Name: PilotOnline
Rating: 4.38375 (1342 reviews)

User Reviews for PilotOnline

4.38 out of 5

1.3K Ratings

3 years ago, Grandpa Pete 314

E Pilot clunky to use

I find that the digital edition of the paper (called e-pilot) is very difficult to navigate through. The first few pages are fine but then it gets progressively harder to advance through the paper. The pages constantly crash and you have to wait for it to re-load. I then cannot easily swipe to the next page and using the forward arrow on top doesn’t help the further you get into the paper.

3 years ago, Privacy Invaded 1212

Poor App

Terrible mobile app compared to others. As a subscriber I am constantly having issues. Pilot Pop up ads will cover the entire stories when logged in to my full price subscription. I was Very disappointed when I contacted tech support, I was told they are constantly receiving complaints about the same issue. I will probably cancel, it’s just not worth the trouble. In addition, I don't care for cometary news reports. I just want Walter Cronkite news reports. I will form my own opinion and could care less about the reporters personal take on the facts. I question credibility when I get news with two paragraphs of the reporters political views. Whether I agree or disagree, save the space and give us a factual report.

3 years ago, Robert E T

Thank you🥁.

I so very much appreciate your Print devoted to our Military 🇺🇸. Our Family has a total of 6 men and women serving in Navy and Marines ~ Planes, Pentagon, Hospital, Officers, Enlisted. Considering the Biden disaster this past weekend we will be anticipating more coverage even though we dread the facts of decisions being made by the White House and Congress. ,

4 years ago, Medication Watcher

BBQ

This article made my mouth start watering with my heart start racing to taste the pit fired delicacies. I plan to load up the van with the rug rats and begin my road trip today stopping at the P-town BBQ joint, and next weekend, extend my road trip to South Norfolk, and so on until I sampled each location. This is a great review and a fabulous idea for family outings while social distancing during the pandemic. Our journey has just began. Please continue your sampling reviews.

3 years ago, ljotsgg4674

Very poor reader experience

I very much want to support local media, but this app is far from user friendly. Difficult to navigate, does not remember me from one section to another (so I have to continually re-log on), and for some reason has always made it extremely difficult to navigate obituaries; that section always closes out when I navigate from one obit to another — thus assuming I can even get that section to open. Tired of paying fir information I can’t access, and have made decision to unsubscribe.

5 years ago, Headgamerz

Less adds, but notifications fwd to website not app.

Ever since the website re-work it has had a ridiculous number of adds. This pushed me to the app which has a more reasonable number and provides for a better reading experience. That said, for some reason the app notifications send me to the story on the website rather that the story on the app. This is annoying and anti intuitive. I expect and world prefer to read the story in the app. That is the point of the app after all right?

4 years ago, shandawn

“Can’t connect.”

Coronavirus is in its early stages here do I want to be able to our local news from somewhere other than the tv. I JUST signed up for the 6 month digital subscription special and was led to this app “for subscribers only.” I now understand why this app has HORRIBLE reviews. The only “section” that displays something other than “Can’t connect” is the obituary tab. My wireless service is not the issue here. And, yes - it did allow me to log in and showed it was indeed my account. This is the quickest I’ve downloaded and then deleted an app. Absolutely USELESS.

3 years ago, Double Bag 101

Inclement weather delivery issues

My paper is never double bagged or tied up when it’s raining. Therefore, my paper is damp or so wet that I have to call for another one. Calling the office has not helped.

3 years ago, NormanArthur

Needs a lot of work

I read on iPad daily. You start reading a headline or article and the app suddenly jumps to another part of the paper! This basic stuff and they can’t to get it fixed.

4 months ago, PennyNeef

No landscape view for e-edition

I previously viewed e-edition on my iPad with landscape view, two pages wide ( like opening a print edition of the paper) prior to the Pilot eliminating this option a couple months ago. I protested to customer service and hoped that the landscape view would be restored with the latest update. Nope- still no landscape view to make it more convenient for tablet users.

4 months ago, ATHikerVB

OVERWHELMED BY ADS

The new update released March 2024 is a disaster. Advertisements continue to pop up without warning, blocking the article content. In many cases in advertisement at the top of the screen and at the bottom of the screen reduces the readable content to only a few lines. I am a subscriber and it seemed to make no difference. twice while reading the same article an advertisement completely dominated the screen and no content was readable.

2 years ago, DJ102276

Coastal Virginia Information Hub

No better source of information of what’s happening in Hampton Roads, not to mention many cool pics from waterways to athletic events to local dishes to make your mouth water!

1 year ago, previous resident

Virginian Pilot

I am a previous resident of HR. I have now retired and moved from the area. The Virginian Pilot keeps me connected to a place I called home and loved for 43 years! But now…I can’t seem to get to my daily newspaper on line!!!

