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

[bosox76]

Why did your booking via SYD end up being 156,000 points?

Apparently that was the minimum points required. I was happy to go the extra 36k for a $800 saving.

 

[ketsuzei]

Apparently that was the minimum points required. I was happy to go the extra 36k for a $800 saving.

I would try again.

 

[DJNige]

My first JASA attempt failed today, giving up after getting the same answers from 3 different CSRs: SYD-MEL-PER & PER-ADL-SYD 112,000 + $700 when I was expecting 72,000 (based on classic J points). It turns out that the minimum points was being calculated per sector (SYD-MEL 16,000 + MEL-PER 36,000) instead of total mileage (SYD-MEL-PER 36,000). The last CSR really spent some time trying to work around it (and none were unfamiliar with mASA).

Does anyone know if the rules have changed? Have I just misunderstood how this should work (after reading every forum post on the topic!)?

 

[Buzzard]

My first JASA attempt failed today, giving up after getting the same answers from 3 different CSRs: SYD-MEL-PER & PER-ADL-SYD 112,000 + $700 when I was expecting 72,000 (based on classic J points). It turns out that the minimum points was being calculated per sector (SYD-MEL 16,000 + MEL-PER 36,000) instead of total mileage (SYD-MEL-PER 36,000). The last CSR really spent some time trying to work around it (and none were unfamiliar with mASA).

Does anyone know if the rules have changed? Have I just misunderstood how this should work (after reading every forum post on the topic!)?

Have had this problem myself when there was a direct option available. A few other posters have also mentioned this here.
Stand to be corrected but I think the game changed when these bookings were taken off line.

Why connect when you can go direct seems to be the new slogan

 

[asg29e]

My first JASA attempt failed today, giving up after getting the same answers from 3 different CSRs: SYD-MEL-PER & PER-ADL-SYD 112,000 + $700 when I was expecting 72,000 (based on classic J points). It turns out that the minimum points was being calculated per sector (SYD-MEL 16,000 + MEL-PER 36,000) instead of total mileage (SYD-MEL-PER 36,000). The last CSR really spent some time trying to work around it (and none were unfamiliar with mASA).

Does anyone know if the rules have changed? Have I just misunderstood how this should work (after reading every forum post on the topic!)?

Welcome to the New World Order, DJNige. Yes, the rules appear to have changed. In the good old days of on-line JASAs, indirect routing was widely available. But now it seems that on MOST routes that are served by a direct flight, any JASA by an indirect route you book will be priced at the sum of the sectors rather than the origin to destination distance.

Your proposed routing falls into that category I am afraid.

There are the odd exceptions to this; MEL-SYD-ASP for example, but they are few and far between. There is some discussion upthread about "allowable fare rules" which you may want to investigate to see what is actually available.

 

[fresherbill]

My first JASA attempt failed today, giving up after getting the same answers from 3 different CSRs: SYD-MEL-PER & PER-ADL-SYD 112,000 + $700 when I was expecting 72,000 (based on classic J points). It turns out that the minimum points was being calculated per sector (SYD-MEL 16,000 + MEL-PER 36,000) instead of total mileage (SYD-MEL-PER 36,000). The last CSR really spent some time trying to work around it (and none were unfamiliar with mASA).

Does anyone know if the rules have changed? Have I just misunderstood how this should work (after reading every forum post on the topic!)?

Here's the routing information for SYD-PER J commercial fares:

PUBLISHED RTG SYD-PER/QF9998/TAR-TGRG EF-15OCT13 DIS-INDEF
/WITHIN THE EASTERN HEMISPHERE/
TRAVEL MUST BE NONSTOP OR DIRECT.

Looks like you're out of luck with this route sorry. This is the tricky part of figuring out good value mASAs (other than the known ones). There's no way to look up routing information unless you have access to the GDS through a tool like ExpertFlyer.

 

[Buzzard]

Welcome to the New World Order, DJNige. Yes, the rules appear to have changed. In the good old days of on-line JASAs, indirect routing was widely available. But now it seems that on MOST routes that are served by a direct flight, any JASA by an indirect route you book will be priced at the sum of the sectors rather than the origin to destination distance.

Your proposed routing falls into that category I am afraid.

There are the odd exceptions to this; MEL-SYD-ASP for example, but they are few and far between. There is some discussion upthread about "allowable fare rules" which you may want to investigate to see what is actually available.

I don't have the knowledge but it would be great if we could have a list/sticky of the indirect mASA's still available.

 

[JessicaTam]

I don't have the knowledge but it would be great if we could have a list/sticky of the indirect mASA's still available.

I could highlight them on the spreadsheet (once I knew them, of course). It is a public document so would be available for all.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

It's been said a million times but the following are the better value ones:

cbr-syd-hba, mel-syd-asp, tsv-bne-drw, syd-bne-tsv, adl-bne-tsv. Obviously places like OOL only have a flight to Sydney so roues like OOL-ADL, OOL-MEL, OOL-PER will be allowed via sydney

 

[Robbi]

My first JASA attempt failed today, giving up after getting the same answers from 3 different CSRs: SYD-MEL-PER & PER-ADL-SYD 112,000 + $700 when I was expecting 72,000 (based on classic J points). It turns out that the minimum points was being calculated per sector (SYD-MEL 16,000 + MEL-PER 36,000) instead of total mileage (SYD-MEL-PER 36,000). The last CSR really spent some time trying to work around it (and none were unfamiliar with mASA).

