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

[TheInsider]

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

Wow! Another nail (they are coming thick & fast) in the coffin of my QF loyalty & QF spend.

I do not understand how Qantas can justify this as nil change to T & C... ?? I am off to read the T & C about 3 months notice yet again! Then perhaps fire off an online feedback form to Qantas expressing my disappointment in them, which will no doubt result in a template response of platitudes similar to the last few.

Such a shame

Ummm this has nothing to do with Frequent Flyer T&C's.
This has got to do with the fare rules associated with any ticket purchase. Business Saver tickets going from Australia to Europe incur a $300 cancellation fee. Nothing new.

Any seat awards are not bound by a set of "any seat award" fare rules. They are based on a cash/non-points fare rules for that fare basis.

 

[Lisee]

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

Any seat awards are not bound by a set of "any seat award" fare rules. They are based on a cash/non-points fare rules for that fare basis.

Many thanks for this clarification!

 

[medhead]

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

Managed to get 2 Sydney-adl jasa today on consecutive weeks in October 24000 +$147.55. Assistance fee was charged for the first one but not for the second. Same CSA. Fee reversed after a quick phone call.

By comparison my previous 2 jasa on this route, before the change, were 24000 +$114

 

[Deleted User]

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

Managed to get 2 Sydney-adl jasa today on consecutive weeks in October 24000 +$147.55. Assistance fee was charged for the first one but not for the second. Same CSA. Fee reversed after a quick phone call.

By comparison my previous 2 jasa on this route, before the change, were 24000 +$114

Thanks for the data point medhead

 

[timmitch]

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

Medhead I take it they are direct?

 

[medhead]

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

Medhead I take it they are direct?

Yes, as written.

 

[timmitch]

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

Sounds better then my 64,000 and $415 I got quoted for the second time last night for Adl-Mel-Syd return in Oct

 

[medhead]

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

Sounds better then my 64,000 and $415 I got quoted for the second time last night for Adl-Mel-Syd return in Oct

So they're charging you for 4 segments at 16000 each.

 

[Kangol]

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

So they're charging you for 4 segments at 16000 each.

Looks like now they are calculating minimum points for classic and ASAs based on the total mileage of the segment(s) travelled (see table linked), not on the non-stop origin-to-destination mileage.
Frequent Flyer - Using Points - Qantas & Partner Classic Awards - Points Tables

This is probably what bossreggie alluded to some weeks or months ago.

eg in J:
ADL-BNE 1,008 miles 24k
ADL-xSYD-BNE 1,193 miles 24k
ADL-xMEL-BNE 1,259 miles 36k

Probably why you could get a CBR-xSYD-HBA for 16k before the change whereas now it is 24k (note CBR-xSYD-xMEL-HBA is also 24k).
MM shows CBR-HBA is 528 miles (QF calculator doesn't say because there is no non-stop QF flight).

 

[will2rob]

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

I've managed to crash the booking system.

I'm trying to book a JASA for AKL-BNE-SYD one way. I have a voucher I have to use from a cancelled flight which can only be booked as a domestic or outward flight so I thought I'd use that to get to AKL, then take a JASA on the return leg.

Classic award shows it for 36K FF points & NZD$125 in taxes.

First attempt to book yesterday had the consultant quoting me 96K FF points one way. WTF?

Doing it as a straight JASA SYD-BNE-AKL & return was 250k points compared to 72k points as a classic award. The cash component was outrageous as well, around $1500. The total cost of the flight(return) is only $2148, so I'd be burning 250k points to save around $600. I queried whether the consultant was looking at U fare bucket but was assured he was. Needless to say, I gave it a miss.

Tried again today to see if a different agent gave a different result. This time I was quoted 89870 points for the AKL-BNE-SYD flight in ECONOMY. Naturally J was substantially more. I questioned whether this was correct, as I've booked two JASAs since the "enhancement" SYD-ADL-PER return and SYD-MEL-BNE-SIN return for the same point cost as the classic with slightly higher co-payment. Upon further investigation by the consultant, it appears the booking engine is treating BNE as a stopover which substantially increases the cost when it is just a change of flights. Trying to change it crashed the consultant's system. Her supervisor then tried and his system also crashed. The matter has been reported to IT and they will get back to me tomorrow.

 

[medhead]

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

Looks like now they are calculating minimum points for classic and ASAs based on the total mileage of the segment(s) travelled (see table linked), not on the non-stop origin-to-destination mileage.
Frequent Flyer - Using Points - Qantas & Partner Classic Awards - Points Tables

I've actually sent feedback about this, IMO it's contrary to the T&Cs when there are no direct flights.

 

[Mr_Orange]

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

I've had a quotation success. Jan was the agent and whilst she said she hadn't booked many of these, she knew exactly what she was doing and ran through it all very quickly.

Requested JASA (2 people) was BNE-MEL-BNE, and it came in at 96k points + co-pay of $575. I suspect the co-pay is higher than it used to be but is still a good margin less than the equivalent Red eDeal fare, so I'm happy.

Once Mrs_Orange has approved the trip, I have to ring back, and hopefully I get Jan, or another agent equally as proficient.

 

[Kangol]

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

I've actually sent feedback about this, IMO it's contrary to the T&Cs when there are no direct flights.

