Virgin Australia to Switch Booking and Check-in Platform; Expects Delays this Weekend

 

This weekend, Virgin Australia will switch over to a new check-in and booking system, Australian Business Traveller is reporting. 

Sabre will replace both the Navitaire package used for domestic flights since the airline launched as Virgin Blue in 2000, and the Amadeus platform which runs Virgin’s international flights. In anticipation of delays and technical glitches, Virgin Australia will open online check-in for Saturday’s flights a full 36 hours prior to departure instead of the standard 24 hours. At 2 a.m. Saturday the online booking engine will go offline, leaving airport check-in as the only option for flights on Saturday and Sunday.

Those flying Virgin Australia on Sunday should expect longer than usual lines.

“We may face challenges from external factors such as bad weather” Virgin Australia spokeswoman Danielle Keighery told the paper, “especially in the changeover period of Sunday morning.” To help ameliorate the potential problems, the airline has arranged a 30 percent boost to support staff at airports and call centers this weekend. All flights are expected to operate as scheduled.