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

[yo yo ma]

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

Booked a simple JASA BNE-SYD-BNE (32,000 points plus $216) over the phone... took 4 minutes... operator Maureen was brilliant!

 

[Limewood]

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

Booked a simple JASA BNE-SYD-BNE (32,000 points plus $216) over the phone... took 4 minutes... operator Maureen was brilliant!

Well done hope Maureen can train the others

 

[1022]

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

I just had a reasonably stress free call to book a one way SIN-SYD JASA at classic rate. The operator's first response was a flat "No. You can't get Any Seat Awards at Classic rates. They're very different types of awards".

With a little gentle persistence I asked her to look up QF82 on my travel date which fortuitously I'd seen a classic award still available in J. To her surprise the JASA came up at a low point spend. She became much more friendly from that point on!! She mentioned a couple of times "Only a select few people know about this. It's a great deal". She also got to the end of the booking and said that the booking fee would be waived - perhaps their computer script has been updated to prompt this now on this kind of booking?

The 1300 number is clearly a bit pointless seeing as calls are still going to people who need coaching through and who mention that it was all much easier when it could be done online. However getting the whole thing sorted in less than 10 minutes was a pleasant surprise. Still, being able to book these awards online - especially more complex multi-point itineraries would be sooo much simpler.

 

[RooFlyer]

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

Well done hope Maureen can train the others

At this point Maureen is probably wondering why every caller is asking after her

 

[TheInsider]

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

"Only a select few people know about this. It's a great deal". She also got to the end of the booking and said that the booking fee would be waived - perhaps their computer script has been updated to prompt this now on this kind of booking?

The 1300 number is clearly a bit pointless seeing as calls are still going to people who need coaching through and who mention that it was all much easier when it could be done online. However getting the whole thing sorted in less than 10 minutes was a pleasant surprise. Still, being able to book these awards online - especially more complex multi-point itineraries would be sooo much simpler.

Computer script is the same as normal, it prompts that the fee should be charged (like any other booking), they have to put in a waiver reason. So there is nothing new. There has been no changes in the years that these awards have been available for booking via reservations.

The 1300 number goes to ANY available reservation agent (premium for WP etc like usual), just bypasses the menu options.

As for 'only a select few people know about this', well that's true. It's mostly just AFFers and a few others. These are the "highly engaged members" that their memo stated to reservation agents.

 

[Isochronous]

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

Could we perhaps list names of agents like Maureen who are competent in this? We could then ring up and specifically request to speak to them.

 

[QF WP]

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

You're presuming that you ring when she is on shift - although as she was likely to be on Plat Desk, then you are a little more likely Isochronous.

For the rest of us, given the 24/7 call centre and multiple sites, we'd be lucky to score the same person ever again.

 

[Limewood]

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

One of my best friends is a ...... "Maureen" yes really, not at Q unfortunately.

 

[QF WP]

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

Okay, brains trust. I booked a JASA [BNE/MEL/PER] the night of the chageover (not at Classic rates: it was 52,619 points + $410.38) for 23 July. Now I need to change the dates (to mid to late August) and try as I might I cannot find similar flights without a steep increase in $ (direct are an increase ~$200, but via SYD or MEL are upwards of $667++)

I'm using the "change flight" button in my booking and searching for alternate U class availability firstly on Expert Flyer and mirroring the flights on the QF system.

Will this mean I need to subject myself to the CS call "roundabout" (if at first you don't succeed, hang up and try again)? Will I get charged a fee. Is the website designed such that they think the average person will just select the changes happily paying the uplift in fare?

 

[StatusRunner]

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

Mate, just ring up and they will change it free of charge providing the new flights have the same points redemption.

Well that was before the changes, but I had a previous JASA leg changed without incident, albeit It was June 2013BC

 

[Limewood]

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

Mate, just ring up and they will change it free of charge

Ask for Maureen

 

[QF WP]

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

I wish I could - alas, I'm back in the Gold pack, so off to the normal CS line for me

 

[QF WP]

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

Okay, rang and spoke to a most knowledgeable CSA Jan. Seems the reason I couldn't do the booking change online is because the online booking engine isn't pointing at the U class seats. She agreed with my new date and flights had U class available and that the 3,500 point booking fee was waived. She put me on hold whilst she tried to re-price it (expecting to see a big at $0.00) - and came back to me after a few minutes to confirm that their system was trying to do the same thing - she advised she needed to ring another Department. 3 mins on hold and it was done. Thanks StatusRunner.

 

[Timba-Jet]

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.

Whilst I agree it a debacle of situation. It is one thing for call centre staff to have variable knowledge, especially new and/or uncommon pork ducts and services. However the reports here indicate a consistent pattern of wrong and misleading information being to by QF staff. Not good enough Qantas, get your act together please.

However, to expect the media be interested in this, that's a bit much, us ASA fans are a blip in the overall customer base. It like unhappy customers who threat to go to ACA and TT when they don't get their way.

 

[asg29e]

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

Well, I suspect I have just booked my last ever JASA. Simple enough route, ADL-MEL, the guy had done it before and all done and dusted inside 10 minutes.

Why is it the last? With enough forward bookings to maintain WP until late 2015 it will be a while before I need to go out of my way for SCs. And I think QF's motives in all this is to make JASAs difficult, thereby reducing the numbers booked, thereby justifying their extinction in the coming review, so it is unlikely they will be available next time I want one.

What next? Domestic travel will probably go back to economy on whichever airline has the best deal. MY QFF points will be used for international classic J/F awards or upgrades until they are all gone. I am discovering the wonderful world of SQ and AA redemptions (first SQ suites trip coming up) and my credit card spend from now is very much biased to SQ.

So is anyone a loser out of all this? Not me; I'll still be sitting up the front for long haul travel. Qantas? Nah, they won't even notice I'm gone.

The game evolves, but it is sad; I will miss the thrill of chasing down a nice juicy JASA.

 

[medhead]

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

Get a bit OT here. But I looked at a classic award today ADL-CNS, the flight selection page showed the expected points cost of 72000. But when I clicked through to the next page the price jumped to 96000 points + $160. Extremely disappointing that even classic awards seem to be afflicted by going to multi sector pricing.

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 )

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

 

[Aussie_flyer]

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

Get a bit OT here. But I looked at a classic award today ADL-CNS, the flight selection page showed the expected points cost of 72000. But when I clicked through to the next page the price jumped to 96000 points + $160. Extremely disappointing that even classic awards seem to be afflicted by going to multi sector pricing.

AA looking good at 17.5k between any 2 points in AU/NZ

 

[Newk]

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

AA looking good at 17.5k between any 2 points in AU/NZ

is it getting to the stage where we need to talk about AA points in hushed tones?

Or is it such a small blip that it won't upset the powers that be at QFF

Oh, wait, ASAs are/were only a small blip apparently

 

[asg29e]

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

Get a bit OT here. But I looked at a classic award today ADL-CNS, the flight selection page showed the expected points cost of 72000. But when I clicked through to the next page the price jumped to 96000 points + $160. Extremely disappointing that even classic awards seem to be afflicted by going to multi sector pricing.

I think it is a glitch. Just looked at ADL-CNS-ADL and yes, on clicking through it goes from 72000 to 96000. But it will let you book two one way fares for 36000 each...

As a comparison, 2 days ago I booked a JASA ADL-BNE-TSV return for 72000 points + $154. (About $8 more than the price of the classic)

 

[gizzard]

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

Yes, I booked the immediate return flight. I was a bit embarrassed about booking it (but why should I be?) so warned the rep beforehand that she wouldn't understand what I was booking but I might change the flight anyway. The return was 48k points plus $377.30. I'm not sure how that compares with the pre-MASA price but I was prepared to pay it for the 240 SC, in fact, I booked 2 such trips to give myself a head start to retaining SG.