acknowledged their time for the site.

But this isn't a small matter. Happy days when airlines interact with the site and put time into the relationship.

Happier still when everything is disclosed to the forum users.