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

[NM]

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

In light of the definition of an any seat award in the T&Cs, the fact that they are not called any seat awards online suggests otherwise.

Also the fact that online booking have a fixed minimum of 5000 points and not a minimum aligned to the classic award minimum. This would suggest a significant change to any seat awards post 26 June and yet QFF members have not been notified of a change to the terms and conditions of the program.

I suggest that reducing the minimum points required is actually an enhancement in the true sense of the word, and of benefit to QFF members, so can be implemented immediately and not require prior notification or a change to the terms and conditions.

Functionally I see the Points + Pay and Any Seat Award as being one and the same thing. I do not see the use of one term on the web site and the other term in the T&C as anything other than different terminology for the same thing. But if it really is causing confusion, perhaps a clarification could be added to one or the other (booking site or T&C). But I would only see it as a clarification not a significant change to either. To me, the intent that Points + Pay and Any Seat Award are one and the same thing is clear.

 

[oz_mark]

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

Functionally I see the Points + Pay and Any Seat Award as being one and the same thing. I do not see the use of one term on the web site and the other term in the T&C as anything other than different terminology for the same thing. But if it really is causing confusion, perhaps a clarification could be added to one or the other (booking site or T&C). But I would only see it as a clarification not a significant change to either. To me, the intent that Points + Pay and Any Seat Award are one and the same thing is clear.

Given that the one of the instructions to make an 'Any Seat Award' is to use the 'Point Plus Pay' mechanism, I doubt there is much difference

There are three ways to book an Any Seat Award flight:

Log in at qantas.com**, select your destination and travel dates, then select 'Search Flight'. On the results page check the 'View fares in Points' box above the flight options and select an available Qantas (QF) or Jetstar (JQ) seat. Once you have confirmed your preferred eligible Qantas or Jetstar seats, select the 'Use Points Plus Pay'^^ button and change the mix of Qantas Points and cash to your liking. Minimum points levels apply which are subject to change.

 

[codash1099]

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

As others I find it interesting that they have done all THIS and still have the ! fares.

And almost invariably, the "!" fare all have the longest leg in Y. They should be classed as Y with !.

 

[Mr_Orange]

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

And almost invariably, the "!" fare all have the longest leg in Y. They should be classed as Y with !.

Yes, that really ticks me off too.

I can handle a domestic connection in Y showing up on a J search. However, if an international sector is in Y, it just shouldn't show up at all when searching for J, IMO.

 

[medhead]

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

Change of the minimum points required in such a way is not really something that I would have thought was limiting to the member.

I suggest that reducing the minimum points required is actually an enhancement in the true sense of the word, and of benefit to QFF members, so can be implemented immediately and not require prior notification or a change to the terms and conditions.

Functionally I see the Points + Pay and Any Seat Award as being one and the same thing. I do not see the use of one term on the web site and the other term in the T&C as anything other than different terminology for the same thing. But if it really is causing confusion, perhaps a clarification could be added to one or the other (booking site or T&C). But I would only see it as a clarification not a significant change to either. To me, the intent that Points + Pay and Any Seat Award are one and the same thing is clear.

I've re-read my post to confirm that I didn't make any comment about the new minimum being good or bad. The point remains that this is the behaviour that was previously only associated with points plus pay. I'm not sure why you feel to need to try to answer that by talking about a different thing entirely.

As for the T&Cs they clearly say that an any seat award must be called an any seat award to be an any seat award. All of which means that what is on the website is not an any seat award. We do not have the luxury of ignoring the T&Cs, I'm amazed that any one can defend such from qantas.

There is also the fact that the qantas website beyond the T&Cs also classifies points plus pay as a payment type not an award. Points plus pay can be used to pay for ASA or cash fares. What is presented on the website involves using points plus pay to book cash fares.

 

[MYT105]

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

Functionally I see the Points + Pay and Any Seat Award as being one and the same thing. I do not see the use of one term on the web site and the other term in the T&C as anything other than different terminology for the same thing. But if it really is causing confusion, perhaps a clarification could be added to one or the other (booking site or T&C). But I would only see it as a clarification not a significant change to either. To me, the intent that Points + Pay and Any Seat Award are one and the same thing is clear.

The functionality maybe the same but there is a significant difference between them. Points + Pay is only for commercial seats, so excludes and classic award seats, Any Seat Award by the inclusion of the word "Any" means it is any seat on the plane be it a classic award seat or a commercial seat that is unsold for dollars or points.

So while you can do points and pay you can't do an Any Seat Award booking online after the upgrade, regardless of what Red Roo says here, so for me it is a big step backwards not being able to do them online and being able to search and optimise routing and points cost on various routes before making the final commitment to take it. In June just before the enhancement to the site I spend a few hours looking at different options to workout if it was worth it to do a SC run to get to 2400sc's as i was only a 105 short so there was a few hours over a number of days doing varying combinations to see what was available and practical, but as it turns out I didn't need to book any as some work travel turned up to get me over the line. I have booked 2 JASA seats previously, as I think they are better value then a straight classic award when at the same points cost and only marginally more dollars, but have not flown any, as one was for my wife to join me for a holiday and the other was cancelled when my flight was changed and rerouted direct, which is where it is good that they are fully refundable.

