Third party booking VA flights - pax cannot manage bookings or select seats at all

[eastwest101]

Just wondering - as are many other people - if there is a timeframe for passengers whom have VA flights booked through travel agents or any other 3rd party (it seems) being able to manage their own confirmed bookings so that they can select seats (or indeed update any details etc), even bookings made with linked VFF membership numbers are not accepted by the VA website at the moment.

I know that these bookings are exist, are valid and confirmed, and can see that they are all in Sabre (through Tripadvisor and Tripcase) so why can't the VA website recognize these bookings?

At the moment the only way to select a seat or request an upgrade is phone the VA phone centre. Is it the intention of VA to keep it this way?

(pre-sabre VA web site changeover - I could see and manage all my bookings made by my corporate travel agent myself, and do it all online, including seat selection and upgrade requests, although it did require a multiple login sometimes, it was possible - if we can at least get back to here then I will be happy).

 

[mannej]

Re: Third party booking VA flights - pax cannot manage bookings or select seats at al

You will find 3rd party bookings with other airlines have limited functionality as well.
On QF you are able to select seats, but you don't get the option to change flights, as that needs to be done via the third party.

As for your question RE: VA, I'm sorry I can't help you on that one

 

[jneufeld]

Re: Third party booking VA flights - pax cannot manage bookings or select seats at al

This question resonates with me, as booking through expedia or zuji allow me to avoid the booking fee VA slug you. The downside at the moment is that I have to ring up and assign a seat after I make the booking.

 

[hummel]

Re: Third party booking VA flights - pax cannot manage bookings or select seats at al

This question resonates with me, as booking through expedia or zuji allow me to avoid the booking fee VA slug you. The downside at the moment is that I have to ring up and assign a seat after I make the booking.

Just on this point about booking feed... Do Zuji Expedia etc not charge the $7.50 or whatever it is that VA charge for cc booking? And there is no problems with points/SCs accruing like nornal?

 

[bcworld]

Re: Third party booking VA flights - pax cannot manage bookings or select seats at al

Just on this point about booking feed... Do Zuji Expedia etc not charge the $7.50 or whatever it is that VA charge for cc booking? And there is no problems with points/SCs accruing like nornal?

I booked through Zuji for flights to DPS earlier this year. The reason I did so because the VA website would just not offer me the booked connection (MEL-ADL-DPS) which was both cost & time effective.

First problem, despite it being zuji.com.au Virgin Australia / Velocity was strangely absent from the list of FFPs to add a number. Called up and had that added.

There's no issue getting points / SC (although 2 sectors did take 14 days to credit) because, as my confirmation from Zuji says:

"* ZUJI Australia is acting as an agent for the flight portion of your booking. As such, your payment(s) will be charged directly by the supplier and appear on your credit card statement as a charge from the airline(s) for each ticket purchased."

I can't actually tell if the VA CC fee was passed on...I assume so seeing as they charged my card. My order lists fees of $0.00 but the CC fee may have been blended into the flight price quoted?

 

[eastwest101]

Re: Third party booking VA flights - pax cannot manage bookings or select seats at al

You will find 3rd party bookings with other airlines have limited functionality as well.
On QF you are able to select seats, but you don't get the option to change flights, as that needs to be done via the third party.

As for your question RE: VA, I'm sorry I can't help you on that one

Sorry - should have clarified my specific problem with VA bookings - upgrade requests a bit of a big ask for QF and for VA for doing online, if booked by a travel agent (corporate or not) so happy for that to be in to "too hard basket" for the moment.

But is it too much to expect that I am able to select a seat online with VA? Try selecting a seat online or managing your booking online if your PNR and reservation numbers are not accepted by the VA web site and you get the gist of my problem. Think corporate travel paid for by company but flown by me.

Same corporate travel agent, same links to VFF and QFF frequent flyer numbers. Pre-sabre VA I could manage my bookings select seats and do OLCI all on the DJ/VA web site. With QF and Rex online I have always been able to manage my bookings, select seats and do OLCI, but with VA post Sabre I have to make a phone call because I cannot do any of these things online.

