Transition to Sabre
 

For those not already aware, next weekend (12/13 Jan) may not be an awesome time to be flying with VA, due to their changing reservation systems from Navitaire to Sabre.

TL;DR summary..

• Flights will no longer use the DJ IATA desginator - all flights are moving to the VA IATA designator
• All online functionality is being enhanced changed to accommodate Sabre, including a new "Travel Bank" system for managing credits
• Online access to Velocity Rewards will be unavailable 9-13 Jan (the call centre will be able to access accounts 9-11 Jan for anything urgent)
• All the useful parts of the virginaustralia.com website (including OLCI) will be completely offline 12-13 Jan
• Delays are expected 12-20 Jan; turn up to the airport early and bring a printed copy of the reservation with you
• Bookings with DJ flight numbers will not be able to be managed online after the change without first calling the call centre (presumably to get the new Sabre PNR for it)
• Bookings made after the weekend will be issued differently and will contain e-tickets (vs. the current "ticketless" bookings)
• Credit shells from before 14 Jan cannot be managed online; need to call to use them (as before)

I think that's all the important stuff. Moar information on the web here: http://www.virginaustralia.com/au/en...system-change/

I am assuming that this transition to Sabre will allow VA international long haul passengers to manage their bookings online :) instead of having to call the reservations center each time ... hopefully come upto par with SQ and QF with their online offerings for international bookings.

IMHO you are right - LAN also uses Sabre and there is no difference betwen domestic and international reservation handling (exchanges, refunds). The same with B6 (jetBlue).

I read the changes/upgrades are probably gonna take forever.
http://www.smoothtraveler.com/virgin...it-effect-you/

i'm glad i never fly on V-Australia, but i imagine its gonna be hell this weekend. :td:

do you know if they are going to re issue tickets with the new VA code?
just tried to look for minimal info not even logged in and cant even do that.

I was getting ready to book some award travel on VA (a couple of domestic flights within Australia, booking with Delta miles). The travel dates are not until the fall of 2013.

The question is probably moot at this point (since in Australia, it's already the morning of Saturday 12 January as I'm writing this...), but would I be best off if I wait a while to book this, or try and get 'er done as quickly as possible?

Thanks.

The booking systems should be all back up and running on Monday morning in Australia - I'd personally book sooner rather than later, but domestic reward inventory is usually pretty good so waiting shouldn't cause any problems either.

VA2 was delayed four hours in LAX on Friday Night January 11, possibly connected with the change to the reservation system?
(unless someone knows otherwise)

Due to arrive at SYD ~ 3 hours late

My suspicions were confirmed by a passenger on the delayed aeroplane. The delay was, indeed, caused by the fact that all passengers received their boarding passes after they were handwritten at check-in counter at Los Angeles Aerodrome.

The web site indicates that the new system is up. The status credit fine print no longer indicates that DJ coded connecting flights (with different flight numbers) earn status credits appropriate for a nonstop.

Any Velcoity members having trouble with the booking site today? It was my understanding it was back up today however I keep getting an error message when searching for flights...

Errors have been coming and going all morning. Teething problems I suspect.

Noticed a few changes when doing a dummy booking

- the days are now list across the top with the lowest price for each day. Like it
- the time format has changed. PM times are now listed as, e.g. 05:30 PM, which is horrible. 24hr times are much clearer, but the leading zero is the worst.
- 23kg of checked baggage now seems to be included even with saver fears
- saver lite fares, have no baggage, and no option to buy it. Unclear how this affects velocity members
- you can now longer see business fares on the same screen as economy.
- the operator is now more clearly stated

My account page says I've earner 0 status credits to renew gold, but my activities lists status credits which are clearly after my review. Anyone else? Will wait until next week to query, as they probably have their hands full this week.

The change is explained here too: http://www.velocityrewards.com.au/co...stem/index.htm

Same with me, I had 300 Credits towards platinum which are now at 0. :confused: