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

[Aussie_flyer]

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

Whoops sorry points were for two people... the cost was $534.30 pp

Thats better

 

[legroom]

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

I re-read the info from Qantas about MASA (P, U, X, Z fare buckets).

It did warn that "...

1. From 26 June 2013 Any Seat Award bookings made 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...."

So, AFFers, we need to change gears in our thinking on how best to use these points now that MASA - for the purpose of gaining SCs - is becoming quite "expensive".

The old paradigm of shifting the slider to the left to match Classic rate is well and truly over.

QF simply refuses to match the Classic rates when it comes to ASA involving a roundabout, allowing only a point-to-point.

Your thoughts ?

 

[Deleted member]

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

Something else will come along, if not with QF then with a competitor.
In any event there will be winners and losers, and maybe just a shuffling of the deck chairs, if QF miscalculate then I expect they will give some ground.
I am already looking at how I will be doing my travel post 2014.
I suspect I may dispense with single airline loyalty and concentrate on special deals and sales.
At the end of the day loyalty is a double edged sword and if you live by the sword, be prepared to die by the sword.
But then in the overall scheme of things I doubt AJ will lie awake at night wondering where I will spend my travel $

 

[FrankC]

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

I re-read the info from Qantas about MASA (P, U, X, Z fare buckets).

It did warn that "...

1. From 26 June 2013 Any Seat Award bookings made 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...."

So, AFFers, we need to change gears in our thinking on how best to use these points now that MASA - for the purpose of gaining SCs - is becoming quite "expensive".

The old paradigm of shifting the slider to the left to match Classic rate is well and truly over.

QF simply refuses to match the Classic rates when it comes to ASA involving a roundabout, allowing only a point-to-point.

Your thoughts ?

I read that differently
Pre 26Jun, ASA were already priced higher then classic - when you include tax and fines

I hope my interpretation is correct: they were simply stating that points were higher for ASA compare to classic pre 26Jun and will continue to be higher for ASA compare to classic post 26Jun

And not saying that the points for ASA post 26Jun will be much higher than ASA pre 26Jun

Cheers

 

[MelUser]

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

I just phoned up and booked MEL SYD for next week in (U) ASA. No problem at all - the phone consultant knew exactly what to do and waived the booking fees etc.

Cost was just under 28000. So classic would have been 16000 so it's a 12000 point premium but I'm not sure what the points value. With fees and charges it would have been 22000 I think so then only a 6000 point premium with: (1) Complete flexbility - ie even for no show, (2) 1250 points back, (3) 40 SCs; and (4) 1 eligible flight.

 

[Pdl7]

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

I spoke too soon.

I had success today with the 1300 number.

Qantas has snatched failure out of the jaws of success
I received a call from Qantas about issues with my ASA booking. It didn't complete correctly, and now I have to pay $150 to complete it properly. :shock:

I did confirm with a CS supervisor that the way to book the cheap ASAs was to check Classic award availability online and then call up and ask for the ASA. In my case, the CS converted the Classic booking into the ASA (in U) and it didn't quote correctly. The CS has to start a new ASA booking...

Some interesting points
* One of the supervisors was very adamant that I can just book ASA's online (referring to the 'points plus pay' or 'pay as points' options). But she did agree that the only way to book an ASA into a Classic booking class was by ringing up
* The supervisors said that it was an issue with the first CS - but I pointed out it was a training issue and system issue. Blaming a particular CS doesn't solve the issue!! The last supervisor acknowledged this and said they were working on the training...
* I pointed out that I had access to the sale fares when I booked the ASA, but now don't. I was offered the sale Biz fare, but they couldn't access the sale Y class fares. (Conveniently the Virgin sale has ended as well...)
* I was given 5 separate costs for the BNE-MEL ASA for the same number of points (24k). The original booking was for $5. The first CS today said it was $121. The next CS said it was $12. Then said I should have been quoted $143, but it is $150. (The last $7 was the CC fee.)

A hour and a half wasted, had to pay more money because of a Qantas stuff up - not very impressed at all. Qantas flies for who??

(Does anyone else keep terribly mis-spelling ASA on their smart phone keyboard.)

I'm going to stop correcting it and just refer to them as cough's

 

[fall502]

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

Went to book business LHR to MEL for 2 people, all going well 256k points and ~$1058 then was told that the dollar cost was actually ~$2016 - this is nearly twice the amount that I paid when I booked going over to UK. First is now ~$1150 as well. Will probably book but did not expect a doubling of price. Also consultant knew what she was doing, only had to check regarding the waiving of the booking fee.

 

[Pdl7]

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

I received a call from Qantas about issues with my ASA booking. It didn't complete correctly, and now I have to pay $150 to complete it properly. :shock:

Some success returned - the last Qantas supervisor has called back and credited the $145 back. So all resolved back at the original 24k points plus $5

But heed the warnings in this thread. It won't be a smooth process booking an ASA....

 

[legroom]

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

Yes, it is still possible but you have to remember the new paradigm.

That is, it is not possible to bring the 'slider' to the left bringing the points down to Classic levels.

Those who claimed success with their roundabouts should qualify their routings vis a vis the minimum point requirements.

My roundabout request today could have been booked provided I had agreed to that paradigm.

