VS Website - changes are a coming!

Irrelevant really though? Their website works & works brilliantly.

Really? Flyertalk has a still very active thread called "Issues, bugs and glitches on ba.com website" with more than 2,100 posts dating back nearly two years.

Not to mention a thread that's been running for the last week called "Problem on BA.com checking reward flight availability".

The entirely relevant point being VS are by no means the only airline with major IT issues. The new website is a shambles but at least it's not affecting flight operations, unlike BA.

As frustrating as it is, a delay in receiving your MBNA miles or having trouble finding a G is pretty minor compared to not being able to check in for your flight because the entire system's fallen down.

This has just occurred to mean I'm traveling with VTEC in a few weeks....another VS FC partner where you may want to update your new FC number with is Virgin Trains / Virgin Trains East Coast.

So far there's:

MBNA
AmEx Membership Rewards - you need to ring to update your FC number as you cannot do this online.
Tesco
Virgin Trains / VTEC
Heathrow Rewards

There are probably others too?

The e-Rewards website will not currently accept the new 10 digit FC numbers, though I have raised this with them.

I also had to change it on various hotel loyalty schemes, Expedia and Virgin Wines.

Irrelevant really though? Their website works & works brilliantly.

Really? Flyertalk has a still very active thread called "Issues, bugs and glitches on ba.com website" with more than 2,100 posts dating back nearly two years.

Not to mention a thread that's been running for the last week called "Problem on BA.com checking reward flight availability".

The entirely relevant point being VS are by no means the only airline with major IT issues. The new website is a shambles but at least it's not affecting flight operations, unlike BA.

As frustrating as it is, a delay in receiving your MBNA miles or having trouble finding a G is pretty minor compared to not being able to check in for your flight because the entire system's fallen down.

Flytalk = a place where BA haters rant & let off steam. Not monitored like on v-flyer. I went on there once and posted a very positive feedback about a basic BA economy flight I took from LHR -JFK. Honestly I received so many totally negative responses. Nasty forum.

Also BA are going to have more issues - they carry millions and millions more passengers so issues are going to be multipled.

I have to agree with 'Eggtastico' - the BA web page works. After so many failed and abortive attempts on the VS web page last week, I did book our flights with BA in the end and used some Avios points, my friends used just cash. The whole procedure of booking the flights on-line was soooooo easy. It showed the availability, the price, the seats etc and I was able to go back and forth with ease.
Just like the good old days of the VS website

Let's be fair - VS have had their issues with the IT in the past too but that's what has got to be expected with darn technology. It happens, systems crash. The VS problems are not just teething issues (which should have been solved days ago anyway). Its is more than just not being able to find reward flights or miles not being credited - there are so many many issues.

I have been a loyal customer to VS ever since I first flew to Orlando in 1992. Yes I am now a frustrated customer and more importantly, sadly I have lost my confidence in them. Just pray they get me to & from the west coast next year. Maybe the problems will be sorted out by then and as I'm flying on a G fare I'm not worried about my miles not being credited

I have actually found something good about the new site
The Font is so large I do not need to put my glasses on in order to try & find my way round it !
Or I will be able to when I can actually get into my account

I have actually found something good about the new site
The Font is so large I do not need to put my glasses on in order to try & find my way round it !
Or I will be able to when I can actually get into my account

Oh Dear I know the Reservations number is 24hour but not sure about FC.

Did you try emailing them?... I did it last week because my FC got locked but after 2 days
(I am so impatient!!) I actually phoned them about 3.30pm and only waited a few minutes. It was all sorted over the phone and my FC was unlocked.
For info they did reply to my email a few days following and gave me link on how to unlock the account. I obviously ignored it as did not want to create another problem.

Best of luck.

The website is horrible because it is not user friendly and surely that is the whole point of an online website.

I honestly do not think it helps to start comparing how bad other airlines' IT systems perform. This is not a defence which excuses the current state of both the VS website or the FC

Let us be careful not to let this become an argumentative thread. However that could easily happen. I personally do not like the tone of last couple of very lengthy posts from people giving their positive slant on the huge changes. Perhaps it's me being too sensitive but it felt like a telling off and I was being told to shut up and stop the unnecessary moaning.

Hev60, I apologise if my response felt like a telling off. I definitely didn't mean it as such and I'm sorry if anyone else was offended by it.

I think SRH, gumshoe and myself were just pointing out that this isn't just a website visual change or changing of functionality, but a complete replacement of the Passenger Service System (PSS) behind the entire operation of VS. It's no mean feat and that was my point. I won't speak for SRH or Gumshoe.

From a systems perspective, you've just replaced something that was well known but extremely outdated with a brand new PSS and this will take some time for everyone to adjust. With the website, changes can be more rapidly deployed than the reservation system, ticketing, check-in, departure control applications. These applications which is what Gumshoe was referencing the issues faced with BA's 'Fly' PSS. So whilst the new website is not perfect, it hasn't stopped flights which is main thing.

