Pointless SMS alert at 1:39am :/

[lobo76]

Has anyone else gotten the totally pointless SMS alerts for itinerary changes?

Last night I got woken up by the attached SMS, I cursed VA and my phone and went back to sleep resolved to call up in the morning as since I had no flights booked within the next 7 days didn't feel it was all that urgent.


Note that there is absolutely no useful booking information in the message.

So when I woke for work I called number and asked what was going on. First thing I was asked? You guessed it, "Do you have a booking number or a flight number?"
I explained that the SMS I received from VA had no info and since I have 3 flights booked for next weekend and another couple a week or two after that I had no idea which flight the SMS was talking about. After a lengthy hold period the agent told me she couldn't find any flight changes for any of my forthcoming bookings. I remembered that I've also made a Reward booking for my partner so asked her to check that.
"Do you have a booking reference or flight number?"
"Sorry not to hand."
"Do you have their Velocity number?"
"Not handy, no"

After another name search, and 3 security questions the offending flight was found (it was an A47)! It was a change I'd been sent an email about WEEKS AGO!

I'm starting to think this is punitive for having snagged one of those 0 point fares! ;P

So is anyone else getting these pointless, horribly timed SMSs? Have I got my timezone set incorrectly somewhere in Velocity settings or something? Would it kill them to put SOME useful info in the message?

 

[opusman]

The iPhone has a great "do not disturb" feature that you may want to check out.

 

[notzac]

So is anyone else getting these pointless, horribly timed SMSs? Have I got my timezone set incorrectly somewhere in Velocity settings or something? Would it kill them to put SOME useful info in the message?

Have you submitted this as feedback? I agree, that message is just about useless and it really wouldn't be that difficult to change the time of delivery based on the country code of the mobile number.

 

[bullerdude]

They have probably just re-enabled the SMS alerting system... obviously it doesn't work properly yet. If I got that useless message at 1am would be very very annoyed.

Please do send feedback.

 

[CMak]

Yes, I received a message at approximately 1am from SIA in regards to a flight 8 months out and for a 5 minute time change.

 

[lobo76]

The iPhone has a great "do not disturb" feature that you may want to check out.

Some of us live in a world of on call.

 

[medhead]

Some of us live in a world of on call.

If it is an urgent on call thing, do they SMS or do they ring?

 

[opusman]

Some of us live in a world of on call.

DND lets you whitelist numbers that will always get through.

 

[drewbles]

Some of us live in a world of on call.

As do I, and I have my phone setup with a list of 'permitted' numbers to ring during the DND period (colleagues mobiles and office numbers overseas etc). It also alerts for SMS's on that list. Has a feature that also disables DND for a number that calls twice in 5 minutes (which you can enable or disable). It's saved me a lot of sleepless nights!

 

[lobo76]

DND lets you whitelist numbers that will always get through.

Unfortunately the number can change depending on PBX factors or support personnel etc. I wonder if I can wildcard a 4 digit prefix... I'll check it out...

 

[lobo76]

Have you submitted this as feedback? I agree, that message is just about useless and it really wouldn't be that difficult to change the time of delivery based on the country code of the mobile number.

Yea I asked her to record my observations on the case history and I filled out the feedback form under 'Spam emails'... not quite accurate but hopefully gets to the right guys..

 

[moa999]

"Do you have a booking reference or flight number?"
"Sorry not to hand."
"Do you have their Velocity number?"
"Not handy, no"

This is what frustrates me most about Virgin...

I actually know my Virgin FF by wrote...
but either.
A. The first operator doesn't see it (after I have typed it in) or
B. When transferred to Velocity Rewards (eg. to try and use comp upgrades) the FF number doesn't come through.

Then either operator can't easily see my forward bookings
(ridiculously stupid system design)
so asks for the booking ref
Normally after 2 or 3 attempts to get the word code across we get there.

but ohh it could be so much simpler.

 

[drewbles]

Unfortunately the number can change depending on PBX factors or support personnel etc. I wonder if I can wildcard a 4 digit prefix... I'll check it out...

Not that I know of. Fortunately I divert my desk phone to my mobile so the divert number is my desk number on the PBX (not the main rotary). Perhaps, if you have the ability to, divert calls as I do (I have time of day based rules on our PBX here that diverts between 5:30pm and 9:00am, and all w/ends as well; the joys of IP PBX's). At least that way, you'll always have the same caller ID. The downside is you don't know exactly who's calling.

 

[JohnK]

Are SMS alerts an option on the Velocity account? From memory I receive email notifications only for rescheduled services. If it is a rescheduled flight within the next few days or I have ignored the email notification then I have received a phone call to discuss the available options.

With Qantas I also receive email notifications for flight changes and receive SMS updates if the delay is within 24 hours of the flight.

 

[lukenet]

It would be nice if VA could actually send them when they would be useful. I have had a few flights re-scheduled and have never received any SMS notifications of the change..

 

[LiamR]

Not that I know of. Fortunately I divert my desk phone to my mobile so the divert number is my desk number on the PBX (not the main rotary). Perhaps, if you have the ability to, divert calls as I do (I have time of day based rules on our PBX here that diverts between 5:30pm and 9:00am, and all w/ends as well; the joys of IP PBX's). At least that way, you'll always have the same caller ID. The downside is you don't know exactly who's calling.

I just have DND set up to let all phone calls through, but no messages, push notifications or emails.

If somebody's (anybody) going to make the effort to call me at 3am, it's probably worthy of me being woken up.

 

[drewbles]

I just have DND set up to let all phone calls through, but no messages, push notifications or emails.

If somebody's (anybody) going to make the effort to call me at 3am, it's probably worthy of me being woken up.

I'll be sure to make a note to call you at 3am sometime just to say 'hello'

 

[Princess Fiona]

I just have DND set up to let all phone calls through, but no messages, push notifications or emails.

If somebody's (anybody) going to make the effort to call me at 3am, it's probably worthy of me being woken up.

:shock: :shock: I wish this was true in my case. I don't always tell everyone when I will be away and without fail I get calls from other school mums, swimming and netball coaches and acquaintances letting me know that they are in the waiting room at "County General ER" and can I help them get prompt treatment :!:
The "Do Not Disturb" function on the phone has been a revelation for me

 

[LiamR]

I'll be sure to make a note to call you at 3am sometime just to say 'hello'

I know where you live drewbles.

 

[Mal]

I've been called by affers several times at strange hours... only one was a misdial. Lets just say, unless you are female or the call is critical I dont tend to appreciate late night Calls. (My phone goes to silent, but still vibrates between 10pm and 7 now).