Air New Zealand Air Points - RAR - LAX direct award availability

Hello,

I'm a UA member that would like to ask a small favor.

My family has booked one-way awards on ANZ from LAX - RAR on the once-weekly direct flight, #19. However, we are being told that there is never any award availability for the return flight LAX - RAR #18. Ever. As we don't want to have to fly RAR - AKL - LAX, our vacation plans may be bust.

Would someone please throw in a phone call and ask if this direct RAR-LAX flight (ANZ #18) is ever allowed award seating?

Thank you.

There's at least 1 award seat in economy available for each of the four weekly flights May 19-Jun 9.

Keep in mind just cuz NZ says THEY have award availability does not mean UA has access to it.

Keep in mind just cuz NZ says THEY have award availability does not mean UA has access to it.

This was checking on united.com; I've never seen a discrepancy between what united.com says re NZ availability and what can actually be booked when redeeming a UA award.

Yes, award seats are possible in both directions.

Thanks but not using UA miles - they are blocked off.

This was checking on united.com; I've never seen a discrepancy between what united.com says re NZ availability and what can actually be booked when redeeming a UA award.

I've found the same regarding ANA searches and UA MP *A availability ... I've never encountered blocking of NZ flights

Thanks but not using UA miles - they are blocked off.
An agent told you that ? I've booked RAR-LAX C *A award with UA miles ... over a year ago though.

I've found the same regarding ANA searches and UA MP *A availability ... I've never encountered blocking of NZ flights


An agent told you that ? I've booked RAR-LAX C *A award with UA miles ... over a year ago though.

AFAIK ANZ blocks DPS & VLI.

I believe there are a total of five seats on RAR - LAX with United miles in the next year. That's a total figure - 5.

I believe there are a total of five seats on RAR - LAX with United miles in the next year. That's a total figure - 5.
But 5 is NOT zero ... so how is UA "blocking" ? NZ is just not offering the seats as awards ... maybe they're selling them, who knows.

ANA shows atleast 1 Y seat available ( 0 C seats btw ):
5/26,6/2,6/9,9/8,12/22 ... which seems to agree with your 5 figure

So, if you're looking for seats for a "family", meaning multiple seats, then it looks like you'll have to be lucky for direct flights or settle for routing through AKL (assuming you can find the availability there too).



AFAIK ANZ blocks DPS & VLI.
I do believe NZ does not offer award seats on some of flights.

I do believe NZ does not offer award seats on some of flights.

AKL-DPS/VLI, would be pretty pointless routes for them to allocate award seats to.

AKL-DPS/VLI, would be pretty pointless routes for them to allocate award seats to.

Why?

I doubt that NZ deliberately blocks any route from award seats. In the DPS case, it's likely just because this a new route and they haven't got around to adding award inventory to the system yet.

Why?

I doubt that NZ deliberately blocks any route from award seats. In the DPS case, it's likely just because this a new route and they haven't got around to adding award inventory to the system yet.

There really isn't going to be much demand for awards on this route, and with there own memebers the system auto opens up award seats as needed.

There really isn't going to be much demand for awards on this route, and with there own memebers the system auto opens up award seats as needed.

If so, I'd like to go to VLI... They never have ANY Award space...

I'm trying to put together an reward trip so I can visit the remaining Islands that NZ flies to that I have not been to yet (APW/IUE/NAN/NOU/VLI).

AFAIK IUE/VLI has never had any availability.