Well done VA

[Steve Dyer]

I thought given all the negative press that VA has been getting here i would extend a positive experience. I am a WP Velocity member, but not flying today. When I checked my wife and daughter in this morning, they were given priority luggage tags plus some lounge entry passes for BNE and MELB. Furthermore, they were happy to take care of the oversize baggage we had with out charging a excess baggage fee or charging us for checked baggage as I forgot to buy it based on my status. Well done VA. the last few weeks has been tough but the ol girl is coming back.... All reports the flight and service was great as well!

 

[medhead]

One swallow does not make a summer. While your experience is great it makes the other reports even worse due to the inconsistency in looking after higher status velocity members.

 

[mella2007]

I agree with Medhead, it pales into significance when you have trouble booking flights to actually get on to a plane in the first place.
From my past experiences over the last 2 months, they will throw anything and everything in to save the hassle of people complaining even more. I can guarantee it wouldn't have been that way for your wife if you had not of been there.

 

[pat25d]

I've made 6 bookings post-Sabre for domestic and TT flights and have had no issues whatsoever in the booking process (apart from the total charge being split across 4 individual credit card charges... but the total was correct).

 

[grubbidok]

I've made 6 bookings post-Sabre for domestic and TT flights and have had no issues whatsoever in the booking process (apart from the total charge being split across 4 individual credit card charges... but the total was correct).

I'd agree. I've had a ton of Sabre problems with VA but none of them related to booking, and have done 9 bookings. Even booked a last minute award flight for my mum without hassles. Seat selection worked every time.

Took nearly the whole week for me to book a QF award flight last week though. Finally got the bugger last night. System was terrible. Additionally all my VA flights have been great this year, and all my QF ones have been stinkers. Maybe I've just been really lucky on VA, and really unlucky on QF. It doesn't surprise me that people's experience vary widely, it's a big industry.

 

[mannej]

Was the QF booking issue availability related?

 

[grubbidok]

Was the QF booking issue availability related?

No, there was a ton of availability on that route. I just couldn't log in to my QFF account without getting an error, even when the option was available.

 

[Princess Fiona]

No, there was a ton of availability on that route. I just couldn't log in to my QFF account without getting an error, even when the option was available.

A bit OT but did you find the QF Award availability on another award search engine?

 

[alister]

I have booked and flown 6 flights (2 sectors each flight) since the new system and had no hassles. One was a reward booking and I even rang to change to a later flight (same day, same route) and there was no hassle and no cost. The weather has been playing havoc with routes and timings so I think they are doing well considering. I even got a free flexi meal by mistake with no questions asked when I assured them I was on a flexi fare but I realised later I wasn't. oops. Staff have been friendly but no recognition of status, not that I care about that. As they say any flight is a good flight when you get to the destination alive

 

[grubbidok]

A bit OT but did you find the QF Award availability on another award search engine?

Not quite sure how to do that. I'd just seen the availability before the site went down and I was making my plans, and once when I was allowed in but the system crashed. Was equally as plentiful when everything was up and going again. Is a pretty standard route, and one that is generally well available, so wasn't expecting too much difficulty (SYD-BNE). Was really only using the points as for some reason the flights that day were incredibly expensive both on VA and QF. Was just highlighting that getting in to my QFF account was my main problem. Never had a problem getting in to VA yet *goes to find some wood to touch*

 

[Princess Fiona]

Not quite sure how to do that. I'd just seen the availability before the site went down and I was making my plans, and once when I was allowed in but the system crashed. Was equally as plentiful when everything was up and going again. Is a pretty standard route, and one that is generally well available, so wasn't expecting too much difficulty (SYD-BNE). Was really only using the points as for some reason the flights that day were incredibly expensive both on VA and QF. Was just highlighting that getting in to my QFF account was my main problem. Never had a problem getting in to VA yet *goes to find some wood to touch*

Apologies, I misunderstood your earlier post and thought that you could see QF award availability online on QF site but couldn't log into your FF account and that confused me

 

[Steve Dyer]

I have taken about 10 flights since the Sabre change over. With the exception of poor communication which one could argue is in it self a serious issue, my experience has been great. Sure it has taken a few minutes longer to change a flight in the lounge, but seriously, any one who knows anything about a major core systems change would understand these things do take time to bed in, and they do take time to get 100% of staff up to scratch. to say it it should be otherwise would be unfair. As I said, communications could be better and the Velocity website still needs work but my personal experiences with all things since sabre has been on the whole, pretty good.