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

[RooFlyer]

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

<snip>
(so I guess the question is, when the agent quotes you xx points, how do you know it's correct?... or are we still using the same mileage chart?)

Exactly. Say you were to go into Myers or Grace Brothers, into the 'Specials' department.

There are no prices marked, so you take what you want to the counter and the sales person gets on the computer, fiddles a bit and comes up with a price. Every fifth person or so is also charged a 'cash register usage fee' (= phone booking fee) AND gets a different price quoted for the same object from the previous person. Another set of people, when taking their purchase to the counter, are met by a blank look from the sales person who tells them that they cannot buy that thing over the counter and tells the customer to go on line to buy it.

Would Myers or Grace Brothers be able to get away with this sort of sales tactic / behaviour?

Qantas gets away with it every day.

 

[serfty]

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

That has me intrigued and very interested. How did you see the MASA?

online - pre Jun 26th

 

[cove]

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

Just doing a longcut today so I am waiting to board the QF plane to SYD from MEL.
It's just for SCs.
Did not need a toaster!

 

[blessed11]

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

Called Qantas Premium Friday arvo. Told operator I wanted to book 2 x LHR-SYD as ASA in P class. At first she said this isn't possible, 2 seconds later she repudiated that comment. Gave her exact details which I research classic availability prior. Put on hold for 3-4min, she came back and asked how many points, told her minimum which should be 384k, to which she confirmed. Taxes was $2,400 compared to $1,900 if booked as classic award. Will help easily cruise to Platinum for another year.

 

[JohnM]

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

... Also, I did see (but didn't book) mASA's on the QF codeshare between SYD & AKL/SCL - LAN metal.

I did an online JASA PER-xSYD-xAKL-SCL-SYD-PER earlier this year. As you can see from the routing, part was QF code share on LAN metal outbound - but it was only the AKL-SCL sector. It was just the way the best available JASA dropped out. I was happy; I quite like LAN - and they have Louis Roederer, my favourite NV champagne.

Slightly OT, but currently sitting in The Pier in HKG (only Moët here :-()after coming over from ORD earlier. Great 15.5h flight in J on the 4-class CX B777 and my first experience of the new CX J seats. Better than the old type but did not meet the expectations I had built up from the glowing reports.

 

[Isochronous]

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

I did an online JASA PER-xSYD-xAKL-SCL-SYD-PER earlier this year. As you can see from the routing, part was QF code share on LAN metal outbound - but it was only the AKL-SCL sector. It was just the way the best available JASA dropped out. I was happy; I quite like LAN - and they have Louis Roederer, my favourite NV champagne.

Slightly OT, but currently sitting in The Pier in HKG (only Moët here :-()after coming over from ORD earlier. Great 15.5h flight in J on the 4-class CX B777 and my first experience of the new CX J seats. Better than the old type but did not meet the expectations I had built up from the glowing reports.

Who do you think has a better J product than CX?

 

[JohnM]

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

Who do you think has a better J product than CX?

It's not a question of comparing J product between carriers. The glowing reports led me to expect something better. There were several small things that disappointed: it's not so easy getting out when substantially reclined or flat as you need to extricate your legs around the back of the seat in front; the tray table was rather high in relation to the seat and I was surprised it didn't slide back and forth; the seat adjustment levers I found a bit erratic and there were no pre-sets for part-recline; I wasn't overly impressed with the amount or accessibility of stowage (the bin under the armrest is awkward to access/see into); and a weird one: the bin holding the headset has a sign on the INSIDE saying to press the button (which of course is on the outside) to unlatch it! A somewhat redundant sign if you have got as far as finding how to open it!

Don't get me wrong: it's very good, and of course the CX service is always great but the reports led me to expect quite a lot more.

 

[Deleted member]

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

sorry for going off topic but this needs correcting.

the qantas frequent flyer program is one of the most restrictive in terms of those to whom a member can assign an award.

i can't think of another major program that limits redemption to eligible family members only.

And still we are not being given the true story about this latest enhancement.
I am for the first time beginning to feel genuinely scared for the security and longevity of my points with QF
I never thought I would say this. But VA is beginning to look like an attractive / viable option.
My only concern is that, as and when QF downgrade a benefit VA will make the appropriate change to their programme.

 

[Deleted User]

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

its prudent to follow a earn & burn policy these days, unfortunately I'm burning more than I'm earning, but have had many multiple successful xASA's in the process so it been well worth it...

