WestJet "Passenger Perks" - More delays for WS's FF Program

Talk about [redacted], but this forum certain qualifies, particularly now that Durfy has admitted WS has had to once more delay the start of its FF program until at least December due to problems with its new res system. This also affects codeshares and commercial agreements with CX, AF and BA.

I say rebrand this forum as AIR MILES and put poor WS out of its embarrassment. Heck, even PORTER deserves its own forum since it actually has a FF program!

There's 20 seconds I'll never get back. Here I thought there was something new and useful in this thread :rolleyes:

Dissapointing. Have been looking forward to this. Guess I stick with Air Canada still...

It's amazing how even without a FF program, WS is still able to gain so much market against AC.

And where is your source?

What they said was that they weren't going to introduce a loyalty plan with all the custom computer programming needed to link it to an old system when it would have to all be rejigged to work when the off the shelf Sabre system is introduced mid 4th quarter.

There's no point doing all that work twice!

Talk about premature ejaculation, but this forum certain qualifies, particularly now that Durfy has admitted WS has had to once more delay the start of its FF program until at least December due to problems with its new res system. This also affects codeshares and commercial agreements with CX, AF and BA.

I say rebrand this forum as AIR MILES and put poor WS out of its embarrassment. Heck, even PORTER deserves its own forum since it actually has a FF program!

Way to misquote. Sabresonic was originally announced with a plan to go live sometime in Q4 and the news article quotes "Mr. Durfy said its on track for the end of the year."". The delay could be attributed to the scrapping of the originally contracted res system and a decision not to deploy it until the sabre system is ready, but it has nothing to do with a slip in the sabre implementation schedule.

Enough on the name of the forum already, nobody cares except for those that whined about it before it was even created.

And where is your source?

There was a reference to the story on the front page of today's national post, so it's likely on their website. (I still read the paper the old-fashioned way, even though I'm not old :D)

Michael

Talk about premature ejaculation

Say, how is PE doing anyway? :D

Perhaps it's because Westjet's insistance on using Microsoft?

Maybe Linux is more FF ready vs Microsoft :-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRXsEKMkM4U

Perhaps it give Duffy more time just to join One World. Its time West Jet joined a real program instead of having its own crapy program. :eek:

Perhaps it give Duffy more time just to join One World. Its time West Jet joined a real program instead of having its own crapy program. :eek:

Wouldn't WS still need it's own program to join an alliance?

Wonder if this new, new res system will be a multimillion dollar right-off, like the last one :rolleyes:

I am looking forward to this, but I have a feeling this program is going to be a big letdown.

Wonder if this new, new res system will be a multimillion dollar right-off, like the last one :rolleyes:

The new, new system is based on existing SABRE product so a much less risky solution. So far all reports are that it is on schedule despite SHAREHOLDER's initial erroneous suggestion that the FF delay is related to the new, new res system (the delay was due to the canceled, old, new system) and not wanting to spend the time and effort to integrate into their existing system for a few months and repeat the work for the new, new system.

I would be more worried about AC's new reservation system from what I have heard from inside sources.

Wonder if this new, new res system will be a multimillion dollar right-off, like the last one :rolleyes:

Say how is AC's Polaris res. system coming along? Seem to recall it being massively late for its implementation and the subject of rumours of it being scrapped...

http://www.canada.com/business/fp/WestJet+another+rollout+delay/1570151/story.html

The delay of WestJet Airlines Ltd.’s new frequent flyer program this week marked another milestone missed by the airline as it struggles to enter the big leagues.

Despite all its successes, the Calgary carrier has been seriously stunted in recent years by the troubles it faced implementing a new reservation system, which was also behind the delay in launching its new credit card loyalty program that was originally slated for next month.

Sean Durfy, WestJet chief executive, said the airline would wait until its new SabreSonic reservation system is in place before its launches the loyalty program.

Because of this, the frequent flyer program won’t be available until at least December, nearly a year and a half after it terminated its previous agreement with BMO/Air Miles. While WestJet tickets can still be purchased with Air Miles, rewards can no longer be redeemed by travelling on the airline.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/westjet-launches-loyalty-reward-program/article1358898/

WestJet Airlines Ltd. plans to unveil its frequent-flier program at the end of November, introducing a "travel bank" in which consumers can save points toward reward trips. Passengers will be able to collect "WestJet dollars" by catching flights or using the airline's new RBC MasterCard, while rewards will be easily attainable, said Gregg Saretsky, WestJet's executive vice-president of operations. Air Canada customers seeking to obtain Aeroplan flights face paying a premium if extra miles are needed to qualify for a reward. But Mr. Saretsky said yesterday that his airline's new loyalty program will allow travellers to earmark their WestJet credits toward a flight, and even if there aren't enough credits accumulated, consumers can simply pay the difference in cash to qualify for a flight reward.

Sounds like NZ without the * Alliance part :)

The refunds from Westjet now come as part of the "Travel Bank". I imagine it's going to be similar to their new "frequent flyer" program.

From the refund email:

To use your credit, simply make a new booking via our website at www.westjet.com and choose Travel Bank as your form of payment.

I wonder if the FF program will let you just pay for the flight with "Credits" or if you'll have to book through a separate channel. Hopefully a channel more customer-friendly than their Sabre one!

Perhaps the new FF program will look like JetBlue's new TrueBlue program (https://trueblue.jetblue.com/web/trueblue/earn-points):

3 points per dollar spent on airfare (plus 3 bonus for booking on jetblue.com). Essentially 6 points per dollar spent, with short-haul one-way flight awards costing 5000 miles, and increasing in 100-point increments by distance (I think). Looks like $2500 spend gets you a one-way short-haul ticket.

Best part appears that the points never expire, so you can earn for as long as you can, but require a once-per-12 months activity to maintain them.

A very thorough analysis is going on on the B6 board here (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/jetblue-trueblue/1015147-true-blue-2-officially-launched.html), including approximate point-to-dollar conversions. Will be interesting if WS implements a very similar scheme.

Sounds like what the Westjet brass were implying when they said the new program would be a spending-based program. Will be interesting to see the full details, especially since B6 and WS are somewhat similar (both founded by David Neeleman, both are LiveTV customers). Thoughts?

I'm glad they won't limit the number of reward seats available OR blackout any dates.

Sounds good to me.

http://www.thestar.com/travel/article/724535--westjet-adds-points-plan-for-travellers

Delayed again until January due to issues with the new reservation system

http://blog.rewardscanada.ca/2009/11/westjet-delays-launch-of-their-frequent.html

they are really having a lot of issues with it....ive been going through hell trying to get our $400 credit added to our 'travel bank' for booking a vacation package with them a couple months ago.

they are having serious issues with the new reservation system!

This has been a discrace - and this is coming from a Westjet fanboy. Aircanada.com is now always first before Westjet.com for me, and it will stay that way until they get their .... together and get a FF program rolling.

This has been a discrace - and this is coming from a Westjet fanboy. Aircanada.com is now always first before Westjet.com for me, and it will stay that way until they get their .... together and get a FF program rolling.


I can assure you WestJet has lost a LOT of money from my in the last couple years due to a lack of FF program. Now that I'm Elite on AC and Star Gold, I expect I will not go to WestJet ever now.
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