Why can't VA offer multi city including international flights?

[PERLHR]

Why can't they? Why only domestic multi city? I can choose more flight options on VA metal via Expedia flights. (Enforcing a night stop rather than having to have an over night flight which is the only option on VA.

Is booking VA flights via Expedia potentially hazardous time to ensure that FF number is attached and credited? Nothing much surprises me now with VA in making it harder for the pax!

 

[anat0l]

Must be some sort of system limitation that they never thought of overcoming or opening up. It does imply that diagnosing most bookings should be fairly simple, e.g. IRROPS or amendments.

If you booked via Expedia, normally there is a field to put in your FF details for crediting and status benefits. You could view your booking on VA's website so long as you enter the airline PNR, e.g. for seat selection. The main thing that changes is who contacts you if schedules change or things go wrong (except on the day of departure), or if you want to change or cancel a booking (including fees).

 

[Saab34]

I asked this to someone from the commercial team when I was sitting next to them on a Sydney flight (he was asking me for feedback). He said such a platform required significant investment and the company didn’t have the capital for it at the time. That was pre pandemic. I didn’t know how expensive some of this software is and the contracts with such providers etc.

I think we underestimated how far behind Virgin has been in IT. I recall Bain said they have spent hundreds of millions upgrading the tech stack already.

 

[MooTime]

I'd hazard a guess that 'hundreds of millions' would be inaccurate unless it was in Thai Baht.

Interesting to know that booking via Expedia and the like would give you more options.
I gave up many years ago booking flights via 3rd party as had few issues but willing to give it another go in future for more options.

 

[Saab34]

Virgin Australia is investing over $400 million in new digital technologies and customer experience improvements.

 

[MooTime]

Good.
Sounds very broad work no timeline.

 

[antycbr]

The hundreds of millions is to support the gutting of the Velocity program and the status credit calculators no doubt.

Not much has changed from a user experience perspective, bag tracking is the main one I notice. Oh and anything to do with driving ancillary revenue is prioritised - chargeable seating zones and neighbour free seating.

 

[Saab34]

I agree that it doesn’t appear like much has changed considering the investment, but it was probably more updating outdated software, they did call out everything was like a decade behind in that department. No point behind the scenes things flow better.

To show how bad it was, when Bain picked up the keys, 40% of IT was end of life, 40% was facing end of life a year later. Pretty woeful underinvestment from Virgin in the prior decade but I guess they had no money.