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

[Newk]

re: Has anyone had success with the call-up method for "Marginal" xASA's?

Thanks also for your info, I'm going to book another for later in the year and hope to go the same way as I will be meeting up with a colleague en-route to PER

yes, I'm still trying to get my head around all of this.....how many have had success booking one of those lovely "why fly direct when you can connect" JASAs that cost that same as a direct flight but gave the extra SCs? And, yes, I have read this thread

I am still unsure if this is a big plot by Qantas to wind back the numbers of high status customers or a mere unintended side effect of "improving" their booking engine?

 

[dmccullo]

re: Has anyone had success with the call-up method for "Marginal" xASA's?

Success! (on the third try!)
JASA MEL-AKL return.

First consultant was adamant that it was not possible and I (foolishly) spent 30 mins trying to politely convince her that it was.
Gave up when her attitude changed from abrupt to condescending (I've been doing this a long time and if it WAS possible, I would know better than you!)

Second consultant was also unaware of the procedure. Rather than repeat my unsuccessful impromptu training session, I ended the call.

Third consultant (Tracy) was polite and competent. Booking complete in less than 10 mins.

Overall, 40-45 mins to book a flight that would have taken 5 mins prior to the enhancements. Welcome to the new world.

 

[RooFlyer]

re: Has anyone had success with the call-up method for "Marginal" xASA's?

<snip>
Gave up when her attitude changed from abrupt to condescending (I've been doing this a long time and if it WAS possible, I would know better than you!)

dmccullo - you are obviously mistaken . All QF operatives know by heart the current QF slogan. "You are the reason we fly."

 

[garybatz]

re: Has anyone had success with the call-up method for "Marginal" xASA's?

Success! (on the third try!)
JASA MEL-AKL return.

First consultant was adamant that it was not possible and I (foolishly) spent 30 mins trying to politely convince her that it was.
Gave up when her attitude changed from abrupt to condescending (I've been doing this a long time and if it WAS possible, I would know better than you!)

Second consultant was also unaware of the procedure. Rather than repeat my unsuccessful impromptu training session, I ended the call.

Third consultant (Tracy) was polite and competent. Booking complete in less than 10 mins.

Overall, 40-45 mins to book a flight that would have taken 5 mins prior to the enhancements. Welcome to the new world.

I also got the 'I've been here 10 years you know...' line. I felt like saying that hardly seemed relevant for a change that only happened a week before, but it was clear I was wasting my time. As I noted in my earlier post, fortunately the second consultant was a real gem & fixed everything

 

[ADLhighflyer]

re: Has anyone had success with the call-up method for "Marginal" xASA's?

I'm beginning to look at another JASA trip ADL-PER-KGI. In June I did a return trip for approx 48000 points and $350, but now looking for classic availability around December I'm finding that Business one way via PER is 36,000 points. Has the new website also increased the amount of points required or have I missed something?

 

[will2rob]

re: Has anyone had success with the call-up method for "Marginal" xASA's?

SUCCESS.
JASA PER - SYD return.

On my third attempt mind you. Held my ground when told it was not possible to make a Classic Award booking as an Any Seat Award. Sweetly asked if there may be a supervisor I could confirm this with. Was put on hold to have the original phone rep come back to me after five or so minutes, to tell me actually- it could be done. He still seemed very unsure of the process however; tried to tell me they could only apply MASA one way and the return journey had to be commercial fare (maybe this is how the internal booking system works it out now?!).

Anyway after approximately 38 minutes (half of which I swear was on hold)...we got there

Points to note:
- Once we found acceptable fares I was told they were not refundable. I queried this and after more hold music, was told they actually were.
- tried to charge me assisted booking fee of 3500 points. Queried this, on hold again and was then told actually, no fee.
- original points and $ amount quoted was not at JASA level. I had to tell him the point and $$ I wanted to use.
- both legs of the fare booked into 'U' class

Another amusing part of the conversation: rep had never heard of AFF (not that that's surprising), but I was merely trying to explain, or rather back-up a number of my assertions, such as why I shouldn't be charged booking fee etc. Rather humorous when he asked who was the official QF rep I kept referring to and I answered 'Red Roo'! His response: "never heard of 'im". Gold

I reckon I got the same rep the other week when I booked a JASA, almost word for word with the conversation I had, except that he did charge me the assisted booking fee of 3500 without telling me (subsequently reversed by another agent).

