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

[kermatu]

Booked my last ASAs last night. Very easy, quick and nice phone operators (I mistakenly went to domestic premium line first) who knew exactly what to do and commented on the rush on ASAs at the moment.

Not sure if this will fit in spreadsheet as booked in 2 large ASAs, so posting here. Multi-sector flights, all in Business class, for May and June next year:

CBR-SYD-MEL-AKL // AKL-BNE-PER // PER-MEL-BNE-CNS 120,000 points cost, co-pay $1700, SCs 520 (I think). Classic was 134,000 points and $400 co-pay.

CNS-BNE-MEL-ADL // ADL-MEL-AKL // AKL-BNE-MEL // MEL-SYD-CBR 124,000 POINTS, CO-PAY $1400, SCs 500. Classic was 124,000 and $340 co-pay.

All my own selected flights, with decent connection times and F Lounge opportunities. Co-pay a bit higher than hoped (maybe a mistake to not book separately), but am using the trip to visit friends at locations, so not just a pure status run (though extra legs definitely for that purpose).

While I have been very underwhelmed by P1 this will position me close enough to go for it in my 2015 year if for no other reason than a soft landing to WP in 2017 - can't see I'll travel anything but best fare on any airline / class beyond my already booked 2014 and 15 flights unless QF ups the love in the meantime.

 

[ketsuzei]

Booked my last ASAs last night.

Very nice work. And your ticket numbers have already come through?

 

[kermatu]

Yes. Both within 20 minutes. And correct references on statement for points reduction (I still have one ASA which shows up as a classic on the statement, despite 2 assurances it is an ASA).

Very nice work. And your ticket numbers have already come through?

 

[ketsuzei]

Yes. Both within 20 minutes.

Thanks. I'm obviously going to need to make another phone call.

 

[asg29e]

Is it just me (actually perhaps it's all of you ), but are U & P long haul seats in early June 2015 extremely thin on the ground? These should be being released daily but I've been looking every day for a month for the rolling window and found next to zip. Either QF know we are booking these as mASA's and constraining supply, or you lot are snapping them all up in record time!

Yes it is vastly different from what was available at the same time last year. It looks like QF have made award availability simpler (what could be more simple than zero?) and fairer. (everyone can go jump in the lake together)

 

[ketsuzei]

To be fair, the good P availability earlier this year for SYD-HKG flights didn't turn out to be much use... maybe they're trying not to raise our expectations too much.

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

To be fair, the good P availability earlier this year for SYD-HKG flights didn't turn out to be much use... maybe they're trying not to raise our expectations too much.

I'll call it now - if F goes from the A380 routes, QF can kiss its consistently inconsistent remains of an airline goodbye.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I'll call it now - if F goes from the A380 routes, QF can kiss its consistently inconsistent remains of an airline goodbye.

I agree but I don't think they will remove F from LAX/DFW and LHR. The long term survival of F from MEL I'm not too sure about though :shock:

 

[amaroo]

Yes it is vastly different from what was available at the same time last year. It looks like QF have made award availability simpler (what could be more simple than zero?) and fairer. (everyone can go jump in the lake together)

I tracked SYD/MEL-LHR very closely throughout April 2015. F was released Monday/Tuesday Ex-SYD and basically everyday Ex-MEL.....didn't focus much on J but from memory even less supply.

I'm glad I didn't stuff around. I'm guessing the rationing of these seats is timed for the end June 14.....hopefully everything goes back to normal after that.

 

[muppet]

Got a couple of expertflyer alerts that i won't use:

28 September SYD HNL A330 2 U class
13 August SYD LAX QF11 1 P class

good ASA opportunities there.

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

Got a couple of expertflyer alerts that i won't use:

28 September SYD HNL A330 2 U class
13 August SYD LAX QF11 1 P class

good ASA opportunities there.

I got a bit cheesed off with EF now that it will only show you up to 330 days or some rubbish. Not a big enough window for award seat releases which IME if you don't jump on 12 months ahead you have buckleys.

One plus post-simpler and fairer, I will be requesting classic seat releases more often (if I even bother sticking with QF that is).

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

(I still have one ASA which shows up as a classic on the statement, despite 2 assurances it is an ASA).

The collective experience here would suggest it isn't an ASA unless it says so on the activity statement.

 

[nonpop]

I think I've gotten caught up in the mASA bookings. My second one this year (in the space of a week).

Conversation went as follows (all was very professional by QF operator):

Me: "I'd like to book an any seat reward into the U fare bucket, using the minimum number of points and paying the taxes with cash / credit card & please reduce the points down to the Classic level and please let me know what the cash component is"
QF: "Need to book on-line bla bla bla"
Me: "Please refer to Right on Q 7740 as this is what I am attempting to book, so that the ticket earns points & SCs. This type of fare can only be booked via an operator and can only be booked up to 1st July"
QF: "Do you work for Qantas?"
Me: "No"
QF: "Then how do you know about Right on Q 7740 ?"
Me: "Your Social Media rep has advised us in the event of any uncertainty to ask the operator to refer to this Q card"
QF: "Please hold ... Ok I see what you want ... let me start ... 'tap, tap, tap' ... Let's begin"

It was a pair of JASAs for June 15.
QF site was showing none available, but the operator looked and advised there was a pair SYD / SIN return in U available on the the days ... so we snaffled them.

