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

[ketsuzei]

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

Assume for security

Yeah, I suppose. Don't know what it was like in the past, because we could book it online.

 

[will2rob]

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

Pretty sure they will use the time consumed to justify the removal of these eventually... Also since you cant do these on the web anymore there will be less of these marginal awards booked also justifying the permanent removal

...happy to be proven wrong by Red Roo though, however I doubt that's going to happen

When booking 3 seperate MASAs since the change, two consultants have told me straight out that MASAs are being phased out soon. The other consultant strongly hinted the same. If they haven't been told, they can see the writing on the wall as most of us can. The silence of Red Roo on the subject is virtual confirmation as far as I'm concerned.

 

[timmitch]

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

Yet the one I got said they will never get rid of them as Qantas knows a lot of people in walk away from the airline as it makes ff pints worthless

 

[Deleted member]

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

If they go. Then they go. I will look to greener pastures. Loyalty is a double edged sword.

 

[legroom]

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

Isn't it incredible that in order to book a simple xASA fare at a reasonable 'price' we need to trawl through a forum like this to get instruction and phone numbers because a simple piece of functionality on a website was removed. Anyone else out there who doesn't look at these forums would just be frustrated and left in the dark. For the sake of business and the convenience of your most loyal customers, bring this back Qantas.

Friend

I had said before that all these bumps were designed, not some accidental oversights or omissions.

Had they been omissions, Red Roo would have taken note and rectified the anomalies a long time ago.

As to why, the logical conclusion has been reached by many: QF will phase out this MASA sooner than later.

Happy to be wrong !

 

[Limewood]

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

A said, if they do away with MASA's then they sure will alienate many. I've been a loyal Qantas supporter for many, many years, if these go completely I'll be hunting for a CC where I can place FF points where I like. If they don't bring ASA's back on line I'll probably direct my points elsewhere anyway.

 

[diningdecadence]

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

Just to ensure the numbers are in this thread:

Please note that 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) between the hours of 0900 and 1700 AEST on Mondays to Fridays. 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

hi all,

is this basically the instructions?

also, is Z class Y+?

Cheers

 

[Princess Fiona]

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

hi all,

is this basically the instructions?

also, is Z class Y+?

Cheers

Yes and yes

 

[Deleted User]

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

A said, if they do away with MASA's then they sure will alienate many. I've been a loyal Qantas supporter for many, many years, if these go completely I'll be hunting for a CC where I can place FF points where I like. If they don't bring ASA's back on line I'll probably direct my points elsewhere anyway.

I personally don't think QF / QFF see this as a problem, after all they may have a tendency to be arrogant as the QFF program is very successful and highly profitable....


This was also once the same for another very successful company... Nokia, and we all know where they are now for "ignoring" what "most" people want....

Question is, do "most" people want MASA's...? Only time will tell I guess

 

[Blakegregory]

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

Ok, tried this today from KTA-PER. Asked for an any seat award in U Class. Was quoted 40000, and then they adjusted to my points level of 35000 + $70 taxes i think it was.
Asked her if it went any lower and they told me I need more points?
The classic award points required for this flight is 24000, so what am I doing wrong? Am trying to make the most out of my DSC offer to get to Gold before my renewal date at the end of september.

 

[medhead]

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

I did very much enjoy getting my J AAward recently, all flights on Qantas. If I'm not going to earn SC I might as well get the cheapest deal possible.

Ok, tried this today from KTA-PER. Asked for an any seat award in U Class. Was quoted 40000, and then they adjusted to my points level of 35000 + $70 taxes i think it was.
Asked her if it went any lower and they told me I need more points?
The classic award points required for this flight is 24000, so what am I doing wrong? Am trying to make the most out of my DSC offer to get to Gold before my renewal date at the end of september.

Just tell them you want to pay 24000 points only.

 

[will2rob]

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

I personally don't think QF / QFF see this as a problem, after all they may have a tendency to be arrogant as the QFF program is very successful and highly profitable....


This was also once the same for another very successful company... Nokia, and we all know where they are now for "ignoring" what "most" people want....

Question is, do "most" people want MASA's...? Only time will tell I guess

I suspect that the impact of these changes on the overall QFF program in small enough to risk losing a few customers. There are 9-10 million QFF members and the majority of them would rarely fly, or fly infrequently. Indeed the latest QFF advertising campaign alludes to that fact and emphasises the non-flight rewards available to QFF members rather than encouraging bums on seats. Assuming every AFF member was redeeming MASAs, there are only 39210 AFF members in total, which is a tiny fraction of 1% (actually around 0.003921% if my maths is correct). Even though the majority of QFF members who actively research and redeem MASAs are more than likely higher tiers, the actual numbers would be so small in the overall scheme of things that Qantas probably banks on the fact that any loss of custom would be offset through whatever savings they will make from this.

I don't think they've just decided to piss us all off for the hell of it. Somewhere in management, someone has decided the pros outweigh the cons.

 

[Blakegregory]

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

I did very much enjoy getting my J AAward recently, all flights on Qantas. If I'm not going to earn SC I might as well get the cheapest deal possible.



Just tell them you want to pay 24000 points only.

Didn't even get this far this time, was told sternly that I need to book this online. Maybe I will try again tomorrow when I am less frustrated haha.

 

[Newk]

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

I suspect that the impact of these changes on the overall QFF program in small enough to risk losing a few customers. There are 9-10 million QFF members and the majority of them would rarely fly, or fly infrequently. Indeed the latest QFF advertising campaign alludes to that fact and emphasises the non-flight rewards available to QFF members rather than encouraging bums on seats. Assuming every AFF member was redeeming MASAs, there are only 39210 AFF members in total, which is a tiny fraction of 1% (actually around 0.003921% if my maths is correct). Even though the majority of QFF members who actively research and redeem MASAs are more than likely higher tiers, the actual numbers would be so small in the overall scheme of things that Qantas probably banks on the fact that any loss of custom would be offset through whatever savings they will make from this.

