Air New Zealand Air Points - Meals for *G Award Tickets on Pacific Flights

I just redeemed some UA miles for AKL-NAN. The route is operated by a 772 but there are no biz seats available so I am sitting in a Premium Y seat. However, I have no idea what services I can expect in Premium Y on an award. With my *G benefits, I will receive all of the Works Deluxe benefits including priority handling and lounge access, but definitely not the seat (unless it later becomes open). The meal however, seems up in the air. It looks like I might even have to pay for IFE as well. The flight commences during the lunch hour so I would love to have a meal and a movie to boot but I don't know what to expect on an award ticket. Anyone have any thoughts or experiences to share?

My understanding is that an award tix on Trans-Tasman and Pacific is that you effectively receive a 'Works' seat (bag, meals, movie). This delivers the 'same' level of service in Y as other airliners.

A separate factor, is that as a *A *Gold on these routes, you may have access to the PE seats if &&2/773 aircraft are used, but the service remains Y.

I don't have any authoritative reference to this, just my recollection of other discussions.

You mention no biz seats available. Do you mean you tried for an award in biz, but due to no availability have paid miles for an Economy seat? Or is this a part of a larger 'miles' award series of flights?

Cheers, TK

You will definitely get the "Works" fare and your *G can get you in a Y+ seat but service is no different than Y. I understand Seats to Suit fares are only available for sale in AU/NZ as standalone itineraries. All other scenarios are booked in "Works".

Also on a 772 or 774, no one is paying for movies as the older system is not compatible with what NZ are doing.

My CHC-AKL is operated by A320 and the AKL-NAN-AKL are operated by 772. Will the flight on the A320 require me to pay for video?

When on the plane, does NZ know that I am *G and automatically give me a meal (the works)? Is it all based on the manifest that they print out or some other way?

There's no IFE on the domestic A320s.

Your *G status doesn't give you the meal, it's your fare that gives you the meal. And yes, they have a manifest which lists who gets meals and drinks, and it will list you as *G as well.

Note also that there is no meal on domestic services, just water/coffee/tea and a cookie....

There's no IFE on the domestic A320s.

Your *G status doesn't give you the meal, it's your fare that gives you the meal. And yes, they have a manifest which lists who gets meals and drinks, and it will list you as *G as well.

As long as "X" class gets me a meal, I'm happy :cool: I find it interesting that seatguru and seatexpert both list the A320 as having AVOD. Is this an error?

Next one down on the list: http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Air_New_Zealand/Air_New_Zealand_Airbus_A320D.php

NZ operate International and Domestic Config A320's

Yeah, international config. A320s have IFE, domestic config. A320s don't. :)

Yeah, international config. A320s have IFE, domestic config. A320s don't. :)

Although about one flight in 60 on the AKL-WLG domestic route I've had an international config A320 with the IFE, which was enabled for the flight. No headphones were provided, however normal headphones worked fine.

As long as "X" class gets me a meal, I'm happy :cool: I find it interesting that seatguru and seatexpert both list the A320 as having AVOD. Is this an error?

All award bookings book as "the Works" product http://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/the-works