 

[papermate92]

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

I called up a few weeks ago and said exactly "I would like to book a Classic Award fare as an Any Seat Award please", to which the operator said it was not possible and that to do a combination of Points + Card it had to be done online. I said okay, thanked her and then hung up.
Called back two minutes later and spoke to another operator and said "I would like to book an Any Seat Award in U Class", she wasn't entirely sure but me on hold, when she came back I mentioned Right On Q 7740 which she said she was looking at and said she'd speak to her supervisor, flash forward 15 minutes...
MEL>SYD>ASP>SYD>CBR>MEL all booked for 70k + $594 for 280 SC, with DSC = 560SC

 

[Myrna]

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

Maybe a silly question but when I check classic award availability in order to book JASA, does it have to show J seat availability for award? Or, just classic award available for that flight?

 

[Ansett]

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

Maybe a silly question but when I check classic award availability in order to book JASA, does it have to show J seat availability for award? Or, just classic award available for that flight?

You need to check for J class availability if you want a JASA

 

[Myrna]

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

You need to check for J class availability if you want a JASA

Thanks, Ansett!

 

[drron]

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

Has any one done a J MASA on FJ from NAN-SYD.I put in a return itinerary and can see the J at classic prices although on the return leg it is often via AKL.

 

[Ansett]

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

Has any one done a J MASA on FJ from NAN-SYD.I put in a return itinerary and can see the J at classic prices although on the return leg it is often via AKL.

Can you do an ASA on FJ as it is not QF Metal???

 

[Mr_Orange]

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

I called up a few weeks ago and said exactly "I would like to book a Classic Award fare as an Any Seat Award please", to which the operator said it was not possible and that to do a combination of Points + Card it had to be done online. I said okay, thanked her and then hung up.

IMO, that is why you should not use the term 'Classic Award' when trying to book an xASA.

Called back two minutes later and spoke to another operator and said "

I would like to book an Any Seat Award in U Class", she wasn't entirely sure but me on hold, when she came back I mentioned Right On Q 7740 which she said she was looking at and said she'd speak to her supervisor, flash forward 15 minutes...
MEL>SYD>ASP>SYD>CBR>MEL all booked for 70k + $594 for 280 SC, with DSC = 560SC

I appreciate this was probably a different agent, but the Any Seat Award booked in Uniform class really does trigger the right course of action. The only time I mention the word 'Classic' is when I say how many points I'd like to use, but in reality I should just the say 'the minimum'.

 

[papermate92]

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

IMO, that is why you should not use the term 'Classic Award' when trying to book an xASA.




I appreciate this was probably a different agent, but the Any Seat Award booked in Uniform class really does trigger the right course of action. The only time I mention the word 'Classic' is when I say how many points I'd like to use, but in reality I should just the say 'the minimum'.

If you want to book an Any Seat Award that books into the Classic Award fare classes, follow this process:

1. Check on-line for classic award availability. If Classic Award availability exists, proceed to next step.
2. Call the new special phone number (1300 366 587) 9am-5pm EST Mo-Fr and ask "I would like to book a Classic Award fare as an Any Seat Award please".

just following the steps

 

[JessicaTam]

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

If you want to book an Any Seat Award that books into the Classic Award fare classes, follow this process:

1. Check on-line for classic award availability. If Classic Award availability exists, proceed to next step.
2. Call the new special phone number (1300 366 587) 9am-5pm EST Mo-Fr and ask "I would like to book a Classic Award fare as an Any Seat Award please".

just following the steps

The 1300 number is 24 hours, 7 days. I suggest you don't use the word 'classic' in the request but 'Any seat award booked into U for Uniform class' instead, as stated by Mr_Orange

 

[aikman]

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

just following the steps

Booked my first JASA three days ago and I started the call by saying "I would like to book a Classic Award fare as an Any Seat Award please". The agent knew what I was talking about and I had no issues.

With regards to your itinerary, I am also looking at booking MEL-SYD-ASP return in the future and was under the impression it would be around 48k points + ~$380. I realise you added a stop in CBR so I'm hoping that explains the price difference and that there hasn't been a price increase.

 

[asg29e]

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

The 1300 number is 24 hours, 7 days. I suggest you don't use the word 'classic' in the request but 'Any seat award booked into U for Uniform class' instead, as stated by Mr_Orange

+1.
Avoid the word "classic." Once that word comes out of your mouth you are behind the eight ball.