Air New Zealand Air Points - Is this doable?

I'm scheduled to fly UA SYD-SFO in July which departs SYD at 1335.

I'm looking to take NZ AKL-SYD the same day at 0700 which gets into SYD at 0830. These will be on separate tickets. Four hours is plenty of time to connect.

My question is this....if for some reason the AKL-SYD cancels, does NZ normally reroute passengers to QF? Possible reroutes would be QF AKL-SYD or NZ/QF AKL-MEL QF MEL-SYD. Thanks for comments and experiences.

Further more, can NZ at AKL check my bags through to SFO even thought I'm travelling NZ AKL-SYD and UA SYD-SFO on separate tickets? Thanks.

Time to stop panicking! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

NZ often runs connections from CHC and WLG to its SYD/LAX flight rather than through, and connecting domestic pax in Australia less more time than you do. I have done it easily with one hour connections.

What you will find.
1. NZ will check your bags through, there is an interline agreement, just make sure you can provide both tickets. Note you could always ask NZ and UA to note in your PNRs what other tickets you are on - prudent in case of problems.
2. You will probably not get a boarding pass for your UA flight. No problems, DO NOT clear customs in SYD go straight to the interline transfer desk and a very helpful staff member will provide you with a boarding pass. NZ and UA share the same terminal in SYD. Do not ask teh lounge for a boarding pass, it is a hassle for them and the interline desk rarely has any people there and you walk straight past it!
3. Assuming that you are a *G or flying P/C then you will have the pelasure of the NZ lounge in SYD which is one of the largest and best http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Okay what could go wrong. You have a four hour connection after a flight that is only 3 hours long. That is more than enough for efficient airlines and efficient airports. It would be very very rare that your NZ flight would be delayed or cancelled to that degree. If it is I would imagine that UA would put you on the NZ or UA service straight from AKL to LAX then up to SFO, or on the NZ service out of SYD/LAX/SFO.

I suppose they would put you on QF as a last resort, but I doubt anything will happen and you will have 3-4 hours of lounge sitting and shopping and the now very nice SYD airport.

Enjoy your flights!

Mark

Thanks for your informative reply. it is very helpful. I know some of you will be aghast that I'm even comparing NZ with UA. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif However I travelled enough to know that Murphy's Law is valid and learning that a flight is cancelled is not the time to think up of options. No one would have thought those folks heading from SYD to SFO on UA would spend quite a number of extra days in AKL.

The fact of the matter is that I need to be in SFO later that day. However, I might not be able to leave NZ on an earlier date, so it is imperative that I familarize myself with how NZ handles operational irregularities now vs on the date of departure. Once again, thanks for your response.

I should mention that the NZ101/100 duo is a 'priority A' flight for Air NZ, meaning if any delay or other problem occurs it will be the top priority flight to be dispatched.

The 747 that arrives from LAX at around 0530 is, I believe, on 'standby' to operate 101/100 if any problems arise.



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*Any information given in the email is my personal opinion and not the opinion of my employer.