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

[SteveJohnson]

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

Loos like it's definitely happening this time, maybe the media are about to be briefed or an embargo is about to lift, AusBT just tweeted:

Heads up: 'enhancements' to Qantas Frequent Flyer program are on the way – full details later this arvo (and yes, Qantas used the 'E' word)!

https://twitter.com/AusBT/status/349381782275227648

 

[oz_mark]

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

Briefing is at 4 pm apparently

 

[medhead]

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

From a business perspective I can see why QF would want to increase the difference in points/cash needed between Classic Awards and ASAs. The logical way to do this is get rid of ASAs at classic points level, or make them harder to get.

They've already made them more expensive. Still classic points level with a higher cash payment. (Ignoring the YASA can be had at a discount to classic points level) Now they are going to make them harder to get as well? That doesn't really make sense especially given the potential increase in call centre cost. They've only just increase the cost of ASA, why add another $50 now and not wait a few months? Why not just increase the points cost/cost of saving a point again? So still classic points level with a higher cash payment, while not increasing call centre costs.

 

[Orca]

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

So in other words, I should be booking my JASA BNE xSYD CNS for August now rather than later... given later may never come...?

 

[casanovawa]

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

Loos like it's definitely happening this time, maybe the media are about to be briefed or an embargo is about to lift, AusBT just tweeted:



https://twitter.com/AusBT/status/349381782275227648

No, no, no, its an improvement....

 

[TheInsider]

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

Why am I thinking it may be something to do with Qantas Cash?

 

[Danger]

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

Loos like it's definitely happening this time, maybe the media are about to be briefed or an embargo is about to lift, AusBT just tweeted:

https://twitter.com/AusBT/status/349381782275227648

Oh dear. I thought Qantas had learnt its lesson on that.

Briefing is at 4 pm apparently

This is concerning, I would have thought. Surely there's no need for a briefing on a change as simple as moving classic ASA bookings to phone only. Is there something else happening that we've missed?

 

[serfty]

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

Oh dear. I thought Qantas had learnt its lesson on that.



This is concerning, I would have thought. Surely there's no need for a briefing on a change as simple as moving classic ASA bookings to phone only. Is there something else happening that we've missed?

Maybe look at post #1 of this thread ... :idea:

 

[oz_mark]

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

Why am I thinking it may be something to do with Qantas Cash?

Could be that as well. We'll know later today!

 

[simongr]

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

So the current process is scour the website for ASA at classic rates and book.

The new process will be to scour the website for classic awards and then call to book as an ASA.

This is the sky falling?

 

[penegal]

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

They've already made them more expensive. Still classic points level with a higher cash payment. (Ignoring the YASA can be had at a discount to classic points level) Now they are going to make them harder to get as well? That doesn't really make sense especially given the potential increase in call centre cost. They've only just increase the cost of ASA, why add another $50 now and not wait a few months? Why not just increase the points cost/cost of saving a point again? So still classic points level with a higher cash payment, while not increasing call centre costs.

Yes, the price has crept up, but they are still good value (classic price + $x for SCs and points, where x is small is still good value)

Assuming you can book exactly the same ticket for exactly the same price, just only via the call centre, I agree that would be silly... Things should always be cheaper for both parties online because the cost to service is so much lower online.

However, I would be surprised if that was the whole story.



Also, with things like this it is worth remembering that highly engaged FFs (e.g. AFF) are a tiny proportion of all Qantas Frequent Flyer members, and even the pool of elite members.

 

[ReLoad]

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

Firstly thanks again to those who posted with the info, really appreciate your willingness to share your information, please turn left on boarding and hop in row 1.

To the nay Sayers and people who just wish to be negative nancy please kindly turn right after boarding and head to row 107.

Now on to the topic. Seriously QF.... You better come up with something super special or you are in for some serious pain. - I can just picture the sigh on the end of the phone when I ring the premium desk and say" can I please have all the dates from now on that there is a JASA available to LAX from BNE, MEL and SYD. Thanks "

On the surface seems like a bad decision

 

[MEL_Traveller]

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

So the current process is scour the website for ASA at classic rates and book.

The new process will be to scour the website for classic awards and then call to book as an ASA.