 

[sumthinfornuthin]

re: Has anyone had success with the call-up method for "Marginal" xASA's?

Hopefully just the one, not 72.

kabooooooom....!!!

 

[Isabelt28]

re: Has anyone had success with the call-up method for "Marginal" xASA's?

Hi guys, have been away for a week and I'm now just trying to unpick all this confusion!!

So, I'm kicking myself because I was going to book a JASA when I had the DSC but didn't have enough points and now it all seems to have gone wrong...

I want to do a status run, MEL-SYDNEY-ASP, not fussy when, sometime in Nov/Dec. When Imsearch under classic awards (to check availability prior to calling, ) it comes up as 72000 points. When I searched before as ASA it was 48000. Is it likely that when I call I should be able to get it for 48000 (plus $$$) ??

Any advice helpful )

 

[Aussie_flyer]

re: Has anyone had success with the call-up method for "Marginal" xASA's?

This stinks if pricing is based on actual miles flown rather than the direct mileage

 

[Newk]

re: Has anyone had success with the call-up method for "Marginal" xASA's?

This stinks if pricing is based on actual miles flown rather than the direct mileage

exactly, I am looking for reports of success with the "flying indirect" method.

(this was sooooooo much nicer when it could be done on-line )

 

[turtlemichael]

re: Has anyone had success with the call-up method for "Marginal" xASA's?

exactly, I am looking for reports of success with the "flying indirect" method.

(this was sooooooo much nicer when it could be done on-line )

HKG-MEL-BNE-CNS booked a week or so ago and reported above. 50K points plus $$. There were lots of more direct alternatives ( eg HKG-BNE-CNS, HKG-SYD-CNS) for the same day but I said what I wanted and it was accepted.

 

[Newk]

re: Has anyone had success with the call-up method for "Marginal" xASA's?

HKG-MEL-BNE-CNS booked a week or so ago and reported above. 50K points plus $$. There were lots of more direct alternatives ( eg HKG-BNE-CNS, HKG-SYD-CNS) for the same day but I said what I wanted and it was accepted.

Ok. Thanks. In retrospect I did see that. Good to hear. Thanks again.

 

[shambles]

re: Has anyone had success with the call-up method for "Marginal" xASA's?

HKG-MEL-BNE-CNS booked a week or so ago and reported above. 50K points plus $$. There were lots of more direct alternatives ( eg HKG-BNE-CNS, HKG-SYD-CNS) for the same day but I said what I wanted and it was accepted.

Yesterday I spent nearly 2 hours on the phone to the "ASA" number, trying to book (what used to be) a simple MEL-BNE-MEL JASA but wanting to use one of the options that routed via SYD to get the extra SC. I spoke to 5 different operators using all the terminology I've read on here, and whilst the staff were polite and constantly put me on hold for extended periods, none of them would issue the ticket for the 48000 points (plus circa $190) that it used to be. I was looking at the web screen simultaneously and knew the sectors were readily available as classic awards but every one of them insisted it had to be ticketed as a multi-stop and wanted to either charge 64000 points and reasonable $$, or actually ticket is as a "points plus pay" for more than the price of a regular J ticket. Most of the time was spent just trying to explain that I wanted to go "via" sydney. Obviously the staff booking screens don't display "via" options when they punch a route like MEL-BNE into their system. I had varied other comments from each operator including:
- We will have to charge you a 3500 point fee as per the website
- We dont do Any seat awards any more
- Why dont you book a classic award - it's easier
- I don't understand why you want to go via SYD

Nobody could do what I wanted, 2 hours of mine (and QF staff's) time wasted on what would of taken me 3 minutes a month ago.

