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

[RooFlyer]

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

If Red Roo's 'back' then we can look forward to some assistance with those questions, I guess; not just responding to some comments about 'idiots'.

Anyone got the original RR thread and post #?

 

[SeatBackForward]

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

As a complete aside to the main topic..this is an interesting thread for another reason:

Total Posts: 1,596
Top Five Posters post counts:
1) 81
2) 62
3) 58
4) 53
5) 52

A very small % contribution by the most prolific poster (much lower % than other threads on AFF) - indicates a wide range of contributors - a topic a lot of people are interested in!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

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

rooflyer... what questions do you have that an AFF member can't already answer?

to me the changes seem fairly straightforward?

 

[BD1959]

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

Perhaps one option for QF might be to re-introduce the online xASAs, but only make them available to SG or even WP and above? This way, they reduce the concern of low-volume / low-revenue flyers ending up with a top-tier status after a few clever redemption flights, plus get to keep their elites content and maintaining a reason to fly QF. Basically you must prove you're worth it, before you can use it. I've not used ASAs myself before, mainly as I didn't understand the ease and benefits until it was too late to take reasonable advantage... but once I understood them, and everytime someone piped up saying, 'I'm a NB who never flies, but in a week I will be WP thanks to these DSC & ASA thingos', I did wonder what the offering's shelf life was... especially with Red Roo congratulating each newly minted ASA-WP personally on this forum!

My thoughts exactly. IMHO there's zero-chance of these being reintroduced solely for status passengers who, by virtue of their usage, only retain status (and benefit cost) through their use.

Similarly, once UL and QR are aboard OW and complementing MH in the low-cost OW-member category, I can see QF deciding that it costs too much to service their own elites who have achieved status via OW revenue streams not coming back to QF (they'll have probably spat the dummy with every OW member, not just BA, CX and MH by then - and not code-sharing on ANY OW with the exception of AA!) and using the equity in QFF to buy a share in Skywards and withdrawing from OW. The QF migration to EI-clone will be complete ....

... and if this comes to fruition, I expect Gen-Y consultancy-fees in retrospect, Alan!!

Regards,

BD

 

[RooFlyer]

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

rooflyer... what questions do you have that an AFF member can't already answer?

to me the changes seem fairly straightforward?

There have been many questions put by others directly asking for replies from Red Roo. Now yes, there is no obligation on RR to reply, and others here might answer, but these would mostly be by way of opinion (hopefully informed).

If you are implying that forum members can answer questions as good as Red Roo might , (and I don't agree with that), then I think you are saying something about Red Roo!

But the particular questions I would ask of Qantas is:

* Why did you change the ASAs etc and not e-mail an explanation of the changes to all QFF members, or at least all those who have ticked the box on their profile to receive such? (There is abundant evidence here that the e-mail out was hap-hazard and inconsistent).

My favourite:

* In the absence of a consistent or uniform e-mail send-out, or in any case, why not have a banner appear at log-in after the changes were made with words to the effect "Our web site has changed! Please click here to go to a page that explains the changes and how the new site works."

* Why is there no-where on the web site which says "Call this number to get a quote for MASAs" ?

* Why change the displays of flight searches so you can't see business prices alongside economy prices?

* Why implement the changes and new web site before you were certain that phone operators were adequately briefed and trained on the changes (There is abundant evidence here that this was the case - certainly my experience).

* Why implement the changes and new web site before you were certain that it was de-bugged and that all the links actually worked?


You are welcome to answer for Qantas, but its probably not necessary. I have a rotating menu of answers that probably suffice for most of them.


1) We don't care

2) We don't have the technical skills to fix the web site problems

3) For God's sake don't let senior management know about all that stuff! We are desperately trying to fix this fluster duck; it was all a theoretical scenario that accidently went live!

4) We need to make more money so we are just strangling ASAs over several months, and making it more difficult for everyone to get cheaper redemptions and flights. Deal with it.

5) You just can't get good help any more, can you?

6) We need to temporarily plump up the earnings. Does anyone have Geoff Dixon's phone number?

 

[legroom]

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

* Why is there no-where on the web site which says "Call this number to get a quote for MASAs" ?

