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

[RooFlyer]

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

There was an online briefing given at 4pm yesterday - I was part of it, and received the invitation after 2pm. Being a part of the briefing was conditional on agreeing to a 6am embargo on the information given.

I also made an ASA booking yesterday at approx 1:40PM - I posted about the booking on the FFA FB page. Now, I was already looking to make that booking; had identified the availability and the flights I wanted to book. The only reason I had not booked it was that I actually waiting for my charge card "end of month" to tick over for with the ~$660 co-pay. I saw 787800's post and decided to proceed in any case. I did not make the booking because I had non public information.

The cliff noted I posted this morning was a basic summary of that briefing:
Other things of note was that QFF were going to send emails about the changes to all members who had redeemed an award in the last year or so.

I do regret not asking about the non point to point fares.

Edit: Admin's post put up while this was being written.

Thanks serfty. As markis10 appears to have gone to ground on the issue, may I re-direct my queries to you? I appreciate your input as a moderator and you may have better things to do, but you'll observe there is some general interest here on these issues.

Straight up I haven't entertained the thought that any moderator / any one else who got the private briefing has used such to their advantage.

But I genuinely would like to know how extensive the briefing was amongst this community (who got the briefing) and would like to inquire as to why they thought it was useful to be in on it, if they weren't able to share the info with the forum. You will have read my suspicion - that QF was using the briefing to curry favour with the mods as being 'special' and to influence the course of the debate here in QF's favour. My own opinion FWIW is that they have only had limited success.

Many a time I have been offered privileged information (in business wrt corporate activity; in the share market; in local politics/council activity) but I've always said "don't tell me - if I can't use the info, I don't want to know it. It could only taint me afterwards."

I respect you and other mods for your knowledge and time put into the forum - but if mods are getting special treatment from QF, and its not openly declared and if there seems a pattern of favours given to mods (and/or others) by QF - then I think the status of mods as a class is diminished.

Any odour, however I put at QF's feet.

So please, lets have an open declaration as to who received the briefing. And, if they choose, an opinion, with the benefit of hind sight, as to whether it was a good idea to be on the hearing end, since the info was not able to be passed onto the forum members. Why did the recipients think they were being included?

Thanks.

 

[simongr]

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

I think in line with most changes - existing bookings don't get impacted (hence the confusion around baggage changes when old bookings get "better" allowances than new bookings).

 

[timmitch]

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

So if I am understanding this right you can still get JASA at cheaper rates but only if you ring up. Is that right? Or are they gone all together?

 

[simongr]

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

Only point to point are available via phone.

 

[medhead]

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

Interestingly - all JQ fares displayed are priced to include baggage......

If you click to bring up the fare rules for "Starter" it states that cheaper fares excluding baggage may be available via JQ.com.

It does however state that all changes must be made via the service centre (and incur a fee), and the changes can NOT be made online.

Basically, from the looks of it - you should always make your JQ bookings at JQ.

Which means QF should drop JQ from the search completely unless it includes bags and points/SC

Been that way for a while, iirc. I assume there is still no option to add a bundle.

 

[TheInsider]

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

So if I am understanding this right you can still get JASA at cheaper rates but only if you ring up. Is that right? Or are they gone all together?

Correct, if the classic award is available, you can get that at the ASA rate and original cash fee, but it has to be done through reservations. ASAs are available, but the ones at X, U, W, P fare class aint.

 

[shellthom]

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

Correct, if the classic award is available, you can get that at the ASA rate and original cash fee, but it has to be done through reservations. ASAs are available, but the ones at X, U, W, P fare class aint.

So if I want to fly to a destination that has no direct flights I will be told I need to book/pay for each segment separately?? Even for flights where I'm not trying to trick the system for my own benefit but thats the only way to get there?

 

[Ansett]

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

I tried to book JASA Mel - Alice this morning via Sydney and get a fright at a cost of 216,000 points and almost $4300.00 for two people.

I sent an email to lesley who handed it over to one of her colleagues who has now been able to find the same flights and dates as per my original request and here is here repply

Hi Mr xx_X

I have confirmed that the flights you were looking at are indeed available for 48,000 points + $345.84 TFCCs (taxes can fluctuate slightly from day to day as I am sure you are aware). To make this redemption booking for marginal seats as an Any Seat Award you can call 1300 366 587. I do appreciate that this is not as convenient as booking online but we have set up this mechanism to enable marginal seat bookings as Any Seat Awards. A change was required due to the broader changes we made on qantas.com to improve the flight search and booking process.

 

[RooFlyer]

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

Let me clarify a few things. Red Roo contacted me yesterday to invite AFF mods + myself + other media reps to the 4pm media briefing. I can't speak for Qantas so I don't know what their intention was other than this is pretty common practice. We were all advised that the information would be confidential until 6am this morning. Again, nothing unusual.

