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

[JohnK]

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

I can only ask why you'd tell JessicaTam about your disappointment rather than telling qantas.

That seems to be the key difference, she told qantas of her disappointment and reported the reply here.

Because JessicaTam listened.

Qantas ignores me. Oh, apart from the request for a desktop in the Singapore lounge.

 

[whatmeworry]

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

The answer to this seems pretty obvious - they want your cash.....not your points.

Oh but QF still wants you to earn points so they can exhort their partners who they sell points to and make tonnes of cash off!

 

[whatmeworry]

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

Interesting paragraph:

Qantas' most recent figures showed a rise of almost 8 per cent in redemption rates for its loyalty scheme in March, compared with the same month in 2012.

Surely this wasn't the reason for the instigation of MASA's. to be an increase in redemptions increases the revenue (through the purchase of points) and a reduction in the liabilities...

Well this thread started in late March... Maybe their was some people in the know? Maybe it was members on AFF who booked ASA's? Or maybe it was EK bookings?

 

[codash1099]

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

One of my pet annoyances with the new system:

I try booking a SIN-HND Classic Award with flexible dates for (say) August 31. The calendar shows availability in Business and First (in near-indistinguishable colours). I select the date, get the red square around it, hit "Continue", and the page simply reloads without advancing.

Happens for me in either Safari or Chrome.

Had that happen to me too in Firefox. Problem went away without any action on my part.

Don't try for a multi city award. You can get all the way through to the last leg and find all the J availability has the dreaded "!". So you hit "back" to check a different day and you're back at the beginning. Grrrr!

 

[sumthinfornuthin]

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

Oh but QF still wants you to earn points so they can exhort their partners who they sell points to and make tonnes of cash off!

exhort or extort ???? possibly either/or ???

 

[oz_mark]

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

lol. it's not that we think qantas are idiots... red roo was on the record agreeing some of us are!

But which red roo?

Maybe they need to be numbered

 

[sumthinfornuthin]

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

Well this thread started in late March... Maybe their was some people in the know? Maybe it was members on AFF who booked ASA's? Or maybe it was EK bookings?

I think simply more people "addicted" and more agressive marketing of the QF program and more exposure in On Line newsletters etc.

Its a success so let's stuff it up ??

 

[JohnK]

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

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

So why wouldn't you have a website for tablets and smart phones and another website for desktops/laptops?

And better still have it automatically detect which device you are running and confirming which website you want loaded?

Too difficult to maintain?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

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

So why wouldn't you have a website for tablets and smart phones and another website for desktops/laptops?

And better still have it automatically detect which device you are running and confirming which website you want loaded?

Too difficult to maintain?

not at all. that is exactly what a lot of companies (and some airlines) do.

tiger is an example that springs to mind... I used them the other day and it automatically detects the tablet and gives you the 'easy' site for mobiles

 

[medhead]

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

I can only say that QFF will have to change the T&Cs to remove the cheap ASAs and provide the required notice, as the change is well within their control. Having said that I think they may have already changed the T&Cs to remove the reference to classic award fare buckets being avilable for ASA purchase. If so, it seems we are about to get another T&C change by stealth without even a nod to providing the required notice.

 

[Aus ATC]

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

I can only say that QFF will have to change the T&Cs to remove the cheap ASAs and provide the required notice, as the change is well within their control. Having said that I think they may have already changed the T&Cs to remove the reference to classic award fare buckets being avilable for ASA purchase. If so, it seems we are about to get another T&C change by stealth without even a nod to providing the required notice.

I'm going out on a limb here (and standing by to be shot down in flames), but is there any requirement for QFA to change their terms and conditions with the removal of "Classic priced" ASAs. Arguably the availability of the "classic priced" ASA is subject to the vagaries of yield management - which as we all know sees prices ($$) change day to day. While not disputing that (by stealth or otherwise) QFA are plotting to remove the "Classic equivalent ASAs", there does not seem to be any constraint removing them or in the significant increase in the cost of ASAs, if the T+C are read literally. ASAs are still available - just not at a price any sensible person would pay.

