Air New Zealand Air Points - Air NZ domestic standby

I was going through the benefits of an ISIC card (international student) and somewhere (no idea where) it said that one was able to standby on NZ domestic flights.

I emailed Air NZ about this (principally to see how much they were) ... and the reply seemed to indicate that yes one could standby but only for available fare classes (ie they wouldn't open up cheap classes for students who were prepared to standby for any free seat that might exist) which to me sounded a little odd (because one can standby normally on fully booked flights paying full Y or slightly less - so why advertise expensive standbys as a benefit for students)...

Anyway, I know this does not apply to most who read this board, but perhaps there are some that might be interested to find out (myself included). So does anyone know what the position is regarding student standby fares? (ohh and just to prove that I am a FF junkie - can one accure mileage with them?

Many thanks in advance.

Best Regards

Bradley

An ISIC card allows you to purchase the student fare (fare basis - QST)

You can choose to make a firm booking on flights with Q class availability (however they must be 'offpeak' - peak times are defined as Monday to Friday, 0630-0900, and 1630-1900).

You can also standby for flights with no Q class availability, but unfortunately I can't access the fare rules from home and have forgotten whether you pay the QST fare, or 50% off full Y class. I won't be able to follow up on this for 5 days, but hope this answers part of your question.

Oh yeah, and mileage IS accrued on the QST fare http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif



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

Does anyone happen to know how much the QST fare is for AKL-WLG & vv ? I will be in NZ in just over 4 weeks and I'm currently weighing up my options to do a little bit of NZ domestic flying and would like to be able to either take my chances on standby or get myself a 3 week advance purchase.

Furthermore is my Silver status upgrade cert valid on QST fares or (I know its even more of a longshot) my international reward booking (X class)?

Thanks for your assistance ...

Best Regards

Bradley

Try freedom for cheaper fares
www.freedom.co.nz (http://www.freedom.co.nz)
Its is a subsidary of Air NZ (but Air NZ try to pretend is not, but not making it obvious they own it)

or www.qantas.co.nz (http://www.qantas.co.nz)

[This message has been edited by Mwenenzi (edited 06-19-2002).]

A QST fare (ISIC card fare) is NZD175. Taxes are about NZD9 on top of that - not really competitive anymore with Freedom or QF's offerings.

If you really want to earn miles (be seated in premier zone as silver, get a meal, etc), you can book one way 'esavers' on certain flights on the NZ website. I think it's the 9pm AKL-WLG flight that gets you the lowest price - NZD99.



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

Thanks for your help Mwenenzi and airnzboy. I think I'll have to solemly swear that I am a Kiwi for a day and get my hands on one of the late night one way only fares. At least then I'll get some FF miles and put my shiny new LH card to good use in getting myself into the Koru Club.

It will be great to get back on Air NZ for the first time in 3 years.

Thanks for your help!

Best Regards

Bradley