Virgin Atlantic Flying Club - air NZ vs VA redemption

are the Air NZ business class redemption flights on the VA website similar to UC?

They seem a lot cheaper than VA so I am worried it is actually more like PE.

NZ business is a similar/same seat to VS UC (assuming you mean in the long haul fleet and not short haul or 767 services). Some would say better food/service and the seat is slightly more comfortable.

are the Air NZ business class redemption flights on the VA website similar to UC?

They seem a lot cheaper than VA so I am worried it is actually more like PE.

Let us know if you get one, they can be like hens teeth!

are the Air NZ business class redemption flights on the VA website similar to UC?

They seem a lot cheaper than VA so I am worried it is actually more like PE.

You will get a very very similar (almost identical) seat but IME you will also get better food, wine, service & a crew that do not have a sense of entitlement ;) All-in-all a better experience and for less miles than UC too :eek:

Is there an easy way to check available other than ringing flying club?

Is there an easy way to check available other than ringing flying club?


Nope. the system is you ring FC with your out and in bound dates

They ring NZ

NZ checks availability

NZ rings VS

VS rings you back

Repeat above as necessary as you can only check one date pair at a time

And I am guessing the dates you always want are never free?

And I am guessing the dates you always want are never free?

Maybe not never free, but certainly rarely free.

The whole process of booking partner reward flights is a disgrace in the 21st century IMHO. Ii appears deliberately bureaucratic, long winded and downright obstructive. Only the rip-off fuel surcharges beat it for making me want to move away from VS. :td:


Nick

I called air NZ direct as instructed on the VA website, them they told me I have to call virgin direct.

I am going to move to BA after I burn my miles as they do a 241 redemption on any class, not just expensive buckets seats. VA have about 4 months to change before I'm off!

I called air NZ direct as instructed on the VA website, them they told me I have to call virgin direct.


The VS website clearly tells you to call VS and NOT NZ. You call NZ only if you want to earn miles on your booking

http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/frequentflyer/fcpartners/airlines/airnewzealand.jsp?bfSubmit1.y=7&bfSubmit1.x=20


Spending miles:

Please contact your local Flying Club helpline to check availability and to make a booking.

[QUOTE=UKtravelbear;18679260]Nope. the system is you ring FC with your out and in bound dates

They ring NZ

NZ checks availability

NZ rings VS

VS rings you back
Repeat above as necessary as you can only check one date pair at a time[/QUOTE

Erm, there is a much easier way! Sign up for the ANA FFP & use their award booking to check *A award availability. Then call Flying Club. Simple. More tips for using this tool can be found on the wonderful bmi forum.

If yo get the NZ flights you want you will not regret it!

I can never find any J reward seats on NZ. routes: AKL-LAX , AKL-HKG, LAX-LHR vv.

Did HKG on a NZ reward ticket - gotta be vigilant to bag 'em tho - outstanding experience ^

How far out did you have to book it?

Did HKG on a NZ reward ticket - gotta be vigilant to bag 'em tho - outstanding experience ^

How far out did you have to book it?

A few months -I cannot recall precisely. Your best bet is to follow my advice & use the ANA tool....good luck.

Erm, there is a much easier way! Sign up for the ANA FFP & use their award booking to check *A award availability. Then call Flying Club. Simple. More tips for using this tool can be found on the wonderful bmi forum.

If yo get the NZ flights you want you will not regret it!


Thanks for the tip -- that's very useful. ^

I tried to do as suggested, but it said the following for ANA-

* The Partner Flight Award search function is only available for passengers who have a certain level of mileage.
As I do not have any ANA miles, is there another way to check?

I tried to do as suggested, but it said the following for ANA-

* The Partner Flight Award search function is only available for passengers who have a certain level of mileage.
As I do not have any ANA miles, is there another way to check?

Yes, you check for ANA routes (which anyone can do) & when the results are displayed - select Star Alliance Partner Flights (or similar wordage) button. You can then search ALL *A flights. The bmi forum has a help section for use of this tool.

I used this tool all the time & never credited a single mile there. You can also use United's award flights tool too - seems to have similar inventory...

Ok thank you, I have been looking on united and cannot find a single flight on air NZ to Hong Kong or LAX for the whole of October or November, they must have all gone already.

Unfortunately the ANA tool is not going to be much use, many have commented that while you may be able to see NZ redemption availability through it, when contacting VS the same cannot be seen. We assume that VS redemptions are booked using a different allocation to that which is visible.

Unfortunately the ANA tool is not going to be much use, many have commented that while you may be able to see NZ redemption availability through it, when contacting VS the same cannot be seen. We assume that VS redemptions are booked using a different allocation to that which is visible.

Conversely, I found my HKG-LHR Business Class flights using this very tool.

How far in advance did u book?

How far in advance did u book?

I seem to remember it was a few weeks out. I Changed from another booking to enjoy NZ J. Truly Business Premier.

So they may open up some seats between now and the autumn.

So they may open up some seats between now and the autumn.

Yes they may. Also they may not.

It will depend on how well cash sales are going. If they can sell tickets for money then why would they release them as rewards?