Tracking the ridiculous inconsistency of AC's OLCI reminder e-mails
Jul 28, 2017, 11:47 pm
#31
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Halifax
Programs: AC SE100K, Marriott Lifetime Platinum Elite. NEXUS
Posts: 4,571
The reason for the OLCI email anomalies is that periodic (3-4 times weekly) batch extracts are done from the reservations "database" and the extracted files are passed to another system (likely an Intel box) that sends out OLCI emails based on flight dates. The email process only has the data in the potentially out-of-date extract files; it has no access to the online, live "database" (term used loosely). Such data hosted by z/TPF is not accessible from outside - it's a closed system.
There's no mystery here. There's no way AC's IT people don't completely understand its behavior. The results we see are entirely predictable. This is a quick, cheap and low risk implementation but has some obvious limitations.
There's no mystery here. There's no way AC's IT people don't completely understand its behavior. The results we see are entirely predictable. This is a quick, cheap and low risk implementation but has some obvious limitations.
Anyway, checking an alert I got tonight. It, sent from r42.emails.aircanada.com to Google at 18:02:55 -0700; Google would have generated that timestamp. The message itself seems to have been generated at 21:02:51 -0400, according to what AC would have added to the message. So 4 seconds to get out of AC, assuming that Google and Air Canada both have well implemented NTP systems. It seems to have been generated by "nlserver", which I gather is a component of Adobe "Campaign". The scheduled departure is at 12:10 PDT, so just shy of 6 hours "late" if you want to OLCI at T-24. I don't know the inner workings of "Campaign", I suppose its possible it could have "rendered" and sat in a queue that doesn't update SMTP headers for 6 hours before being "sent".
The body of the message indicates it well could be wrong if changes have been made in the last 24 hours, so seems self aware, and maybe indicates daily dumps(?).
something something enterprise service bus
Jul 29, 2017, 6:44 am
#32
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Ontario, Canada
Programs: Aeroplan, IHG, Enterprise, Avios, Nexus
Posts: 8,355
The only thing more ridiculous than the inconsistency of AC's OLCI reminder emails would be developing a data base on their inconsistency. 
So the answer to the questions are no I wouldn't contribute and I do not think the proposal is worthwhile.
So the answer to the questions are no I wouldn't contribute and I do not think the proposal is worthwhile.
Jul 29, 2017, 6:58 am
#33
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: OGG, YYC
Programs: AA, AC
Posts: 3,697
Actually this is typical and normal. Banking systems, for example, have hundreds, if not thousands, of processes that work like this.
Jul 29, 2017, 8:45 am
#34
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Canada
Programs: Aeroplan E50/MM, HH gold, Nat Exec Elite, Kimpton Karma
Posts: 2,354
I find it deeply unnerving to get an email at T-22 telling me breathlessly that it is time to check in when I already OLCI at T-23:59.
Many times, I have to check, wait, did I check in or is that a false memory?
I don't expect the OLCI reminder on the dot of T-24 - give the self-propelling passengers a change to get a low seq no. but for heaven's sake, send a token to the database that the checked-in people do not need to be prompted to check in.
Many times, I have to check, wait, did I check in or is that a false memory?
I don't expect the OLCI reminder on the dot of T-24 - give the self-propelling passengers a change to get a low seq no. but for heaven's sake, send a token to the database that the checked-in people do not need to be prompted to check in.
I've had a few experiences in the last year where I got the prompt after I'd checked in. Initially concerned that my checkin didn't work and whether my pre-check was affected.
Numerous times with no email. Initially worried something was wrong with my ticket because the emails used to be reliable and I found them a useful prompt. This was particularly true when I tried OLCI thru manage my bookings and couldn't. However, that time it was the dreaded SSSS. At one point wondered if my tx was cancelled or disappeared into never never land.
Suggestion: might be good to note whether an AE booking or an AC booking on the spreadsheet. Haven't had enough AE bookings in the last year to get an idea of whether they are affected to the same extent. Others likely have more experience with that.
Trusted FT and stopped worrying about tx cancellation
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Jul 29, 2017, 10:20 am
#35
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Calgary, AB
Programs: AC SE 100k MM, SPG Platinum, Hilton, Hyatt Gold, Airmiles, AMEX
Posts: 144
That would be ideal. AC reads FT. Maybe it has an impact, maybe it doesn't. Worst case, it's another opportunity to vent frustration at AC on FT.
I fly a lot and I lead a busy life. I'm not a FOTSG eagerly counting down the days, hours and minutes to my next flight. If I'm busy enjoying my weekend vacation or in the midst of a 16-hour work day, dropping what I'm doing to OLCI isn't necessarily top of mind without a prompt from somewhere.
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?
That's a ludicrous statement given how often the poor quality of the OLCI reminders has been criticized or mocked around here. Some have even commented that the OLCI e-mails help them remember to cancel bookings they would have otherwise forgotten about.
I fly a lot and I lead a busy life. I'm not a FOTSG eagerly counting down the days, hours and minutes to my next flight. If I'm busy enjoying my weekend vacation or in the midst of a 16-hour work day, dropping what I'm doing to OLCI isn't necessarily top of mind without a prompt from somewhere.
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?
That's a ludicrous statement given how often the poor quality of the OLCI reminders has been criticized or mocked around here. Some have even commented that the OLCI e-mails help them remember to cancel bookings they would have otherwise forgotten about.
It has gotten so bad in the past 6 months I thought I had maybe turned off notifications or had the wrong email on file/junk folder.
Jul 29, 2017, 4:52 pm
#36
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: YEG
Programs: AC Lifetime SE100K, 3MM, SPG Lifetime Plat, Hertz PC, National Executive Elite
Posts: 2,901
Jul 29, 2017, 7:12 pm
#37
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: AC
Posts: 2,167
I simply do not understand why there is so much disdain to these online check in reminders. These emails are fantastic for reminding me where I'm going after I've gotten on the plane since I fly far too often than I want to these days. With Gogo Wifi I can now retrieve these emails after departure and it serves as a good tool to remind me where my destination is. Who really pays attention to EnRoute or flight attendant's anyways?
Jul 29, 2017, 8:44 pm
#38
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YYC
Posts: 23,809
By itself, one reminder is good.
OTOH, would be nice for them no to send that crap if you actually are already checked in.
But yes, that strains the intellectual ability of AC IT. Or IBM or whomever.
Welcome to computing in the sixties. Oh, wait, I thought Lise had retired?
OTOH, would be nice for them no to send that crap if you actually are already checked in.
But yes, that strains the intellectual ability of AC IT. Or IBM or whomever.
Welcome to computing in the sixties. Oh, wait, I thought Lise had retired?