For those of you who have managed to talk to someone who actually has done and understands an indirect JASA, please put the operator's name up here in neon

Virgin's not just calling... they are kicking down the door and smiling all the way to the bank. Looks like those already expanding VA lounges will need to extend their renno plans.

J

 

[gizzard]

re: Has anyone had success with the call-up method for "Marginal" xASA's?

I want to do a status run, MEL-SYDNEY-ASP, not fussy when, sometime in Nov/Dec. When Imsearch under classic awards (to check availability prior to calling, ) it comes up as 72000 points. When I searched before as ASA it was 48000. Is it likely that when I call I should be able to get it for 48000 (plus $$$) ??)

Yes, you should. I managed to book this for January 2014. It took 3 phone calls but that was just after the announcement of the new procedure. Just make sure you get an operator or, at least, a supervisor that knows what they are doing. If you don't think they do then don't waste your time with the, Just Hang Up And Call Again.

 

[Isabelt28]

re: Has anyone had success with the call-up method for "Marginal" xASA's?

Yes, you should. I managed to book this for January 2014. It took 3 phone calls but that was just after the announcement of the new procedure. Just make sure you get an operator or, at least, a supervisor that knows what they are doing. If you don't think they do then don't waste your time with the, Just Hang Up And Call Again.

Thank you Gizzard. Did you get it for 48000? And what was the cost, if you don't mind my asking? Also, did you do the return where you get straight back on the same plane?? If so, did you tell the phone operator what you were doing!?!?

Thus all seems so random and inconsistent, depending on who you get on the day??

 

[DaveB]

re: Has anyone had success with the call-up method for "Marginal" xASA's?

I hoisted the white flag refusing to use the latest initiative. Admire though the stamina and steely resolve of the faithful posting here.
The QF strategist trying to further kill demand should look to outsource the special ASA number to some foreign call centre, though based on the collective experiences, maybe they already have.

 

[Limewood]

re: Has anyone had success with the call-up method for "Marginal" xASA's?

Yesterday I spent nearly 2 hours on the phone to the "ASA" number, trying to book (what used to be) a simple MEL-BNE-MEL JASA but wanting to use one of the options that routed via SYD to get the extra SC. I spoke to 5 different operators using all the terminology I've read on here, and whilst the staff were polite and constantly put me on hold for extended periods

This absolute debacle continues on I'll bet VA is having a good chuckle over this madness, and talk about a waste of time and such a hit and miss as to who you get on the phone, something needs to be done about this now. I'm surprised the main media have not picked it up as yet.

 

[verduzzo]

re: Has anyone had success with the call-up method for "Marginal" xASA's?

This absolute debacle continues on I'll bet VA is having a good chuckle over this madness, and talk about a waste of time and such a hit and miss as to who you get on the phone, something needs to be done about this now. I'm surprised the main media have not picked it up as yet.

Hmmm...we want something done about this phone-up JASA debacle (for all the readers of this forum), yet we don't want JASA's to become a GenPub free-for-all?

 

[TheInsider]

re: Has anyone had success with the call-up method for "Marginal" xASA's?

Sorry to sound negative, but it seems like this was never a popular option when people were booking flights. The method to make these bookings via the phone hasn't changed since the start of ASA's (from what I've been advised), the backend of the booking system hasn't changed for agents.

 

[FrankC]

re: Has anyone had success with the call-up method for "Marginal" xASA's?

Sorry to sound negative, but it seems like this was never a popular option when people were booking flights. The method to make these bookings via the phone hasn't changed since the start of ASA's, the backend of the booking system hasn't changed for agents.

This is probably true, but on the other hand, I don't think too many ASA were booked thru the phone before the change over
My perception is that people that book ASA (as oppose to Classic) are mostly 'people in the know' and those same people would most likely book it online instead of thru the phone