Air New Zealand Air Points - SYD-AKL A320 Business Class???

Hi, looks like I'm scheduled to fly on NZ700 which is operated on an A320. It only allows me to buy economy, but it looks like the plane has a business class section (according to both seatexpert and seatguru). How does one go about booking into the nicer cabin? Second question: If it's it done by fare, and if so, what if I book in X (award economy), where would that place my seating?

NZ are in the process of removing J class from the A320 due to lack of ( paid ) demand . You have not said when you are travelling but it seems likely that you are booked on a flight post modification to all Y .

Business Class is not longer offered on any A320 flight. The seat maps that you see are showing an unconverted A320 with Business Class seats as Space +, however you are unable to have them allocated in case the plane actually scheduled has been converted to all economy.
This is generally decided 48 hours ahead of flight.
If you book a *A award in Economy you will be offered a "Works" product (seat selection, baggage, IFE and food).

I'm sorry to say insiderdude, that when it comes to the A320, business class is no longer inside 'er, dude.

I am travelling economy in seat 1E this afternoon.

It is a Business class seat but economy service.

This situation will not last however; by next year the seats will basically be gone.

insiderdude, a few questions:


Have you booked?
Can you choose seating on-line?
If so, do rows 1 & 2 show only 8 seats? (Blocked)
If the answer to all is yes, you may be able to call AirNZ and request such a seat. Note that as a Air NZ top level; I could not have this guaranteed with the call; it was only on check-in when I received my BP.

I had this recently as well for a flight on the 26th of NOV, the seatmap has now changed showing full-economy.

my sister had C class on a 767 AKL-NAN which was downgraded to a A320
she had a miles ticket in business.
Will she get works deluxe now or just 'the works' she is flying C back to AKL where she lives

my sister had C class on a 767 AKL-NAN which was downgraded to a A320
she had a miles ticket in business.
Will she get works deluxe now or just 'the works' she is flying C back to AKL where she lives

Since she was booked in C class she should in theory get The Works Delux. Has she called NZ about the invol downgrade? they may be able to change the flight that she is on.

Since she was booked in C class she should in theory get The Works Delux. Has she called NZ about the invol downgrade? they may be able to change the flight that she is on.

I just spoke with her on skype
thay said that even though she was C class, since the aircraft changed to a 320 she is "the works" and not the works delux.... since it is an award ticket.

Seems super stingy. Also, they have no other flight that day on the outbound so she is stuck on it.

its the space issue of the worlds deluxe she wants.

I just spoke with her on skype
thay said that even though she was C class, since the aircraft changed to a 320 she is "the works" and not the works delux.... since it is an award ticket.

Seems super stingy. Also, they have no other flight that day on the outbound so she is stuck on it.

its the space issue of the worlds deluxe she wants.

This is unbelievable - a business class ticket and you get involuntarily downgraded to works - which means 30" pitch and possibly even a middle seat? Outrageous. I would be asking for some of my miles/points back.

This is unbelievable - a business class ticket and you get involuntarily downgraded to works - which means 30" pitch and possibly even a middle seat? Outrageous. I would be asking for some of my miles/points back.
This is correct to be downgraded to "The Works" which we have been told is standard economy. Like other revenue tickets, eg. RTW, if the aircraft does not have the ticketed class of cabin you will get the next class of cabin. The four new products are variations of the economy cabin, not a distinct cabin in themselves.
Am I happy with this, it has been said by me before and I will say it again "No. Not my cup of tea.":td:

Thanks, all. I've now booked on a 767, into C ... (hoping it doesn't get downgraded!!). From what I read about Air NZ, it seems like there's much in flux about classes of service - removing seats, downgrading service, etc. Although my experience with NZ has been nothing short of fantastic so far, it's only been limited to the LAX-LHR flights in BusinessPremier. Going from the LAX NZ lounge --> 744 C-class --> LHR *A lounge, and vice versa, then lather-rinse-repeat ... I've been mostly shielded from most of NZ's recent changes. Reading some of the posts here on FT, I'm surprised at some of what's going on domestically ... removing space+ seating, etc. Sounds like what started happening with our American carriers about 15-20 years ago.