Just had a look at the T&Cs and couldn't find it, which section in particular are you referring to?

 

[Mr_Orange]

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

I've had a quotation success. Jan was the agent and whilst she said she hadn't booked many of these, she knew exactly what she was doing and ran through it all very quickly.

Requested JASA (2 people) was BNE-MEL-BNE, and it came in at 96k points + co-pay of $575. I suspect the co-pay is higher than it used to be but is still a good margin less than the equivalent Red eDeal fare, so I'm happy.

Once Mrs_Orange has approved the trip, I have to ring back, and hopefully I get Jan, or another agent equally as proficient.

Now booked as quoted, with a different agent and one small hiccup in the process. One pax was booked into U with the other into I, which resulted in larger co-pay, which I didn't spot when it was mentioned because I thought I was being quoted the all up points and co-pay price. The agent happened to say something about 'per person' and my alarm bells went off and queried it. I waited about 5-10 mins on hold and she came back on apologising and fixed it up.

All in all, a fairly painless process. I used the wording "I would like to book 2 business Any Seat Awards into the U fare bucket" as my opening gambit which seemed to get both agents on track.

 

[medhead]

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

Just had a look at the T&Cs and couldn't find it, which section in particular are you referring to?

I might have overstated my case. But my statement was only relevant to the situation when a direct flight does not exist. I believe these should be calculated based on the distance between the start and end ports. The fact that there is no direct flight is Qantas' problem. In addition, referring to the points table it lists a range of distances and price costs.

Frequent Flyer - Using Points - Qantas & Partner Classic Awards - Points Tables

So for example ADL-CNS is 1325 miles, this should as a Zone 3 classic award. However, to get to CNS from ADL on QF we only have options via the east coast. The total distances are still within Zone 3 but you'll get hit up with a Zone 3 and either a Zone 1 or Zone 2 award based on the sector length. I think that contradicts what the points table indicates for the cost.

ADL-xSYD-CNS 1950 miles
ADL-SYD-CNS 725 mi 1225 mi

ADL-xMEL-CNS 1837 mi
ADL-MEL-CNS 400 mi 1437 mi

Contradicting my opinion based on points table evidence is clause 14.4.1 which gives the option to price as a one way or series of one way trips. Clearly I will argue that I have a single one way trip from ADL-CNS

14.4.1

The Points required for a Classic Award Itinerary will be calculated as a one way Trip or series of one way Trips and will be the sum of the Points required for each Trip in that Itinerary.​

Now the interesting thing that I discovered in getting those distances out of the using points/award calculator is, well, it now includes Jetstar flights (ADL-CNS direct for example). But more importantly if I say there is a stopover at the middle city in the above examples (the second listing), the calculator lists 2 segments saying Zone 1/2 and Zone 3. However, if I say no stopover in SYD/MEL as per the first listing it gives me a single segment with the total distance listed as a zone 3. To me that clearly indicates that I should be able to price an award as a single zone 3 award.

 

[ketsuzei]

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

Probably why you could get a CBR-xSYD-HBA for 16k before the change whereas now it is 24k (note CBR-xSYD-xMEL-HBA is also 24k).
MM shows CBR-HBA is 528 miles (QF calculator doesn't say because there is no non-stop QF flight).

#163 indicates that you can still book CBR-xSYD-HBA for 16k.

 

[drdpr]

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

Hi all, I did my first JASA call on the 1300 number. Took 6 mins all up to book the ADL-BNE return for 4th/6th Aug13. 48k + $298.86. Classic was showing at 23k each way. I also started the conversation with "Goodmorning, I would like to book Any Seat Award in the U fare bucket". She promptly knew what to do.

 

[legroom]

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

Slightly off topic, if I may

Has anyone cancelled a MASA yet ?

What would the "new" rules be like ?

Same as before: full points / cash refund as per 15.6.1

Before I get a second MASA - just in case - I wish to know where we all are in terms of cancellation / refund.

Cheers

 

[medhead]

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

Slightly off topic, if I may

Has anyone cancelled a MASA yet ?

What would the "new" rules be like ?

Same as before: full points / cash refund as per 15.6.1

Before I get a second MASA - just in case - I wish to know where we all are in terms of cancellation / refund.

Cheers

It will depend on the fare conditions of the booking. If they allow a refund then full points and cash should be an option per the Terms. But you will most likely still have to ring to get the refund.

 

[Newk]

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

Real time reporting
I've just been quoted $7xx.xx and no points for an ASA. I asked, as suggested above, for an Any Seat Award in the U bucket and got a groan. Then the quote. When I questioned it the response was "oh, you want to use points?" Lots of hold music followed. Next quote was 95,374 points and ?dollars. Now more hold music

Still a very pleasant and helpful operative. I'll edit the post when I get a result


Edit to add: final result after 27 minutes and a lot of (pleasant) faffing around, including "why aren't you doing this as a classic award?" and "I'll have to get the hot line to help me". Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide business for 56,000 points and $355.31. I don't think this is an out and out bargain but didn't want to spend any longer on the phone. Classic award per the web site for the same route is 48,000 points plus $109.31. Because of the inexperience of the operator I also didn't want to go back to ADL SYD direct return which may have been a bit cheaper....I'm after the extra few SCs

So: Christmas function, here I come