The briefing consisted of a Powerpoint presentation of the changes to the booking system + a walk through of the new system (via their staging server). That, I believe, was the only item on their Agenda.

Qantas also advised that QF FF members who had booked frequent flyer tickets recently would be advised of these changes by email today.

The issue of availability of "Marginal" ASAs only came up, when I asked the direct question as to whether there was any truth in the rumour that they will be discontinued. Their response is pretty much covered in this thread.

Again, I can't speak for Qantas, but I don't believe the intention of the briefing was to advise us of the new procedures about booking ASAs, but rather the changes to their booking website.

Thanks.

I would respectfully suggest that if mods / admin / others here receive a selective invitation from QF for a trip / briefing or whatever that it be accepted on the condition that:

* The fact of the invitation / session is able to be disclosed to the AFF community (either at the time - like AusBT tweeted; or after any embargo period)

* And the content of the event be disclosed in full to the AFF community after any embargo period.

If mods etc get invites on behalf of AFF, then the AFF community should gain some benefit as well.

If the invitees aren't prepared to put those conditions on their attendance, then they shouldn't accept, else the event then becomes mostly a for-the-individual benefit, I think.

I have no issue with mods etc getting freebies (like the Dubai trip) - more power to them - and this was happily disclosed at the time. We can then form our opinions as to the freebie-recipient's later views.

But when there's a briefing given to a select few, and its mentioned only in passing here originally, and there appears to have been some attendees activity post the briefing but before public disclosure, its not a good look.

I trust those "in charge" will hear this missive from the shop floor.

 

[Isochronous]

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

Given the loss of the cheap JASA/FASA in a few months, does anyone want to take a mathematical punt on the reduction in value of our points?

Also totally anecdotally I overheard a discussion about the "maturing value" of FF points and how they need to have a reduced value line to compensate for the marketing hyperbole in giving away value.

I wonder if these types of discussions inside QF lead to a decision to can things like our JASAs

Wait, so even through the phone they won't be available in a few months? I'm confused.

 

[Ansett]

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

Now please excuse my ignorance but they refer to

changes we made on qantas.com to improve the flight search and booking process.

I can not see any improvements at the moment as if you hit the Points option it gives you completely useless and irrelevant information so WTF is the improvement being slated?

 

[cgoh]

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

To be brutally honest, the new website sucks. I can't even see cash fare, and the font is so big that it's like straight in your face!.

 

[Lisee]

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

I have received confirmation of loss, for myself only, via a 1.75hr call with QF Premium desk this morning. I have lost all capability to book the type of multi-city ASA that has been very freely available to me for the past ~2 years. QF are now calling it an "illegal itinerary" & instead are wanting to sell it to me as separate bookings for a total point or point+pay cost many tens of thousands of points / hundreds of dollars more than yesterday & the past ~2 years.

I have also lost the capability to search for &/or book my own FF redemption travel.

I have not received any notification from QF prior to nor after these losses (I hope there are not more that I have yet to stumble across!!!).

My loss will, in turn, be QF's loss of me as a paying passenger across my business & leisure travel.

:!:

I would like to clarify the type of multi-city ASA I have referred to. Reading posts from others, I can see the concern over point to point ASAs. I honestly have not checked this yet... I am too furious + disappointed to go anywhere near the QF website.

The type of ASA I am used to booking (consistently without any hassle at all) is one that doubles back through point of origin. This has included mixed domestic/ international PASA & JASA until today. This is the fare that I discussed with QF Premium today, including 2 Supervisors; the first of whom insisted I had never been able to book such an "illegal itinerary" = Lisee saw red!

All QF staff on the long phone call did confirm that I would no longer be able to book any ASA for Australia or overseas that involved travel through point of origin. I now have to pay a huge amount more to get the same routing that was available only yesterday as an ASA. Hope this helps.

 

[burmans]

Re: Cliff notes for changes

Dedicated phone (number)? Huh?

Would hate to be that guy! What I'm struggling to understand is if you can't search what would prompt you to call to ask, my understanding is this took some initial searching to find a viable option in the first place?

 

[Red Roo]

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

As Red Roo, I’ve been involved with both internal and external communications, including the briefing to AFF mods and selected media yesterday.

The purpose of the Mod and Media briefing was to share the facts with those who are monitoring and moderating this forum and walk them through the changes. We will be sending emails progressively to our Qantas Frequent Flyer members who are likely to have an interest in these changes over the next week.

Due to volumes on this thread, I cannot comment or respond to every post, however please be assured that I have been noting your feedback and comments, particularly as the changes are now live.

