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

[DaveB]

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

This whole exercise reminds me of pollie speak and corner office management not having a clue about their customers and business.
ASA's were the only clever thing keeping QF in the game and had brought me back to QF, albeit on a limited basis chasing status. Years of no effective competition had turned their FFer business into the most uncompetitive going offering particularly poor value for international redemptions.
In order that the four of us can fly together in comfort, I have bought over the past two years $35K worth of airline tickets using card reward points, none of which went to QF.

 

[amaroo]

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

Would I be wrong in thinking that this would cost QF even more. I imagine that if the points are earned on QF then they bear the cost of that however if the flight is not on QF metal and where a JSA is not in place there would be a cost to QF? Or am I not understanding how it all works?

Look forward to some education

I don't understand the dark art of loyalty schemes.

I've always looked at points as a pure bonus - from (mostly) unrelated transactions. I transact with all sorts of business's and bugger all......provide me anything other than the services/goods related to that transaction.

Points have allowed me to take the family on OS holidays for a pittance of the retail cash price. I understand that QFF is expensive in terms of points, taxes, fees however, when I can plonk our 4 bums in a J or F seat on a LH flight for what really is bugger all cash - I'm happy.

 

[Rox]

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

"Everybody said what's that sound
Put it in a skillet and a'slap it all around
And everybody said I can't stay home
Still thinking 'bout the Fall of Rome
Still thinking 'bout the Fall of Rome"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ALMOoXYfAQ

Thank you for supplying the words.

 

[Bazzi]

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

I don't understand the dark art of loyalty schemes.

I've always looked at points as a pure bonus - from (mostly) unrelated transactions. I transact with all sorts of business's and bugger all......provide me anything other than the services/goods related to that transaction.

Points have allowed me to take the family on OS holidays for a pittance of the retail cash price. I understand that QFF is expensive in terms of points, taxes, fees however, when I can plonk our 4 bums in a J or F seat on a LH flight for what really is bugger all cash - I'm happy.

I agree. We wouldn't really be able to travel internationally at all if it wasn't for the points we earn through cc spend. The added bonus for us is that in the last couple of years (since I switched our sole allegiance to QF) we have been able to travel in J with SQ and are looking forward to travelling J with EY in Dec. We did have sufficient points left in QF to purchase 2 J tickets in EK DXB STO but for not much less than the 2 J tickets SYD SIN DXB with SQ. I'll continue to feed some points into QF but really with the view to using them on EK from DXB to Europe.

I can also sympathise with those who are loyal QF customers and who do earn the majority of their points on flights with QF/OW and for whom the SCs etc are important rewards for that loyalty. The removal of the ASA's would appear to be a slap in the face for that loyalty.

 

[medhead]

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

Wasnt that for a limited time earn points and sc on award flights?

Limited time on virgin classic awards. Not limited on virgin ASA. However, price a virgin ASA - they were expensive last time I looked.

 

[medhead]

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

+ 1......no competitive pressure pretty much says it all.

Except virgin do provide earning in ASAs.

 

[Newk]

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

Thank you for supplying the words.

Pretty much all of his songs need subtitles

 

[serfty]

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

...

AFAIK QF are industry leaders introducing ASA......looks like they were just too popular for QF's liking.

When Qantas first introduced ASA's most FFers took a quick look and discounted them as a "joke". If booked into revenue fare buckets the points cost was simply ridiculous in relation to classic awards.

Those we now refer to as mASA's were generally 10%-20% (OTTOMH) more expensive than classic awards and still earned no points nor SC's so "why bother?" (There were some mASA's that had a cheaper point cost due to the great circle orig/destination criteria, but still, these were generally high in $$$ so were disregarded.)

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....am/worst-anyseat-award-value-youve-21261.html

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....rogram/qantas-any-seat-rewards-has-18621.html

It was only when Qantas decided to allow point/SC earning on ASA's that they became of interest to FFer's, especially the mASAs.

