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

[FuzzyAUS]

I booked a SYD-MEL earlier today for a flight tomorrow afternoon, took 9 mins in total which wasnt bad, the Scotsman at the other end of the phone knew exactly what i wanted, and was done...

On the downside (my fault) while I was deciding on flights someone took my return journey home next Saturday, so ended up paying for the flight home as the next JASA was 3pm (I wanted the 9:30am)

 

[Borisdog]

Just booked my second ever mASA, much more complicated than my first which was only a quick "there and back" job.

Rang up , got Gina. Gina didn't have a clue. Hung up, rang back and got Jess. Jess was onto it straight away. Mentioned she usually worked the help desk which was why she knew what she was doing.

Booked TSV-BNE-PER-MEL-BNE-TSV all in U for 108000 and $755 in less than 10 minutes, utterly pain free. Classic Award was 122K and $184

 

[Neeraj]

Hi folks, just rang up to book a mASA for MEL-NAN 19th april returning 1st May.

CSO had no clue it could no longer be done online and had to ring FF and ring me back. I was advised that I cannot book a marginal award seat due to the flights being operated by FIJI AIRWAYS even though it has a QF codeshare fligh number. apparently it must be QF flight number and metal. I didn't think that was correct, so thought I would ask the AFF members if that is the case?

Thanks for any help.

 

[AnonymousCoward]

I was advised that I cannot book a marginal award seat due to the flights being operated by FIJI AIRWAYS even though it has a QF codeshare fligh number. apparently it must be QF flight number and metal. I didn't think that was correct, so thought I would ask the AFF members if that is the case?

You can always check the T&C here:
Frequent Flyer - Using Points - Qantas & Jetstar Any Seat Awards

 

[AusTraveller]

Hi folks, just rang up to book a mASA for MEL-NAN 19th april returning 1st May.

CSO had no clue it could no longer be done online and had to ring FF and ring me back. I was advised that I cannot book a marginal award seat due to the flights being operated by FIJI AIRWAYS even though it has a QF codeshare fligh number. apparently it must be QF flight number and metal. I didn't think that was correct, so thought I would ask the AFF members if that is the case?

Thanks for any help.

Unfortunately that is correct. ASA is QF Metal only. All inventory books into the FJ code.

 

[serfty]

Unfortunately that is correct. ASA is QF Metal only. All inventory books into the FJ code.

As has been referenced up-thread, when these could be booked online there were circumstances where it was possible to select mASA's on QF flight codeshare numbers.

I observed this while researching a JASA on SYD-AKL and it was offered on QF321 the LA metal flight.

 

[Neeraj]

Unfortunately that is correct. ASA is QF Metal only. All inventory books into the FJ code.

Disappointing indeed. Points and pay is my next option I guess. Fairly bad return on points investment though.

 

[jaybeedee]

Just reiterate the comments above, if at first you don't succeed, hang up and dial again. Having said that I was told very clearly by the CSR on my first call that points plus pay was the only option other than classic awards for U class, even after I referred her to the Right on Q 7740. I had success when I rang the next morning (during the hours that the FF service centre is open, so maybe that is still a factor). The CSR said he would have to be careful as he didn't do many of these and he knew it as complicated and everything had to be done just right.

Only trouble is they tell me I didn't register for the DSC promotion (which I am sure I did) so at this stage I might not be moving up a status level :-(

 

[JMFK]

Just had to call up as some DSC's from a JASA earlier in Jan that hadn't posted but a few other flights had...turns out there was an issue and after a long hold and then a call back, it was all resolved and I have now hit Gold. 495 SC's to WP! A little run in LOTFAP should take care of that

Now I just need to work out the cheapest way to get to JFK or LGA from LAS in P class on AA. I welcome any tips!

 

[scallops]

Booked a JASA MEL-SYD (for Mrs Scallops and myself) and followed the expert advice provided on this site. The operator was very familiar with the process and the booking was made in minutes. Very pleased.

 

[flyingfan]

I placed three calls to the 1300 number today to make/fix ASA bookings.


CALL 1
Goal: book MEL-SYD-HKG
Agent: Carl
Time on phone: ~5 minutes
Outcome: Success (mostly-see later)
What happened: I quoted the instructions verbatim as per recommendations here verbatim: “I would like to book a Classic Award fare as an Any Seat Award please.” Carl was on to it and as my aim had me in MEL-SYD in J and SYD-HKG in P so quickly it almost made my head spin. He confirmed it was the type of booking that would earn points and SCs, calling it a "marginal Any Seat Award."


CALL 2
Goal: book NRT-SYD-MEL
Agent: Denise (the only one who answered ‘Qantas Premium’ that I heard)
Time on phone: <1 minute
Outcome: Fail
What happened: Denise started pricing my itinerary and then reported I’d need more points to reach the minimum required: I needed 116,000 and only had 107,000 left. Rethink required. I hang up and race off to organise a family transfer.