I did not as it would bring the points per SC to 400.

Maybe I am still living in the pre-June era, slow to catch up.

W T .... (xx_xx_xx) !!!

A repeat call resulted in the slider being moved to the left matching Classics - after all the lectures I received yesterday.

I ended with what I am after - 300 pts per SC - all in 'U' i.e. a proper MASA.

For a roundabout !

Not the greatest but appropriate post June 26th

 

[Kangol]

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

I just phoned up and booked MEL SYD for next week in (U) ASA. No problem at all - the phone consultant knew exactly what to do and waived the booking fees etc.

Cost was just under 28000. So classic would have been 16000 so it's a 12000 point premium but I'm not sure what the points value. With fees and charges it would have been 22000 I think so then only a 6000 point premium with: (1) Complete flexbility - ie even for no show, (2) 1250 points back, (3) 40 SCs; and (4) 1 eligible flight.

Just to be clear, did you pay for the U class ASA with points only - i.e. 28,000 points all inclusive? Did you ask them how much the cash component would be if you only wanted to contribute 16,000 points?

Went to book business LHR to MEL for 2 people, all going well 256k points and ~$1058 then was told that the dollar cost was actually ~$2016 - this is nearly twice the amount that I paid when I booked going over to UK. First is now ~$1150 as well. Will probably book but did not expect a doubling of price. Also consultant knew what she was doing, only had to check regarding the waiving of the booking fee.

Do you mean GBP 1058 which when converted by QF, it became AUD $2016?

 

[clifford]

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

I just phoned up and booked MEL SYD for next week in (U) ASA. No problem at all - the phone consultant knew exactly what to do and waived the booking fees etc.

Cost was just under 28000. So classic would have been 16000 so it's a 12000 point premium but I'm not sure what the points value. With fees and charges it would have been 22000 I think so then only a 6000 point premium with: (1) Complete flexbility - ie even for no show, (2) 1250 points back, (3) 40 SCs; and (4) 1 eligible flight.

Yes, I just phoned the number and got a lady who efficiently booked my ASA (with just a little guidance from me). Exactly what I would have received with an online booking, plus a nice conversation with a pleasant lady. Surely that's an improvement?

 

[fall502]

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

Do you mean GBP 1058 which when converted by QF, it became AUD $2016?

Aussie dollars, consultant was giving per person cost not costs for 2 people. I thought that I would be quoted in GBP like the old website used to do but consultant did not mention GBP at all.

 

[MelUser]

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

"Just to be clear, did you pay for the U class ASA with points only - i.e. 28,000 points all inclusive? Did you ask them how much the cash component would be if you only wanted to contribute 16,000 points?"

I didn't ask - she did ask whether I wanted points plus pay - I think for 2 fares ie 28 x 2 = 56k she quoted around 32ooo points plus $300 something dollars - again as I was points only I didn't really pay attention.

 

[ermen]

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

The simple solution to counter this MASA mess is to simply allow people the option of earning points and SC's on a classic award by paying an extra fee equivalent to the price differential between a MASA and Classic.

Problem solved.

 

[timmitch]

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

Ok just rang up to do a fake booking on Adl-Mel-Syd return booked in "U" and was quoted 64,000 points with $415 spend how does that sound? I'm soooo lost with what things should cost its not funny

 

[Princess Fiona]

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

Ok just rang up to do a fake booking on Adl-Mel-Syd return booked in "U" and was quoted 64,000 points with $415 spend how does that sound? I'm soooo lost with what things should cost its not funny

Not sure as I've never booked that (SYD-MEL-PER is 72K rtn with similar co-pay).
I think we should give some serious thought to establishing a list of sorts on the minimum points plus pay of the common or garden Dom and Int ASA's at the "classic award levels" prior to the online booking removal.
We have been led to believe that these fares haven't (yet) been made extinct but must be booked via the telephone.

Unless I have seriously misunderstood things it should still technically be possible in the majority of cases where a Classic Award seat is available to book that seat as an ASA with the same amount of points and a slightly increased co-pay without requiring a second mortgage to do so.

 

[Newk]

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

Should we restart the infamous spreadsheet?

see the couple of posts above this post....the answer is "I reckon that would be a good idea"

 

[timmitch]

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

Forgot to add full points no cash was 111,300 points and was on phone for less than 10mins to a lovely lady named Bev that said I can't believe more people don't know about this and also said she reckons this method of booking will be here to stay as removing it will only piss off the priority frequent flyers

 

[Newk]

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

Timmitch: I'd guess that is too much. Something not quite right IMHO

 

[Rox]

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

Last night tried to book a JASA and was told firmly and categorically that ASA's are only available on the web and are four times the price of a classic award only an idiot would do that!

BVT: " Could you check with a supervisor, as the rules have recently changed, I think"
QFCSA: "I don't need to, I know I am correct. Is there anything else I can help you with?"

Civility would be a good start!

Sounds like a case of the Dunning-Kruger effect:

Dunning–Kruger effect
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia :
The Dunning–Kruger effect is a cognitive bias in which unskilled individuals suffer from illusory superiority, mistakenly rating their ability much higher than average. This bias is attributed to a metacognitive inability of the unskilled to recognize their mistakes.