I don't think they've just decided to piss us all off for the hell of it. Somewhere in management, someone has decided the pros outweigh the cons.

An excellent analysis. AND possibly they have figured that the changes/enhancements to the web site will make it less confusing for the non engaged and MAYBE QFF will be better off overall.

(He says as he goes about using up as many QFF points as he can before ASAs disappear altogether, while at the same enhancing his CC portfolio)


Edit to add:
Booking today
Rang: the 1300 366 587 number for these things
Got served by: Premium desk
Wanted: ADL MEL one way JASA
Asked for "any seat award in U bucket" on the flight I had researched as having classic awards available
Researched prices:Classic award price: 16,000 points and 39.88; OR Full price $529; OR points and pay 16,000 and $416.89
ASA Price: 16,000 points and $109.68
Complications: I was initially told I couldn't go under 28,000 points. I had to get a bit firm at this stage and it was quickly agreed that I could go to 16,000 as a minimum
Total time: 4 minutes 21 seconds not counting about 30 seconds of wait music


Comments: a pretty good result in good time. The final price demonstrates the worth of these MASAs, compared to the other available fares. It really helped that I had researched this booking and this thread or I think I may have been stuck at the 28,000 point spot on the (non existent) slider.
I also wanted to organise return via Sydney but I didn't have the strength to try. I might look at breaking that up into two legs.
Oh, and I just remembered from another recent booking that the CSO told me that she, at least, calls the fare bucket that we may be looking for the "uniform* bucket" if that is ever of help to anyone....she was initially a bit taken aback with a request for "U"

*yep, U for uniform and yes, there are other booking classes

 

[Mr_Orange]

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

Oh, and I just remembered from another recent booking that the CSO told me that she, at least, calls the fare bucket that we may be looking for the "uniform* bucket" if that is ever of help to anyone....she was initially a bit taken aback with a request for "U"

*yep, U for uniform and yes, there are other booking classes

Confirmed. When I rang for my quotation and then booking, both agents used "Uniform" to clarify the fare bucket I wanted to use. It's just the phonetic alphabet, which I happen to be familiar with, but the opening gambit could be "enhanced" to:

"I would like to book a business class Any Seat Award into the Uniform fare bucket please."

 

[Ghostdunks]

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

Didn't even get this far this time, was told sternly that I need to book this online. Maybe I will try again tomorrow when I am less frustrated haha.

did you get the name of the CSR you were talking to? Name them, so that maybe RedRoo can feed that back to whoever it is that is in charge of this <poor> training(or lack of).

 

[legroom]

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

Ok, tried this today from KTA-PER. Asked for an any seat award in U Class. Was quoted 40000, and then they adjusted to my points level of 35000 + $70 taxes i think it was.
Asked her if it went any lower and they told me I need more points?
The classic award points required for this flight is 24000, so what am I doing wrong? Am trying to make the most out of my DSC offer to get to Gold before my renewal date at the end of september.

I'd suggest calling back again.

Just because some CSR told you something, it is - sadly - not always the case.

For reference, I could - in my 2nd attempt - manage to get the MASA points down to Classic level after some stern lectures with the 1st call - for the same itinerary.

The only consistency you can expect with phone-assisted MASA is inconsistency.

Try again, until you could get what you want.

 

[legroom]

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

did you get the name of the CSR you were talking to? Name them, so that maybe RedRoo can feed that back to whoever it is that is in charge of this <poor> training(or lack of).

Friend,

When was the last time Red Roo asked for such a feedback ?

Please show us that post !

 

[garybatz]

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

hi all,

is this basically the instructions?

also, is Z class Y+?

Just one slight change, Red Roo updated the hours for the 1300 number in post #201 on this thread:

"While the relevant pages on qantas.com will be updated soon, I would like to give AFF members a heads up that the dedicated number to book a Classic Award as an Any Seat Award (1300 366 587) is now available 24/7. Hope this goes towards making the booking process more convenient."

 

[shambles]

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

After some hassles trying to speak to QF CS people re booking ASA's, I had a win last week - albeit not for me but for a mate of mine who I introduced to the whole ASA scheme a year or so back. He had used JASA's under the old online system to get himself up from Gold to Plat and we were chatting last week when he told me he'd booked (or at least he THOUGHT he'd booked) a similar flight for he and his wife MEL-SIN-MEL in April 2014 in Prem Economy. Turned out what he'd done was a "points plus pay" for the tidy sum of $3K and 240K points (ouch!). I explained to him the recent changes and that he'd paid wel over traditional ASA rates, and we decided to get on the blower to QF and try to rescue the booking back to JASA level.
Long story short... last Tuesday evening we got onto the Platinum desk and spoke to a "SHANE". Straight up I asked if he was up to date with the ASA changes and he said yup. We optimistically proceeded and after about 15 mins on the phone we ended up with a $2K refund AND JASA tickets for the same 240K point outlay
My mate was stoked.. he'd gone from parting with three grand and 240K points for prem economy tix to parting with $1000 and 240K points for business class ASA - cha-ching

The real win hidden in this transaction is that outbound they go MEL-SYD-SIN and he has not been charged the extra (16K per person) points for the MEL-SYD sector. This may be a rare example of getting old-school JASA for the points origin to destination rather than by sectors flown Anyway, not holding my breath for this to occur again but well worth a mention.
Let me summarise with a simple but well deserved ... "BOWLED SHANE"