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

[legroom]

Re: MASA post June 2013

Were you asking about those flights for specific dates? Specific flight numbers?

Not just asking, but they were actual MASA bookings *

On specific dates with specific (Classic) flights on the screen at time of bookings



*: some of those had been cancelled after I could get a better MASA score

 

[1022]

Re: MASA post June 2013

Just had my first unsuccessful attempt. SYD-HKG 14 Jun next year in J. Classic award showing online. Agent confirmed U class available, but quoted 700,000 points or 60,000 plus $5k. She had a look at another booking I have in my profile SIN-SYD and said that the reason I scored such a good deal must have been because it was on special at the time...or because it's ex-SIN and that fares ex-Australia are always more. Grrrrrrrr. She wasn't interested in looking up Right on Q 7740. Will try again in a while and hope someone more helpful answers the phone.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Re: MASA post June 2013

Just had my first unsuccessful attempt. SYD-HKG 14 Jun next year in J. Classic award showing online. Agent confirmed U class available, but quoted 700,000 points or 60,000 plus $5k. She had a look at another booking I have in my profile SIN-SYD and said that the reason I scored such a good deal must have been because it was on special at the time...or because it's ex-SIN and that fares ex-Australia are always more. Grrrrrrrr. She wasn't interested in looking up Right on Q 7740. Will try again in a while and hope someone more helpful answers the phone.

I booked HKG-SYD JASA and FASA via the call centre without a hitch, keep trying and good luck

 

[1022]

Re: MASA post June 2013

I booked HKG-SYD JASA and FASA via the call centre without a hitch, keep trying and good luck

Just rang back an hour later. Spoke to Trudy who was incredibly friendly. Said "Oh yes, it's one of those bookings". Tap tap tap. Done in five minutes.

It's clearly all about who you speak to.

 

[Kaldemir]

Re: MASA post June 2013

I called them up on Tuesday last week (13 August) and booked a return JASA for me and my partner with no issues at all. I said I'd like to book an any seat award booking into the U fare bucket. The CSA knew straight away what I was after and said "if there's classic award availability we should be able to do it" and "there won't be a service fee for this". She told me what the points only option would cost and also the minimum points + co payment option. It was all straight forward.

 

[Limewood]

Re: MASA post June 2013

Its a hit and miss affair, you get the right person or you don't, ludicrous and a time wasting situation, yet when asked about returning ASA's online there is no response.

 

[Deleted member]

Re: MASA post June 2013

Its a hit and miss affair, you get the right person or you don't, ludicrous and a time wasting situation, yet when asked about returning ASA's online there is no response.

Yep, cant be bothered any more, looking elsewhere .

 

[Paddy55]

Re: MASA post June 2013

Booked my first JASA this afternoon. Domestic SYD-MEL-SYD about as simple as can be.

Struck a pleasant lady who initially swore black and blue that the instructions I was given in another thread on AFF were a bunch of cough... e.g. "you can book ASAs online and they cost lots of points", etc, etc, etc... you know the drill.

I quoted "Right on Q number 7740" and her first question was "who have you been talking to" :shock:

Anyway things changed from that point although we had a difference of opinion over whether an Assistance Fee should be paid or not. Placed on hold several times and avoided the fee in the end . Took about 20mins all told btw

However I'm not hugely impressed with the value.

We will travel SYD-MEL-SYD on 31 Aug and 2 Classic J Awards came to 64,000 points + $139.
The JASAs are 64,00 points + $417

If it wasn't for the fact that these flights tip Mrs Paddy over to Gold I may have thought very seriously about the trip. (Is that what you want your FFers thinking Qantas? )

Anyway the new system works but go armed with the info on AFF and don't take "no" for an answer!
I don't like the lack of transparency on ASAs points & $$$ but apparently QF are marching to a better and brighter future.

It was also explained to me that there are in fact 2 booking engines now - one for Awards and one for Commercial bookings and QF is moving to a "Single Simple Search Engine" that will provide a single view of all costs for a flight - points and $$$. I was advised that this will take 3 - 4 further upgrades - so there's potential for further "interruption of service" unless their quality control is improved. :evil:

 

[RooFlyer]

Re: MASA post June 2013

Booked my first JASA this afternoon. Domestic SYD-MEL-SYD about as simple as can be.

<snip>:

I guess you have your tongue in your cheek there.

<snip>

It was also explained to me that there are in fact 2 booking engines now - one for Awards and one for Commercial bookings and QF is moving to a "Single Simple Search Engine" that will provide a single view of all costs for a flight - points and $$$. I was advised that this will take 3 - 4 further upgrades - so there's potential for further "interruption of service" unless their quality control is improved. :evil:

There's no 'potential' about it. That's what's happening now. And by the sound of it we should all go on a nice long commercial holiday and avoid booking with Qantas altogether for a few months until they get it sorted.

I started my holiday about 2 months ago.

