V-Flyer

Why is the Virgin Atlantic website so poor in the number of things it offers. For example you cannot change your ticket online I believe, also during the volcano disruption almost all of Virgin's competitors allowed you to rebook for the next available flight online, whilst VS passengers endured hours of waiting on hold or having to go to the airport to rebook.

Also they push Y34 seats, Exits and PE upgrades at airport check-in, why don't they offer this when you do OLCI instead?

Interesting point, but quite simply, the total chaos that the volcano caused would have proved too much for even the most battle hardened of websites.

Rebooking onto different flights wasn't simply a matter of moving seats; there would normally be change fees/restrictions to take into account - and although we wavied these (for the most part), it still required people to ring the contact centre to get the best options. For example, the website would have just assigned seats on the next availible flight, and not taken into account other options for pax; other carriers, upgrading to next cabin, going via other hubs - people would still be stranded if we left it to that.

There are some options in 'manage my boookings' re changing tickets but not all tickets are changeable - especially the really cheap ones.

Exit row seats can't be requested on-line as the check-in staff need to assess whether you are physically capable of opening the doors in an emergency. You can't do that if your too young, infirm, got a broken arm or leg or looking after a toddler etc. Offering these seats at OLCI could result in dissapointmeant if your booked then and it then turns our you are incapable of opening the door.

PE upgrades are often available during OLCI - its just that some people don't see the offers. Also not everyone does OLCI so they would see being offered one (if still available) at check-in as a good thing to be told about them.

GVHOT wrote:Why is the Virgin Atlantic website so poor in the number of things it offers.

LMFAO

Sorry, it may not sound funny to you, but to me it is.

I am trying to think of a way to put this without getting my wrists slapped again.

After talking to a friend of mine that happened to run the IT dept. for a rather large international airline and worked with VS for a bit trying to integrate their systems, take the very best cutting edge stuff...from the 1980's, combine it with some stuff from the 90's with a little dab of the 2000's and you have VS systems, then throw in the fact that a few of the the systems are out sourced and don't seem to want to talk with the rest of the system (like the reservation engine) and you have a problem.

Now VS does have some good IT people, but as ever it's a case of how much money is being made available to them to do their jobs.