New virgin-atlantic.com website release (update 29/02/12)

Hmmm on the 'Getting into the Country' Section VS seaes to have forgotton to add anything about getting into the Carribean, Cuba and South Africa.

And on the airport guide page the 'see more airports' there is info on VS not interlining bags to BD/BMI if not on the same PNR but only for some airports. Not all CHs are listed either on the 'Experience UC' tabs.

THe 'see more airports' tab isn't working though (using firefox)

Better than what it was though !

[Neil]

Hmmm on the 'Getting into the Country' Section VS seaes to have forgotton to add anything about getting into the Carribean, Cuba and South Africa.

Probably because there is no specific visa/forms that have to be filled in prior to travel for these countries.

Probably because there is no specific visa/forms that have to be filled in prior to travel for these countries.

However you do need a visa for Cuba.

[Neil]

Probably because there is no specific visa/forms that have to be filled in prior to travel for these countries.

However you do need a visa for Cuba.

That is correct, although I thought it was all sorted/cards handed out on the plane a bit like the old visa waiver programme? Sure that is what happened when a colleague went last year.

I love the photo of the suitcase filled with red shoes!! ^) ^) ^)

Hmmm on the 'Getting into the Country' Section VS seaes to have forgotton to add anything about getting into the Carribean, Cuba and South Africa.

Probably because there is no specific visa/forms that have to be filled in prior to travel for these countries.

Fair point Neil but something saying that might be helpful.

Though the CIBT site says you need a visa for Cuba ...

Though the CIBT site says you need a visa for Cuba ...

You do, and they cost. VH (and other companies) sell them as part of their packages, and you can buy them from the VH desk @ LGW.

Hi v-flyers,

As some of you have already noticed, the second release of our fabulous new website has just gone live. Thanks for your feedback so far!

What’s new in the second release?
The second release builds on the Baggage section release at the end of July. We’ve added new pages in and around the Travel Information section of the site including completely new airport guides, information on visas, flying with children and special assistance. There is also a handy section on how to arrive at your destination in tip-top shape with even a few exercises to try in your seat.

The new landing page for the Travel Information section is an innovative design for a web page, drawing on the kind of layout more commonly seen in magazines. We think it is a great way to direct customers to the content they need using an experience they are already familiar with from a different medium.

How have our customers been involved in this release?
We got a lot of great feedback following the first release of the new website and we’ve addressed some of the things our customers raised.
•Of the many customers who used the “Rate this page” function, a number requested clearer links to mobility impaired information. We hope the new Special Assistance section fits that requirement.
•We’ve also had a few comments left on v-flyer.com discussion boards requesting that the social media links at the foot of the page open in a new tab, so we’ve done that too.

There are obviously many more ideas and comments to work through in future releases, but this kind of feedback is really important and we love it when people are impressed by the new pages and keen to help us make them even better.

When are you going to release something more functional?
The first functional area of the site we are currently developing will be flight status, the first iteration of which will be released later this year.

Once again, thanks for taking a look around the new pages and letting us know what you think. Don’t forget, you can feed back directly on site using the ‘rate this page’ function.

Thanks,

Fergus, Kyle, Greg & Howard.
Virgin Atlantic eBusiness and Social Relations teams.

[honey lamb]

Thanks for that information, Kyle. There has already been some feedback on this thread and I'm sure there will be more

I Must say i'm liking the new look thus far, looking forward to it rolling out accross all sections of the site.

When are you going to release something more functional?
The first functional area of the site we are currently developing will be flight status, the first iteration of which will be released later this year.

Crikey Kyle I was right, it'll be 2015 when you finish it, what have you got, one part time person working on it?

kyle, slinky has a point -- the drip-drip approach is going to take a long time, during which you will have two very different visual styles co-existing. It seems an odd way to unveil a pretty major upgrade (and improvement, by the look of things).

Thanks for sharing this with us. I like the new design, it is certainly more modern and reflective of the new virgin brand equity style. Frankly the website has been a dinosaur for too long - even the us sites were better - scary! My only fear is that you are prioritizing the design over the functionality. I find the layout confusing. Whilst I appreciate the design intent to replicate magazines - not sure It works. First and foremost it needs to function as a website and the navigation needs to be simple - this isn,t. I think you can bring in the virgin equity without sacrificing usability.

Finally - please stop the drip drip roll-out. You have feedback and thoughts - you know if it works or not. Rolling it out piecemeal makes it look amateur and having two sites within one is clearly suboptimal. Get the resource, funding and commitment you need and launch in one big hit please.

Finally - when you build the classes section - make it inspirational. Make us salivate about the potential of flying with virgin. For inspiration see this website from AA. Inferior product made to look AWESOME.

http://www.theflagshipexperience.com/?a ... e=flagship

I see the 'Special Offers' page has now also been updated.

Looks a bit better

I see the 'Special Offers' page has now also been updated.

Looks a bit better

Yes looks better, BUT.......still showing offers that expired yesterday AND new offers of £303 to NY, but when clicking goes to the old page with offers from £367.

!

Hi Kyle

A bit of feedback on the new pages.

I like the style, it just takes a bit of getting used to. The serious error is the almost unreadable white text on the pale blue/grey background as it fades down the right hand side of the page (see below). How that ever got past testing is a mystery to me.

Please let us know if you want feedback via a different (more direct) route.

Cheers

Martin

Barely readable white text on a pale background.

I see the 'Special Offers' page has now also been updated.

Looks a bit better

Yes looks better, BUT.......still showing offers that expired yesterday AND new offers of £303 to NY, but when clicking goes to the old page with offers from £367.

!

Dubai ones still busted too.

When I tried and typed in 'new york' it wanted me to select either JFK or EWR - I couldn't have both.

Also unable to select a cabin class so whrn I clicked 'find flights' it came up with an error. But when I went back to the page that option was there!

The link from the main homepage to "Credit Card" on the left is currently taking me to a 404 error page:

http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/gb/en/404.html

I don't remember if it's already been done, but the area under 'the virgin experience' is all new too.

I don't remember if it's already been done, but the area under 'the virgin experience' is all new too.

I just noticed this.

I must say, I really like the style of the new site. The photography is really beautiful.

I still think it's crazy, though, to have the old site co-existing with the new.

I still think it's crazy, though, to have the old site co-existing with the new.

Or they could try a 'big bang' change and end up making an enormous hash of it like Virgin America seem to have done.

Agree with you at240, usually implementation of a new website happens all at once and not bit by bit, very confusing. However, I too like the new site and find it more user friendly.

Clarkeysntfc - VX was a back office change with their reservations and inhouse system which links into the website for MMB and reservations. The actual design and layout of the VX website remains unchanged.

These latest special offers on the new style page...

What a mess! :0

VS..Have you tried reading the T's & C's below the fares on offer... if there was ever a way of increasing random calls to the customer services line, think you've just found it! :w

2. Additional departure taxes may be payable locally.
7 days before departure for Economy fares.
21 days before departure for Premium Economy fares
28 days before departure for Upper Class fares

3. Additional departure taxes may be payable locally.

Oh dear... B) As said before by others, does nobody proof check these before blurting them out to the general public ?

Just noticed that VS seem to be planning a new route from Heathrow to Orlando!

London Heathrow £519 7 May 12 - 22 Jun 12

http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/gb/en/id ... fares.html