3 months ago, News Granny

Puzzles

Question: As an old senior citizen and pretty much computer illiterate…is there a way for me to work your daily “puzzle page”? I thank you in advance for any assistance.

5 years ago, Bo8acious

Daily Delivery

I get bits and pieces, most days. Occasionally difficult to get “today’s” edition on right day. I’ve had a (paper) subscription with the Pilot since the days I could also receive a home copy of the Ledger Star. I’ve recently relocated to Florida; thus have switched from a hard copy to online. I still want to see what your excellent journalists have to say too; but... as I’ve said, this has not been a happy transition. PS: your “proof-reader” machine also needs a tune up.

4 years ago, Little Rebal Girl

News

Enjoy keeping up with the news.

1 year ago, cleveland91

GUI / Deployment

Needs more responsive/frequent updates. Outdated interface

4 years ago, gregedwards242

Weak news

This is terrible news reporting. Days late and completely under reported. The only reason it was reported at all is because everyone is talking about it on Facebook and other social sources. Call me an unsubscriber because I have had it with these people. It’s unpatriotic and un-American what the news industry is doing to our country.

5 years ago, fevhittnoyfv

Download horrible

After waiting for pdf to be prepared, which is annoying, the wait to download is horrible. Much faster on previous version. I prefer to read the actual paper but I’m up before it is delivered so I use the digital version.

5 months ago, Not a fan orientation

Removed Landscape Orientation

Not a fan of the removal of this feature. Why can’t the option be available to use the app in either orientation. Now I have to hold the iPad instead of using the prop up feature of the tablet cover. Very frustrating

5 months ago, mkpdeck

Landscape

Most recent version has eliminated the landscape version of the electronic edition on the iPad. This change makes it more difficult to see the paper as the font is smaller to fit across the narrower portrait orientation screen. Please return the landscape version.

5 years ago, LongIslandGirl76

Not Fake News

A great newspaper and in these times so very essential

4 weeks ago, NannaPapa

Subscription that I cannot access!

I have a subscription to Va Pilot online that keeps stopping me from logging in. I live on Chincoteague where you discontinued delivery service several years ago. Paying for VP & being unable to easily access is unacceptable.

6 months ago, Orfdem

Logging in

Just received a text from a neighbor that was the article on WHRO and Maurice Jones. It wants me to log in to read the article but the login button/tab is not visible. This also happens when I try to open a Pilotonline Facebook post. Very frustrating

4 years ago, Majret

Hard to read

I enjoyed e-pilot online, I could go to the pages that interest me. Now I have a hard time finding articles & stories of interest. I was receiving the obituaries by email, now that has stopped. Please respond. Jeff Warren

5 years ago, Cme4brain

Reading costs you

You reach a data limit each month after just reading a few articles. You already sort of pay for the app by all the ads, now you have pay monthly to read them? Rip off.

5 months ago, jmmcintyre

Why pay?

Doesn’t make sense that media or a newspaper should cost any money. If you have something important to provide or release, it should be free for all to view and read.

4 years ago, tceopzzzer

Trouble with app

Many times pages are missing or are out of order.

1 year ago, CopMysteryReader

Locks up content

Despite being logged in, the app locks up content as if you weren’t a paying user. It’s better to access it from a browser.

2 months ago, Fat Butch bb

I pay money and it always says I have reached my limit It why I quit before in the past My subscription needs to be linked without all the xtra work

5 years ago, Harryw2434

Can not filter search results and therefore it is not very useful

Search results are only minimally helpful without the ability to filter.

6 months ago, gdaddy1978

Wrestling coverage

Great job on the VHSL 5A Regional tournament coverage. Keep up the good work.

9 years ago, HankG123

Confusing

I'm a paying digital edition subscriber. Can't get back issues. Sometimes must delete app and redownload from cloud to get current paper. Online customer service advice doesn't respond to help requests. Rather counterintuitive setup. Overall, creates frustration. I'll amend my previous review. It's working fine now. 3 1/2 stars. Ok my final amendment: bottom line the other reviews are mostly accurate. This iteration is, overall, inferior to the previous edition, in many ways already mentioned by other reviewers. It's better than nothing, but why take 2 steps back with only 1 step forward with an "update"? 2stars. Prior to update, it was worthy of 4 stars. Now I can't.even download the daily paper. Back to 1 star. Can't imagine who authorized this new version. Incredible. Ok. Completely new version introduced about a week ago. It's new. It's fine. No complaints.

4 years ago, lametz

This App does not have everything I am looking for. I need to cancel.

I would like see classified ads but this app does not show them. Very disappointed. I need to cancel and don’t know how.

