Has anyone had success with the call-up "Marginal" xASA's?

[gizzard]

The last 3 that I've booked including 3 calls to get prices and investigate options were to the standard QFF number on the back of my card. Did not bother with the masa line.

When I've booked these I've phoned the premium number and not bothered with the mASA one and the first thing that I ask is whether the person is working on the premium desk. If the premium lines are busy you end up with people on the general desk and you are more likely to struggle with a mASA from that point on. The reps on the premium desk know how to handle these by now and the booking can be made quickly from my experience.

 

[Newk]

When I've booked these I've phoned the premium number and not bothered with the mASA one and the first thing that I ask is whether the person is working on the premium desk. If the premium lines are busy you end up with people on the general desk and you are more likely to struggle with a mASA from that point on. The reps on the premium desk know how to handle these by now and the booking can be made quickly from my experience.

Thanks, that might be another pointer. Today on the first two calls I had long waits and the phone wasn't answered as premium desk.
MAYBE it will help those that have access to the premium desk to be sure they have it when attempting MASAs?

And I have an idea that JT was joking a tiny bit in a post a couple upthread

 

[Ansett]

Have never used the ASA Number always rang the Plat Line and made sure it was Premium CSR

 

[Robbi]

Have never used the ASA Number always rang the Plat Line and made sure it was Premium CSR

One day I hope to be sufficiently W'ked up to use that number

 

[Newk]

One day I hope to be sufficiently W'ked up to use that number

well, what you do is first book (and fly) lots of JASAs with the staff who know how to do it.

oh, hang on a minute

 

[medhead]

One day I hope to be sufficiently W'ked up to use that number

Feel free to use it - 131211. Still they might filter you out when you key in your FF number followed by the hash key.

 

[AusTraveller]

well, what you do is first book (and fly) lots of JASAs with the staff who know how to do it.

oh, hang on a minute

I was finally going to bite the bullet and book a couple of these. These reports are not making me feel any more comfortable with this manual process. I'm hoping that it is just a slow warm up to being back at work and that I get someone that knows what they are doing. I may call Monday. I will report if I have any success.

 

[Robbi]

I was finally going to bite the bullet and book a couple of these. These reports are not making me feel any more comfortable with this manual process. I'm hoping that it is just a slow warm up to being back at work and that I get someone that knows what they are doing. I may call Monday. I will report if I have any success.

My first couple of attempts were tiresome, but I got there in the end with support from Red Roo and peeps here. My last one went swimmingly all by myself.

Call in the day time if you can and be aware of what it should cost you in $ and points as per the following link:

Sucessful ASA Bookings booked at classic rates Reference Guide

Reminding them of ROQ7740 might be beneficial if they seem lost.

Don't be frightened to say "sorry, I'll try again later" and politely hang up and try again.

 

[Deleted User]

Call in the day time if you can and be aware of what it should cost you in $ and points as per the following link:

Said it once, will say it again, do not call in the morning hours, too much of a chance to get the NZ Call center... i have had 0% MASA booking success from that call center.

I find it helps to ask where the CSA is located, if it's in NZ then my advice is hang up if your seeking a MASA booking in U Class...!

 

[AusTraveller]

Thanks Robbi and Shintaro10x (and the many other contributors to this thread)

I feel like I have been given a pep talk, gloves are on, fists are clenched and I'm ready to go into the ring... On Monday, afternoon of course

 

[DontGetMeStarted]

Thanks Robbi and Shintaro10x (and the many other contributors to this thread)

I feel like I have been given a pep talk, gloves are on, fists are clenched and I'm ready to go into the ring... On Monday, afternoon of course

I seem to have had good luck on a Sunday and get the Hobart desk. They always seem to know what to do

 

[AusTraveller]

Thanks Noreen.

The Hobart team have been great with other issues so I might even give that a go. Thanks again

 

[Deleted User]

I seem to have had good luck on a Sunday and get the Hobart desk. They always seem to know what to do

Thanks Noreen.