Then, between call 2 and 3, I look at my activity statement and see that instead of:
QANTAS & JETSTAR ANY SEAT AWARD 1 ADT REF
my MEL-SYD-HKG booking is listed as:
CLASSIC AWARD POINTS DEDUCTION 1 PASSENGER REF

Panic stations! And on then on to:


CALL 3:
Goal: fix first booking and book NRT-SYD-MEL
Agent: Nikki
Time on phone: 12 minutes
Outcome: Success (hopefully)
What happened: I asked Nikki to have a look at the MEL-SYD-HKG booking and said it seemed to be showing up as a Classic award despite what I’d asked for and what Carl had assured me was booked. Nikki had a look and assured me everything was what it was meant to be. She assured me I’d get points and SCs and made notes in the booking about our conversation to cover it. Then she put me on hold and a few minutes later came back saying there had been some issue which, she said, would have been picked up at some stage, however it was good that I called them about it now. She assured me it was fixed and I’d definitely get points/SCs.
I then asked to make another booking. She told me the minimum for NRT-SYD-MEL was not 116,000 but 72,000 after all. It took her about five minutes to make that booking (all in J).

 

[pagingjoan]

You can always check the T&C here:
Frequent Flyer - Using Points - Qantas & Jetstar Any Seat Awards

[Apologies if this appears as a double post. Sent but disappeared.]
Not difficult to see how confusion can arise. From the link above - and further apologies for formatting:
[TABLE="class: basic"]
[TR]
[TH="colspan: 2"]Any Seat Award Flight Features[TABLE="class: basic"]
[TR]
[TD]What can be booked?[/TD]
[TD]
Any available seat on:[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]

• Qantas flights with a QF flight number
• Jetstar flights with a JQ flight number

Plus you can combine a Qantas fare with selected flights on 43 partner airlines.~
[SUP]~[/SUP] Any Seat Awards are available on any flight with a QF or JQ flight number. As long as there is a seat available for sale, you can book a Qantas & Jetstar Any Seat Award. The points required for an Any Seat Award includes taxes, fees and carrier charges (except any local airport fees or charges collected at the time of check-in) are subject to change and are quoted at the time of booking. Qantas Points may not be earned on some fare types or on oneworld® alliance or airline partner flights. See the Airline Earning Table for eligible flights and earning classes. See more information and full terms and conditions.
[SUP]#[/SUP] A limited number of seats on selected partner airlines (as offered by Qantas at the time of booking) may be combined with your Qantas or Jetstar flights in a Qantas & Jetstar Any Seat Award. Partner airline flights which may be combined with Jetstar flights in an Any Seat Award are more limited than those which may be combined with Qantas flights. Jetstar partner airlines currently include Jetstar Asia (3K), Valuair (VF), Jetstar Pacific (BL) and Jetstar Japan (GK).

[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[geordieladinoz]

Only trouble is they tell me I didn't register for the DSC promotion (which I am sure I did) so at this stage I might not be moving up a status level :-(

OT but SWMBO didn't receive her DSC's whilst I did. A call to Premium and they were in her account inside 48 hours. They operator suggested that it didn't appear the offer had been activated on the system but SWMBO was adamant she activated it. I don't think the operator was ever going to win that battle!

 

[Jason04]

Tried to book tonight via Premium Desk.
Per - Adl QF668 4 Mar
Adl - Per QF587 9 Mar

Should be around 72,000 points plus taxes right?

Quoted 120,000 ish points plus payment. That seemed quite excessive, am I missing something?

 

[benjy]

Tried to book tonight via Premium Desk.
Per - Adl QF668 4 Mar
Adl - Per QF587 9 Mar

Should be around 72,000 points plus taxes right?

Quoted 120,000 ish points plus payment. That seemed quite excessive, am I missing something?

According to the spreadsheet, it should be 36,000 points and around $234 each way, sounds like your quote was a little off

 

[JessicaTam]

Just booked my second ever mASA, much more complicated than my first which was only a quick "there and back" job.

Rang up , got Gina. Gina didn't have a clue. Hung up, rang back and got Jess. Jess was onto it straight away. Mentioned she usually worked the help desk which was why she knew what she was doing.

Booked TSV-BNE-PER-MEL-BNE-TSV all in U for 108000 and $755 in less than 10 minutes, utterly pain free. Classic Award was 122K and $184

Just in case there is any confusion, that is not me!

 

[yo yo ma]

Only trouble is they tell me I didn't register for the DSC promotion (which I am sure I did) so at this stage I might not be moving up a status level :-(

I always take a screenshot of these things just in case... same when applying for a credit card with bonus sign-on points. You should have receieved an email when registered for the DSC promtion this time.

 

[AnonymousCoward]

Not difficult to see how confusion can arise. From the link above

I think the page is pretty clear (especially if you read the Notes section) that any QF or JQ seat can be booked (if there's a seat available) on QF marketed and operated flights, and a selected set of seats on partner airlines.

So, there's no general entitlement to book an ASA just because the there's a QF code. There's only a general entitlement when it's QF (or JQ) marketed and operated.

 

[pagingjoan]

I think the page is pretty clear (especially if you read the Notes section) that any QF or JQ seat can be booked (if there's a seat available) on QF marketed and operated flights, and a selected set of seats on partner airlines.

So, there's no general entitlement to book an ASA just because the there's a QF code. There's only a general entitlement when it's QF (or JQ) marketed and operated.

That may well be the intention. But clearly, from other posts, it is open to alternative interpretations - especially when reading the notes, with their reference to "any flight with a QF or JQ flight number", for example. Just saying I can understand the confusion arising.

 

[kevrosmith]

So if I can see CNS-BNE-LAX-JFK in J using the Classic Award engine, but the LAX-JFK sector is on AA, does this mean I wouldn't be able to book the whole itinerary as a JASA?

If I booked just the CNS-BNE-LAX on QF as a JASA, are there any ways of getting from LAX-JFK in J or F at bargain prices?