Virgin do offer points and sc on ASA.

Yes, since the beginning of this year (Jan 13th?). But these are available only at (at least to an FFer) ludicrous rates - very similar to what Qantas used to promote as "points + Pay" but are now trying to sell online as "Any Seat Awards".

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....city/velocity-changes-incl-sc-earn-46113.html

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....stralia-velocity/will-i-earn-sc-va-51259.html

 

[amaroo]

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

Except virgin do provide earning in ASAs.

Well, the decision to move over to VA should be a very simple one. Wonder how many people will actually do it?

 

[Newk]

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

When Qantas first introduced ASA's most FFers took a quick look and discounted them as a "joke". If booked into revenue fare buckets the points cost was ridiculous in relation to classic awards and those we now refer to as mASA's were generlly 10%-20% (OTTOMH) more expensive than classic awards but still earned no points nor SC's so why bother. There were some mASA's that had a cheaper point cost due to the great circle orig/destination criteria, but still, these were generally high in $$$ so were disregarded.

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....am/worst-anyseat-award-value-youve-21261.html

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....rogram/qantas-any-seat-rewards-has-18621.html

It was only when Qantas decided to allow point/SC earning on ASA's that they became of interest to FFer's, especially the mASAs.

Yes, since the beginning of this year (Jan 13th?). But these are available only at (at least to an FFer) ludicrous rates - very similar to what Qantas used to promote as "points + Pay" but are now trying to sell online as "Any Seat Awards".

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....city/velocity-changes-incl-sc-earn-46113.html

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....stralia-velocity/will-i-earn-sc-va-51259.html

Fantastic old threads. Thanks for the links. From the disbelief that the price points were ridiculous to the vague glimmer that there might just be something of use.

 

[medhead]

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

Yes, since the beginning of this year (Jan 13th?). But these are available only at (at least to an FFer) ludicrous rates - very similar to what Qantas used to promote as "points + Pay" but are now trying to sell online as "Any Seat Awards".

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....city/velocity-changes-incl-sc-earn-46113.html

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....stralia-velocity/will-i-earn-sc-va-51259.html

I was only noting that ASA did earn to inform the view that they didn't, not making a comment about the value to be obtained.

 

[medhead]

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

Well, the decision to move over to VA should be a very simple one. Wonder how many people will actually do it?

I'm platinum with both airlines, due to anytime access removal and priority boarding by Qantas. Removing another "Any" benefit makes virgin points more valuable to me because their classic awards are vastly better value than QF classic awards. But I can't see that making me change my mix of flying.

 

[JohnK]

I can also sympathise with those who are loyal QF customers and who do earn the majority of their points on flights with QF/OW and for whom the SCs etc are important rewards for that loyalty. The removal of the ASA's would appear to be a slap in the face for that loyalty.

I earn the majority of my points on Qantas flights and I had various slaps in the face with "enhancements" to the program over the years. I am not fussed about the removal of Any seats awards. I would cry though if Oneworld awards disappeared so I can understand.

Either way Virgin is not the answer so need to find different ways to spend the points on Qantas/Oneworld.

Apologies to anyone who is offended by my posts in these threads.

I suspect the growth has been maybe 50% status matched QFFers who also kept status with QF, and say 25% new non-QF members and maybe 25% complete converts to VA whom abandonned QF. But no hard evidence for it - just a guess. Maybe we should set up a poll? I know the AFF membership is a bit skewed to the higher tiers but would be intersting to see.

I let VA Platinum lapse the first year and I have now requalified gold with exactly 400 SCs so have Gold status until Sep 2014.

I am not sure I can maintain VA Gold for another although I have booked 10 flights this year I cannot see many more flights as I still have Qantas vouchers that are likely to take me through to June/July 2014 and not leaving much time to get VA Gold status. I do not want to spend money on attaining VA status.