The Hobart team have been great with other issues so I might even give that a go. Thanks again

+1 hobart csa's are the best...!

 

[cove]

Interesting observation Shintaro10x about the Kiwi call centre so if I hear one fufty or sexty number it is game over and restart later.

 

[Robbi]

Interesting observation Shintaro10x about the Kiwi call centre so if I hear one fufty or sexty number it is game over and restart later.

Listen for vowels, if there aren't any, hang up and try again

 

[garybatz]

So far I've just booked one JASA and experienced many of the issues others have had, mostly with the CSA telling me it was just a Points+Pay and I should book it myself online. When I try next time, if I get the same response I'll try referring them to the page on qantas.com.au that states that P+P and ASA are different products, with ASAs in certain classes not available for online bookings - as follows:
[h=2]How to Book an Any Seat Award Flight[/h]

• You can book up to 24 hours before scheduled departure (though some locations and fares require earlier advance booking), unless you are booking on qantas.com where you can book up to 2 hours before departure for domestic flights or up to 4 hours before departure for international flights.
• There are two ways to book an Any Seat Award flight:

1. Log in at qantas.com[SUP]**[/SUP], select your destination and travel dates, then select 'Search Flight'. On the 'Select' page check the 'View fares in Points' box above the flight options and select an available Qantas (QF) or Jetstar (JQ) seat.[SUP]#[/SUP] Once you have confirmed your preferred eligible Qantas or Jetstar seats, select the 'Use Points Plus Pay'[SUP]^^[/SUP] button and change the mix of Qantas Points and cash to your liking. Minimum points levels apply which are subject to change.
2. From 26 June 2013 Any Seat Award bookings made on Qantas marketed and operated flights in reservation classes X, Z, U or P cannot be made online at qantas.com. To make an Any Seat Award booking in these classes please call 1300 366 587 (dial in +61 2 8222 2430 from outside Australia). In most cases the points required for Any Seat Awards booked in these classes are higher than those required for a Classic Award in the same class of travel on the same flight.

This is the link to that page (apologies if others have already posted this but I can't see it on the now hundreds of pages on AFF on this topic):

Frequent Flyer - Using Points - Qantas & Jetstar Any Seat Awards

Cheers and good luck!

 

[Newk]

1. "From 26 June 2013 Any Seat Award bookings made on Qantas marketed and operated flights in reservation classes X, Z, U or P cannot be made online at qantas.com. To make an Any Seat Award booking in these classes please call 1300 366 587 (dial in +61 2 8222 2430 from outside Australia). In most cases the points required for Any Seat Awards booked in these classes are higher than those required for a Classic Award in the same class of travel on the same flight."

Indeed! Many thanks for the link. After my two refusals today I sought this out....it is buried deep but fairly easily found...and had it open in preparation with my third call. But it wasn't needed.
Good luck to all who try to sail on the good ship mASA

 

[legroom]

I saved that link as a personal bookmark labelled as 'MASA T & C'

At any moment, I could bring it up on the screen with a few keystrokes, bypassing the need to rack my brain looking for it from the thousands of AFF posts.

So far, I had no need for that yet (touch wood) but I did bring that up to provide a link upthread in this (rather long) post - on 2/3 occasions now.

I'm not surprised it is provided once again as no one could remember it unless they bookmark it.

I did suggest to the mods to include the link in the ASA Summary thread but my PM was unanswered.

 

[Robbi]

I saved that link as a personal bookmark labelled as 'MASA T & C'

I did suggest to the mods to include the link in the ASA Summary thread but my PM was unanswered.

I've posted it to the ASA thread and I'll ask if it can be added to the sticky at the top of the thread.

 

[madrooster]

+1 hobart csa's are the best...!

This has generally been my experience as well, and the same goes for your comment about the Kiwi team. Generally the premium desk in Camberwell (VIC) and the Hobart team are the ones you wish to always speak to.