Mate, you are deluding yourself if you think that was an accidental omission.

My take is the opposite as you had answered yourself here

4) We need to make more money so we are just strangling ASAs over several months, and making it more difficult for everyone to get cheaper redemptions and flights. Deal with it.

 

[ReLoad]

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

This is the response that I received from QF (by the way, my name is nothing like McNAUGHT, so thanks for nothing, Katie). Just a cut and paste where Katie has left the previous complainant's name in:

"Dear Mr McNaught,

Thank you for taking the time to write to us.

We understand the importance of your complaint and the inconvenience caused.

Qantas welcomes and appreciates all customer feedback and comments, which are used to continuously improve our products and services.

Bookings of this nature do not attract the booking fee. Due to staffing, the dedicated phone number is best reached during these hours, our global phone support team is available 24/7 for your convenience on 13 1313

Regards

Katie

The Qantas Team"

Which ironically is me.

 

[kevrosmith]

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

Which ironically is me.

Oh... I see what happened there now... that is hilarious!

Seeing that some people have been posting their feedback letters here, I've been tempted just to copy and paste them to form my feedback... I haven't yet submitted any as I couldn't be bothered working out what to write. I wonder if they would notice that I've just done a copy-paste job like they seem to.

I guess I'd just have to expect to receive a copy-paste reply... but would hope they could at least get my name correct in their reply! (Smith really isn't that difficult to get right, is it?)

 

[Hvr]

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

I went and got photographed with Curiosity today in Federation Sq MEL. There were several QF staff looking after the queue etc and they were working the crowd. The woman I spoke to said she was a supervisor in the call centre but didn't know about the abolition of on line booking for ASAs.

I explained some of the permutations I looked for when booking my recent ASA and noted that I spent two hours doing it on line. She looked aghast at the potential amount of time these bookings could take.

Maybe there needs to be some more communication within Qantas about these changes? It never looks good when the public (albeit very informed) is advising staff of major changes.

 

[SeatBackForward]

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

I went and got photographed with Curiosity today in Federation Sq MEL. There were several QF staff looking after the queue etc and they were working the crowd. The woman I spoke to said she was a supervisor in the call centre but didn't know about the abolition of on line booking for ASAs.

I explained some of the permutations I looked for when booking my recent ASA and noted that I spent two hours doing it on line. She looked aghast at the potential amount of time these bookings could take.

Maybe there needs to be some more communication within Qantas about these changes? It never looks good when the public (albeit very informed) is advising staff of major changes.

Where have they been hiding these staff - they do know how to do Priority Boarding!

 

[Hvr]

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

Where have they been hiding these staff - they do know how to do Priority Boarding!

Well there was a funny incident in the queue re this. A woman walked up to the front and wanted to go first because she was Platinum. It was explained to her that it was first come first served and she wasn't happy but eventually went to the end. It was taking about 40 minutes from end to photo in hand.

The supervisor I was speaking had a good sense of humour when I asked about a priority line saying that she could draw a chalk line at the front but I'd be waiting there forever.

 

[Buzzard]

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

and every QFF member gets 150 "free" points by typing some meaningful rubbish into a toolbar 150 times a month, effectively giving every QFF member $18 every year, how many QFF members are there again...?

If they have a problem with people using points, why hand them out so "free"ly...?

Maybe they hope you just buy some cough instead of doing some flying or perhaps upgrade to a seat that was empty anyway?
I guess that is why upgrades are now available to the boarding gate. :?:

 

[dajop]

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

As a complete aside to the main topic..this is an interesting thread for another reason:

Total Posts: 1,596
Top Five Posters post counts:
1) 81
2) 62
3) 58
4) 53
5) 52

A very small % contribution by the most prolific poster (much lower % than other threads on AFF) - indicates a wide range of contributors - a topic a lot of people are interested in!

It would be interesting how this compares to breakdown of posters in the "removal of anytime access for WP's" thread. Still about 100 post short at the moment, but will soon overtake! Interesting many of the same arguments in that thread, as well as same arguments from different folk that come from a much smaller thread (with much smaller AFF membership base ) nearly 10 years ago about QFF program changes

For those who have been around a while, there is a lot of circularity .... "Enhancement" :arrow: Indignation :arrow: Move elsewhere (threat or real) :arrow: Acceptance :arrow: don't move elsewhere or return :arrow: "Enhancement" .......

