Air New Zealand Air Points - Impossible scheduling by AirNZ... spectacular!

I got off NZ126 from MEL on Thursday, 26 July and the flight arrived back at midnight, 27 July... and when the plane docks at the gate, it was to be turned around as NZ39 on to LHR via HKG... now.. NZ39 is scheduled at 2359 daily and given the plane from MEL arrived at 0000 (scheduled 0005) it is NO WAY that the out-bounding flight can be on time! NZ39 has been delayed to depart at 0115 as a result.. I knew it was the gate for NZ39 coz pax were waiting at the gate....

I know 772 is not a frequent for NZ126 any more and that was why I travelled on that day.. I feel I deserve C after a long day, same day return to MEL on 772 or else I would have travelled on another day....

But to me, there is not a chance that NZ39 would be on time given the arrival of NZ126. I have no idea what kind of lame reason AirNZ used to explain the delayed departure of NZ39, but excuse me, that was not a delay due to the late arrival of the air craft, but due to poor scheduling!

this is very disappointing! I am a frequent flyer on NZ39 and 2359 is a great time and any time after that makes the trip extremely tiring......

How do you know that was not the last minute arrangement? If you check on time performances on other days, it does not seem to have a problem with this schedule.

My guess of the situation: planned 772 gone tech in very short notice, management looked around, ah-huh, here is a 772 coming back from MEL in an hour!!

I was on NZ39 on Friday night. Flight departure was delayed approx 30 min due to on board maintenance issue not being able to be repaired in short turn around of aircraft.

How do you know that was not the last minute arrangement? If you check on time performances on other days, it does not seem to have a problem with this schedule.

My guess of the situation: planned 772 gone tech in very short notice, management looked around, ah-huh, here is a 772 coming back from MEL in an hour!!

of coz that is possible, 123dd... but the thing is, if Flight Track is correct, they would have no 772s at AKL that night although it could have been too big of an assumption?

of coz that is possible, 123dd... but the thing is, if Flight Track is correct, they would have no 772s at AKL that night although it could have been too big of an assumption?

OK... if you check from another source... you were on ZK-OKA, came back from MEL, and straight to HKG.

And ZK-OKC appeared to be in AKL all the time, it came back on NZ57 in the afternoon, and did not leave until the following afternoon on NZ105/108 to SYD.

I know flightstats shows NZ105/108 as 763, but flightradar24.com confirmed that NZ105/108 was operated by Zk-OKC.

Im not trying to defend NZ, but just can't believe they have such a schedule... although i hate their FFP, but their service seems to be quite good standard.....

OK... if you check from another source... you were on ZK-OKA, came back from MEL, and straight to HKG.

And ZK-OKC appeared to be in AKL all the time, it came back on NZ57 in the afternoon, and did not leave until the following afternoon on NZ105/108 to SYD.

I know flightstats shows NZ105/108 as 763, but flightradar24.com confirmed that NZ105/108 was operated by Zk-OKC.

Im not trying to defend NZ, but just can't believe they have such a schedule... although i hate their FFP, but their service seems to be quite good standard.....

Yes, I was coming back on ZK-OKA from MEL
and by what you are justifying, it seems that they must have some issues with OKC coming back.....
like you I would not believe in the first place of such schedule but then with the degrading of service with AirNZ I am not surprise if it was not "planned".... at least they are not using a 767 for the HKG route and if they do, I will be the first one to quiet although I am GE now....

Yes, I was coming back on ZK-OKA from MEL
and by what you are justifying, it seems that they must have some issues with OKC coming back.....
like you I would not believe in the first place of such schedule but then with the degrading of service with AirNZ I am not surprise if it was not "planned".... at least they are not using a 767 for the HKG route and if they do, I will be the first one to quiet although I am GE now....

They started 767 service to PVG alraedy, and with rumours of AKL-HKG-LHR service pulling back, you may end up with 767 in HKG one day....

They just give me another year of Gold after 0 status point last year, but i got myself a QF Gold and OZ *G.... NZ is still a good airline, but it won't justify any extra mile you go being loyal to it...

They started 767 service to PVG alraedy, and with rumours of AKL-HKG-LHR service pulling back, you may end up with 767 in HKG one day....

They just give me another year of Gold after 0 status point last year, but i got myself a QF Gold and OZ *G.... NZ is still a good airline, but it won't justify any extra mile you go being loyal to it...

yes, I am aware of the PVG changes and they needed that to free up planes for Perth with 772s.

IMHO, 767s are to be retired but until I know what config it is for the 787s it is too early for me to say if I would like the 787 to be flying the HKG route, I really need a flat bed and I guess AirNZ would be losing it all to CX should they put the 767 back on HKG (It was flying 767 up to 10 years ago)

PVG/NRT does not attract many direct competition and therefore it was why they can fool pax with the dated/ripped off C product. I must also point out that loadings on those routes are bad at times and it is no easy task now AirNZ is operating 5 or 6 daily to PVG after giving up slots at PEK. I think the HKG route is still doing ok with 772s though

I think AirNZ should commit to more 772s and until then... it better stop fiddling with their schedule like this...

