[wowzimmer]

So, I was directed to the new British Airways website (in Beta) yesterday. I’ve had a look at the new homepage a couple of times now and I can’t help but feel completely underwhelmed by this iteration of the site.

Essentially it is a pared down version of the old site with a similar design but a loss of functionality from the homepage. If you want to do anything other than a basic return flight search you have to delve deeper into the site.

It seems in stark contrast to many evolving airline websites like United, Delta, AA and Emirates who have opted for complete redesigns and added functionality. I would personally love to see BA push the boundaries and create a bold new look. Has anyone else experienced this new homepage?

[Charles-P]

It could be they are going for a design that looks and works better on tablets rather than larger screens.

[FDOS_UK]

It probably costs less.

1 user thanked author for this post.

TiredOldHack2

[Mark Caswell]

Here’s what BA has sent us about the new BETA site.

BA.COM KEEPS GETTING BETA

A brand new British Airways homepage and flight booking process for customers has gone live as part of a beta test to upgrade the airline’s hugely popular website and make it even easier to use.

ba.com is viewed by over half a million unique users every day, using it to inspire, plan, and manage their trips around the world.

Now the airline is testing new technology to deliver an even smoother and simpler booking experience, and make it seamless to use whether on a computer, tablet or smartphone.

Sara Dunham, British Airways’ head of marketing and direct, said: “This is a significant milestone in our continuing work to make ba.com better, simpler and more intuitive for our customers.

“To make sure we are getting it right for our customers, we have selected at random a small group of them who will be offered the opportunity to opt in to experience the new beta home page, and we will use their feedback to further develop and fine tune the experience for future customers.

“Building on our long history of innovation, we continually look to improve ba.com by adding in extra functionality, more options and a great user experience, allowing British Airways’ digital presence to maintain its lead with the very best premium brands.”

While most users will continue to use the current website, some lucky customers will be invited to test drive British Airways’ latest version of the ba.com homepage and flight booking process, which is still under development.

Initially, the invited customers will be able to test the new end-to-end search and booking flow on a range of short-haul flights, with more flights and features to be added in the coming months.

Those taking part will find a re-designed home page, which actively adapts to fill the screen by changing the size and resolution of its elements, so it looks great whether viewed on a desktop, tablet or smartphone.

Featuring a new app-like, flowing user-experience, the home page will offer a cleaner layout with a simple search bar and drop-down calendar, enabling customers to search for flights quickly and easily – regardless of whether they are at home or on the go.

The new home page quickly gives customers even better visibility of the great savings to be had when combining flights with hotels or car hire, as well as our great range of fares, including Basic, Plus or Plus Flex tickets.

Once customers have been offered the chance to choose, reserve and pay for specific seats, the payment page has also been made simpler and easier to complete, with name and payment details pre-populated for Executive Club or logged-in users who’ve chosen to store them in their accounts.

A shopping basket allows users to easily change their search at any stage in the process, rather than going back to the start.

Additional new features will be added during the course of the beta trial to provide customers with even more booking options.

Customer feedback from the trial will be captured, reviewed and then influence future developments on ba.com.

ba.com was first launched in 1996 and has been visited by millions of customers over the last twenty years.

[JohnHarper]

What a pity that BA appoint Sara Dunham as head of marketing and she doesn’t understand the correct use of an apostrophe. Still, pay peanuts, get monkeys.

ABBA.

[Tramor01]

Ditto the PR team wot wrote this 😉

[MrMichael]

@JohnHarper, you surprise me, usually BA bashers say they pay senior staff too much!

ABBA (Absolutely Brilliant British Airways)

[FDOS_UK]

Neither can they punctuate properly.

[FDOS_UK]

Building on our long history of innovation

History being the key word 🙂

[travelworld]

Actually, the use of the apostrophe in “British Airways’ head of marketing” is correct- if that’s what our BA bashers are complaining about….

[FaroFlyer]

Plus 1 TravelWorld, but why are you lower case?:-)

ABBA (Absolutely Brilliant British Airways) or are the other ABBAs Always Bashing British Airways?

[travelworld]

FaroFlyer- it’s because of my inability to type :-). Must confess I do think that some posters really try just a bit too hard to bash BA- the use of the apostrophe here (if it’s that about which they complain) is a good example….

[FDOS_UK]

I take exception to the generally poor construction and punctuation of the article, whch is not what I expect from the external facing part of a multinational.

More like Secondary Modern ‘B’ stream grammar. (CSE grade 3).

[travelworld]

There is a split infinitive, granted- but sadly the construction and punctuation is generally no better or worse than produced by many a multinational. Your grade 3 CSE is now par for the course everywhere- as English grammar isn’t taught to the extent it once was….

[FDOS_UK]

There’s much worse than a split infinitive and the whole flow reads poorly.

On the other hand, it is in line with the quality of product provided onboard.

CSE grade 3 wouldn’t get you through a decent uni degree, I know, as my son just graduated with a First and his tutors were hot on grammar.

I suppose the authors of this XXXXXX (describe as appropriate) of a piece have uni degrees?

[Author]

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