I commented that it was a real shame these were going away. He said "yes they do represent excellent value for money especially seeing as they earn points & SCs back".
We both agreed and then had a brief chat about Singapore hotels being 'expensive'.

Start to finish ... 9 mins.
Ticket issued within 10 mins and correct ASA points taken from account.
Only after ticket issued did I enter SWMBO QF # and select seats.

We didn't need the SCs as we're both baked until end 2016 for WP but figured better to keep the points balance moderated. Plus will help with LTG.

 

[nonpop]

The collective experience here would suggest it isn't an ASA unless it says so on the activity statement.

Yes this is what has happened to me. Must be ASA on statement otherwise it appears they are really Classic.

 

[JessicaTam]

I think I've gotten caught up in the mASA bookings. My second one this year (in the space of a week).

Conversation went as follows (all was very professional by QF operator):

Me: "I'd like to book an any seat reward into the U fare bucket, using the minimum number of points and paying the taxes with cash / credit card & please reduce the points down to the Classic level and please let me know what the cash component is"
QF: "Need to book on-line bla bla bla"
Me: "Please refer to Right on Q 7740 as this is what I am attempting to book, so that the ticket earns points & SCs. This type of fare can only be booked via an operator and can only be booked up to 1st July"
QF: "Do you work for Qantas?"
Me: "No"
QF: "Then how do you know about Right on Q 7740 ?"
Me: "Your Social Media rep has advised us in the event of any uncertainty to ask the operator to refer to this Q card"
QF: "Please hold ... Ok I see what you want ... let me start ... 'tap, tap, tap' ... Let's begin"

It was a pair of JASAs for June 15.
QF site was showing none available, but the operator looked and advised there was a pair SYD / SIN return in U available on the the days ... so we snaffled them.

I commented that it was a real shame these were going away. He said "yes they do represent excellent value for money especially seeing as they earn points & SCs back".
We both agreed and then had a brief chat about Singapore hotels being 'expensive'.

Start to finish ... 9 mins.
Ticket issued within 10 mins and correct ASA points taken from account.
Only after ticket issued did I enter SWMBO QF # and select seats.

We didn't need the SCs as we're both baked until end 2016 for WP but figured better to keep the points balance moderated. Plus will help with LTG.

You are lucky to have got a co-operative operator. Especially as you usually need to have Classic availability showing on the website to be able to book a mASA. Not sure how you managed that, but a good result nonetheless.

 

[kermatu]

So you weren't able to get it credited? I have phoned twice and been assured it will earn, plus have an email confirmation from P1 team (for all the value that has been of late). Not sure what else I can do to guarantee it?

Yes this is what has happened to me. Must be ASA on statement otherwise it appears they are really Classic.

 

[kermatu]

It took a few calls to get it reversed and re-billed correctly. The last operator did confirm it was actually a Classic. I got it fixed pre-flight happening. From my experience it seemed that the first few operators either didn't really understand, couldn't give a cough, or a really did think it was Ok --- but not understanding the difference between Classic Vs ASA as it appears at first glance to the operator they appear to be the same thing as they are booking into the inventory needed.

See if they can reverse the transaction out and re-do it as per Right on Q 7740

This Q card seems to do the trick.

Thanks for the advice. I will make another call before end of month, even though flight isn't until November. Kicking myself for not asking last night when I had a very good and knowledgeable operator.

 

[ukh]

The availability for F in A380 QF1 and QF 9 in classic / MASA is unusually low at the moment. I do not think they are being snapped up, just not many being released. This is different to the pattern in 2012 and 2013. I doubt they are expecting more fully paid F tickets for May / June 2015 so I do not understand the change.

 

[amaroo]

the availability for f in a380 qf1 and qf 9 in classic / masa is unusually low at the moment. I do not think they are being snapped up, just not many being released. This is different to the pattern in 2012 and 2013. I doubt they are expecting more fully paid f tickets for may / june 2015 so i do not understand the change.

f masa
......

 

[hossein_au]

The availability for F in A380 QF1 and QF 9 in classic / MASA is unusually low at the moment. I do not think they are being snapped up, just not many being released. This is different to the pattern in 2012 and 2013. I doubt they are expecting more fully paid F tickets for May / June 2015 so I do not understand the change.

They don't expect more paid passengers, I don't think. They have clearly indicated JASA/FASA do not represent good value from their point of view. So, why release any seat in U/P buckets before 1 July? The fallacy of this argument is that at least there are people now, ready and willing, to part with quite a decent bundle of cash in order to book JASA/FASA. The same people might very well book Classic awards post-July, but Qantas will not see any amount of cash close to the level people are prepared to pay right now. I guess this is what they've been taught in all their MBA classes: don't take money of willing customers right now, just wait and charge them less money sometime in the future!!!