Air New Zealand Air Points - Scored 25% of F seats (*A awards) on NZ 5 LAX-AKL

My wife and I got 2 F seats about 6 weeks ago, but son was in business and I figured no chance of another seat opening up. But just called UA (where I booked the *A award) and a 3rd seat in F had opened up ^ .

With only 12 F seats on NZ's 744s, that seems like a lot of award seats. This is for travel late March/early April 2005.

Well done ^

The impression I have is there is generally a high proportion of F seats available for awards and upgrades on NZ.

Well done ^

The impression I have is there is generally a high proportion of F seats available for awards and upgrades on NZ.

Good to know. UA routes to SYD, on the other hand, seem impossible to get on awards.

Now just need to score the AKL-SYD in C (we're all in Y right now) and the return for son CHC-LAX where he's now in C.

Thanks again for all of your helpful comments.

AKL-SYD will be much harder to get. Not many biz seats (paid or award). While the early morning 767 has the most biz seats, I would try for later in the day (A320s) when business traffic is likely to be less and so may be easier to get. Of course assuming fits in with your schedule.

AKL-SYD will be much harder to get. Not many biz seats (paid or award). While the early morning 767 has the most biz seats, I would try for later in the day (A320s) when business traffic is likely to be less and so may be easier to get. Of course assuming fits in with your schedule.

We arrive AKL 6:30AM and depart for SYD on NZ103 at 9:00AM (A320 I think). It's not a major inconvenience to be in Y (got 6ABC) as the flight is like 3:30, but it is the last leg of RDU-ORD-LAX-AKL, which is quite a haul. I've done RDU-ORD-HKG-SIN, but think the wife and son may go bonkers.
:)