Your customers get an Alba account when they book. This article covers how they sign in, what they can do in their account, and what they can change themselves.
Signing in
Alba does not use passwords. Customers sign in with one of these:
- Apple
- Vipps (shown to customers in Norway)
- Email — Alba sends a six-digit code to their address
- SMS — Alba sends a six-digit code to their phone. This only works if the number has already been verified.
Using a different sign-in method
Alba connects a sign-in method to an existing account only when its email address or phone number matches one that is verified on that account. If they do not match, for example when a customer chooses Hide My Email with Apple, or signs in with a different address, Alba creates a new, separate account. Alba does not merge accounts. If a customer cannot see their bookings, memberships or value cards, ask which method they used last time and have them sign in the same way.
Sign in with Apple and missing names
Apple only shares a customer’s name the first time they authorize your venue. If they skip it, or they already used Apple with another app, their Alba account can have a blank first or last name. That can show up in your admin as a booking with no customer name.
At checkout for simulator bookings, events and lessons, signed-in customers who are missing a first or last name see a Contact details card. They must enter both names before they can pay. Alba saves the names to their account when they tap Pay, so they usually only do this once.
Customers who already have a full name, and guests using guest checkout, see no change.
Customers who signed in with Apple and chose Hide My Email may also see an email field on that card. At venues without door access, when the customer has no phone number on file, that email is required so you can reach them. At venues with doors, or when they already have a phone number, the email field is optional.
Membership, value card and gift card purchases use a separate checkout and are not affected.
Creating an account
On the sign-up page the customer enters name, email and phone number, and accepts the terms. Alba emails a six-digit code, and the account is active once they enter it.
The phone number is saved but not verified at sign-up. It gets verified the first time the customer uses door access, or if they change it in their profile.
The account is also the way into the venue if a booking confirmation email never arrives. The customer can sign in, open the booking and use Unlock door. If their phone is not yet verified, they are asked to verify it first.
What’s in the account
Signed-in customers find everything under Profile:
- Your details — name, email and phone. Changing the email or phone sends a new verification code.
- Bookings — upcoming, past and cancelled, with a receipt for each.
- Memberships — active and expired, with the option to cancel, reactivate and see the payment history.
- Value cards — including remaining balance.
- Gift cards
- Manage consents — see below.
Language
Customers change language from the menu on your booking page. When they are signed in, Alba saves the choice to their account. See What languages can customers use?
What customers can opt in and out of
- Your venue’s newsletter. Customers opt in from the receipt page after a purchase, and can withdraw it later under Profile, then Manage consents.
- SMS booking reminders. In countries that require opt-in, customers tick a box when they verify their phone for door access.
- Cookies and tracking. Separate from the above, under Cookie settings in the footer.
Booking confirmations and reminders are transactional messages. Customers cannot turn those off, because they contain the details and access instructions for a booking they have paid for.
Booking without an account
If you have guest checkout enabled, customers can book with just a name and email. Guests cannot use discount codes, value cards or memberships, and they do not get a profile. If they later create an account with the same email, the booking is added to it. See Guest checkout: when customers book without an account.
Deleting an account
There is no self-service delete. Customers email help@albaplay.com and we handle it. See Delete user account.