 

[Buzzard]

Re: MASA post June 2013

Just rang back an hour later. Spoke to Trudy who was incredibly friendly. Said "Oh yes, it's one of those bookings". Tap tap tap. Done in five minutes.

It's clearly all about who you speak to.

Hope you don't mind my asking, what was the eventual cost compared to that first offered?

 

[coles525]

Re: MASA post June 2013

WARNING: LONG POST, HONEST WITH QUOTES, as per recording!)


Was just on the phone for 39.04 minutes (just ended now).

Me: 9 minutes, 30 seconds into call / hold music = "I wish to book a classic award fare as an any seat award"

Him: SORRY
Me: I was wishing to book a classic award fare as an ASA
Him: Right, you just do that through qantas.com.
Me: Your not allowed to
Him: Well how can you book a classic eat award as an any seat?
Me (9.51 minutes): It's not an Any Seat, if you have a look at the right on Q card, reference number 7740.
Him: Yes, this is just an any seat award booking, not a classic award any seat......."
Me: (Bla bla talking over each other), The 1st question i asked was I was wishing to book a classic award as an any seat award, as per reference card #7740.
Him: (10.30 minutes) Yeah, and this is just making and servicing a qantas and jet* any seat award booking.
Me: In business class, which you can't do over the net!
Him: Right, whats your frequent flyer details, what are you trying to book there....


Him: (fast forward from 10.53minutes ----> 33.23 minutes): OK, and thanks for holding, the 9th July (next year) is the 1st available (Melb --- NY, via LA in Business Class).
Me: How much would all that be
Him: So are you travelling yourself?
Me: Yes (which infact there will be 2 of us, just getting a quote on what to expect! )
Him: (34.28 minutes into call...) So for the whole fare, 187,610 points would be needed (Points, no fee's), but if want to allocate what you've got off the price of the fare, you'd pay the rest with the credit card.

Me:How much with points plus tax?
Him: So points plus tax, is normal clasic award, which is 128,000 points PLUS ABOUT $500 dollars in taxes.
Me: And exactly how much in taxes and charges?
Him: (fast forward some seconds....) Around $500 dollars, give or take $10 / $20 each side.
Me:So anywhere from $480 / $520?
Him: That's Correct
Me:So you can't get it at the lower fare, as in like use 100,000 points and the rest in cash?

Him: So if you wanna do the any seat award, thats no problems, so lets ahhhh, ummm. So with any seat, if you wanted to use 100,000 points, you'd still pay $600, ahhh the minimum points required is 128,000, so a normal classic award would work out cheaper then an any seat award, but you get status credits for any seat award and earn (36.27minutes!) points, so if doing an any seat, the minimum is 128,000 points and $667.32 in taxes, AND WE DO HAVE A $60 DOLLAR BOOKING FEE.

Me: Are you sure? that $60 booking fee will be waived?
Him: No it won't be waived
Me: Thats not what is says on the conditions of use. It says if you do business class , or to be technical, U CLASS, that is not allowed to be done over the net and you have to do it over the phone, the booking fee will be waived.
Him: (37.00 minutes...) Lets forget about the booking fee, so 128,000 points and $667.32 in taxes
Me: No other charges?
Him: There would be a $30 credit card charge


Me: Decided not t book, as I don't agree......
Him:


Him:

 

[Newk]

Re: MASA post June 2013

WARNING: LONG POST, HONEST WITH QUOTES, as per recording!)


Was just on the phone for 39.04 minutes (just ended now).

Me: 9 minutes, 30 seconds into call / hold music = "I wish to book a classic award fare as an any seat award"

Him: SORRY
Me: I was wishing to book a classic award fare as an ASA
Him: Right, you just do that through qantas.com.
Me: Your not allowed to
Him: Well how can you book a classic eat award as an any seat?
Me (9.51 minutes): It's not an Any Seat, if you have a look at the right on Q card, reference number 7740.
Him: Yes, this is just an any seat award booking, not a classic award any seat......."
Me: (Bla bla talking over each other), The 1st question i asked was I was wishing to book a classic award as an any seat award, as per reference card #7740.
Him: (10.30 minutes) Yeah, and this is just making and servicing a qantas and jet* any seat award booking.
Me: In business class, which you can't do over the net!
Him: Right, whats your frequent flyer details, what are you trying to book there....


Him: (fast forward from 10.53minutes ----> 33.23 minutes): OK, and thanks for holding, the 9th July (next year) is the 1st available (Melb --- NY, via LA in Business Class).
Me: How much would all that be
Him: So are you travelling yourself?
Me: Yes (which infact there will be 2 of us, just getting a quote on what to expect! )
Him: (34.28 minutes into call...) So for the whole fare, 187,610 points would be needed (Points, no fee's), but if want to allocate what you've got off the price of the fare, you'd pay the rest with the credit card.

