VTEC/LNER booking emails

[GrimShady]

Does anyone know why were the ICS iCal files removed from booking emails when the web site changed over? It was a most useful feature and even included the fast ticket reference number, it's removal was daft as it's not like it was an expense.

You can still get the iCal files but you have to login and download them, and they don't include the fast ticket reference!

If anyone here works for LNER can it be suggested to mangement/IT to bring that most useful feature back?

 

[DarloRich]

Does anyone know why were the ICS iCal files removed from booking emails when the web site changed over? It was a most useful feature and even included the fast ticket reference number, it's removal was daft as it's not like it was an expense.

You can still get the iCal files but you have to login and download them, and they don't include the fast ticket reference!

If anyone here works for LNER can it be suggested to mangement/IT to bring that most useful feature back?

No idea what this means but my email from LNER for my journey yesterday has both the booking reference number and free wifi code clearly displayed in the body of the mail.

Seems perfect tbh but perhaps I am missing some techie issue.

 

[_toommm_]

No idea what this means but my email from LNER for my journey yesterday has both the booking reference number and free wifi code clearly displayed in the body of the mail.

Seems perfect tbh but perhaps I am missing some techie issue.

The OP is asking about a little button that used to appear in the emails that would download a file called an ical. This would add an entry into said person's calendar with the time, start point, destination, and booking reference for their journey.

 

[Randomer]

The file is a quick way of importing the journey details into your preferred calendar software. Also it's the booking reference reservation etc into it so you can just have it in your calendar rather than saving the email.

I suspect that some (probably work) email systems were blocking the booking emails because the calendar files can be started to be used as a malicious attack vector by enterprising hackers depending on how your system reads them (more a Windows thing than iPhone/Android mostly fixed now).

 

[DarloRich]

The OP is asking about a little button that used to appear in the emails that would download a file called an ical. This would add an entry into said person's calendar with the time, start point, destination, and booking reference for their journey.

Oh! Thanks! IF I knew how to sync everything calender wise that could be helpful!

The work system does that automatically

 

[47271]

The file is a quick way of importing the journey details into your preferred calendar software. Also it's the booking reference reservation etc into it so you can just have it in your calendar rather than saving the email.

I suspect that some (probably work) email systems were blocking the booking emails because the calendar files can be started to be used as a malicious attack vector by enterprising hackers depending on how your system reads them (more a Windows thing than iPhone/Android mostly fixed now).

I think that's probably right, I used to have a problem with my work system blocking VTEC confirmation emails from time to time and then having to get IT to whitelist them. I very rarely book with them now because my work travel patterns have changed, so I haven't noticed the loss of the calendar feature. I didn't use it anyway.

 

[GrimShady]

So that's the reason it was stopped. Okay thanks to all for the responses. They could have informed users of this when the new site intro email went round.

As I said you can still access them but you have to login to download now, they don't include the fast ticket reference anymore, just the booking reference.

 

[Wallsendmag]

Do you not think we had enough on our plate already?

 

[GrimShady]

That's not the customers fault is it?

 

[Deerfold]

They're still sending free WiFi codes for bookings in First Class though. Have seen a couple of people confused about where to stick them.

 

[Marton]

The download option is on the final confirmation page after payment.

The reference no isn’t the collection number and for a return it’s only the outward journey.

A retrograde move IMHO.

 

[James H]

SWR still attaches ics files to its confirmation emails.