 

[amaroo]

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

Oh but QF still wants you to earn points so they can exhort their partners who they sell points to and make tonnes of cash off!

Seems like good business to me.

Filling both pockets as the same time........smart.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

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

I'm going out on a limb here (and standing by to be shot down in flames), but is there any requirement for QFA to change their terms and conditions with the removal of "Classic priced" ASAs. Arguably the availability of the "classic priced" ASA is subject to the vagaries of yield management - which as we all know sees prices ($$) change day to day. While not disputing that (by stealth or otherwise) QFA are plotting to remove the "Classic equivalent ASAs", there does not seem to be any constraint removing them or in the significant increase in the cost of ASAs, if the T+C are read literally. ASAs are still available - just not at a price any sensible person would pay.

is there a section specifically talking about ASAs in low fare buckets?

 

[MarcB]

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

Found another enhancement on the mobile app today...can't seem to book a business class airfare...at all.

When you search for a flight, when you clicked on the "from" prices flag, it used to drop down and show you all the options. Now it only shows you economy options. Have tried international and domestic. As there is no option on the main search screen to select business or economy, it appears you can only search for economy airfares. Can anyone else replicate this issue?

Edit: it's only trans tasman and domestic that are stuffed. Other international destinations allow you to select the class.

 

[NM]

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

[Mod Hat]
This thread is long enough and covering lots of content as it stands. No need to add to the clutter in this thread. The Playground is for posting clutter. Please stick to the topic.
[/Mod Hat]

 

[Red Roo]

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

not at all. that is exactly what a lot of companies (and some airlines) do.

tiger is an example that springs to mind... I used them the other day and it automatically detects the tablet and gives you the 'easy' site for mobiles

I am providing feedback to the online team daily and I have passed this thought on.

 

[RooFlyer]

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

I am providing feedback to the online team daily and I have passed this thought on.

Ah! Could this result in a 'Road to Damascus' (sensu lato) moment for Qantas IT? (Put on shades )

I believe the concept has appeared a number of times in this thread already. Clever people here at AFF

 

[opusman]

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

If I could ask Red Roo one question it would be this:

Was the change to "marginal ASAs" (call them what you will):
A) Driven by doubt about their future (because someone at Qantas doesn't like them and thinks they should go), or
B) Brought about purely because of limitations in the new booking engine (because it can't handle them)?

If the answer is A then it's really curious that they are having this "three month review period". To me it seems like it would have made more sense to just kill them altogether rather than go through the trouble of training phone staff, setting up a separate number, etc, when those in charge really want to get rid of them. That's why I suspect this was driven by technological limitations in the new booking system, i.e. the answer to the above question is B.

If that's the case then presumably the three month review period is to assess how popular they really are and whether it's worth spending the effort on upgrading the booking engine to handle them again. I can't believe they would persist with phone bookings for them indefinitely, so I'm guessing at the end of the three months they will either be killed off completely, or added back to the booking system.

As an aside, it's ridiculous that they went to the time (and presumably expense) of developing a new booking engine that is less capable than the previous one was. Whoever was responsible for that would be looking for a new job if I was in charge.

 

[cambriamarsh]

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

If I could ask Red Roo one question it would be this:

Was the change to "marginal ASAs" (call them what you will):
A) Driven by doubt about their future (because someone at Qantas doesn't like them and thinks they should go), or
B) Brought about purely because of limitations in the new booking engine (because it can't handle them)?

If the answer is A then it's really curious that they are having this "three month review period". To me it seems like it would have made more sense to just kill them altogether rather than go through the trouble of training phone staff, setting up a separate number, etc, when those in charge really want to get rid of them. That's why I suspect this was driven by technological limitations in the new booking system, i.e. the answer to the above question is B.

there's a comment elsewhere on exactly this point. Maybe if we keep making lots of noise well-priced ASAs will remain.

 

[opusman]

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

Maybe if we keep making lots of noise well-priced ASAs will remain.

I suspect it would be more effective, if the above is indeed the case, to keep booking lots of ASAs over the phone I'm not sure noise in here really has much effect.