1 year ago, Zeedeejee

App keeps crashing

This app worked great for years but now it crashes every time I try to use it. Useless!

3 years ago, redleg27

app does not want to take my login data…I am a paid subscriber

1 year ago, yodi's

billing on line

You really need to fix your billing on line. Poor service!

5 years ago, Jack The Slack

Ripoff

Pay to read newspaper online and then app will not work on iPad. Old app worked and was excellent. Reported it and it still does not work. Such a ripoff!

3 years ago, tbstm

Can’t find anything

Can’t find stats.

1 year ago, Soby-it

No delivery

Once again I paid for but did not receive my paper delivery. Sunday May, 7,2023

1 year ago, mnoangl

Crap

I pay for a subscription I still get inundated with ads…..

3 years ago, Jim Farmer

Complete garbage. Don’t waste your dime nor time!

Don’t waste your dime nor time on this rag!

5 years ago, @236=/

Doesn’t work

App does not work and the VA pilot offers no support.

3 years ago, HarryMyman

Poor App

Poor App.

6 years ago, Sparks 624

Took a good app

Not sure why the change was made, but you took an app that was easy to navigate and ruined it. The opinion section is scattered without local columns, no letters to the editor. Of the columns that are posted, almost all are from Tribune sources without any local color. Tweak the old one and bring it back.

9 years ago, VeryLongSubscriber

HolyCrap...WhatDidYouDo.

This version is horrible. The previous version had easier navigation and function. You could see the whole page, not just a thumbnail version. You could navigate easier to all sections of the paper. You had links that enabled you to go directly to the rest of the story in the back pages of the section. However, the "new and improved" version does not give you these capabilities. You cannot turn off the thumbnail views (the slider doesn't work), you have to go to "Menu," then "Browse", only to find out that you only get to choose either the page or "section." If you choose section, your only choices are sports or classified. What a giant step backwards!

8 years ago, JackM in VB

Worst app I have ever used

No exaggeration, this is the worst app that we have ever used. I am disappointed in Apple in that they allow this poor app to stay up. I am unable to read the paper as the app kicks me out repeatedly. Yesterday my wife was kicked out of the app 3 times and still did not finish the paper on her iPad. I did not get to finish the sports section on my iPad after two tries. It also pushes all these ads that further slows it down. Obviously to us is that the Va Pilot is incompetent in using this technology to deliver the paper. I wish I could give this a zero rating but give it a one to be able to post this review. Again I find fault with apple in allowing this to continue to happen.

9 years ago, Ekntr5

Would give no stars if possible

Agree with other reviews. This is a horrible step backwards but apparently the V.P. Is not listening. I suddenly stopped being able to download my paper and discovered the new app accidentally. It is not self explanatory. I had to call for directions. To download the paper for offline use is now 8 steps instead of 2....will need to build in more time before trips. No quick links to other sections of the paper, you must page past it all until you get the section you want. No access to yesterday's paper. Who designed this?! Makes me consider another paper and dropping this one!

6 years ago, nlytenu

“Improved” app is anything but

Aside from the fact that it crashes upon opening 99% of the time, the redesign alone has ruined what was a great app. One example of this is the “Our Communities” section. In the previous version, the reader could select the city they wanted to view. Now, instead of having an entire page of news dedicated to each city, the reader is presented with one page containing news from across the seven cities. No offense to the folks out in Suffolk, but if I’m in Chesapeake, I’m not interested in your SOL scores.

8 years ago, Starr2Max

Worst app I have used

This is positively the worst app I have ever used - Even worse than the Cox app. I can't see the menu because of the ads. Once I inadvertently touch one of the ads, there is no way to get out of it back to the paper. The only way I was able to get out was to do a soft reset on my phone. The previous app allowed you to forward an article to someone else. You can do that if you use the web. I have a subscription to the paper delivered to my house. I should not have to put up with this poor service.

Description

Now there's a simple, elegant and customizable way to get essential The Virginian-Pilot news, sports, business and entertainment coverage on your iPhone or iPad. FEATURES: • Stay informed with Virginia's best source of news, sports, business and entertainment • Sign up for push notifications to get the latest news from our newsroom as soon as stories break • Save must-read stories, photos and videos for when you have the time to enjoy them • Get the latest breaking news from our newsroom in your notifications • Share stories easily with Twitter, Facebook, or email • Offline reading: Download and read content offline • You can read our Privacy Policy here: http://www.tribpub.com/privacy-policy/ • You can read our Terms of Service here: http://www.tribpub.com/central-terms-of-service/ CRASHES / PROBLEMS? We've been working hard to fix any and all crashes in the app. If you're still experiencing crashes or freezes after installing this update, please contact us at [email protected]. A quick email to our support team helps our developers identify and resolve crashes faster.