As this is a thread about website issues, I won't mention any more about the PSS behind it to avoid distractions from website functionality issues which the VS team could rectify.

The website is horrible because it is not user friendly and surely that is the whole point of an online website.

I honestly do not think it helps to start comparing how bad other airlines' IT systems perform. This is not a defence which excuses the current state of both the VS website or the FC

Let us be careful not to let this become an argumentative thread. However that could easily happen. I personally do not like the tone of last couple of very lengthy posts from people giving their positive slant on the huge changes. Perhaps it's me being too sensitive but it felt like a telling off and I was being told to shut up and stop the unnecessary moaning.

Hev60, I apologise if my response felt like a telling off. I definitely didn't mean it as such and I'm sorry if anyone else was offended by it.

I think SRH, gumshoe and myself were just pointing out that this isn't just a website visual change or changing of functionality, but a complete replacement of the Passenger Service System (PSS) behind the entire operation of VS. It's no mean feat and that was my point. I won't speak for SRH or Gumshoe.

From a systems perspective, you've just replaced something that was well known but extremely outdated with a brand new PSS and this will take some time for everyone to adjust. With the website, changes can be more rapidly deployed than the reservation system, ticketing, check-in, departure control applications. These applications which is what Gumshoe was referencing the issues faced with BA's 'Fly' PSS. So whilst the new website is not perfect, it hasn't stopped flights which is main thing.

As this is a thread about website issues, I won't mention any more about the PSS behind it to avoid distractions from website functionality issues which the VS team could rectify.

Absolutely - 100% the same points as myself. Apologies if any offence was caused - not the intention at all.

Hev60, I apologise if my response felt like a telling off. I definitely didn't mean it as such and I'm sorry if anyone else was offended by it.

I think SRH, gumshoe and myself were just pointing out that this isn't just a website visual change or changing of functionality, but a complete replacement of the Passenger Service System (PSS) behind the entire operation of VS. It's no mean feat and that was my point.
....
As this is a thread about website issues, I won't mention any more about the PSS behind it to avoid distractions from website functionality issues which the VS team could rectify.

Ryan that is a very fair response and to be honest I suppose most of us don't think about the whole wider picture going on because at this moment it is just the website and FC changes which are causing so much personal grief.

In fact in Krakens trip report this evening, he has reported a vast improvement in the speed of the checking in system.

Let us hope all those website functions which we have found so helpful in the past, do return soon on the new website.

Like I said previously, websites must be User friendly and this sure isn't at this present time. Hev

Ugh.
I have just received 4 (identical) emails from [email protected], with the Subject "Your account details have been updated" and the contents "All done, we just wanted to let you know that your details have now been changed"

I have not made any changes, not contacted them about any discrepancies in my account. I was planning on waiting a couple of weeks to let things settle down.

However, on checking my account, there is someone else's home address where mine used to be!!

I haven't spotted what else may have changes, but this is rather alarming. Either someone has hacked my account, and changed the address (seems odd), OR someone at VS has changed the details in the wrong account. Neither explanation is particularly pleasant.

Has anyone made an SPG - FC transfer since the shift?

I made my first transfer on last monday and nothing is showing up in my account to date

Thanks

Just discovered something interesting. For now as the systems are based on Delta's booking system you are unable to book cash flights to Cuba direct with VS. You can only book through VH. It is possible to book flights online on Delta's site to Cuba from MIA/ATL and NYC though

The worst thing by far for me is how much more difficult it is to search for rewards seats now, so frustrating!

Credit card miles and tier points still missing......10 days late from regular posting.

Thanks to Mitcha for answering my previous question now my next question - reward seats -

has anyone worked out how to book a reward seat on the website that's not 10 days long? for example outbound in February and return in April? I am completely baffled.

perhaps there should be a new thread - how to book a reward seat - that is if anyone knows the answer

Thanks to Mitcha for answering my previous question now my next question - reward seats -

has anyone worked out how to book a reward seat on the website that's not 10 days long? for example outbound in February and return in April? I am completely baffled.

perhaps there should be a new thread - how to book a reward seat - that is if anyone knows the answer

Hi you don't say the destination you are looking for?

Basically reward availability to popular places in the US like Miami, Orlando, Las Vegas, LAX or SFO are virtually impossible to find currently. There is no way of looking many months in advance like we used to do, for checking when reward fares are available.

However I did a dummy run checking availability from London to New York, Boston or Atlanta and there was numerous choices. I asked for LHR to Atlanta Feb 20th returning April 20th and got availability. Using this example, the problem is you get an availability screen to pick an outward date and in this case it showed most of February being available. However once you hit to accept an outward date, the next screen gives you the inbound date you asked for ie 20th April in this case. It didn't show if other inbound April dates were also available. So that's the issue I think, no choices of inbound dates to choose from.

