Whats the point of ASA again?

[downloadingdata]

I tried a number of options, domestic and international and in almost all cases the point+pay option basically lets you sell your points for $0.007 - $0.008, which is no better than gift cards...

 

[JohnK]

Not really good value unless you were desperate to travel at specific time.

If you are looking to travel economy then points + pay could be a good option during sales.

 

[serfty]

With SOME sales on SOME very few routes, they CAN have a cheaper nett cost - but such are few and far between.

 

[sudoer]

For some people who are points rich it's a nice way to pick up free SCs..

 

[downloadingdata]

Not really good value unless you were desperate to travel at specific time.

If you are looking to travel economy then points + pay could be a good option during sales.

With SOME sales on SOME very few routes, they CAN have a cheaper nett cost - but such are few and far between.

Cheaper net cost vs. classic awards yes but not "cheaper" vs. cash as the points portion is still only valued at $0.008. I doubt you can do any worse than that when using points. Why not just pay cash for the sale fare and save the points for better valued classic awards (hence ASA is pointless)?

 

[oz_mark]

I tried a number of options, domestic and international and in almost all cases the point+pay option basically lets you sell your points for $0.007 - $0.008, which is no better than gift cards...

It is what Qantas seem to apply as a notional value to points. It is pretty consistent across the various redemption options.

 

[serfty]

Cheaper net cost vs. classic awards yes but not "cheaper" vs. cash as the points portion is still only valued at $0.008. I doubt you can do any worse than that when using points. Why not just pay cash for the sale fare and save the points for better valued classic awards (hence ASA is pointless)?

As I indicated any opportunity is few and far between (rare).

An I would not do it, I value points more.

It was occasionally possible to do with really cheap sales on routes a little over the 600 / 1200 mile zones.

e.g. An ADL-SYD fare of perhaps $110 all up or less would cost less nett points than a strait out classic award redemption.

 

[downloadingdata]

For some people who are points rich it's a nice way to pick up free SCs..

Its not free when the opportunity cost is at least 2x greater...


Why not just pay cash for those SCs? Unless someone is so cash starved and point rich I dont see the point... and i doubt there are many people like that...

 

[downloadingdata]

As I indicated any opportunity is few and far between (rare).

It was occasionally possible to do with really cheap sales on routes a little over the 600 / 1200 mile zones.

Hmm. Though wouldn't a cheap fare in points be also cheap in cash or were there occasions where the pts value in ASA redemption is significantly more than $0.008?

 

[sudoer]

Why not just pay cash for those SCs?

Each to their own really. We all know they are terrible value vs classic awards and upgrades. What's the point of this thread? What do you want us to say?

 

[downloadingdata]

Each to their own really. We all know they are terrible value vs classic awards and upgrades. What's the point of this thread? What do you want us to say?

Just curious if there is still any value in ASA. As a new QFF member i heard the ASAs are poor value but didn't think it was *this* poor until i tried to book today

 

[sudoer]

Just curious if there is still any value in ASA. As a new QFF member i heard the ASAs are poor value but didn't think it was *this* poor until i tried to book today

As serfty said, P+P can be better value than a classic award sometimes. It depends on the route's classic award cost and whether there are any sales going.

Marginal ASAs were much better value, but were axed years ago. You can read some history on them here.

 

[JohnK]

Very little value in any seat awards but for some of us there is some value in points + pay if you were going to book a classic award anyway.

 

[andye]

Its not free when the opportunity cost is at least 2x greater...


Why not just pay cash for those SCs? Unless someone is so cash starved and point rich I dont see the point... and i doubt there are many people like that...

Suspect there are some people with mortgages/divorces/school fees (alone or in combination) who find themselves in that position

 

[Buzzard]

For some people who are points rich it's a nice way to pick up free SCs..

I've never met an AFFer that rich and I used to have over 2 million points.

 

[DaveB]

I suppose some use ASA's when just having to get on a particular flight.
QF and VA ASA's always makes buying tickets directly using CC points seem excellent value. This method enables premium J return seats to LHR for around the 500K QF points mark and 450K for EY. When our girls were younger, getting four on the same plane and class was often too limiting so obtaining 2 reward seats first then buying 2 tickets using CC points was used for many years. Funnily enough, never gave obtaining status a thought with my daughters at one stage ended up platinum and gold on VA whilst my wife and I stayed lowly red.

 

[downloadingdata]

I suppose some use ASA's when just having to get on a particular flight.
QF and VA ASA's always makes buying tickets directly using CC points seem excellent value. This method enables premium J return seats to LHR for around the 500K QF points mark and 450K for EY. When our girls were younger, getting four on the same plane and class was often too limiting so obtaining 2 reward seats first then buying 2 tickets using CC points was used for many years. Funnily enough, never gave obtaining status a thought with my daughters at one stage ended up platinum and gold on VA whilst my wife and I stayed lowly red.

Somehow the word excellent value doesn't seem right when your classic reward / upgrade redemptions are valued at 5-7 cents / pt and the ASAs are 0.7 cents...

 

[Supersonic Swinger]

When 3 to 4 years ago the Qantas Frequent Flyer Program was 'enhanced' to be 'simpler and fairer' (their marketing doublespeak), accruing and using points for anything other than Classic Awards became the equivalent of Flybuys or any other standard 'loyalty' program (i.e. a program designed to collect and monetise data on your spending patterns and habits).

Given how difficult it is to find useful international Classic Awards, I use my points for domestic flights and bank the cash saving (between the advertised fare and the taxes paid on the Classic Award) towards my next international paid fare on the most convenient and best priced airline.