EK Website Refresh
 

Ok, by now most of you will have noticed the new refresh for the website due to the "Hello Tomorrow" campaign. The Manage Your Booking function has also been refreshed (I like it).

What do you like/dislike? Is there something that doesn't work now that used to?

As a user of multiple airline websites, all I can say is that EK is streets ahead of UA. And SQ needs to fire the people who built theirs and hire the EK team. That site is a complete joke and a national embarrassment.

I'd like to hear peoples thoughts...

On the whole, it works for me. Key improvements:

1. Improved chauffeur-drive booking procedure. Stopovers <24h still not bookable for chauffeur-drive online. Still some confusion over eligibility on short 5th freedom routes e.g. SYD-AKL, BKK-HKG - but this confusion exists with real live EK staff too...

2. Improved seat selection - no need to click through all flights to change one.

3. Multiple etickets under same PNR now viewable. This probably makes zero difference to any normal person who books tickets in a normal manner, but if ticketing agents reach for a bottle of strong liquor when they see you coming, this may be of use.

Its slower to load now for me. From home, smart phone, and work! :mad:

Can anyone confirm if seat selection works on the iPad now?

I don't like all the boxes that blow up on the screen when you roll your mouse over them. OK when on the front page, but when you're further into the site (like MMB) and they're still jumping out when you roll the mouse over them it's annoying.

MMB looks much better - visible breakdown of baggage allowance and improved seat selection as mentioned above.

I don't use SQ or UA so haven't been on their websites, but eightblack's comments surprise me as I don't think EK have had a well thought out or implemented site for a long time, so I'm surprised there could be worse. Let's hope this version performs well.

Seat selection has always worked for me.
Just use 2 fingers to scroll down the plane.

Works the same way for other webpages that use in-pane scrolling without a scrolling bar.

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Regarding the design of the website, I like it. The previous version already have very nice colour tones. And this round it's as good with a slightly more modern hue - which is great. (Why can't EK lounges use nice colours like that).

The main layout is also cleaner now which I think works well for new users and well as frequent users like us.

Only thing that kinda spoils it - the 4 boxes at the bottom of the main page - the texts in each are not vertically centralized. Only the first box seems aligned. The rest are not.
Small issue but keeps capturing my attention.

Havent used the MMB cause don't have any flights booked at the moment (Sadly). EK is so expensive at the moment. But I digress.

I'm waiting for the new booking engine to be up though.

Will there be changes to Skywards webpage?

Not only SQ, but I'm sure EK would love this - The site is much better than QR's too.
Trying to book on QR can be hell. Especially when using an iPad / iPhone. Typing into the Destination field sometimes doesnt bring up the selections of cites that match what you type.
And then if you just leave the text in the field like 'SIN', it will just keep giving you an error even though it is a proper IATA code.
It's the most basic of things and they couldnt even get that right.

SQs site really is awful, not used EY or QR but i actually find UA to be quite straightforward.

EK are up there with the best of them really.

But the lack of development some of them put in on non-windows platforms is horrific. It wouldn't harm them to go out and get some phones/iPad's etc to actually test what they've built

It's still slow as ever. I hate the log in process as it has to refresh the whole page as it goes to https. They could have easily done it simpler (look at how Qantas does it).

The new MMB is a nice step up from the old showing the allowance, chauffeur drive, seats and special meals without having to search for it. Excellent improvement.

One feature I still miss from their pre 2007 website is the ability to select seats when selecting flights during the booking process (not after paying/booking etc). That was neat (EY does this).

Yes, but as you know, UA isn't UA. You really mean CO.

Budley, how true you are my friend...;)

I really like the website update, especially the new look of the MMB page.

I noticed what appears to be a new feature on MMB, where there is the option to buy an upgrade. Has anyone tried this?

I recently spoke to someone at SQ PR who told me their website issues were linked to a new booking engine they are introducing, for which the new site is optimized.

I don't trust PR people... But thought I'd share it anyway.

As for the EK site, I quite like the improved interface.

Website looks good but their mobile website seems to be having alot of problems with new bookings and managing existing bookings...