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

[Deleted User]

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

That sounds much easier than the old way...

I hope you're being sarcastic. Half an hour wasted and what was offered was not even close to being a marginal ASA in my books. Being at work between 9am-5pm means I only get a limited time at lunch time to muck around with this.

Sarcastic...? Yes very....

But Qantas will be very happy with all the time we are spending calling them up and asking for a MASA, it will give them a good reason to enhance away cheap ASA's for good....I just wonder if they will wait ~3 months, or kill it off earlier.

Happy to be proven wrong by Red Roo but cheap ASA's (Marginal ASA's) are as dead as a dodo going forward, at least there may be more availability of upgrades in the premium cabins after all of this...

 

[will2rob]

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

I should point out that Qantas estimates that 100k FF points has a notional value of $1996 based on a sample of rewards that could be obtained through the QFF Program as at 7 June 2013, according to the blurb for a current competition they are running. (i.e. 6 x prizes of 100k QFF points = a total prize pool of $11,976)

So using that figure, the status run I tried to book has the following values:

Classic award - $2027.63 (86k QFF points + $311.07)

Marginal ASA (according to figures quoted to me by the call centre)

211k points which equates to $4211.56

96k points + $1001.45 which equates to $2917.61

 

[Reggie]

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

Plus +1.

PS That's an awfully long time for you to be flying QF and not have an OP-UP - I feel a bit guilty now

Nothing to feel guilty about. Previoulsy, for a while I flew lots of J domestic (no where to OPUP to) and J International, obviously lots of other people used points or were higher up the pecking list than me.

However, it is all economy now, and it is along walk past the big seats that I used to sit in. I do yearn to sit in them again, but other than a US trip last year, I have been unable to justify the extra cost of J at present. There have been plenty of opportunity for QF to give me an OPUP, but they have never come through for me, maybe I was blacklisted after my comments here about moving to VA a few years ago, when I wasn't feeling the love from QF.

I am flying EK metal on QF codes over Christmas, hopefully I may see the EK upgrade gods look after me, seeings as QF don't.

 

[QF WP]

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

Has anyone who has managed to book a JASA through the help desk tell me exactly what words they used to do it successfully?

I rang the 1300 366 587 number today trying to book a JASA for TSV-BNE-SYD-MEL-AKL-MEL-SYD which would net me 340 SC. On the classic awards it shows as 86000 FF points & $311.07. I asked to book a "marginal" ASA and was quoted 211k points or 96k points & $1001.45 points plus pay. The person I was speaking to didn't seem to get the distinction between a "marginal ASA" and a reg ASA. I asked him what fare class he was looking at and he said UBP ASA. After half an hour of going around in circles I gave up. I don't have enough status to get put through to the premium desk so I need to have the precise terms down pat before trying again.

UBP ASA? I get the U but given I was trying to book into J, I don't get the relevance of "B" (fully flexible economy) or "P" (first class)

Yes, Princess Fiona stated it some pages back (what she said to successfully complete a transaction - it helps to have an informed CSA):

I'm not sure there is an actual desk as such. The automated answer asks you to input your QFF and at least for WP's it re-routes you to the Premium desk.
As I posted in the "Has anyone booked an xASA" thread I advised the agent that I wished to book an available Classic Award as an Any Seat Award and pay the taxes on my credit card. The agent I dealt with knew exactly what I was talking about and sympathised with me that the telephone booking service was a pain for something that could previously be done online.

 

[cove]

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

I went straight past QF to SQ today as it was a real no contest for international to LAX.

 

[Nizar]

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

I went straight past QF to SQ today as it was a real no contest for international to LAX.

I hear SQs SIN-LAX and SIN-EWR flights are about to be phased out ?
Or is that just on the A340-500 all J aircraft ?

 

[cove]

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

Did my number one son in Saver Suites so he is going A380.

 

[pauly7]

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

Just imagine the enhancements if there was no VA....just imagine for a minute........

Exactly!

Which is why I'm hoping the very upset people will leave to go and support them, reverse the trend of people coming back to QF over the last few months.

 

[Nizar]

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

Tempted to book a MEL-DXB to be used in the next few months (perhaps Sep/Oct) to get rid of the last of my QFF points as I begin to turn my focus on SQ.

I really want to book it as a classic (192k points and $358) but a MASA could have me tempted only because I have so much QFF travel already booked for the next several months (3x the brazilian special MEL-SIN) so might as well get some points/SCs though only if it's just a touch more.

Does anybody know roughly how much more points and cash it would be ?
Around 10k more points and $500 ?
Or even more ?