 

[Limewood]

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

To get every QFF member out of the dark why don't they simply insert onto the booking web site what is in the AFF sticky above, can't be that hard...

If you want to book an Any Seat Award that books into the Classic Award fare classes, follow this process:

1. Check on-line for classic award availability. If Classic Award availability exists, proceed to next step.
2. Call the new special phone number (1300 366 587) 9am-5pm EST Mo-Fr and ask "I would like to book a Classic Award fare as an Any Seat Award please".
3. You should not be charged any Telephone Assistance Booking Fee for the reservation
4. If the agent does not understand the request, ask them to check with a supervisor and try reversing the request above to "I would like to book an Any Seat Award in X/Z/U/P class" [these are the classic award fare classes for economy/premium/business/first]

Then once common sense has returned and we are able to book ASA's back online, they can remove it!!

 

[sumthinfornuthin]

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

To get every QFF member out of the dark why don't they simply insert onto the booking web site what is in the AFF sticky above, can't be that hard...

If you want to book an Any Seat Award that books into the Classic Award fare classes, follow this process:

1. Check on-line for classic award availability. If Classic Award availability exists, proceed to next step.
2. Call the new special phone number (1300 366 587) 9am-5pm EST Mo-Fr and ask "I would like to book a Classic Award fare as an Any Seat Award please".
3. You should not be charged any Telephone Assistance Booking Fee for the reservation
4. If the agent does not understand the request, ask them to check with a supervisor and try reversing the request above to "I would like to book an Any Seat Award in X/Z/U/P class" [these are the classic award fare classes for economy/premium/business/first]

Then once common sense has returned and we are able to book ASA's back online, they can remove it!!

pinch yourself....the reality is most people don't have the time during the day. I bet most JASA's were booked after 7:00 pm at night and on Saturday/Sunday when we did it ourselves On Line

On a positive note it could be like fishing on a blackberry infested creek...hard to get to the water but less competition from other less inspired fishermen ( or women...I'm no mysoginist) and well worth it when you get there even though you get slightly scratched in the process ?

 

[Princess Fiona]

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

Playing devils advocate here, if the special number diverts to random agents based on status who may or may not know the rules, what's to stop anyone calling the direct number on their FF card and circumventing the special number?

 

[will2rob]

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

Changed one of my domestic JASAs to a Singapore run the other day after hours using just the normal 131131 number and spoke to a booking consultant who was very au fait with "marginal JASAs", status runs and the current changes. The consultant ended up booking me into SYD-BNE-SIN-BNE-MEL-SYD in J for what has ended up costing 72k points and $1070 in total. I had been quoted a co payment of $1500 for SYD-SIN-SYD earlier in the week from another consultant. During my call with the second consultant, I gleaned the following:

1) The "dedicated" number just routes your call to the same booking agents you get when you ring 131131, depending on your status. However, they have been instructed to only book marginal ASAs during business hours.

2) the consultant virtually confirmed that "marginal" ASAs are going to be phased out " by September"

3) the consultant strongly advised that I put in a complaint to Qantas over the changes. The consultant opined that Qantas does take customer complaints seriously and they would probably reconsider if there was enough of a consumer backlash.

 

[will2rob]

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

Playing devils advocate here, if the special number diverts to random agents based on status who may or may not know the rules, what's to stop anyone calling the direct number on their FF card and circumventing the special number?

Nothing. See my previous post. The only reason I can think of to set up the special number is perhaps to make tracking of call volumes regarding ASAs easier.

 

[Ansett]

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

Nothing. See my previous post. The only reason I can think of to set up the special number is perhaps to make tracking of call volumes regarding ASAs easier.

we should all call atleast 2 or 3 times a day LOL

 

[RooFlyer]

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

<snip>

1) The "dedicated" number just routes your call to the same booking agents you get when you ring 131131, depending on your status. However, they have been instructed to only book marginal ASAs during business hours.

2) the consultant virtually confirmed that "marginal" ASAs are going to be phased out.

<snip>

Yeah, isn't that funny.

Same customer, with same request.

Same phone routing to an agent.

Same call agent answers, with same ability to book MASA, with all the skills (if you are very lucky).

BUT because its 1 minute past the 'business hours' cut off .... no can do.

"Sorry, try again tomorrow when you are supposed to be working."

"But can't you just do it now?"

"I can, but I've been told not to. Remember, you are the reason we fly."


How much respect do we have for Qantas in all of this?

 

[Buzzard]

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

how much respect do we have for qantas in all of this?

s f a

........