I remember the outrage when Virgin stopped the 6900 point + $$ (not many) for J awards. Time seems to heal all wounds.

How about the outrage when Anytime access stopped?

And remember the time I used the driver trying to clear the creek running across the fairway at 240 yards?

Time does indeed heal all wounds.

 

[Newk]

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

I earn the majority of my points on Qantas flights and I had various slaps in the face with "enhancements" to the program over the years. I am not fussed about the removal of Any seats awards. I would cry though if Oneworld awards disappeared so I can understand.

Either way Virgin is not the answer so need to find different ways to spend the points on Qantas/Oneworld.

Apologies to anyone who is offended by my posts in these threads.

How could anyone be offended by you JohnK?

 

[pauly7]

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

Well, the decision to move over to VA should be a very simple one. Wonder how many people will actually do it?

Precious few/no one really I imagine.

Whilst I'd love to see Virgin take the opportunity here to take a risk and match what QF were doing previously with ASA clearly it doesn't make business sense or they would have done it already.

Anyway I suspect have much bigger things to sort out... Catering, lounges, j class etc etc

 

[markis10]

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

Precious few/no one really I imagine.

Whilst I'd love to see Virgin take the opportunity here to take a risk and match what QF were doing previously with ASA clearly it doesn't make business sense or they would have done it already.

Anyway I suspect have much bigger things to sort out... Catering, lounges, j class etc etc

Not sure on that one, the anecdotal evidence indicates despite their woes things are travelling rather well, given the need to expand lounges in many ports some two years after the status match campaign.

 

[pauly7]

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

Not sure on that one, the anecdotal evidence indicates despite their woes things are travelling rather well, given the need to expand lounges in many ports some two years after the status match campaign.

Possibly because they are very good at comping Plat members with less than 150 SC's two years running Thanks Virgin!!

Now if they matched QF ASA's line by line imagine the lounges they'd need to build

 

[Newk]

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

Not sure on that one, the anecdotal evidence indicates despite their woes things are travelling rather well, given the need to expand lounges in many ports some two years after the status match campaign.

Yes, I have retained my matched gold with ease and now with the mASA stuff I am mulling an attempt to climb the platinum mountain

 

[eastwest101]

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

Not sure on that one, the anecdotal evidence indicates despite their woes things are travelling rather well, given the need to expand lounges in many ports some two years after the status match campaign.

Yes agree that its only annecotal but the lounges have expanded, just a shame the VA lounge network is not as geographically extensive as the QF lounges.

It would be interesting to see the breakdown of the expanded VFF scheme with the number of converts from QF, the number of "foot in each camp"ers and the number of new members (and their breakdown in status Red/Silver/Gold/Plat).

I suspect the growth has been maybe 50% status matched QFFers who also kept status with QF, and say 25% new non-QF members and maybe 25% complete converts to VA whom abandonned QF. But no hard evidence for it - just a guess. Maybe we should set up a poll? I know the AFF membership is a bit skewed to the higher tiers but would be intersting to see.

 

[medhead]

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

Yes agree that its only annecotal but the lounges have expanded, just a shame the VA lounge network is not as geographically extensive as the QF lounges.

It would be interesting to see the breakdown of the expanded VFF scheme with the number of converts from QF, the number of "foot in each camp"ers and the number of new members (and their breakdown in status Red/Silver/Gold/Plat).

I suspect the growth has been maybe 50% status matched QFFers who also kept status with QF, and say 25% new non-QF members and maybe 25% complete converts to VA whom abandonned QF. But no hard evidence for it - just a guess. Maybe we should set up a poll? I know the AFF membership is a bit skewed to the higher tiers but would be intersting to see.

Well I was matched platinum but have now retained it for 2 consecutive years. I well exceeded the requirement last year, but only because of the 200SC bonus for booking a flight. Still maintaining platinum with Qantas for now. But maintaining platinum with Virgin has meant a reduction in my Qantas flights.