If its much more than that I won't even bother with the half-hour phone call.

 

[Nizar]

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

Did my number one son in Saver Suites so he is going A380.

Nice !
I'm tempted to nominate you for this lol
Australian Father of the Year award - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[11sjw]

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

Nice !
I'm tempted to nominate you for this lol
Australian Father of the Year award - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I tempted to request adoption. Not sure cove could handle a son who dresses in Hi-Vis every so often!

 

[cove]

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

I have a high vis in my office. Makes me a better target in the warehouses on Tuesday and Wednesday.
I missed the 7am to 3pm call today for some domestic JASAs on that hotline.
Oneworldplus2 asked first about adoption 11sjw.
It is a bit of a sobering thought that the monthly runs to Melbourne or Sydney may require a full payment when we have only just started using the slider and Amex Ultimate for those trips in J when using points.

 

[whatmeworry]

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

I have a high vis in my office. Makes me a better target in the warehouses on Tuesday and Wednesday.
I missed the 7am to 3pm call today for some domestic JASAs on that hotline.
Oneworldplus2 asked first about adoption 11sjw.
It is a bit of a sobering thought that the monthly runs to Melbourne or Sydney may require a full payment when we have only just started using the slider and Amex Ultimate for those trips in J when using points.

Maybe its time to switch to Velocity?

 

[cove]

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

We both have about 10 times more points with QF so maybe I need to work on Velocity points before July21st.
The Velocity site has given me dust a couple of times so I lost interest.
QF and SQ sites are easier to use.

 

[JessicaTam]

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

I hear SQs SIN-LAX and SIN-EWR flights are about to be phased out ?
Or is that just on the A340-500 all J aircraft ?

The all J SIN-EWR finishes this year, which I think then hands the title for longest commercial flight to QF. SYD-DFW I think, but I am happy to be corrected.

 

[vitagen]

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

You are correct, the 18 hour epic on SQ was on my bucket list

 

[JessicaTam]

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

You are correct, the 18 hour epic on SQ was on my bucket list

I don't see why. You baulked at the 14 hour VA epic.

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

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

UBP ASA? I get the U but given I was trying to book into J, I don't get the relevance of "B" (fully flexible economy) or "P" (first class)

That's the full fare basis code. It's U indicating business award.
There's a fare basis code for a OW award (UBPASROW I think), classic (can't remember ) and ASA (you got that one) that all book under U award inventory (the only bit that matters in reality).

 

[JohnK]

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

If Qantas are doing this to stop people getting status then why on earth do they offer DSC offers. It makes no sense.

To get people to "pay" for airfares.

And yes I know what most are saying that QFF points is the same as paying. No it is not.

The 48,000 QFF points people earned by paying the ATO is probably ~$240 income for Qantas. I would be surprised if Qantas is selling a QFF point for more than 0.5c/QFF point in bulk. Now for that ~$240 income + ~$65 in taxes people are purchasing airfares that retail well over $1,000.

Let's not be silly here. People on AFF are not silly. There is no way they would actually "pay" in QFF points what an airfare is actually worth. Are they?

Does a PER-SYD business class airfare cost ~$1,600 one way? If QFF points are really valued at 1c/QFF point who here is going to use ~160,000 QFF points for a one way PER-SYD in business? What is the Any Seat award currently cost? How many SCs and points are earned from that Any Seat award? Then tell me how Qantas is making a profit from Any Seat awards?

 

[Deleted User]

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

To get people to "pay" for airfares.

And yes I know what most are saying that QFF points is the same as paying. No it is not.

The 48,000 QFF points people earned by paying the ATO is probably ~$240 income for Qantas. I would be surprised if Qantas is selling a QFF point for more than 0.5c/QFF point in bulk. Now for that ~$240 income + ~$65 in taxes people are purchasing airfares that retail well over $1,000.

Let's not be silly here. People on AFF are not silly. There is no way they would actually "pay" in QFF points what an airfare is actually worth. Are they?

Does a PER-SYD business class airfare cost ~$1,600 one way? If QFF points are really valued at 1c/QFF point who here is going to use ~160,000 QFF points for a one way PER-SYD in business? What is the Any Seat award currently cost? How many SCs and points are earned from that Any Seat award? Then tell me how Qantas is making a profit from Any Seat awards?

Although not earning SC's or FF points, would you say that upgrades from a cheap sale ticket is also taking profit away from Qantas...? Should these therefore be "enhanced" also since the points cost + ticket cost is significantly lower than a J ticket...?