 

[StatusRunner]

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

Anytime access was too good to be true. ASA's aren't. Maybe if you get a DSC though.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

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

There have been many questions put by others directly asking for replies from Red Roo. Now yes, there is no obligation on RR to reply, and others here might answer, but these would mostly be by way of opinion (hopefully informed).

If you are implying that forum members can answer questions as good as Red Roo might , (and I don't agree with that), then I think you are saying something about Red Roo!

But the particular questions I would ask of Qantas is:

* Why did you change the ASAs etc and not e-mail an explanation of the changes to all QFF members, or at least all those who have ticked the box on their profile to receive such? (There is abundant evidence here that the e-mail out was hap-hazard and inconsistent).

My favourite:

* In the absence of a consistent or uniform e-mail send-out, or in any case, why not have a banner appear at log-in after the changes were made with words to the effect "Our web site has changed! Please click here to go to a page that explains the changes and how the new site works."

* Why is there no-where on the web site which says "Call this number to get a quote for MASAs" ?

* Why change the displays of flight searches so you can't see business prices alongside economy prices?

* Why implement the changes and new web site before you were certain that phone operators were adequately briefed and trained on the changes (There is abundant evidence here that this was the case - certainly my experience).

* Why implement the changes and new web site before you were certain that it was de-bugged and that all the links actually worked?


You are welcome to answer for Qantas, but its probably not necessary. I have a rotating menu of answers that probably suffice for most of them.

All of this is just lipstick on the pig.

the pig is still the pig.

and qantas is busy making sausages.

 

[whatmeworry]

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

I agree with you. By not displaying the Business Class fares on the same page as the economy fares it is not only inconvenient - it can be misleading. There are many times, especially out of Cairns when economy fares, including on Jetstar can be more expensive that a Business Class Fare. This just reinforces my opinion that it has been designed by either a Gen Y or someone who is not an experienced traveller. It is clumsy and time consuming.

Apparently the site has optimised for tablets and smart phones so the emo gen Y hipsters easily surf the QF site.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

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

Anytime access was too good to be true. ASA's aren't. Maybe if you get a DSC though.

cheap ASAs still come with a cash premium over classic awards.

that cash premium is no different to a jetstar bundle. qantas isn't giving the points and SCs away for free.

you pay an extra $200 for a return ASA to Hong Kong for example and that's already half a years qantas club membership (the primary perk of being gold).

so I'm not entirely convinced there is any money being lost.... except against 'normal' ASAs where qf might be able to take 1 million points off someone (although even that argument doesn't work because the cheap ASA was a classic seat that was available anyway).

 

[dajop]

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

Anytime access was too good to be true. ASA's aren't. Maybe if you get a DSC though.

Why would ATA be too good to be true and marginal ASA's not? ATA was part of the program for quite a few years. ASAs' ... are only a recent innovation (when first launched they did not even earn SCs/FF points). They are effectively away for "marginal" high tiers customers to get across the line (without having to head to the US to do cheap status runs in First on AA), and could also considered to be "too good to be true" (especially considering some of the routings previously available A to B via C &D) . I suspect the original concept of making them earn SC's and points was to provide an incentive for CC churnersto direct sweep into QF instead of banking miles in credit card rewards programs to move to the likes of SQ, MH & CX later.

 

[whatmeworry]

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

Just got a reply from QF.

We really appreciate your time to contact Customer Care and we are grateful for your feedback you have provided.
We do our best to always care for our customers and can assure you that we appreciate the time it has taken to bring your experience to our attention. Please be assured that we are listening and continue to strive towards creating the world’s best flying experience. Your comments have been forwarded to management for their review.
Your support of Qantas is highly valued and we hope to have the chance to welcome you on board soon.

2 hours they send me an email spruiking their coughpy offers in the QF store.

 

[sumthinfornuthin]

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

It's a Qantas enhancement

we will all wake up and it will just have been another silly irish joke