 

[jneufeld]

Re: Third party booking VA flights - pax cannot manage bookings or select seats at al

Just on this point about booking feed... Do Zuji Expedia etc not charge the $7.50 or whatever it is that VA charge for cc booking? And there is no problems with points/SCs accruing like nornal?

Both those site do not charge 'booking fees' and you will find the prices identical to the VA site. I have not had any issues with points and SC crediting, they credit in the same fashion as a VA booked flight would. As I said the only downside is that you have to call up to add your FF no and select a seat

 

[Velocity Frequent Flyer]

Re: Third party booking VA flights - pax cannot manage bookings or select seats at al

Just wondering - as are many other people - if there is a timeframe for passengers whom have VA flights booked through travel agents or any other 3rd party (it seems) being able to manage their own confirmed bookings so that they can select seats (or indeed update any details etc), even bookings made with linked VFF membership numbers are not accepted by the VA website at the moment.

I know that these bookings are exist, are valid and confirmed, and can see that they are all in Sabre (through Tripadvisor and Tripcase) so why can't the VA website recognize these bookings?

At the moment the only way to select a seat or request an upgrade is phone the VA phone centre. Is it the intention of VA to keep it this way?

(pre-sabre VA web site changeover - I could see and manage all my bookings made by my corporate travel agent myself, and do it all online, including seat selection and upgrade requests, although it did require a multiple login sometimes, it was possible - if we can at least get back to here then I will be happy).

Absolutely not the intention to leave things the way they are. We are working on enabling online seat selection via Manage Booking. At this stage it's looking like June at the earliest.

Non IBE bookings online....we're still working on this one!

 

[DeKa]

Re: Third party booking VA flights - pax cannot manage bookings or select seats at al

Absolutely not the intention to leave things the way they are. We are working on enabling online seat selection via Manage Booking. At this stage it's looking like June at the earliest.

Non IBE bookings online....we're still working on this one!

Velocity,
This is absolutely amazing. Today is 3 months and 2 days since go-live! I cannot believe you didn't think this through before you did the 'downgrade' to Sabre?

It sounds like you have no project plan at all. You've removed features, and have no ETA for their return. It's not like it's rocket science - all your competitors have this functionality. Good luck with it...

 

[eastwest101]

Re: Third party booking VA flights - pax cannot manage bookings or select seats at al

Absolutely not the intention to leave things the way they are. We are working on enabling online seat selection via Manage Booking. At this stage it's looking like June at the earliest.

Non IBE bookings online....we're still working on this one!

Thanks for the quick reply - I guess getting online seat selection via Manage Booking is a high priority.

With the non IBE stuff now I understand that our corporate travel agent is generating non IBE bookings (non Internet Booking Engine). Just as a follow up question - what would be the rough percentage of tickets sold by VA as non IBE? I assume it would mostly be personal and corporate travel agents? I will become an expert on Tripcase/Tripadvisor until June-ish.

 

[Velocity Frequent Flyer]

Re: Third party booking VA flights - pax cannot manage bookings or select seats at al

Thanks for the quick reply - I guess getting online seat selection via Manage Booking is a high priority.
With the non IBE stuff now I understand that our corporate travel agent is generating non IBE bookings (non Internet Booking Engine). Just as a follow up question - what would be the rough percentage of tickets sold by VA as non IBE? I assume it would mostly be personal and corporate travel agents? I will become an expert on Tripcase/Tripadvisor until June-ish.

Sorry not going to be able to answer that one!

Velocity,
This is absolutely amazing. Today is 3 months and 2 days since go-live! I cannot believe you didn't think this through before you did the 'downgrade' to Sabre?
It sounds like you have no project plan at all. You've removed features, and have no ETA for their return. It's not like it's rocket science - all your competitors have this functionality. Good luck with it...

I can assure you that switching reservation systems is not something you "don't think through".
As for removing features, our previous platform had been custom built over 12 years of service. Switching to Sabre was always going to be a big job, and we appreciate everyones patience.
Please note, that this sub-forum is for specific questions.
Thanks