I suppose NZ no longer cares about the paid J LAX-AKL-SYD market.

I suppose NZ no longer cares about the paid J LAX-AKL-SYD market.

It's probably more like they've got the least hope out of the SYD market compared to the other Aussie ports, being up against 4 carriers with non-stop service and around 5 non-stop flights a day.

It's probably more like they've got the least hope out of the SYD market compared to the other Aussie ports, being up against 4 carriers with non-stop service and around 5 non-stop flights a day.

NZ does extremly well on the SYD AKL LAX market.. Here is something that happened to me

I am flying SYD AKL LAX and vv next month. I rang NZ to inquire about how many AP I would accrue. The very nice NZ bloke said 'you are flying business so you will get the relevant number of AP". I said ' But i am flying Works Deluxe' to which he said 'That is Business Class'. I then explained I had originally booked PE but had it upgraded on a special discounted BP fare. I said if it was a business class fare and I was flying on NZ103 AKL SYD on a 767 why wasn't in placed in Business Class in the first place rather than having to use my AP to ug to Business. He was very confused and said he would call me back. 15 mins late he called back and said I have been ticketed in J and my AP will be re credited to my account.

It gets more interesting. I then called back and spoke to another agent about the SYD AKL on NZ704 and could it be changed to NZ102 which is a 767 and in Business Class. She said unfortunately that fare bucket had gone but would place me in Works Deluxe. I then asked for an UG using AP which has been done but yet to be confirmed. It is disappointing I could not have been placed in Business Class at the time of the re booking 2 months ago.

I have no issue with any of the Staff who were wonderful but it's all so confusing

I can't imagine many paid J travelers flying LAX-AKL in a great J product and then connecting to a 2+ hour flight in economy seating. I used to do it because I like the privacy of pod seating which QF, VA, UA do not offer. Now, I just fly DL nonstop.

I can't imagine many paid J travelers flying LAX-AKL in a great J product and then connecting to a 2+ hour flight in economy seating. I used to do it because I like the privacy of pod seating which QF, VA, UA do not offer. Now, I just fly DL nonstop.


Well, I recently booked this (without knowing that I will be downgraded on AKL-SYD):

And Gotta Requalify, I actually ended up in exactly this situation flying LAX-AKL-SYD in January. I didn't know until after selecting the flights that the last leg was not in C. I think it's unbelievable that they have taken C away on AKL-SYD. NZ claimed that all connecting flights to US etc would still have the feeder flights in C. Did someone at NZ actually check their schedule?

10:00 PM Sun 9th Los Angeles 7.50 AM Tue 11th Auckland Business

9.00 AM Tue 11th Auckland 10:30 AM Tue 11th Sydney ECONOMY

I sincerely hope they are going to change this to a 767 prior to my flight in January. It's really a downgrade for anyone flying in from the US and then having to sit in Y for another 3.5 hours. I will certainly never book NZ to the US again in C if they don't fix their mad schedule.

I didn't know until your post now that DL actually had those seats? Are they operating the 777-200LR on the SYD-LAX route? If so, that's what I will choose in the future! NZ doesn't seem to understand that they are annoying their high value customers especially on the AKL-SYD route. It's a pathetic approach that makes absolutely no business sense to me...but they think they know better obviously and are prepared to take the hit.

I didn't know until your post now that DL actually had those seats? Are they operating the 777-200LR on the SYD-LAX route? If so, that's what I will choose in the future! NZ doesn't seem to understand that they are annoying their high value customers especially on the AKL-SYD route. It's a pathetic approach that makes absolutely no business sense to me...but they think they know better obviously and are prepared to take the hit.
Yes DL use their 777-200LR model on LAX-SYD.