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

[Buzzard]

AFIK if you book a random return date you can only change it if there is an award seat available so would be a waste of time to book it.

 

[markis10]

AFIK if you book a random return date you can only change it if there is an award seat available so would be a waste of time to book it.

Depends if you have a window to book in that triggers bonuses, and if your confident award availability is good on the route

 

[Kangol]

I am looking to book a JASA SYD-LHR in Dec 14 returning in Jan 15, 2.5 weeks in the UK. Outbound tickets will be available very soon but by the time the return flights are released classic award seats are likely to have disappeared. Can I book a false return date and then change to the date we require later at the expense of 3.5k points per person? Or do I book the initial flight and add the return on later for the same change fee of 3.5k? Any advice on this one appreciated.

The 3.5k point change fee is for classics. The ASA change fee is specific to the fare rules and in this case for Oz-Europe I'm pretty sure there is no change fee for JASAs.
There are a few ways of doing what you want but it depends on flexibility, availability and if you are considering a plan B and how important that would be to you...

 

[Newk]

I've just had to hang up (politely) on a call centre operative who insisted over and over, and even confirmed with her supervisor, that these can be booked on line. Even after referral to ROQ. I sincerely hope it wasn't the premium desk I was talking to as I felt like the whole call was an imposition on the CSO

 

[Newk]

second try, another CSO:
"yes, I know what I am doing"
"who told you about ROQ?"
"these can only be done on line"
"they tell us over and over at the morning briefing that these can only be done on line"
"good bye sir"

I am pretty likely to maintain WP this year on QF, but increasingly forward bookings are finding their way elsewhere.

 

[kevrosmith]

second try, another CSO:
"yes, I know what I am doing"
"who told you about ROQ?"
"these can only be done on line"
"they tell us over and over at the morning briefing that these can only be done on line"
"good bye sir"

I am pretty likely to maintain WP this year on QF, but increasingly forward bookings are finding their way elsewhere.

Sounds like they have the 'B Team' on during the Christmas break :shock:.

I can imagine the back-chatter in their call centres... "If only we didn't have to talk with customers, our job would be so much easier...". Uh duh. Your job is to talk with customers.

 

[Newk]

Sounds like they have the 'B Team' on during the Christmas break :shock:.

I can imagine the back-chatter in their call centres... "If only we didn't have to talk with customers, our job would be so much easier...". Uh duh. Your job is to talk with customers.

There may be a bit of that. It is really frustrating as I have a lot of time to sit and play with my forward bookings and it would be really useful if I was being helped with enthusiasm and knowledge. Sure, it's a minority sport, but while it's part of their program I'd really like to be able to continue to utilise MASAs.
The second CSO told me that it was only very recently that these were made available on-line. My heart skipped one, and only one, beat as I realised that very recently to her was October and that, no, MASAs had NOT been put back on-line yesterday.
Life goes on. Yes, I'll manage, yes, it's a first world problem, so no need to remind me thanks

 

[Deleted User]

There may be a bit of that. It is really frustrating as I have a lot of time to sit and play with my forward bookings and it would be really useful if I was being helped with enthusiasm and knowledge. Sure, it's a minority sport, but while it's part of their program I'd really like to be able to continue to utilise MASAs.
The second CSO told me that it was only very recently that these were made available on-line. My heart skipped one, and only one, beat as I realised that very recently to her was October and that, no MASAs had NOT been put back on-line yesterday.
Life goes on. Yes, I'll manage, yes, it's a first world problem, so no need to remind me thanks

My record is four consecutive unsuccessful calls to the MASA hotline...Wasting over 90 min in the process... Are you going to beat my personal record Newk...?

 

[Jimmy124]

Will2Rob - I just booked the same, however, there was quite a bit of confusion. At first, the operator asked me to incur the telephone booking fee and was not too familiar with the ASA concept - had to phone 'frequent flyer department' a couple of times - am guessing the number for the M*ASA is to a generic telephone sales number. I had to explain I was after an ASA, and this was not bookable online. I made a few bookings, once we got over the first one, it was quite smooth sailing. The operator did confirm quite a few times that it was an ASA booking and not a Classic booking - is there anyway to confirm it is indeed an ASA booking? Many thanks

 

[Newk]

My record is four consecutive unsuccessful calls to the MASA hotline...Wasting over 90 min in the process... Are you going to beat my personal record Newk...?

I'm trying to get the strength to try again. It's not a record that I want to equal.
At a minimum I have two flights to Sydney and a return flight to Darwin to book. I want to give them some points and money. In a way favourable to both parties. It is being made very hard

 

[Deleted User]

second try, another CSO:
"yes, I know what I am doing"
"who told you about ROQ?"
"these can only be done on line"
"they tell us over and over at the morning briefing that these can only be done on line"
"good bye sir"

I am pretty likely to maintain WP this year on QF, but increasingly forward bookings are finding their way elsewhere.

This is a pretty clear message that Qantas are not interested in us booking these types or redemption fares, hence it should be pretty clear that they will be happy for you to take your business elsewhere...

I'm thinking of starting another thread to make it clear what's happening, anybody agree we need another thread with the following title: "Unsuccessful xASA Bookings - Bookings Made Elsewhere As A Result"


At least it will be very clear to Red Roo and others at Qantas where the masses (MASA'S ) are going...