Goodness that sounded complicated but I just wanted to check for myself that the reward screen does work, admittedly not so easily as on the old website but availability shows up. Not on the popular routes, coz basically there's nothing on offer! I also tried the whole months of May, June, July etc right through to October and not one available fare came up for London to Orlando

Hope they soon introduce a bit of software to assist with reward availablity checking but if they don't release the reward fares into those popular destinations we are not going to find them

Thanks to Mitcha for answering my previous question now my next question - reward seats -

has anyone worked out how to book a reward seat on the website that's not 10 days long? for example outbound in February and return in April? I am completely baffled.

perhaps there should be a new thread - how to book a reward seat - that is if anyone knows the answer

There is a row of buttons for payment, click on the pay with miles one.
There is a choice of exact dates, one week or 5 weeks, click the 5 weeks
That should bring up any availability.
The few I have tried have largely been no flights available in all the dates, but Christmas in New York is doable on rewards, so it does work.
Dick D

just called to try and get missing TP and miles added from trips last month and told to come back in 7 days due to IT issues ongoing with retrospectively adding back missing point and TPs. Seems in the mess the AU birthday miles went awol too

I cant imagine its much fun for any of the customer service staff over the last few weeks....what a mess

[quote="Edinburgh Castle".... now my next question - reward seats -
has anyone worked out how to book a reward seat on the website that's not 10 days long? for example outbound in February and return in April? I am completely baffled.


There is a row of buttons for payment, click on the pay with miles one.
There is a choice of exact dates, one week or 5 weeks, click the 5 weeks
That should bring up any availability.
The few I have tried have largely been no flights available in all the dates, but Christmas in New York is doable on rewards, so it does work.
Dick D

Just to add to DickD's simplier explanation of how to search for rewards I actually found some of those elusive LAX fares by putting in a date but only searching one-way. I asked for 1st April and then a 6 week calendar appeared and showed up two availability dates. I then did the same for a one-way return and three dates popped up. So it seems, a rewards return fare won't appear if the specific return date is not available even if there is an outbound flight. Like I said unless you do one-way options, there is no calendar choice for return availability availability (crazy) but I guess we'll get used to it in the end!

It's always sensible to search for one-way reward seats anyway, even if you actually book them as a return.

There's often better availability on US-UK flights if you search for a one-way rather than the inbound leg of a return.

Right I've just discovered something...

Find your dates for desired cabin using "one way" as described above.
Then plug those dates and routings into " multi-city" and you can then choose the flight and cabin class required one leg at a time

I got as far as "book flights" button for an EC out and UC back for Lhr-JFK (with view to upgrading outbound with cc voucher on the phone as before)

I'll leave someone else to do a real booking and report back...sigh, why can't it be easier...

It's always sensible to search for one-way reward seats anyway, even if you actually book them as a return.

There's often better availability on US-UK flights if you search for a one-way rather than the inbound leg of a return.

However, even if you see US to UK availability I've been told by VS that they won't sell some of these to UK people, they're apparently held back for US-based FC members believe it or not!

It's always sensible to search for one-way reward seats anyway, even if you actually book them as a return.

There's often better availability on US-UK flights if you search for a one-way rather than the inbound leg of a return.

If you book two one way reward seats will the total fees (or should they) be the same as booking a return? I'm seeing a large difference for booking two one way rewards

It's always sensible to search for one-way reward seats anyway, even if you actually book them as a return.

There's often better availability on US-UK flights if you search for a one-way rather than the inbound leg of a return.

If you book two one way reward seats will the total fees (or should they) be the same as booking a return? I'm seeing a large difference for booking two one way rewards

In my experience No

The reward availability FROM US to UK is different so even if you find a OW from US to UK when you come to make it a return trip there is no availability.

if you book two OW's the extra fees on the US to UK portion is significantly higher.

Right I've just discovered something...

Find your dates for desired cabin using "one way" as described above.
Then plug those dates and routings into " multi-city" and you can then choose the flight and cabin class required one leg at a time

I got as far as "book flights" button for an EC out and UC back for Lhr-JFK (with view to upgrading outbound with cc voucher on the phone as before)

I'll leave someone else to do a real booking and report back...sigh, why can't it be easier...

Oh you can select mixed classes in a return search anyway - I'm a bit slow sorry - leave the cabin class as economy and economy and above will be available to select separately for each leg if reward seat available. Saves some typing phew...

It's always sensible to search for one-way reward seats anyway, even if you actually book them as a return.

There's often better availability on US-UK flights if you search for a one-way rather than the inbound leg of a return.

If you book two one way reward seats will the total fees (or should they) be the same as booking a return? I'm seeing a large difference for booking two one way rewards

I am sure he will correct me if I'm wrong!! but I think Gumshoe was confirming it is better to "search" the flights you want on a oneway basis because that's when availablity might show up but not actually booking two one-ways.