 

[kooky]

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

I know ... I'm already looking at GBP2000 AY J flights out of LHR-HKG/SIN, pairing that up with a QF classic award to SYD/etc, I don't see why I should be putting all my spend through QF anymore, they're becoming way too overpriced. Saving money by offloading the underperforming FRA routes is fine, I can understand the financial argument, but why alienate their most loyal customers? You lose them and they never come back. I can't see the financial reasoning behind it. There HAS to be a financial reason behind it, companies don't do these kinds of things just cause there's too many people in the lounge or whatever.

 

[whatmeworry]

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

To get every QFF member out of the dark why don't they simply insert onto the booking web site what is in the AFF sticky above, can't be that hard...

If you want to book an Any Seat Award that books into the Classic Award fare classes, follow this process:

1. Check on-line for classic award availability. If Classic Award availability exists, proceed to next step.
2. Call the new special phone number (1300 366 587) 9am-5pm EST Mo-Fr and ask "I would like to book a Classic Award fare as an Any Seat Award please".
3. You should not be charged any Telephone Assistance Booking Fee for the reservation
4. If the agent does not understand the request, ask them to check with a supervisor and try reversing the request above to "I would like to book an Any Seat Award in X/Z/U/P class" [these are the classic award fare classes for economy/premium/business/first]

Then once common sense has returned and we are able to book ASA's back online, they can remove it!!

No Qantas does not do common sense but hey you are the reason we fly!

 

[sumthinfornuthin]

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

No Qantas does not do common sense but hey you are the reason we fly!

I would have thought that the aim should have been to get the liabilities of the zillions of accrued points off their books and get/keep QFF members on qantas planes. all these points sitting there are a major liability on their Balance sheet, surely ?

Will be interesting to see what happens in 12 months if the ASA's in the form we know and love are still there. I am currently WP and will possibly drop back to SG on renewal and fall off the tree after that as I am burning my points on simple Classic bookings until my 7 figures points are gone.

i am now accruing in CITIBANK and AMNEX REWARDS rather than sweeping into Qantas FF and I reckon that gives me the flexibility now to get the best deal rather than just fly QANTAS including payin for my own Business seats using tips on this site as I have done in the past.

 

[Anna]

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

With the non AFF general public making statements like this one I've heard since the ASA changes, perhaps it will backfire on QF and not just inconvenience AFFers -

"QF just raised the points costs for all their flights and now you can't book an international flight to anywhere for less than a million points"

 

[Ansett]

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

With the non AFF general public making statements like this one I've heard since the ASA changes, perhaps it will backfire on QF and not just inconvenience AFFers -

"QF just raised the points costs for all their flights and now you can't book an international flight to anywhere for less than a million points"

Hi Anna I dont think that QF have fully thought this through they say classic awards are still available and are indicated by a tick box however as your statement above shows many people are not seeing this and thus click the points box and see the MEGA points foran ASA.

it is made even more difficult and confusing when the novice hits the award button immediately below the flights button and ends up in a never ending circle back to the same awards page when they click on the BOOK NOW

Again the novice would probably end up returning to the main Flight booking section and be horrified. This is definitely going to bite QF in the seat of there pants

We are fortunate in that we generally know the website and yet are having problems so can fully understand the misconception that the average non frequent frequent flyer has in relation to points redemption value on QF.

I only hope that QF come to there senses and make a U turn and return us all bacl to some normailty.

in the mean time whilst I will still need to fly QF for work on SOME domestic flights I have just booked flights on SQ in J to LHR due to better pricing and wanting to maintain options. My loyalty to QF has been enhanced in the same way that QF have enhanced the features of the website and FF programme.

All of my International Travel will now be based on the best price and timing so I am guessing I will be flying a lot more on MAS and SQ.

 

[Ansett]

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

For those of us questioning as to wheter a points Plus Pay is the same as an ASA then please see below copied from the QF Website home page. Down the bottom is a section called important information is small print

When you book a flight through Flight Bookings you may be given the option to use Points Plus Pay instead of just money on some flights. Flights booked as Points Plus Pay are booked as an Any Seat Award. The Flight Booking engine will not show you all available Any Seat Award flights and there may be other Award flights (both Classic and Any Seat) available for the same itinerary at different or lower points levels via our regular Award Flight booking engine, so it always pays to check what flights are available through the Award Booking engine which you can access through the 'Award Bookings' tab.

The Award Bookings tab allows you to view Qantas & Partner Classic Award flights and Qantas & Jetstar Any Seat Award flights that can be booked online. You can use Points Plus Pay through the Award Flights booking engine to reduce the number of points you need above the quoted minimum. However, the minimum points levels needed to book an Any Seat Award through the Points Plus Pay options on 'Flight Bookings' are usually lower, so check both.

To me this appears to show that ASA and points Plus Pay are two entirely different things IMHO

Although at the moment the book through the ""Award Booking Tab" ïs a waste of time as it is NOT working