alaskaair.com Redesign - Broken Stuff
Apr 27, 2011 | 10:29 pm
#31
Ambassador: Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS MVP Gold
Posts: 2,733
I checked in online earlier this evening, and changed seats from row 8 to exit row 15 in the process. I have printed boarding passes that say 15A, etc., but the website still shows us in row 8. It does show my seats in 15 as taken, but still shows us, both by name and on the seat map, in row 8.
I think perhaps it has either double-allocated the seats, or something didn't get updated on the display. Here is the URL:
https://www.alaskaair.com/booking/seats/ChangeSeats
I think perhaps it has either double-allocated the seats, or something didn't get updated on the display. Here is the URL:
https://www.alaskaair.com/booking/seats/ChangeSeats
It has been this way for a long time, and I wouldn't expect a website refresh to address the issue.
Apr 27, 2011 | 11:11 pm
#33
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Seattle
Programs: Hyatt, Marriott, Delta, Alaska
Posts: 636
This is not a problem of the new website but rather an indication that the reservation management systems (which are used to buy tickets and pre-select seats) are different from the airport management systems (which are used to assign seats at checkin). When you change your seat during OLCI, that information is not transmitted back to the reservation system, so you will not see your updated seat when looking at the reservation later. Rest assured that the seat you chose during OLCI is assigned to you.
It has been this way for a long time, and I wouldn't expect a website refresh to address the issue.
It has been this way for a long time, and I wouldn't expect a website refresh to address the issue.
Apr 28, 2011 | 7:49 am
#34
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Seattle
Programs: Hyatt, Marriott, Delta, Alaska
Posts: 636
No, the OLD website handled things like this flawlessly and immediately. I've flown > 200k miles on AS, and I have never seen this happen until today. Whether it interfaces correctly with the AM system or not (though clearly it should) it should at least interface with its own database. On multiple levels, this is a broken website feature.
On the plus side, it did remember my user id!
Apr 28, 2011 | 9:09 am
#35
Original Poster
Moderator Communications Coordinator, Signatures
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: deep within the Eskimo lair
Programs: TubWorld, Bar Alliance, Borratxo Legendarium
Posts: 16,970
Checked again this morning, after what should have at very least been a nightly sync with the AM system. STILL shows that we are in row 8, and NOT checked in. 30+ years in IT, most of it in development, tells me that's a problem.
On the plus side, it did remember my user id!
On the plus side, it did remember my user id!
Apr 28, 2011 | 9:51 am
#36
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Seattle
Programs: Hyatt, Marriott, Delta, Alaska
Posts: 636
I click on the My Trips tab, then the trip link for my only current trip (not the "Check-in" link).
That link shows my old seat locations, and offers me the option of changing them.
Apr 28, 2011 | 10:08 am
#37
Original Poster
Moderator Communications Coordinator, Signatures
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: deep within the Eskimo lair
Programs: TubWorld, Bar Alliance, Borratxo Legendarium
Posts: 16,970
as baliktad mentioned earlier upthread, the reservations system and the airport system are separate.
When you view a reservation online, you are viewing what the reservation system sees. That part is not functioning any differently than before the redesign.
It also doesn't know whether you are checked in or not. It is simply displaying a check in link because you are within 24 hours of departure. This is also not functioning any differently than before.
OLCI is attached to the airport system, so when you change seats through OLCI, its not going to display when you view your reservation online, but it will display if you go into OLCI again.
When you view a reservation online, you are viewing what the reservation system sees. That part is not functioning any differently than before the redesign.
It also doesn't know whether you are checked in or not. It is simply displaying a check in link because you are within 24 hours of departure. This is also not functioning any differently than before.
OLCI is attached to the airport system, so when you change seats through OLCI, its not going to display when you view your reservation online, but it will display if you go into OLCI again.
Apr 28, 2011 | 12:01 pm
#38
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Seattle
Programs: Hyatt, Marriott, Delta, Alaska
Posts: 636
OK, so I went the OLCI route, even though I had done this successfully yesterday. It does show our current seats, and that we are checked in.
However, it makes no sense to this consumer why a website whose function was (in part) to show me a real-time representation of my reservations wouldn't actually talk to the system that holds the reservations. What am I missing here? Does it talk to the AM system when making a reservation? At any other time? If not, how does it ever know when a seat or a flight is available?
However, it makes no sense to this consumer why a website whose function was (in part) to show me a real-time representation of my reservations wouldn't actually talk to the system that holds the reservations. What am I missing here? Does it talk to the AM system when making a reservation? At any other time? If not, how does it ever know when a seat or a flight is available?
Apr 29, 2011 | 4:25 am
#40
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SGF
Programs: AS, AA, UA, AGR S+, Choice Platinum
Posts: 23,314
OK, so I went the OLCI route, even though I had done this successfully yesterday. It does show our current seats, and that we are checked in.
However, it makes no sense to this consumer why a website whose function was (in part) to show me a real-time representation of my reservations wouldn't actually talk to the system that holds the reservations. What am I missing here? Does it talk to the AM system when making a reservation? At any other time? If not, how does it ever know when a seat or a flight is available?
However, it makes no sense to this consumer why a website whose function was (in part) to show me a real-time representation of my reservations wouldn't actually talk to the system that holds the reservations. What am I missing here? Does it talk to the AM system when making a reservation? At any other time? If not, how does it ever know when a seat or a flight is available?
Apr 29, 2011 | 12:40 pm
#41
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: SEA
Programs: AS Million Miler since 2011, Lifetime MVPG
Posts: 853
Small item. When you are in "my trips" and click on any of the itineraries. The reservation loads but there is no back button to click to go back to the "my trips" page. Currently you have to manually hit the back button on the browser, a popup window appears and you have to agree to resubmit the form and its just a bit awkward.
Apr 29, 2011 | 5:20 pm
#42
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 393
I'm still unable to access my itinerary:
Our web server encountered an internal error. It was logged to aid our staff in finding a solution.
For guidance with this transaction, call Customer Care at 1-800-654-5669, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. (PT)
Server Name: R23
Server Time: 4/29/2011 4:18:28 PM
Our web server encountered an internal error. It was logged to aid our staff in finding a solution.
For guidance with this transaction, call Customer Care at 1-800-654-5669, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. (PT)
Server Name: R23
Server Time: 4/29/2011 4:18:28 PM
May 1, 2011 | 3:00 pm
#43
Ambassador: Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS MVP Gold
Posts: 2,733
I've noticed the credit certificate emails that have been sent out since the website redesign have been updated with a similar look and feel, so I hope this is the right place for this feedback.
Prior to the website redesign, the credit certificate email had a "View Certificate" button that linked directly to the certificate site, with the certificate code pre-populated. Newly issued credit certificate emails only have the bracketed text [VIEW CERTIFICATE] which is not a link or button, despite the text immediately indicating there is a link.
Prior to the website redesign, the credit certificate email had a "View Certificate" button that linked directly to the certificate site, with the certificate code pre-populated. Newly issued credit certificate emails only have the bracketed text [VIEW CERTIFICATE] which is not a link or button, despite the text immediately indicating there is a link.
May 2, 2011 | 11:20 pm
#45
Join Date: May 2003
Location: SFO, mostly
Posts: 2,328
The inflight Wi-Fi page still reverts to an old version which shows only 10 of 17 737-700s equipped, and doesn't reflect the delivery of the three most recent 737-800s, although it does reflect recent addition of Wi-Fi to 737-400s.