Tracking the ridiculous inconsistency of AC's OLCI reminder e-mails
#1
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Tracking the ridiculous inconsistency of AC's OLCI reminder e-mails
Any appetite to start keeping a database of when we receive OLCI e-mails so that AC can start to understand just how useless and broken their system is?
I was prompted to think about this during a recent glut of travel where the e-mails ranged from the sublime (T-23:59 or so) to the simply non-existent. Sometimes both on the same flight (my wife and I were on separate PNRs on one of these trips).
Before anyone says AC IT already knows when we get these, please, this is AC IT. I highly doubt they have any idea when the OLCI e-mails get sent out, otherwise they wouldn't arrive in such a haphazard fashion.
Perhaps a public database of their failures might help them realize how broken their system is.
But obviously no one of us (even the mighty yyznomad) flies enough to create a meaningful sample size, so it would need to be a community effort.
I have two ideas for format, neither of which would require a lot of work from any one individual:
Post with your thoughts on whether it's worthwhile and whether you'd contribute, as well as which format you think is more useful.
I was prompted to think about this during a recent glut of travel where the e-mails ranged from the sublime (T-23:59 or so) to the simply non-existent. Sometimes both on the same flight (my wife and I were on separate PNRs on one of these trips).
Before anyone says AC IT already knows when we get these, please, this is AC IT. I highly doubt they have any idea when the OLCI e-mails get sent out, otherwise they wouldn't arrive in such a haphazard fashion.
Perhaps a public database of their failures might help them realize how broken their system is.
But obviously no one of us (even the mighty yyznomad) flies enough to create a meaningful sample size, so it would need to be a community effort.
I have two ideas for format, neither of which would require a lot of work from any one individual:
- Create a wiki in this thread. Broad categories, e.g. received between T-24 and T-20, between T-19:59 and T-16, etc. Just a running total of which time period the e-mails were received in. Simplest way to do it.
- I could built a spreadsheet on Google Sheets with a bit more detail. It would allow for more detailed tracking but take a bit more time for everyone to update all the time.
Post with your thoughts on whether it's worthwhile and whether you'd contribute, as well as which format you think is more useful.
#2
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I liked the word "database".
Not so much the word "wiki" or "spreadsheet".
I'm sure we could get something up in short order that satisfied all needs.
Not so much the word "wiki" or "spreadsheet".
I'm sure we could get something up in short order that satisfied all needs.
#3
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@Adam Smith
What about the ones I receive 6 hours after I've checked in?
Also, are you interested in tracking them to find a pattern or ....
What about the ones I receive 6 hours after I've checked in?
Also, are you interested in tracking them to find a pattern or ....
#4
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A wiki or a spreadsheet is a database, albeit more crude than something that an IT expert like yourself might create. If you would like to program something, by all means, have at it, I'm sure it will be a superior solution to anything I could create. I would run circles around you when it came to financing oil and gas companies though
#5
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@Adam Smith
What about the ones I receive 6 hours after I've checked in?
Also, are you interested in tracking them to find a pattern or ....
What about the ones I receive 6 hours after I've checked in?
Also, are you interested in tracking them to find a pattern or ....
#6
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"Please note: If you have made changes or cancelled your booking in the last 24 hours, the flight details below may not be up to date."
I've often wondered why not.
#7
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I've had bookings cancelled well over 24 hours before OLCI opened that I still got e-mails for.
I also get e-mails when I've listed my e-mail as an additional e-mail on an Aeroplan redemption, even when I'm neither the primary passenger nor account owner (e.g. I use my dad's miles to book a ticket for my cousin). What's really funny is when the account owner and I both receive the OLCI e-mail but the primary passenger doesn't.
#8
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If you need a consistent, reliable reminder go with the mobile app -- it can place a notification in your calendar for all booked flights. This is but one of a myriad of ways you can set your own reminder, in a format that works with whatever system you prefer to help organize and plan your days.
Really not trying to be sarcastic...I completely agree AC IT can and needs to improve, I just don't think this is an issue for anyone but you.
#9
Join Date: Sep 2014
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Data points:
Received OLCI for a recent flight at T-23:03.
T-23:01 for the return.
International flight booked with an AC agent, and specifically asked to set up my email and phone number for notifications.
I prefer ANA's automatic check in feature, if you provide full API before departure.
Received OLCI for a recent flight at T-23:03.
T-23:01 for the return.
International flight booked with an AC agent, and specifically asked to set up my email and phone number for notifications.
I prefer ANA's automatic check in feature, if you provide full API before departure.
#10
Join Date: Jun 2009
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Data point
March 11, 2017. YYZ-SFO - I received an online check-in email at 10:24 for a flight that had a scheduled departure of 10:10.
Yes that's right. The email was received 14 minutes after departure.
March 11, 2017. YYZ-SFO - I received an online check-in email at 10:24 for a flight that had a scheduled departure of 10:10.
Yes that's right. The email was received 14 minutes after departure.
#11
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Do you actually rely upon these to prompt you to OLCI?
If you need a consistent, reliable reminder go with the mobile app -- it can place a notification in your calendar for all booked flights. This is but one of a myriad of ways you can set your own reminder, in a format that works with whatever system you prefer to help organize and plan your days.
If you need a consistent, reliable reminder go with the mobile app -- it can place a notification in your calendar for all booked flights. This is but one of a myriad of ways you can set your own reminder, in a format that works with whatever system you prefer to help organize and plan your days.
The other problem I have is that ac.com frequently doesn't want me to check in online based on my Aeroplan number, necessitating a PNR, which I may or may not have handy at the time I'm trying to OLCI. The PNR is included in the e-mail.
I try to never rely on AC's crappy IT for anything. But it would be nice to have an OLCI e-mail system that worked and simplified my life.
As for the app, it's not much better. Only flights booked on ac.com show up there, others need to be added manually. Not all ac.com-booked flights show up correctly. Some alerts may come at T-24. Some may not come at all. OLCI also may not work properly through the app, or a paper BP may be required.
Yes, there are other ways to set this up, like adding reminders to one's calendar, but why should one need to bother when other airlines get features like this to work properly and consistently? (UA even lets you auto check-in for a return leg on your outbound, on certain itineraries, and you will just get an e-mail with a BP when check-in opens on the return!) I spend as much, if not more money, on AC than on any other airline. Why should I hold them to a lower standard?
Really not trying to be sarcastic...I completely agree AC IT can and needs to improve, I just don't think this is an issue for anyone but you.
#12
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Without exaggeration I would estimate that for 90% of my flights I do not receive an OLCI email. And 90% of the time when I do actually receive one it's for a flight that's been cancelled or changed.
#13
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As for the app, it's not much better. Only flights booked on ac.com show up there, others need to be added manually. Not all ac.com-booked flights show up correctly. Some alerts may come at T-24. Some may not come at all. OLCI also may not work properly through the app, or a paper BP may be required.
#14
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#15
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Android app. Currently showing 1 valid booking made on ac.com. Also showing 1 cancelled booking that was originally made on ac.com.
Not showing an AE booking made from my account. But last weekend it did show my AE booking.
A couple weeks ago I had a trip on 2x one-way FP credits. One was in the app, one wasn't.
So, sometimes stuff is there, sometimes it's not.