Is it just me, or does Virgin's website need some work?

[Androoboy]

Hi All,

First post to the forum - I've been lurking for a while, and found the info invaluable. Through info here I got VA to status match my SG and I just booked my first of many Premium flights to the US through my travel agent. This is where the fun began.

Firstly, knowing who to call at VA with questions takes some getting used to. For long haul international you need to call a different number than for domestic and short-haul international. Then, trying to find someone who could explain why I couldn't access my reservation online took quite a while.

Once I (they) found my reservation, it seems impossible to access the "Select Seat" function. After logging in to the site numerous times (not sure why I needed to log in more than once), when I click the "Travel Extras" link from the "Manage Bookings" page, I get a Page Not Found error. Poor, Virgin, very poor.

Has anyone else had this sort of problem? Can anyone confirm that the VA website works with Google Chrome?

Thanks in advance all, and Merry Christmas!

Andrew

 

[Wayne Herring]

re: Is it just me, or does Virgin's website need some work?

Yes it does work with Google Chrome. Doesn't look that great in Windows XP under Chrome but not really their fault, some fonts in XP/Chrome just look bad.

Select Seat doesn't work for long haul (formerly V Australia), you'd need to contact the guest contact centre to make a request.

 

[Rotation]

I really like the new Virgin website holistically - there are still segments of it that either seem to use a different system or just antiquated design that's rolled over. The main pages and booking domestic is all good - but other aspects (like Timetables or when you click Book Now on special fares) look like they're still running old-school. I assume this will all get fixed in time - surely no one spending the amount they are on branding would leave inconsistencies all over the place intentionally.

As for booking seat selection, I recall having to call up (then) V Australia earlier this year and had them book in seats - nice and easy with no issues.

 

[darkslayer88]

I agree. On the whole the new website is pretty good but there are some issues that need to be resolved.

 

[JohnK]

A few weeks ago the Happy Hour link disappeared from the front page. Had to go searching for it on Google until I realised where they had hidden it.

Overall I find the Virgin website, old and new, coughbersome to navigate.

 

[Simo]

The VA website needs to be a bit easier in some areas like the QF website.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Most annoying thing is that unlike QF where the QFF status etc is tied into bookings, velocity and VA seem to be completely separate entities.

 

[Simo]

One thing i just noticed.

I tried to check some pricing on VA.

It was a multicity trip.

BNE to SYD on to NAN and not able to do it on the web site.

 

[lazybones1987]

One thing i just noticed.

I tried to check some pricing on VA.

It was a multicity trip.

BNE to SYD on to NAN and not able to do it on the web site.

You can't mix domestic and international flights (due to tax and pricing constraints), unless they are formal connections

 

[Simo]

You can't mix domestic and international flights (due to tax and pricing constraints), unless they are formal connections

QF web site can handle it with no probs at all.

 

[blackcat20]

You can't mix domestic and international flights (due to tax and pricing constraints), unless they are formal connections

Last time I looked, you couldn't do a plain international multi city either...

 

[Simo]

Too many layers such as many web sites where QF is all one web site.

 

[lazybones1987]

Last time I looked, you couldn't do a plain international multi city either...

Same reason again, tax and pricing issues for multi city international bookings. (You won't be able to do that with Qantas either)

 

[Simo]

just did some price checking on QF website.

BNE-SIN a day there SIN-MNL a week there and then MNL - BNE and that's home.

All able to be done on QF website.

 

[Fruitcake]

Same reason again, tax and pricing issues for multi city international bookings. (You won't be able to do that with Qantas either)

I just asked the QF website for a price for CNS-BOM-SIN-LHR / FRA-CNS, and it gave me one. Almost $14k in discount Y, so not something you'd actually buy - I'm sure a travel agent could do better, but nonetheless the QF website can do it. For more sensible routes (ie an open jaw return to the US, for example) pricing is a bit more sane.

My highly uneducated guess is that any further integration of the domestic / short int'l / long int'l bookings won't occur until the entire airline moves onto Sabre during this year. They'd be crazy if they're not trying to do it - note that, for example, at the moment you can't even book a CNS-NAN flight despite easy same-day connections being available in BNE or even SYD.

 

[Simo]

Thanks Fruitcake,

2 people could not see what I was trying to say.

Even a simple schedule like CNS-SYD then on to NAN the next day has to be done as 2 bookings or do it on QF.

 

[Pushka]

I had some issues with it today - it doesnt seem to integrate well with the velocity rewards page, and when logged in, I still wasnt! I eventually got it done. Is this some kind of twist? Tried booking flights Adelaide to Denpasar (Bali) and the cost was around $1100 (all economy). Decided I should try using some points to offset the cost - ended up with excellent flights, and the return flight in Business for $800 plus 14,000 points. If I had used all points, then it was something like a hundred thousand points. If I had used all cash, then for Economy/Business it was around $2000. Is it my bad maths or was this a very good deal? All daytime flights too (not leaving at midnight for a change!) so very happy and I will stay awake to enjoy "Virgin Business" class.

 

[Noob]

I have spotted I typo (I think), under the International Economy menu description it says:

"In-flight food and drinks are all-inclusive on our international long haul flights. Meals and beverages are served, and snacks are available from our onboard snack kiosk.
Complement your meal selection with a premium Australian wine or beer – available for purchase throughout the service."


Last time I checked everything, including alcoholic drinks, were all included on long haul (i.e. the old V Australia)?


http://www.virginaustralia.com/au/e...flight/on-board-menu/#international-long-haul

 

[MadFairlane]

Thanks Fruitcake,

2 people could not see what I was trying to say.

Even a simple schedule like CNS-SYD then on to NAN the next day has to be done as 2 bookings or do it on QF.

I got stuck with this the other day, looking at our US flights.

I just rang the international bookings desk, and they waived the guest contact centre fee, and put together my itinerary... But still a pain not to be able to do it on the net

 

[Reggie]

I got stuck with this the other day, looking at our US flights.

I just rang the international bookings desk, and they waived the guest contact centre fee, and put together my itinerary... But still a pain not to be able to do it on the net

What the ........... An airline (Virgin) waived the fee for something couldn't be done on their own wesbite. :shock: What is the world coming to, check date, its not April Fools day, mmmm maybe I should ring the other Australian Airline and ask for refunds for all the fee's they,ve charged me for things I wasn't able to do on their own website.