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re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26-was]10April
Time for me to chime in on this topic. Note that I have been very busy (work and family) and do not claim to have read every post in this thread. But I have browsed the thread and have received a picture of the sentiment.
[Mod Hat]
As an AFF moderator, I was invited by Red Roo to attend the web session at 4pm on 25th June, along with some media representatives. I do not know how many people were on the call, and only know those that identified themselves either at the start of the call or when asking questions at the end. But there were definitely some who are not AFF moderators and participate in other forms of both social and main-stream media.
Here is my summary of the information presented at that session, all of which has been presented by others both here and elsewhere:
[Disclosure]
I have never received any benefits from any airline as a result of my role as a Moderator at AFF, apart from being invited to listen to the media briefing on 24th June. As a moderator, I am able to access the benefits available to AFF Gold members (i.e. discounted travel insurance, AFF Qantas Club corporate member, discounted 1st year membership for ExpertFlyer etc).
I have never booked an ASA and did not make any travel bookings in the last week. I have considered some ASAs in the past, but have chosen to book as AAdvantage partner awards instead since the higher points cost, higher co-payment cash component, lack of need for QFF status credits and greater availability of AAdvantage miles in my account compared with my limited ability to earn QFF points.
I hold Lifetime Gold status with QFF, Platinum status with AAdvantage and Lifetime Gold status with AAdvantage, all earned/maintained through travel with only my initial AAdvantage status being earned via their Platinum Challenge program many years ago.
I did receive a Double Status Credit offer about 2 years ago and did not credit any flights to my QFF account during the period of the offer (I think it was valid for 3 months from memory).
[/Disclosure]
[/Mod Hat]
[Personal comments posted as an AFF member]
Personally, I do see the change to the qantas.com.au booking front-end as being positive. I think they have addressed the points they targeted. I understand that other people may see this in a different light.
I doubt many people outside our community knew about "Marginal" ASAs and looked for them on-line. The way to continue to book them (at least for the time being) has been well reported here and there is no additional booking fee for doing so. The only difference I can see is that some multi-point "optimised" routings may no longer be avaiable. Personally I believe that using marginal JASA using indirect routings for the purpose of status runs is "working the system" to achieve higher status level than would have otherwise been achieved through normal paths, and closing such a loophole has the benefit of protecting the integrity of the status levels. I do not see these changes as the removal of existing benefits or as a reduction in the value of the QFF program. I personally see the changes to the availability of Marginal ASAs as QFF's recognition that some people have abused the original intention of those awards for the purpose of attaining FF status cheaply. Yes, I understand that doing so was completely within the terms and conditions of the program and the fare rules that applied to the Marginal ASA flights. But that does not change my personal opinion.
I personally place significant value in FF program status (I would not be a member here if I did not) and do not want to see the value of status undermined. All that has changed here is the ability to earn status quickly and cheaply via on-line booking. Classic awards can still be purchased with points, Marginal ASAs can still be booked via calling a dedicated number. Some indirect routings used for cheap status runs may no longer be available - well I see that as protecting the value of status rather than the removal of a published benefit.
[/Personal Comments posted as an AFF member]
Time for me to chime in on this topic. Note that I have been very busy (work and family) and do not claim to have read every post in this thread. But I have browsed the thread and have received a picture of the sentiment.
[Mod Hat]
As an AFF moderator, I was invited by Red Roo to attend the web session at 4pm on 25th June, along with some media representatives. I do not know how many people were on the call, and only know those that identified themselves either at the start of the call or when asking questions at the end. But there were definitely some who are not AFF moderators and participate in other forms of both social and main-stream media.
Here is my summary of the information presented at that session, all of which has been presented by others both here and elsewhere:
- The catalyst was a new front-end to the existing booking engine. No changes to the back-end or calculations for for cash and points, just a new way to present it on the qantas.com.au web site.
- The new web front-end has been designed to view well on mobile devices like smart-phones and tablets, which is why the table cells are large and information presented in an uncluttered manner.
- The new web front-end has been designed to reduce confusion about the operator or the flight (previously people had reported that they were not aware their flight was operated by JQ and not by QF).
- All fares for QF flights can be purchased with a mix of cash and QFF points, such that any such fare is available as an Any Seat Award.
- "Marginal" ASAs will no longer be available through the "Points plus Pay" on the booking front-end and these can only be accessed via a dedicated 1300 phone number (dedicated number but not a dedicated team) and there will be no telephone booking assistance fee when booking via this number.
- The future of "Marginal" ASAs are under review and no decision has yet been made about their future.
[Disclosure]
I have never received any benefits from any airline as a result of my role as a Moderator at AFF, apart from being invited to listen to the media briefing on 24th June. As a moderator, I am able to access the benefits available to AFF Gold members (i.e. discounted travel insurance, AFF Qantas Club corporate member, discounted 1st year membership for ExpertFlyer etc).
I have never booked an ASA and did not make any travel bookings in the last week. I have considered some ASAs in the past, but have chosen to book as AAdvantage partner awards instead since the higher points cost, higher co-payment cash component, lack of need for QFF status credits and greater availability of AAdvantage miles in my account compared with my limited ability to earn QFF points.
I hold Lifetime Gold status with QFF, Platinum status with AAdvantage and Lifetime Gold status with AAdvantage, all earned/maintained through travel with only my initial AAdvantage status being earned via their Platinum Challenge program many years ago.
I did receive a Double Status Credit offer about 2 years ago and did not credit any flights to my QFF account during the period of the offer (I think it was valid for 3 months from memory).
[/Disclosure]
[/Mod Hat]
[Personal comments posted as an AFF member]
Personally, I do see the change to the qantas.com.au booking front-end as being positive. I think they have addressed the points they targeted. I understand that other people may see this in a different light.
I doubt many people outside our community knew about "Marginal" ASAs and looked for them on-line. The way to continue to book them (at least for the time being) has been well reported here and there is no additional booking fee for doing so. The only difference I can see is that some multi-point "optimised" routings may no longer be avaiable. Personally I believe that using marginal JASA using indirect routings for the purpose of status runs is "working the system" to achieve higher status level than would have otherwise been achieved through normal paths, and closing such a loophole has the benefit of protecting the integrity of the status levels. I do not see these changes as the removal of existing benefits or as a reduction in the value of the QFF program. I personally see the changes to the availability of Marginal ASAs as QFF's recognition that some people have abused the original intention of those awards for the purpose of attaining FF status cheaply. Yes, I understand that doing so was completely within the terms and conditions of the program and the fare rules that applied to the Marginal ASA flights. But that does not change my personal opinion.
I personally place significant value in FF program status (I would not be a member here if I did not) and do not want to see the value of status undermined. All that has changed here is the ability to earn status quickly and cheaply via on-line booking. Classic awards can still be purchased with points, Marginal ASAs can still be booked via calling a dedicated number. Some indirect routings used for cheap status runs may no longer be available - well I see that as protecting the value of status rather than the removal of a published benefit.
[/Personal Comments posted as an AFF member]
