Virgin Australia Website & Fare Structure Revamp

[Misha]

Maybe we will open up VirginAustralia.com.au tommorow morning to find a huge star alliance logo in the bottom corner?

Or am I dreaming?

I am not so sure. I know that CrazyDave has commented that *A wouldn't be the most likely outcome due to some of their members (e.g. China) but when we look at their recent strategic partnership (e.g. ANZ) and their desire to really take on QF I think it would be a logical and clever step - particularly to increase their status, as it were...

I may consider placing a $100 bet on this - anyone want to give me good odds?

Maybe not this weekend, but we were told that there would be changes right up to Dec 2011. If I recall correctly, V Australia had some major changes in the second half of this year coming - maybe an international alliance is part of that....?


Now I am dreaming

 

[openseat]

The Velocity site is currently undergoing maintenance, which may be (or not), an indication something is happening.

 

[LiamR]

I am not so sure. I know that CrazyDave has commented that *A wouldn't be the most likely outcome due to some of their members (e.g. China) but when we look at their recent strategic partnership (e.g. ANZ) and their desire to really take on QF I think it would be a logical and clever step - particularly to increase their status, as it were...

I may consider placing a $100 bet on this - anyone want to give me good odds?

Maybe not this weekend, but we were told that there would be changes right up to Dec 2011. If I recall correctly, V Australia had some major changes in the second half of this year coming - maybe an international alliance is part of that....?

Considering I explained most of this to you several nights ago. I'll claim the prize if I'm correct.

Looks like the website is still down. No big deal.... Unless they have a huge suprise in store.

 

[Noob]

Guaranteed upgrade to business for Gold Velocity members?
Purchased the entire Concorde fleet for SYD-LAX/SYD-LHR services?
Earn double the points Qantas offers per mile?

lol

 

[Gremlin]

Earn double the points Qantas offers per mile?

Given I already earn more than double the points Qantas offers when I fly the golden triangle, that sounds like a Qantas-style "enhancement" to me...

 

[Misha]

Considering I explained most of this to you several nights ago. I'll claim the prize if I'm correct.

Looks like the website is still down. No big deal.... Unless they have a huge suprise in store.

- actually Liam you updated me with some other info *cough cough* though it always struck me (and most on this forum) that *A would be most likely. Hardly going to go with OW are they? They may do as they have suggested and just get many more strategic partnerships going on...

Also, VA have for months (since the ASX report) mentioned the staged approach throughout 2011 for their rebranding - why are you trying to steal my glory? :mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgreen:

I jumped online this morning to confirm my flight tonight (A330 again by chance!) and to see when I'm returning - I am pretty sure it's Monday night after work but not definite. Surprised to see Velocity site is still down (will I be in SYD forever?!) - that's a long scheduled maintenance indeed... hmmmm interesting times

 

[Ansettaddict123]

The Velocity site is currently undergoing maintenance, which may be (or not), an indication something is happening.

whatever it is, for it to still be undergoing maintenance this has to be something substantial... we hope at least

 

[Misha]

Just came back from coffees with friends and nothing has happened...

I mean, seriously? Velocity is still under maintenance -' that's well over 24 hours. In fact when I left Sydney it was down. I've since been home, and am now back in Sydney with no change.

I agree - with such a long shut down, one would expect a significant difference...right?

I know my iPhone will be visiting velocityrewards.com.au a bit tomorrow

 

[777]

My money's on something substantial. But we'll see.

 

[Mal]

The Velocity site is currently undergoing maintenance, which may be (or not), an indication something is happening.

Was there any notice of this "scheduled maintenance"? Were any consumers of the service advised either by email or a notice on the website before the outage occurred?

The Velocity site has effectively been down for nearly 24 hours now. In many IT environments that would be a SEV1 type outage and there would be a lot of internal issues occurring.

 

[AaronBradford]

It does say it's down for scheduled maintenance on the left hand side, and when you click it it takes you to this page.

We are currently undertaking scheduled maintenance and some of our usual services are not available.

Normal services will resume as soon as possible.

 

[Mal]

It does say it's down for scheduled maintenance on the left hand side, and when you click it it takes you to this page.

Scheduled means planned. 24+ hours of planned maint with no customer notice? What if i wanted to book a reward flight or check my balance? Virgin are a bunch of mickey mouse clowns at times... This is yet another example.

 

[LiamR]

Scheduled means planned. 24+ hours of planned maint with no customer notice? What if i wanted to book a reward flight or check my balance? Virgin are a bunch of mickey mouse clowns at times... This is yet another example.

Surley its not that bad. You can wait until its back online, or call up Virgin if you really want?

Maybe the rewards will be better when its back online?

 

[Mal]

Surley its not that bad. You can wait until its back online, or call up Virgin if you really want?

Maybe the rewards will be better when its back online?

My gripe is not about the chance of things improving. I have worked in IT for many years, if i scheduled outages the way dj have, i would be unemployable in large environments. I thought they removed their IT cowboys about 2 years ago when they got their new cio and they restructured IT. Obviously not.

 

[rwatts]

My gripe is not about the chance of things improving. I have worked in IT for many years, if i scheduled outages the way dj have, i would be unemployable in large environments. I thought they removed their IT cowboys about 2 years ago when they got their new cio and they restructured IT. Obviously not.

Must agree here - in my >30 years I've never had even massive IT changeovers require such long outages to customer access. Unplanned outages are totally different of course.

Usually major upgrades, etc, are built in parallel and once tested a short outage is scheduled to swap in the new system. If things go wrong with problems not shown in test then another short outage and the old system (which has been retained in case) goes live again possibly with some catching up of transactions.

Is it possible that the "scheduled maintenance" page is a bit of a fib ? Perhaps this outage was not so planned.

On the other hand the Virgin group does have some history. About this time last year Virgin Money changed the company providing the backend systems for Virgin Super. It was bad enough that the outage for online access was scheduled for two weeks (the page is still there on the old site), but it ended up being more than five months.

Richard.

 

[Misha]

Actually i had a whine about being impatient to see the changes, I'm Not fussed on the website. It's not the virgin Australia site that's down, and as has been stated you could always ring the call centre to make a reward booking at the moment...

I don't think it's a bother at all - just want the relaunch now

 

[Noob]

Actually i had a whine about being impatient to see the changes, I'm Not fussed on the website. It's not the virgin Australia site that's down, and as has been stated you could always ring the call centre to make a reward booking at the moment...

I don't think it's a bother at all - just want the relaunch now

Agreed.

 

[Mal]

as has been stated you could always ring the call centre to make a reward booking at the moment...

I don't think it's a bother at all - just want the relaunch now

Can you? Where is this written ? All i saw on the velocity site was the outage notice. Contact us shows office hours Mon to Fri. Another failure. If this is available tell the customers. Oh and a defined outage window would help me know when to try and return to check my balance and book a reward flight.


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Posted from a non-Apple device.

 

[Nigelinoz]

This has just been posted on Aus BT.
Virgin Australia to introduce elite Velocity Platinum level for its most frequent flyers - Flights | hotels | frequent flyer | business class - Australian Business Traveller

Doesn't mention the current outage though.
Cheers
N'oz

 

[oz_mark]

This has just been posted on Aus BT.
Virgin Australia to introduce elite Velocity Platinum level for its most frequent flyers - Flights | hotels | frequent flyer | business class - Australian Business Traveller

Doesn't mention the current outage though.
Cheers
N'oz

Maybe as a result of the news being posted here: http://www.australianfrequentflyer....tralia-velocity/coming-to-velocity-30563.html