This is the sky falling?

it's the additional charge, per pax.

the statement from red roo was very clear that they are looking for ways to improve the customer experience. and that ASAs are here to stay.

no one can say that an additional charge for the call centre is an improvement to our experience. which leads me to believe that this simply can't be true because the loss of credibility would be too great. it might be available via the call centre but with fee waived.

 

[TheInsider]

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

Also, with things like this it is worth remembering that highly engaged FFs (e.g. AFF) are a tiny proportion of all Qantas Frequent Flyer members, and even the pool of elite members.

Very true. AFF and it's members are a very small percentage of FF members. Not having a dig at any member, just saying.

 

[tuapekastar]

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

QF has finalised their decision on the ASA situation. From tomorrow 26th June when the new search engine is fully functional ASAs that contain the same inventory as classic awards being P, U, Z, X will NOT be available on Qantas.com - you will still be able to book these as ASAs but only through the call centre - you need to specify. QF did in fact want to remove the ASA completely but thanks to this thread saw the backlash it decided against it.

Before you ask the source, I have seen the internal staff memo on this like I had right from the beginning - so for the source all I can say is BOYA.

This is the last post from me as some of the disgusting comments and sarcasm doesn't make it a welcome place to be. Had lots more info I could share which would've benefited a lot of people on here but the smug attitude of some makes it pointless. Not putting up with rubbish from some narrow minded people on here.

Disappointing, but not entirely surprising that you got some of the unfortunate reactions you did. I thank you for your contributions and hope you decide to stick around - you will get all manner of responses to unpalatable news here and just have to be prepared to 'wear a few' if the info you provide is not what people want to hear, and/or does not pan out exactly as reported.


As for ASAs, well depending on the ASA being purchased it is not necessarily a huge points impost to do it on the phone, but a massive PITA not being able to search online for them. I'm sure many are prepared to search out all sorts of weird and whacky routings to get ASAs at a 'price' they want - I'm not sure the rez people will be as keen to do it for us (though that said I once witnessed a friend spend 2 to 3 hours on the phone to QF to get 3 x biz class awards on a RTW trip. Creative routings were found but missed out on J one flight, so declined the whole lot, rang back the next day, and 90 minutes later had the seats - so some agents certainly seem to go the extra mile.

Will be interesting to hear the final exact outcome, and see what creative methods may be devised here to assist in the process.

 

[penegal]

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

So the current process is scour the website for ASA at classic rates and book.

The new process will be to scour the website for classic awards and then call to book as an ASA.

This is the sky falling?

Or seat alerts on expert flyer?

I didn't think that they sky would ever fall. Even if all ASAs really vanished (which they aren't - Alan Joyce, Lesley Grant and Red Roo have all gone on record to say they aren't), the world would not end. It would merely be harder to earn QFF status. I suspect the real change here is making it harder to buy "cheap" ASAs and/or generally creeping the price up via some other means.

 

[Danger]

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

Maybe look at post #1 of this thread ... :idea:

Are you referring to the removal of ASAs entirely?

 

[simongr]

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

it's the additional charge, per pax.

the statement from red roo was very clear that they are looking for ways to improve the customer experience. and that ASAs are here to stay.

no one can say that an additional charge for the call centre is an improvement to our experience. which leads me to believe that this simply can't be true because the loss of credibility would be too great. it might be available via the call centre but with fee waived.

I guess for me an extra 3000 points on a 250,000 award aren't a big deal and a long way away from the original thread title "QF are removing ASAs".

 

[Alanslegal]

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

Very true. AFF and it's members are a very small percentage of FF members. Not having a dig at any member, just saying.

Yes we are a small group BUT the biggest part is because most of us are frequent flyers, our family, friends, colleagues, acquantances et al believe that we know what we are talking about ........ so if we tell them that QF sucks big time or what not, they often dial in and listen to our POVs.

 

[tuapekastar]

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

So the current process is scour the website for ASA at classic rates and book.

The new process will be to scour the website for classic awards and then call to book as an ASA.

This is the sky falling?

If that is exactly how it turns out then that is not too bad. A few extra points or $$$, but still get the ASAs and resulting points/SCs. We'll find out sometime after 4!