V-Flyer

Gentle reader,

We are talking to the coding boffins at Virgin Atlantic about exposing fare class codes in a flight booking front-end that would sit on V-Flyer. Basically, that would mean rather than saying I want 'Economy - Lowest' or 'Economy - Flexible', you can specify the exact fare code you want to see, like Y, B, L, X, etc. As a tag-on, we are also looking at showing the availability of reward codes too, so you can search for an upgradeable Economy fare such as 'L', then search for a PE upgrade reward in 'U'.

The question is, would you use this? Because this will involve some new coding both at Virgin Atlantic and at V-Flyer, we need to put together a business case for doing the work. So, in our highly scientific research (ie, the poll below), please give us an indication as to whether you are likely to book using such a tool if it was available.

YES YES YES YES About time!!!

'"please give us an indication as to whether you are likely to book using such a tool if it was available'

Would use it 100% provided the 4 miles per 1 with a Virgin Credit Card still applied. Sounds like a great idea."

This would be a front end that would deliver you to Virgin to complete the booking, so yes - all the normal benefits and bonus miles would apply.

quote:Originally posted by Pete
This would be a front end that would deliver you to Virgin to complete the booking, so yes - all the normal benefits and bonus miles would apply.


Sounds perfect then; rock on!

Would be really helpful if users could select lowest available booking class that is upgradable. Also would be nifty if different booking classes could be selected per leg of a booking.

Sounds like progress to me[^]

Deffo, would really help a lot people I would say....'Book it Danno'


Dominic

[quote]Originally posted by mcmbenjamin
Would be really helpful if users could select lowest available booking class that is upgradable. Also would be nifty if different booking classes could be selected per leg of a booking.


Different classes per leg would be included (hopefully); your request for lowest available booking class that is upgradable would be possible by automatically doing multiple look-ups in the background (but for the sake of simplicity probably won't be in v1 - you'd have to just start at the lowest upgradeable booking class and work up until you find one; but given there are only 3 in Economy and 2 in PE, it's not many to check)

Pete

A 100% yes from me. On every feedback form I fill in about the VS site, the main thing I ask for is to be able to look up and book by certain fare code. I have never been able to book a VS flight on line because of the lack of this option and whilst it would benefit me it should also mean less people having to call VS about these kind of bookings.

Neil

A definite yes from me too.

quote:Originally posted by Pete
This would be a front end that would deliver you to Virgin to complete the booking, so yes - all the normal benefits and bonus miles would apply.


yes, when includes the normal benefits of booking direct, and access to sale fares which assume would be in the fare code listings

[y]

Looks like a healthy interest. Another aspect of consideration that I need to gauge itnerest in is a compare mode.

So say you search for LHR-JFK, it would potentially show in a result dashboard:

- Lowest Revenue flight
- MpM fares for that flight
- Lowest eligible revenue that can be used to upgrade, and the applicable check for reward avail
- Pure reward
- Lowest eligible revenue that can be used for a companion, and the applicable check for companion avail
- Check availability to make use of the VS AmEx upgrade rewards

Depending on code extensibility at VH, potentially:
- Flydrive price (plus cabin upgrade costs)

Goal would be so you could quickly at a glance see the various options.

quote:Originally posted by RichardMannion
Looks like a healthy interest. Another aspect of consideration that I need to gauge itnerest in is a compare mode.

So say you search for LHR-JFK, it would potentially show in a result dashboard:

- Lowest Revenue flight
- MpM fares for that flight
- Lowest eligible revenue that can be used to upgrade, and the applicable check for reward avail
- Pure reward
- Lowest eligible revenue that can be used for a companion, and the applicable check for companion avail
- Check availability to make use of the VS AmEx upgrade rewards

Depending on code extensibility at VH, potentially:
- Flydrive price (plus cabin upgrade costs)

Goal would be so you could quickly at a glance see the various options.


Richard - stop inventing work for me. [;)] Let's try and keep it simple.

quote:Originally posted by Pete

Richard - stop inventing work for me. [;)] Let's try and keep it simple.

And can we have a +-7day spread as well? [:w]

quote:Originally posted by RichardMannion
Looks like a healthy interest. Another aspect of consideration that I need to gauge itnerest in is a compare mode.

So say you search for LHR-JFK, it would potentially show in a result dashboard:

- Lowest Revenue flight
- MpM fares for that flight
- Lowest eligible revenue that can be used to upgrade, and the applicable check for reward avail
- Pure reward
- Lowest eligible revenue that can be used for a companion, and the applicable check for companion avail
- Check availability to make use of the VS AmEx upgrade rewards

Depending on code extensibility at VH, potentially:
- Flydrive price (plus cabin upgrade costs)

Goal would be so you could quickly at a glance see the various options.


[^] Now that would be VERY good [y]

Yes - definately

Superb!

YES please!

This is a brilliant idea!

S.

Absolutely YES. Sounds like a fun project. What are you thinking of using technology-wise?

Of course the dream outcome for those of us who do not live in the UK is a VS engine that will let you book tickets with other airlines for connections. But that's a whole other project, for sure. Just being able to book VS econ/PE plus upgrade reward will mean I'll never go back to the VS site again. Will they share their code for the 7-day table? As Bill S says, that would be a great addition. I'm sure you could recreate it fairly easily, just wondering if they will actually cooperate that far with you.

Good luck, and looking forward to it coming.

OH yes !

Would be good especially as would let you choose a ticket to let you then upgrade using FC Miles - well give you the option too.

Yes, yes, yes, YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! [y][y][y]

Cheers
Michael

I think the current poll result says it all really.

Regards

definantly, it would save hours on the phone to FC and trying to check all the different options to make the best savings etc.

Sounds great, especially the compare mode - it would save a lot of repetitive searching when looking for the best option for a given trip!