Page 1 of 3

Virgin booking website down?

PostPosted: 30 Oct 2010, 17:24
by rich1664
Work informed me yesterday that they want me to go to NYC and then Denver in the middle of December - so am trying to look up flights and prices. I can input my dates into the Virgin booking page, get to select UC without CDC, then nothing, just that loading page....

Anyone else experiencing problems?

Re: Virgin booking website down?

PostPosted: 30 Oct 2010, 17:33
by Sealink
Yes - had a few pages stuck on the "landing lights" but seems to be OK again

Re: Virgin booking website down?

PostPosted: 30 Oct 2010, 17:41
by DragonLady
I've had problems all afternoon - the VS website is worse than useless these days.

Re: Virgin booking website down?

PostPosted: 30 Oct 2010, 17:43
by rich1664
It's sort of working....

Being unbelievably slow and then sometimes crashing.

Still, it's only four UC flights I need to get booked....... grrr......

Re: Virgin booking website down?

PostPosted: 30 Oct 2010, 17:47
by tontybear
Its all those people booking today because they THINK they can avoid Monday's increase in APD if they buy their ticket before midnight tomorrow thats clogging it up!

Re: Virgin booking website down?

PostPosted: 30 Oct 2010, 17:49
by slinky09
tontybear wrote:Its all those people booking today because they THINK they can avoid Monday's increase in APD if they buy their ticket before midnight tomorrow thats clogging it up!


You're too forgiving, VS's Web site is pants. It's been problematic for me all week ... currently trying to book LHR-IAD BOS-LHR and the formatting is mad, the pages don't load ... aaaargh!

Re: Virgin booking website down?

PostPosted: 30 Oct 2010, 18:23
by Sealink
Of course you could book on Expedia, should be same price and avoid card fees.

Re: Virgin booking website down?

PostPosted: 30 Oct 2010, 22:27
by mitchja
Sealink wrote:Of course you could book on Expedia, should be same price and avoid card fees.


The current VS PE sale fares don't seem to be coming through to Expedia as I tried this earlier today.

It's still not working properly as the booking engine isn't working and there's also big chunks missing from lots of the pages.

As slinky says, it has been acting up all week. It is getting worse as well as it's going down almost every week now.

Re: Virgin booking website down?

PostPosted: 31 Oct 2010, 12:20
by jtlc2345
I managed to book flights to Orlando on Friday (no problems at the time) although still yet to receive my e-ticket.

Jonathan

Re: Virgin booking website down?

PostPosted: 31 Oct 2010, 14:30
by Treelo
I too have been having some difficulty with the VS site in the past week or so.

Re: Virgin booking website down?

PostPosted: 31 Oct 2010, 14:51
by Sealink
VS web is offering me a tantaslising upgrade offer, but when I select it it says it's not available. It's been doing that since the day I booked - only the fare is now lower than ever. Annoying. I could call... I 'spose!

Re: Virgin booking website down?

PostPosted: 31 Oct 2010, 15:04
by Bill S
Make cuts in IT - then expect a site to be upgraded. What sensible manager would expect to get away with that?

Oh yes - it would be a VS manager..... ):

How many bookings are being lost to other carriers while this goes on?

Re: Virgin booking website down?

PostPosted: 31 Oct 2010, 15:11
by mitchja
One word that explains it all really - outsourcing.

Re: Virgin booking website down?

PostPosted: 31 Oct 2010, 16:13
by slinky09
mitchja wrote:One word that explains it all really - outsourcing.


Nope, disagree, VS has underfunded its Web development and back-end systems for years and years ... I know at least two companies who VS contracted to for development, and could tell some tales about VS's managerial competence :w .

Re: Virgin booking website down?

PostPosted: 01 Nov 2010, 17:03
by clayts
I cant believe how bad their website is, it only really has one key function they should be able to get right... selling flights and I am unable at the moment to even get seach results back. Off to anyone else who can sell me the ticket...

Re: Virgin booking website down?

PostPosted: 01 Nov 2010, 17:07
by mitchja
Yep, also trying to book flights here and it's down YET AGAIN now.

The VS website is a joke!!!

Re: Virgin booking website down?

PostPosted: 01 Nov 2010, 17:12
by clayts
But its okay James... cos Howard said that they have some really exciting functionalities coming soon!!! I think stablity would be a great start!

Re: Virgin booking website down?

PostPosted: 01 Nov 2010, 17:15
by mitchja
LOL, yeah I also read that comment, not sure about anybody else, but the ability to book flights is reasonably high on my list of priorities for an airline website!!!

I shall put my credit card away and try again later this evening. If the flight to MCO I want wasn't just a TP run, I'd book with BA :w

Re: Virgin booking website down?

PostPosted: 01 Nov 2010, 21:53
by StillRedHot
You could just call to book?

Re: Virgin booking website down?

PostPosted: 01 Nov 2010, 22:10
by clayts
I could... but the thought of dialling, going through an automated system, then being put on hold for who knows how long doesnt appeal. Would rather book on a website that makes it simple and involves zero human interaction. Perhaps that is asking too much though.

Re: Virgin booking website down?

PostPosted: 01 Nov 2010, 22:13
by StillRedHot
You can always come through to me - I'd be more than happy to book your flights for you!

There have been issues with the website unfortunately, and I know the web team are constantly working on it - but also, as an above post mentions, I think the website is being completely overhauled soon!

Re: Virgin booking website down?

PostPosted: 01 Nov 2010, 22:16
by honey lamb
jay wrote:You could just call to book?

Yeah, right! I don't live in the UK so we're talking about an arm and a leg in phone calls v(

Re: Virgin booking website down?

PostPosted: 01 Nov 2010, 22:17
by StillRedHot
honey lamb wrote:
jay wrote:You could just call to book?

Yeah, right! I don't live in the UK so we're talking about an arm and a leg in phone calls v(


Where do you live?

Re: Virgin booking website down?

PostPosted: 01 Nov 2010, 22:21
by Dubaiification
Expedia, quidco and VS Amex make quite a good team.

Re: Virgin booking website down?

PostPosted: 01 Nov 2010, 22:23
by StillRedHot
Dubaiification wrote:Expedia, quidco and VS Amex make quite a good team.

But of course if you have any issues or need to change your tickets you have to go back to them..