Although I still have at least 2 more GE to go, I do not discount the possibility in quitting and Air NZ Senior Management should wake up to what they have done in devaluing GE.. I must say I have been so patient until now....

yes, I am aware of the PVG changes and they needed that to free up planes for Perth with 772s.

IMHO, 767s are to be retired but until I know what config it is for the 787s it is too early for me to say if I would like the 787 to be flying the HKG route, I really need a flat bed and I guess AirNZ would be losing it all to CX should they put the 767 back on HKG (It was flying 767 up to 10 years ago)

PVG/NRT does not attract many direct competition and therefore it was why they can fool pax with the dated/ripped off C product. I must also point out that loadings on those routes are bad at times and it is no easy task now AirNZ is operating 5 or 6 daily to PVG after giving up slots at PEK. I think the HKG route is still doing ok with 772s though



i dont think 787 will be flying to any Asian routes (or atleast in the first few years). look at 773, currently 5 in service. it has never been put on any Asian routes at all and how many years has 773 in service?

as for 787, im hoping there wont be any herringbone J! it's out of fashion!

i dont think 787 will be flying to any Asian routes (or atleast in the first few years). look at 773, currently 5 in service. it has never been put on any Asian routes at all and how many years has 773 in service?

as for 787, im hoping there wont be any herringbone J! it's out of fashion!

have you realized the difference in capacity between 787 and 777?

If north america routes can sustain 777 and 747, then 787 will be too small for them.... 787s are there to replace 767s

as for 787, im hoping there wont be any herringbone J! it's out of fashion!

The reason herringbone seating is "out of fashion" is because Virgin Atlantic own a patent on it.

In 2009 they won an injunction requiring a competing manufacturer to pay damages / licensing costs for every herringbone seat it had produced (£10,000 per seat!). In addition, the existing herringbone seats are not permitted to be used on certain routes that compete with VS. This is why Delta use non-herringbone aircraft on their LHR routes.

None of this applies to Air NZ because they licensed their seats from VS in the first place - I would expect them to be able (and keen) to continue using the layout on their 787s.

See: Virgin Atlantic v. Premium Aircraft (http://www.eplawpatentblog.com/eplaw/2010/02/uk-virgin-atlantic-v-premium-aircraft-.html)

have you realized the difference in capacity between 787 and 777?


Remember that Air NZ's order is for the stretched 787-9. It's closer in capacity to a 777-200 than to a 767.

The sounds that have been coming out from various sources suggest that NZ's first priority with the 787-9s is to replace the 767s on long haul routes, that means NRT, KIX, PVG and LAX via RAR, HNL, (DPS?) with PPT likely to be not far behind. This makes sense as it will bring all long haul routes up to a similar standard. I'd say PER may well follow too.

Indications are that the 787-9s will be equipped with the long haul Business Premier, Premium Economy and Economy products seen on the 777-300ERs although with relatively large Economy cabins (reflecting of low premium volumes on those routes). Whether it includes Skycouches and what pitch/config Economy has remains speculative.

Presuming all the 767s are to go, that means a 787 allocated to the AKL-SYD route and the occasional Pacific Island route, the rest be for growth and to displace 777-200s where 787s are more likely to be profitable (AKL-HKG-LHR being the obvious route for that).

However, I doubt very much if hard product on 787s will vary much from the 777-300s, with the bigger question being the Economy configuration.

Indications are that the 787-9s will be equipped with the long haul Business Premier, Premium Economy and Economy products seen on the 777-300ERs although with relatively large Economy cabins (reflecting of low premium volumes on those routes). Whether it includes Skycouches and what pitch/config Economy has remains speculative.

However, I doubt very much if hard product on 787s will vary much from the 777-300s, with the bigger question being the Economy configuration.

It's reckoned NZ will go to 3-3-3 in the 787-9's Y cabin. So far only JL and NH have gone 2-4-2 on their international 787s. Everyone else, so far, has opted for 3-3-3 even when their planes will operate 14 hr + sectors.

It's reckoned NZ will go to 3-3-3 in the 787-9's Y cabin. So far only JL and NH have gone 2-4-2 on their international 787s. Everyone else, so far, has opted for 3-3-3 even when their planes will operate 14 hr + sectors.

I sadly suspect you are right. 3-3-3 is consistent with having Skycouches (and by no means would NZ choose 3-2-3 or 3-3-2 although the latter would be highly attractive for couples travelling together).

It would be nice to hope for 33 or 34" pitch, but if they are starting out on the Asian leisure routes there is little need to care.

NZ's only serious competition on long haul is now on the sectors to LHR, and AKL-HKG (which while CX keeps A340s on it, without PE, without new C Class, will remains substandard).

3-3-3 at 33" will be my guess

From 31 Mar, 763 will operate the daily PVG route.....

Wonder where the 772s will be used?

HNL/PER and 772 to replace 744 to SFO I gather.