I’ll leave the discussion with the members of this forum, and please keep it going. However I would like to clarify a few points:
· ASA’s that are unable to be booked online can be booked by calling 1300 366 587 (+61 2 8222 2430 from outside Australia) between the hours of 0900 and 1700 AEST on Mondays to Fridays. The phone assisted booking fee will be waived for these bookings.
· Testing has been conducted across most major search engines including, Google Chrome. There are no known system issues with the updated qantas.com site at this time.
· Some of you may have already received an email advising of the changes.
· There is no change to the pricing or calculations other than availability – much like commercial bookings.

 

[ReLoad]

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

Wait, so even through the phone they won't be available in a few months? I'm confused.

Yup the word round the campfire is in a few months they will be goneski.

The phone thing is only temporary to soften the hammer blow.

 

[Kangol]

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

Thankyou to 747800intercon for the heads up, although I was saving points for future redemptions (ie well over a year from now), I'm not totally disappointed.

It appears that ASAs in PUZX classes will probably eventually go - my question would be that if I book a point-to-point ASA in one of those classes and change the date to a future one, how far can I change it back to? Is it one year after the ticket is issued? What if I change the date and the ticket becomes re-issued, thereby pushing back the "ticketed date" back (and hence the following 12 month window as well)?

747800intercon - your contributions are very much appreciated and I would hope that you still help the community in the way that you already have; you probably have the highest "value : post count ratio" (if such a thing could be measured) by far on this site!

 

[RooFlyer]

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

As Red Roo, I’ve been involved with both internal and external communications, including the briefing to AFF mods and selected media yesterday.

The purpose of the Mod and Media briefing was to share the facts with those who are monitoring and moderating this forum and walk them through the changes. We will be sending emails progressively to our Qantas Frequent Flyer members who are likely to have an interest in these changes over the next week.

Due to volumes on this thread, I cannot comment or respond to every post, however please be assured that I have been noting your feedback and comments, particularly as the changes are now live.

I’ll leave the discussion with the members of this forum, and please keep it going. However I would like to clarify a few points:
· ASA’s that are unable to be booked online can be booked by calling 1300 366 587 (+61 2 8222 2430 from outside Australia) between the hours of 0900 and 1700 AEST on Mondays to Fridays. The phone assisted booking fee will be waived for these bookings.
· Testing has been conducted across most major search engines including, Google Chrome. There are no known system issues with the updated qantas.com site at this time.
· Some of you may have already received an email advising of the changes.
· There is no change to the pricing or calculations other than availability – much like commercial bookings.

Oh, good lord.

How about an apology, at least - for your past comments in this thread and non help with issues identified here?

* Your call centres continues to INSIST that ASAs can still be booked online. Truly - honestly, they are!! I can't tell - by QF site is almost un-functional.

* Your web site DOES have non functionality - I've tried several browsers, done the cache thing, re-booted. Your call centre IS acknowledging problems, so are waiving fees.

* Lucky some who got the e-mail. Nothing for me yet.

Yes, I know you've hopped in here and now bolted. Sorry, based on your performance here - no loss.

 

[Ansett]

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

As Red Roo, I’ve been involved with both internal and external communications, including the briefing to AFF mods and selected media yesterday.

The purpose of the Mod and Media briefing was to share the facts with those who are monitoring and moderating this forum and walk them through the changes. We will be sending emails progressively to our Qantas Frequent Flyer members who are likely to have an interest in these changes over the next week.

Due to volumes on this thread, I cannot comment or respond to every post, however please be assured that I have been noting your feedback and comments, particularly as the changes are now live.

I’ll leave the discussion with the members of this forum, and please keep it going. However I would like to clarify a few points:
· ASA’s that are unable to be booked online can be booked by calling 1300 366 587 (+61 2 8222 2430 from outside Australia) between the hours of 0900 and 1700 AEST on Mondays to Fridays. The phone assisted booking fee will be waived for these bookings.
· Testing has been conducted across most major search engines including, Google Chrome. There are no known system issues with the updated qantas.com site at this time.
· Some of you may have already received an email advising of the changes.
· There is no change to the pricing or calculations other than availability – much like commercial bookings.

Red Roo you stated recently that ASA;s were going nowhere can you confirm that this is still the case?

Can you also confirem that JASA will still be available at the points level that they are today ie Classic awards and that they are NOT going to be removed in 3 months as is the general feeling on here.

I fail to see any benefit what so ever to the new booking engine.

 

[Pushka]

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

I don't think Markis10 did anything I would not have done after reading this thread at 4pm.

Last night I too would have booked a JASA flight that I want to take next year (Hong Kong - Adelaide) but simply did not have enough points to do so. And I certainly had no private briefings.