Me:How much with points plus tax?
Him: So points plus tax, is normal clasic award, which is 128,000 points PLUS ABOUT $500 dollars in taxes.
Me: And exactly how much in taxes and charges?
Him: (fast forward some seconds....) Around $500 dollars, give or take $10 / $20 each side.
Me:So anywhere from $480 / $520?
Him: That's Correct
Me:So you can't get it at the lower fare, as in like use 100,000 points and the rest in cash?

Him: So if you wanna do the any seat award, thats no problems, so lets ahhhh, ummm. So with any seat, if you wanted to use 100,000 points, you'd still pay $600, ahhh the minimum points required is 128,000, so a normal classic award would work out cheaper then an any seat award, but you get status credits for any seat award and earn (36.27minutes!) points, so if doing an any seat, the minimum is 128,000 points and $667.32 in taxes, AND WE DO HAVE A $60 DOLLAR BOOKING FEE.

Me: Are you sure? that $60 booking fee will be waived?
Him: No it won't be waived
Me: Thats not what is says on the conditions of use. It says if you do business class , or to be technical, U CLASS, that is not allowed to be done over the net and you have to do it over the phone, the booking fee will be waived.
Him: (37.00 minutes...) Lets forget about the booking fee, so 128,000 points and $667.32 in taxes
Me: No other charges?
Him: There would be a $30 credit card charge


Me: Decided not t book, as I don't agree......
Him:


Him:

Mmm
I reckon if it's this hard you need to hang up much earlier than this and try again another time.

 

[k3nnis]

Re: MASA post June 2013

Lol at the longggggg process. It was a mission to read that conversation!

 

[tm.smile]

Re: MASA post June 2013

WARNING: LONG POST, HONEST WITH QUOTES, as per recording!)


Was just on the phone for 39.04 minutes (just ended now).

Me: 9 minutes, 30 seconds into call / hold music = "I wish to book a classic award fare as an any seat award"

There's your problem right there. It's an any seat award at the marginal points cost or correctly referred to as an ASA booked into U class.

Incorrectly referring to to it as a classic award confuses and is incorrect in classification and fare type. In my experience, any mention of classic awards will throw them off.

 

[shambles]

Re: First Ever Status Run !!

Had a win
Noticed a "double SC promo" email in my inbox today and initially thought "DAMN" as already made most my bookings for the qualifying period up to Nov 30th inc a nice MEL-CNS return JASA back in the good ol days when you could route via BNE or SYD for maximum earn minimum burn

Anyway, feeling lucky, thought I'd chance my arm to call up the QF call centre and try re-book same JASA route so it would qualify as a double earn (figured I'll just cop the 5K points penalty for cancelling my original booking). For 240 SC certainly worth a try!

Got on the phone to the WP priority line and a guy called Martin answered and seemed to be up with the JASA via phone situation - I pressed on optimistically and caaaaCHING After a sub ten minute phone call with no placing on-hold and no hassles re fees, he booked a MEL-BNE-CNS-BNE-MEL as a U class JASA for the classic amount of 72K points and $530.
Very happy - now to cancel (or maybe just reschedule?) my original JASA booking.

J

 

[richiya]

Re: MASA post June 2013

tried today for the first time: checked there was availability for classic awards on QF page and called and asked to book 2 ASA seats in Uniform class. Confirmed the flight number and times and business class and had the ticket within about 12 minutes of calling. Only pain is not being able to know how many points and cash it will be until you have given the full details of the pax, but apart from that really smooth process.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Re: MASA post June 2013

There's your problem right there. It's an any seat award at the marginal points cost or correctly referred to as an ASA booked into U class.

Incorrectly referring to to it as a classic award confuses and is incorrect in classification and fare type. In my experience, any mention of classic awards will throw them off.

This is not incorrect, and is not reflected in my experience: asked to book an available classic award (I had identified online) as an ASA paying the taxes and charges on CC.

All this shows is the continued variability amongst agents in their knowledge of booking ASA's at classic award prices.

I think we need to resign ourselves to the inevitable - great value ASA's will effectively be dead and buried. The ongoing telephone sagas are merely a symptom of this.

I for one have moved on.

 

[Deleted User]

Re: MASA post June 2013

I for one have moved on.

J*, VA or Tiger...?

 

[tm.smile]

Re: MASA post June 2013

This is not incorrect, and is not reflected in my experience: asked to book an available classic award (I had identified online) as an ASA paying the taxes and charges on CC.

This is fundamentally incorrect as the award type you are booking is an Any Seat Award. This award is different to a Classic Award, so when you call up saying you want to book a 'Classic Award as an Any Seat Award' you are making things difficult for yourself. The T&Cs don't mention classic, so why would you mention a different fare type? YMMV, but for me, 4 out of 4 CSRs in the past 2 days correctly identified the fare type and award type. Maybe I'm just lucky

 

[Princess Fiona]

Re: MASA post June 2013

J*, VA or Tiger...?

Cheeky
Actually I'm sticking with QF for now.
I have enough revenue fares to maintain my status, I survived before ASA's and I'm sure I'll get along OK without them.
LTG would have been much easier to achieve but c'est la vie !