[Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10April

[whatmeworry]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26-was]10April

You're just reinforcing my point. The classic award is almost useless with QF due to the taxes. The ASA was the one way to get value out of your points. With VA, you can with their regular reward fares because the taxes are lower.

Didn't QF do a deal with EK to lower fuel surcharges? Did this flow onto Award/ASA's bookings?

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26-was]10April

Didn't QF do a deal with EK to lower fuel surcharges? Did this flow onto Award/ASA's bookings?

The amount it changed was bugger all

 

[Buzzard]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26-was]10April

After reading the disgruntled posts in this thread and the responce(s) might I suggest that somebody needs to change their handle to Red Herring which is what we are being thrown

Maybe the company could also change its name to Flying Fish to go with the Herring handle

 

[RooFlyer]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26-was]10April

Qantas seems to have such a knack for upsetting customers that I wouldn't be surprised if they have a Disarm and Emphathise division.

I reckon most big corporates who interface directly with customers do; its good business sense. You can admire the good practitioners as they coolly take the whole spray from a disgruntled customer (eg my good self, although I'm never rude ) and you end up sort of agreeing with them! The Qantas one that called me was reasonably adept, but simply agreeing with me on everything was a give-away of being stroked.

I NEVER have a go or am rude to phone agents; I try to deal with actual management (and have done that in person with QF after a particularly annoying baggage debacle) but if dealing with phone agents make it clear that its management I'm directing my ire to.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26-was]10April

might I suggest that somebody needs to change their handle to Red Herring which is what we are being thrown

Made me larf.

 

[Supersonic Swinger]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26-was]10April

Surely a company executive would have the smarts to realise that Qantas have made their business decision.

It's referred to as "sweating the assets"...

 

[Bazzi]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26-was]10April

4 phone calls in 10 days to QF to try and book JASA fares (and on one occasion advising them that there was another cougho image on their Facebook page!) Each time phoning the dedicated ASA phone number. On all 4 occasions ending up in regular phone sales. Average wait time for call to be answered - 45 minutes. 3 of 4 agents I've spoken with had no idea what a JASA was. The one who did was arrogant, superscilious and argumentative. Another sought help from a supervisor while I waited on line - result was JASA more than the cost of OW J fare with Etihad which my Plat QF FIL bought instead. Another agent could not find any availability despite me advising that the flights were available as classic awards on my computer screen as I was speaking with her. Today's agent told me emphatically but politely (4 times) that I could not book ASA's over the phone, only on the website - I talked her through finding the relevant paragraph on the QF website - news to her. Subsequently, she was unable to help (regular phone sales) so transferred me to 'someone who could help' which actually meant being placed in a queue for my call to be answered - deciding whether to hang up - decision made for me, phone battery ran out.

I, like another poster, feel very sorry for the QF staff - they have been hung out to dry as much as the rest of us.

Whatever QF's agenda is with regards to the ASA's or program as a whole, the booking engine is an appalling disgrace for any business to be aligned with.

I like to multi task so have spent my 'waiting time' filling in 'feedback forms' - love the 'We're listening' header at the top of the form - I think not QF!!

 

[TheRealTMA]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26-was]10April

Avatar Burmese?

 

[Bazzi]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26-was]10April

Avatar Burmese?

No, Bazzi was a pure bred Blue British Shorthair - sadly no longer with us.
The look said it all - 'don't *#%+ with me!'

 

[Deleted User]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26-was]10April

4 phone calls in 10 days to QF to try and book JASA fares (and on one occasion advising them that there was another cougho image on their Facebook page!) Each time phoning the dedicated ASA phone number. On all 4 occasions ending up in regular phone sales. Average wait time for call to be answered - 45 minutes. 3 of 4 agents I've spoken with had no idea what a JASA was. The one who did was arrogant, superscilious and argumentative. Another sought help from a supervisor while I waited on line - result was JASA more than the cost of OW J fare with Etihad which my Plat QF FIL bought instead. Another agent could not find any availability despite me advising that the flights were available as classic awards on my computer screen as I was speaking with her. Today's agent told me emphatically but politely (4 times) that I could not book ASA's over the phone, only on the website - I talked her through finding the relevant paragraph on the QF website - news to her. Subsequently, she was unable to help (regular phone sales) so transferred me to 'someone who could help' which actually meant being placed in a queue for my call to be answered - deciding whether to hang up - decision made for me, phone battery ran out.

I, like another poster, feel very sorry for the QF staff - they have been hung out to dry as much as the rest of us.

