VA third party bookings

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Captain Halliday

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VA website still doesn't allow PAX to make changes to a booking - even simple stuff like adding VFF number or seat selection. Does anyone have any workaround suggestions?

VA call centre won't even add the VFF number (though they have in the past, so I might try for a different agent)

I realises third party bookings mean limited functionality for all airlines, but QF will accept FF numbers and seat selection. Surely it can't be that difficult for VA.
 
Like a TA or online TA (ie. Expedia) bookings?

I know you can't change the flights but I did just select seats for a friend who booked VA through Expedia.
 
VA website still doesn't allow PAX to make changes to a booking - even simple stuff like adding VFF number or seat selection. Does anyone have any workaround suggestions?

For third party bookings( from my experience) -

1. Get used to logging in multiple times with your PNR or Velocity number
2. making change to bookings - yes correct cannot be done. I have not found a work-around for this one.
3. adding VFF number - call centre may work, VA lounge angels can add VFF numbers (but you have no VA status and no VA lounge at DRW yet, so no help to you?)
4. seat selection - maybe because I am VA Silver and now VA Gold I have always been able to call up VA and request a seat (if you have a PNR), seat selection on VA web site never worked for 3rd party bokoed flights
5. OLCI - even though I have a PNR I have found OLCI very erratic for corporate travel agent bookings.
6. Any mixed carrier flights on 1 PNR such as a VA+Rex, VA+QF or VA + any other airline in the world, means that you lose all VA web site functionality

I have found that by using Tripcase.com and/or Virtuallythere.com you can at least see some relevant information for third party booked flights, some useful stuff like your flight numbers, times, PNR's, VFF numbers, aircraft type and any delay notifications. You may find that your corporate travel agent may already have data in either Tripcase.com or virtuallythere.com. I use these sites to keep track of my bookings and flights because they work and are accurate, and don't require you to login multiple times.


VA call centre won't even add the VFF number (though they have in the past, so I might try for a different agent)

Yes - as per above, try the hang up and call again method. Definately hang up and call again, but my corporate travel agent dosen't muck this up for me so haven't had this problem myself.
If that fails keep boarding passes and PNR and do a retro claim. Then you may find out that the Retro Claim tool often dosen't work either, so send an email as well! ;)

I realises third party bookings mean limited functionality for all airlines, but QF will accept FF numbers and seat selection.

For the new VA web site its zero functionality as far as I can tell. And yes the QF web site and the old pre-sabre DJ web site could all do this stuff, like retreive bookings, select seats etc.

Surely it can't be that difficult for VA.

It is. :shock:

I have been corresponding with the VA rep here for over a year about these problems and its still 'watch this space' for any action.

All I want is online seat selection that works, I understand that VA and corporate travel agents don't want us going into their bookings and being able to amend, or heaven forbid, just look at our bookings. But surely being able to select our own seat online isn't too much to ask is it? :rolleyes:

Fortunately - VA must know my status and flights somehow, as I usually am able to get reasonable seats at the airport counter that a VA gold should be able to get. As with a lot of things with VA, once you are on the plane and out of the reach of the VA web site/IT team then everything seems to work out alright.....
 
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No issues for me changing/choosing seats for corporate TA booking.

Though I still find it frustrating I always get auto allocated a row in the middle of the why cabin despite WP status. Also unable to update personal details such as phone numbers, referred to call.
 
No issues for me changing/choosing seats for corporate TA booking.

Though I still find it frustrating I always get auto allocated a row in the middle of the why cabin despite WP status. Also unable to update personal details such as phone numbers, referred to call.

Interesting. So with your corporate travel agent you can select or re-select a new seat on the VA web site? Or is that online check-in that works for you?

Because I can't see my seat allocation, I just assume I don't have a seat allocated until I either do OLCI (which only works occasionally) or get a seat allocated at the airport.

Seems to be different results form different corporate travel agents, which is not a surprise. Next time I am at the airport I may ask the check-in staff if I already have an aisle seat allocated before I check-in.

With you being a VA WP, unless you are travelling on very full flights or peak times, you should be seeing better seats than that. I do and am only Gold usually travelling on Saver fares but can often get better seats allocated at the airport despite me not even requesting Row 3 to 7. The VA checkin staff and VA Lounge angels can obviously see my preference as they nearly always allocate an aisle seat for me. Maybe your corporate travel agent is preselecting those seats in the middle of the aircraft when the booking is first made?

Not surprising you can't update personal details as they are possibly locked or pre-populated by your Corporate Travel agent details. How many times do you have to "Login" to retreive/view or change your bookings?
 
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I've never had any issues calling the VA call centre and adding a VFf number to the booking. Almost instantly I can
access the booking in the VA site and choose a seat.
 
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