Criticism is easy; art is hard.
I usually refrain from commenting on topics as “easy” as the SNCF Connect website. I don’t much care for joining the chorus of complaints, especially since a little voice inside me always insists on asking, “Could you have done better?”
Yes. I don’t know… I hope so.
This week, no analysis—just facts. You can form your own opinion if you like.
Use case: Book a round-trip ticket from Paris to Lyon for 2 people.
The website remembers that I have an Adult Advantage Card. Add a passenger—my partner, aged 30–59, with an Adult Advantage Card—and enter her card number. Choose the outbound and return flights based on our preferences and budget. Place a hold on the booking while I book a hotel outside the website.
Oh no, to place the hold I’m being asked for an email address… wasn’t I already logged in? Strange, since the site remembered my Adult Advantage Card. Oh well. First, enter the email address so I don’t lose the hold.
Log in, but… oh, the hold doesn’t show up on my tickets—that’s too bad. I naively thought the link could be made based on the email address. Never mind.
Book 2 nights at a hotel ✅
All that’s left is to pay for the reservation hold. Click on the link in the email, enter all the information about my partner who… oh, look, is now in the 4–29 age group (the lower age limit is a little scary, though).
I can’t change this information—I have to start a new reservation from scratch. I’m starting to see red 🤬
I’m logged in; add a passenger—my partner, aged 30–59, with an Adult Advantage Card—and enter her card number. Choose the outbound and return flights based on our preferences and budget. Add to cart.
I can’t add it to the cart—a similar trip is already there. And you couldn’t have told me that earlier? ☠️⚰️💣💥
Delete the similar trip that’s already there (it’s true) and start over.
I’m logged in, add a passenger—my partner, aged 30–59, with an Adult Advantage Card—and enter her card number. Choose the outbound and return flights based on our preferences and budget. Focus so I don’t make any mistakes here, because otherwise we’ll end up staying in Paris, and that’ll be fine. Add to cart.
I have to re-enter all the information about my partner, and enter her Adult Advantage Card number a third time.
Check that there’s enough money in my checking account, generate a virtual card, pay for the reservation… payment error (history will prove that my card was valid and the account had sufficient funds). Are you kidding me?
That’s it—nothing more to say.
Oh, wait, there is one thing: “It’s up to us to make you prefer the train”… really?