Why doesn't VA have an [Android] app?

[grubbidok]

Re: Why doesn't VA have an app?

Its funny they make it for apple and not android specially seeing as there is more android phones...almost more samsungs alone now then iphones. Maybe its something to with the ease of a creating an app for iphone?

I had a Virgin app on my *Blackberry* that worked great on my BB until I swapped to Android late last year. Why they are lagging on Android I have no idea.

 

[ap_spd]

Re: Why doesn't VA have an app?

Its funny they make it for apple and not android specially seeing as there is more android phones...almost more samsungs alone now then iphones. Maybe its something to with the ease of a creating an app for iphone?

When the app first came out I asked the virgin team why there will be one for andoid coming? And they said yes there will be our team is working on it now and ot check back later this year. I think that was nearly two years ago, I cant really understand why they wouldn't want to make one.

Well cos the team may still be working on it

 

[Warks]

Re: Why doesn't VA have an app?

Sorry I've been AFK. I had a feeling when I posted that there might be an Apple app. Typical of VA, they get into bed with Android (remember the Galaxy Tablets) and forget it when it comes to an app. I've not used anything by Apple since 1995 so that's not going to change. I really get annoyed when some business assumes everyone has an Ifone and sends out emails trumpeting some app they've got now which is available from the App Store. Big deal. There's more than one platform (there's two, RIP Windows Phone).

Air NZ has a really good app - I think that was the one I was thinking of originally. I don't use it as I don't fly with them enough but NZ colleagues reckon it's great.

Looks like they need to get it together before they just launch another version of the Apple app, by the comments so far.

 

[pauly7]

Re: Why doesn't VA have an app?

Its funny they make it for apple and not android specially seeing as there is more android phones...almost more samsungs alone now then iphones. Maybe its something to with the ease of a creating an app for iphone?

When the app first came out I asked the virgin team why there will be one for andoid coming? And they said yes there will be our team is working on it now and ot check back later this year. I think that was nearly two years ago, I cant really understand why they wouldn't want to make one.

Couple of reasons most companies go with IOS first before Android. First is security, Android is much more open to security breaches and the Dev and IT teams need to get their heads around it. Secondly is yield, iOS users are much more valuable than Android users, so the ROI isn't as attractive as iOS -> being de-prioritised. The saying 'who buys an android phone? Those that can't afford iphones' is slightly true

I am surprised though VA are still dawdling on this regardless.

 

[Jack_OC]

Re: Why doesn't VA have an app?

Despite being a VA Platinum for several years, I had no idea they had an iPhone app until I saw this thread. In contrast, Qantas shouted it from the rooftops when they launched/updated theirs.

Anyway, I just installed it and signed in - it says I have 0 SCs and 0/0 eligible sectors flown (both incorrect, needless to say), and the Points Balance tile is completely blank! Maybe it takes a while to pull the data out of the system, but I'm not convinced as it already shows all of my bookings (which is handy, to be fair).

 

[Warks]

Re: Why doesn't VA have an app?

Couple of reasons most companies go with IOS first before Android. First is security, Android is much more open to security breaches and the Dev and IT teams need to get their heads around it. Secondly is yield, iOS users are much more valuable than Android users, so the ROI isn't as attractive as iOS -> being de-prioritised. The saying 'who buys an android phone? Those that can't afford iphones' is slightly true

I am surprised though VA are still dawdling on this regardless.

I always heard that Apple users are a soft touch when it comes to spending that's why they are targeted and charged higher prices sometimes (present company excepted of course!!). Still if the app is free and there are no in-app purchases you wonder what the issue is. I can understand the security side but seriously it can't take that long. Of course if they've found the current version is rubbish then there's no point doing the same for Android.

 

[Jack_OC]

Re: Why doesn't VA have an app?

I always heard that Apple users are a soft touch when it comes to spending that's why they are targeted and charged higher prices sometimes (present company excepted of course!!). Still if the app is free and there are no in-app purchases you wonder what the issue is. I can understand the security side but seriously it can't take that long. Of course if they've found the current version is rubbish then there's no point doing the same for Android.

I think the theory is that (as a sweeping generalisation) Apple users spend more money generally, so it's in a company's interests to target them first - it's not about making money out of the app itself. In other words, someone who pays more for an Apple device might also be more likely to pay for Economy X/Business or food/drink on board etc etc. That's not to say a company would decide to avoid Android completely, but it might explain them making it a lower priority. And for a company that can't seem to get the most basic IT things right, I wouldn't be surprised if "lower priority" = "never gets done". Anyway, I'm still sitting on 0 SCs/sectors/points according my iOS app!

 

[eastwest101]

I would expect that along with "simpler" security, that customers using iOS apps have already got an intrinsic propensity to pay more than the android competitor, I wouldn't be surprised to learn that market research have already identified apple users as having a greater propensity to spend more and expend less energy/time comparing prices and products and making decisions based more on a perception of quality rather than other factors.

It won't be at all surprising to learn that airfares on different apps and operating systems may start to diverge based on the customers ability/propensity to pay rather than a common price across platforms (device and operating system agnostic).

But I would agree that there would also be genuine concerns or questions of competence as to whether VA IT have the resources or ability to produce a useful reliable app for VA or Velocity. I think also that the somewhat separate ownership and resources of VA the airline vs Velocity the loyalty scheme business means that any development costs or efforts would become "too hard".

 

[Warks]

I just googled to find out if VA had come up with an Android app and the first search result was my thread from last year... oh well. I love having to trawl my emails to find out the details of my upcoming flights as the website is still too much of a PITA to be bothered.

 

[n7of9]

I love having to trawl my emails to find out the details of my upcoming flights as the website is still too much of a PITA to be bothered.

May I suggest TripIt

 

[Must...Fly!]

it's coming in the first quarter according to Jan's inflight mag

so expect it around Christmas

 

[CPMaverick]

When it comes, will it be worth installing. That's the question.

 

[Warks]

When it comes, will it be worth installing. That's the question.

Good question. How hard can it really be? If Air NZ can manage it there's no reason for VA to have a useless app.

 

[Wozza]

I've just switched to a Samsung after 10 years of iPhones (I was not going to wait 3 months for the X when my 6s had given up the ghost. Nor wait in the 5am queue as the Sydney store alternatively suggested).

I thought I would just lose FaceTime. But was sad to learn I had also lost my VA app that I use a lot as a VA Plat frequent flyer.

I don't experience the issues mentioned above, apart from the odd check in failure on partner airlines - but that never bothers me as a quick priority call to the Plat team usually fixes that.

One of the other reasons I've heard Android comes second to iOS is the greater cost involved in developing an Android app. iOS is a closed, single ecosystem servicing a smaller number of quite similar devices. Whereas Android has a much broader requirement for the app developers.

Glad to hear an Android app is on its way, despite its limitations. And glad to have switched to a Samsung and the Android ecosystem.

Let's hope it's not next Christmas before they do release it ...!

 

[HeavyElectricity]

Good to see that the development efforts are being focused where it counts (sarcasm):
Virgin Australia announces voice-controlled services for Amazon Alexa

Whilst it's pretty interesting (if you have an Amazon Echo) - especially from a development point-of-view, I'd much prefer a working (responsive) website, an android app, and a public API (to allow others, such as myself , to play with the 'cool' stuff like this).