 

[Newk]

Will2Rob - I just booked the same, however, there was quite a bit of confusion. At first, the operator asked me to incur the telephone booking fee and was not too familiar with the ASA concept - had to phone 'frequent flyer department' a couple of times - am guessing the number for the M*ASA is to a generic telephone sales number. I had to explain I was after an ASA, and this was not bookable online. I made a few bookings, once we got over the first one, it was quite smooth sailing. The operator did confirm quite a few times that it was an ASA booking and not a Classic booking - is there anyway to confirm it is indeed an ASA booking? Many thanks

your activity statement will have something like this:

QANTAS & JETSTAR ANY SEAT AWARD

in it when the points are taken out

 

[Newk]

This is a pretty clear message that Qantas are not interested in us booking these types or redemption fares, hence it should be pretty clear that they will be happy for you to take your business elsewhere...

I'm thinking of starting another thread to make it clear what's happening, anybody agree we need another thread with the following title: "Unsuccessful xASA Bookings - Bookings Made Elsewhere As A Result"


At least it will be very clear to Red Roo and others at Qantas where the masses (MASA'S ) are going...

OK, if you do it, I will deliberately make some bookings today on the other airline to start the thread off

Oh and I know there are people out there who will whinge about us whinging, but bugger them they don't have to read the thread. And, yes, I accept in advance that what I am booking elsewhere will be a totally different fare and I won't be comparing apples with apples

 

[medhead]

OK, if you do it, I will deliberately make some bookings today on the other airline to start the thread off

Oh and I know there are people out there who will whinge about us whinging, but bugger them they don't have to read the thread. And, yes, I accept in advance that what I am booking elsewhere will be a totally different fare and I won't be comparing apples with apples

When qantas needs all the fares it can get its fair to compare apples with aardvarks.

 

[Jimmy124]

your activity statement will have something like this:

QANTAS & JETSTAR ANY SEAT AWARD

in it when the points are taken out

Thanks so much Newk, and it does -

27 DEC 13	QANTAS & JETSTAR ANY SEAT AWARD 1 ADT REF	-	-	-		-
27 DEC 13	QANTAS & JETSTAR ANY SEAT AWARD 1 ADT REF	-	-	-		-
27 DEC 13	QANTAS & JETSTAR ANY SEAT AWARD 1 ADT REF

Before reading your reply, I did phone to FF who then put me through to reservations who confirmed the same as I was not able to find anywhere it was an ASA. Really appreciate the pointer.

I asked the CSR in res how I would be able to differentiate looking at the ticket, and she was not aware of any way. However, she did say she was able to see the telephone booking fee was waived. So on your fifth attempt, maybe work backwards and explain that as you are planning to make a MASA booking, then you are not liable for the telephone booking fee as it is a MASA booking and you are not able to book online. Once you get over that hurdle, hopefully, you may be headed down the right track?

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

Can anyone confirm that I can request an upgrade on an ASA booked into Z class? From my reading it's only classic awards and fares in E, N, O, Q and X classes that are in eligible however if I try and request an upgrade it comes up that my booking is ineligible

Call up, it should be eligible as long as it's not a classic award.

 

[Newk]

Got one!!!
Yipee.

I confess: In the absence of the "failure to book and rebooked on another airline" thread I had another go

Adelaide Sydney U class, expected cost, easy as pie. This time it was answered as "premium desk", took mere minutes. Soothing En... assured me that "of course these aren't available on-line"

Got another!!

Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Adelaide: slightly out there but necessary as no direct Adelaide Darwin U class available on the day I wanted. Again soooooo easy. Minimum points cost was something like 96,000. Plus a few hundred bucks

Total time on the phone including some idle chit chat was 14 minutes. Swoon

QF lives to fight another day in my eyes (and please don't write and tell me that I am a mere flea to them and they don't care, because I already know that)


Maybe it was easier this time because I rang the mASA line. The other two times I rang to do other stuff and because I had a competent sounding CSO I branched out a bit.

 

[JessicaTam]

Got one!!!
Yipee.

I confess: In the absence of the "failure to book and rebooked on another airline" thread I had another go

Adelaide Sydney U class, expected cost, easy as pie. This time it was answered as "premium desk", took mere minutes. Soothing En... assured me that "of course these aren't available on-line"

Got another!!

Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Adelaide: slightly out there but necessary as no direct Adelaide Darwin U class available on the day I wanted. Again soooooo easy. Minimum points cost was something like 96,000. Plus a few hundred bucks

Total time on the phone including some idle chit chat was 14 minutes. Swoon

QF lives to fight another day in my eyes (and please don't write and tell me that I am a mere flea to them and they don't care, because I already know that)


Maybe it was easier this time because I rang the mASA line. The other two times I rang to do other stuff and because I had a competent sounding CSO I branched out a bit.

Tsk tsk, Newk. You didn't mention that you weren't going through the mASA phone number.

Also, names have been published before, so there is no drama leaving them in.

 

[Newk]

Tsk tsk, Newk. You didn't mention that you weren't going through the mASA phone number.

Also, names have been published before, so there is no drama leaving them in.

sure
I had been making assumptions 1) that whatever happened I'd get the premium desk and that 2) the mASA number is only a ruse to count the calls and that I'd get the premium desk anyway

And I feel uneasy about leaving the names in, especially as this one is rather distinctive

 

[medhead]

The last 3 that I've booked including 3 calls to get prices and investigate options were to the standard QFF number on the back of my card. Did not bother with the masa line.