Does anyone know if the rules have changed? Have I just misunderstood how this should work (after reading every forum post on the topic!)?

Could you not go SYD-(PER)-KTA?
There is no direct route SYD-KTA so by my understanding should be available at the discount rate. I had the same issue when I tried getting greedy ADL-SYD-BNE-TSV was gonna cost heaps in points and $ because the first two legs were available direct. Dropped SYD and price and points dropped right off for ADL-BNE-TSV.

 

[JessicaTam]

It's been said a million times but the following are the better value ones:

cbr-syd-hba, mel-syd-asp, tsv-bne-drw, syd-bne-tsv, adl-bne-tsv. Obviously places like OOL only have a flight to Sydney so roues like OOL-ADL, OOL-MEL, OOL-PER will be allowed via sydney

I have added a second tab to the spreadsheet with the above, and the SC J yield. I will flesh it out with more info as time permits.

 

[moa999]

It's been said a million times but the following are the better value ones:
cbr-syd-hba, mel-syd-asp, tsv-bne-drw, syd-bne-tsv, adl-bne-tsv. Obviously places like OOL only have a flight to Sydney so roues like OOL-ADL, OOL-MEL, OOL-PER will be allowed via sydney

Could you not go SYD-(PER)-KTA?
I had the same issue when I tried getting greedy ADL-SYD-BNE-TSV was gonna cost heaps in points and $ because the first two legs were available direct. Dropped SYD and price and points dropped right off for ADL-BNE-TSV.

While I agree that seems to be the policy, some members seem to have had success with non-direct routings.
eg.
BNE-ADL-PER-KTA-PER-MEL-BNE | 72,000 http://www.australianfrequentflyer....okings-booked-classic-53677-6.html#post948174
BNE-MEL-PER-KTA-PER-MEL-BNE | 72,000 http://www.australianfrequentflyer....okings-booked-classic-53677-5.html#post944180

 

[Aussie_flyer]

While I agree that seems to be the policy, some members seem to have had success with non-direct routings.
eg.
BNE-ADL-PER-KTA-PER-MEL-BNE | 72,000 http://www.australianfrequentflyer....okings-booked-classic-53677-6.html#post948174
BNE-MEL-PER-KTA-PER-MEL-BNE | 72,000 http://www.australianfrequentflyer....okings-booked-classic-53677-5.html#post944180

Yes that is allowed as per Qantas fare rules:

RTG9003:
1. BNE-ADL/MEL/SYD-PER-KTA

I think I have mentioned at least a couple of times now that for these mASA to price out now they need to follow commercial fare rules in regards to routing

 

[moa999]

Where can one find such rules?

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Where can one find such rules?

on expertflyer or I can let you know direct from the GDS if you wish. give me the route

 

[ketsuzei]

Oops on the code - late at night. I'm a bit confused by the 16,000 points. The Classic is 24,000 & I thought the ASA could be sold for less points than the Classic? This is a Classic quote for HBA-SYD-CBR. Tho the copmt is a little less.

[TD="class: title"]Trip Price for - 1 x Adult:[/TD]
[TD="class: selected"]24,000[/TD]

[TD="class: title"]Total Trip Price:[/TD]
[TD="class: selected"]24,000[/TD]

[TD="class: title"]Points required[/TD]
[TD="class: selected"]24,000[/TD]

[TD="class: title"][/TD]
[TD="class: selected"][/TD]

[TD="class: title"]Card Payment *[/TD]
[TD="class: selected"]$79.03 (AUD)[/TD]

If you're happy with the points/cash mix and your Activity Statement shows "ANY SEAT AWARD" where the points have been deducted, then you're good to go.

If you'd prefer to use 16,000 (which is indeed possible) and pay more cash, I'd suggest calling back and explaining that you wanted to pay the minimum number of points, which is 16,000.

 

[ketsuzei]

Month booked | Month travelled | Cabin | Route | Points cost | Co-pay* | SCs earned
DEC 13 | Mar - Apr 14 | J | BNE-SIN-SYD-BNE| 160,000 | $739.44 inc. CC fee ($30)| 280
/QUOTE]

Why 160,000 and not 120,000?

 

[Happy Trails]

Managed to book a simple SYD-BKK for March in less than 8 minutes all up.
Agent muttered in passing, " I don't think these are going to be around much longer".

 

[JessicaTam]

Month booked | Month travelled | Cabin | Route | Points cost | Co-pay* | SCs earned
DEC 13 | Mar - Apr 14 | J | BNE-SIN-SYD-BNE| 160,000 | $739.44 inc. CC fee ($30)| 280
/QUOTE]

Why 160,000 and not 120,000?

Or for that matter 136,000 points? (120,000 for AU-SIN ret and 16,000 for SYD-BNE)

 

[DJNige]

Thanks all for guidance - in the end I was able to get a SYD-PER direct JASA for 36,000 + $288 (+$7). BTW, I now know how I could have done better, but it's not even a status run, I actually really want to go to Perth (for xmas!) just in the most beneficial way. Cheers, DJ