Online booking work arounds.

[Rigs]

During my recent trip I encountered a limit in the VA website's booking system. I tried to book a return trip with one leg to Siem Reap and another back through Penang. Both destinations are serviced by VA through codeshares with SQ. Both locations can be booked as individual return trips. I tried to use the multiple city booking system to organise the trip, no deal. So I called VA, no luck, they could not override the system and do the booking on their end. It seems the system struggles with return legs on codeshares.

I managed to force the booking using the American Express online travel website.

Make no mistake, I totally understand John Borghetti's reasoning behind the implementation of the booking system. I respect company's innovative attitude. VA is always going to have gaps as it develops. This is just a way that, I as a customer, used the system to force an online booking.

I am interested in finding out if other people have used similar work arounds in the past?

 

[JohnK]

I can't get a quote on VA website ex-BKK/CNX. Don't know of any workarounds other than Expedia or Zuji but they aren't really workarounds as they are separate booking engines.

 

[williamsf1]

.

Make no mistake, I totally understand John Borghetti's reasoning behind the implementation of the booking system. I respect company's innovative attitude. VA is always going to have gaps as it develops. This is just a way that, I as a customer, used the system to force an online booking.

Great idea ... Wrong system.... Said the same thing 5 years back when it was announced...

 

[newmarket]

I just go to a Travel Agent that I like.

 

[Fiches Mouser]

Apparently the cost of providing credit card services just wasn't being covered at $7.70/booking. It's now $8.

Would love to find a workaround for that!

 

[Milefest]

Apparently the cost of providing credit card services just wasn't being covered at $7.70/booking. It's now $8.

Would love to find a workaround for that!

This almost deserves a thread of its own.. Has the fee gone up for PayPal too? Ridiculous

Just for clarity, it's not necessarily the price increase that aggravates me (although I'm sure it'll compound over the years). It's the fact that they're charging customers for the privilege of paying. Using a payment gateway as a revenue stream is a thumbs down from me.

 

[Fiches Mouser]

This almost deserves a thread of its own.. Has the fee gone up for PayPal too? Ridiculous

Yeah, I was debating its significance with myself. Settled on an existing thread, since 30¢ isn't huge on its own, but it is when you're already charging $7.70 for something that might only cost a tenth of that.

Didn't check PayPal, but I would assume it's the same.

Pretty offensive they charge it at all really, so an increase is a slap in the face.

 

[travelislife]

And the government thought their regs would get rid of this! They should have never allowed surcharging at all, they would still accept credit cards.

The airlines and ticketing agencies (where you can't actually get your ticket without paying a fee) are the worst and love this rort.

 

[jpk]

I do wonder how much revenue VA loses by not doing multi-city international, and only offering a limited amount of booking origins.

 

[Pleb Status]

I believe that not selling multi city international fares (particularly from Asia) is more to do with the SQ codeshare agreement than any website issues (as you can buy multi city successfully from some other locations).

It would appear SQ will let VA sell codeshare services ex Australia but they want all the ex Asia action for themselves. Blocking multi city international from most Asian ports is just a simplification of this edict. Using Expedia et al is a bit of a backdoor but not a very big one.

At least you earn VA SC on partner airlines (and therefore less pressure to book codeshares) which is better than with QF and their biggest alliance partner.

 

[Dannyism]

I have always been interested in this, but don't quite understand and never could figure out how to do it... Maybe someone can help me.

Say I want to go on VA or codeshare (sq) and I want my booking class to fall under 'flexi' not 'saver', as I get double the status credits and it only costs a bit extra.

I want to fly MEL - SIN (layover of 2 days) - BKK. Spend three weeks on holidays, then fly say PVG - SIN (no layover) - MEL

Is this what OP is asking ? And what is the best way of doing this ?

 

[JohnK]

Apparently the cost of providing credit card services just wasn't being covered at $7.70/booking. It's now $8.

Would love to find a workaround for that!

Get yourself an Entertainment book for $70 and buy yourself a $5,000 gift voucher (or whatever amount you think you spend in a year) and get 5% off the purchase of the gift voucher.

Then make bookings using the gift voucher and you will only pay the credit card surcharge on the last booking to finish the gift voucher.

If you need more than maximum gift voucher sold then buy an Entertainment book for your favourite pet and get them to buy you another gift voucher.