Whatever QF's agenda is with regards to the ASA's or program as a whole, the booking engine is an appalling disgrace for any business to be aligned with.

I like to multi task so have spent my 'waiting time' filling in 'feedback forms' - love the 'We're listening' header at the top of the form - I think not QF!!

This is my fear, I really cant be bothered with this rubbish, I will only be doing it shortly to burn my points balance... its time I played the VA and SQ game, not saying that they are better, its just that until there is some answers in this thread, i'm not really fussed booking with Qantas really, and to be honest, its been possibly too long since I flew VA metal.....

Really the biggest surprise is that when I turn my back on loyalty to Qantas, its really clear that the value seems to be with VA... Nice work Qantas

 

[amaroo]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26-was]10April

This is my fear, I really cant be bothered with this rubbish, I will only be doing it shortly to burn my points balance... its time I played the VA and SQ game, not saying that they are better, its just that until there is some answers in this thread, i'm not really fussed booking with Qantas really, and to be honest, its been possibly too long since I flew VA metal.....

Really the biggest surprise is that when I turn my back on loyalty to Qantas, its really clear that the value seems to be with VA... Nice work Qantas

I understand the frustration with QF and being ADL based.

However, IIRC - VA will not allow you to earn points on award tickets.

 

[Deleted User]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26-was]10April

I understand the frustration with QF and being ADL based.

However, IIRC - VA will not allow you to earn points on award tickets.

Forget awards, Forget Loyalty..... VA is usually always better priced than Qantas, I have several hundred thousand Qantas points, but very little VA points, my plan is to balance this up by booking some MASA's shortly to burn some QFF, and all my August bookings will be with VA.

Sure it wont do much, but its my first step to opening my eyes, next step will be to look for some VA / SQ points earning Credit cards...

And so it begins... for me anyway

 

[Beta4Me]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26-was]10April

VA is usually always better priced than Qantas

"60% of the time, it works every time."

 

[Limewood]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26-was]10April

I, like another poster, feel very sorry for the QF staff - they have been hung out to dry as much as the rest of us.

Whatever QF's agenda is with regards to the ASA's or program as a whole, the booking engine is an appalling disgrace for any business to be aligned with.

Sorry to hear of your plight.

As we know its areal mess, however, how hard can it be to give every Q online Rep. a piece of A4 paper explaining how these MASA's work, apparently too hard.

 

[Deleted User]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26-was]10April

"60% of the time, it works every time."

I would say 80% .... but yes I get the point

 

[AirKat]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26-was]10April

For me, the crux of the issue is that classic award fares are almost worthless. The difference between purchasing the fare and redeeming points for a classic award grows smaller and smaller. Purchasing the fare means you don't have all the limitations of the classic award and can actually earn Points and SCs also.

With the removal of the cheap ASA suddenly I don't have anything to do with my points other than request upgrades. Basically, I've lost the last major thing tying my loyalty to QF.

I agree with this. Trying to fly Frankfurt - Mel, no availability on EK award seats so best QF could come up with was LHR-MEL as a classic award at $480. Plus $200 for a BA positioning flight to LHR... in the end I scrapped it and bought Frankfurt=MEL with BA, cost = $950. I really don't know what I'll do with my points in the future. I have been exceptionally loyal, having to insist upon flying QF with my employer at times, because it enabled us to fly J for leisure. It no longer seems that is the case

 

[Deleted User]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26-was]10April

I agree with this. Trying to fly Frankfurt - Mel, no availability on EK award seats so best QF could come up with was LHR-MEL as a classic award at $480. Plus $200 for a BA positioning flight to LHR... in the end I scrapped it and bought Frankfurt=MEL with BA, cost = $950. I really don't know what I'll do with my points in the future. I have been exceptionally loyal, having to insist upon flying QF with my employer at times, because it enabled us to fly J for leisure. It no longer seems that is the case

I think qantas are more than happy for you to try out their competition and your employer could also be happier with your decision too

 

[JohnK]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26-was]10April

With the soon to be removed ASA's, whats a QFF point worth going forward...? Is it declining like the AUD$...?

To me a QFF point is still worth ~2.5c/QFF point used on economy Oneworld awards.

 

[cove]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26-was]10April

I still try for 4 cents value per QF point. Now mainly domestic but I have a BA First ride coming up next month.

 

[JohnK]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26-was]10April

The point being cove is there is still good value to be derived from QFF points just as there was before Any seat awards came about.