Air New Zealand Air Points - Pointless predictions re award travel

Not that I can really justify this thread, but here goes:

I currently hold a business class award ticket through United. It's all on NZ flights: Dec. 8 SFO-AKL-CHC and returning Jan. 20 ZQN-CHC-LAX-SFO.

As I mentioned in another thread, Dec. 8 is no good. It's just there to hold the return.

Now, your prediction (if pointless exercises are your thing): Will a bus. class seat open up for the outbound on UA or NZ for Jan. 9? I'll give it until late November. The transpacific options are SFO-SYD and LAX-MEL on UA, and SFO-AKL, LAX-SYD, LAX-AKL and LAX-CHC on NZ.

Sure it's high season, but six flights to work with -- something will open up, right?

Edited to correct date errors.

If you are returning Jan 9, wont you want an earlier flight over?

The dates are probably more key than routing. If you are at least somewhat flexible then far more chance of getting something (ie someone else cancels) - assuming you keep checking back.

Note that SFO-AKL and LAX-CHC are only 3 times per week. LAX-AKL is 14 (?) times per week so best bet.

What is your plan B if it doesnt open up?

If you are returning Jan 9, wont you want an earlier flight over?

The dates are probably more key than routing. If you are at least somewhat flexible then far more chance of getting something (ie someone else cancels) - assuming you keep checking back.

Note that SFO-AKL and LAX-CHC are only 3 times per week. LAX-AKL is 14 (?) times per week so best bet.

What is your plan B if it doesnt open up?

My mistake, KF. Jan. 20 is my return (original post corrected).

Plan B is probably to buy a coach seat in early December. If it's absurdly expensive, I could use a standard award (double miles) on UA for 100k miles.

What makes you think coach award is going to be available so late and for peak season?

According to NZ's award availability chart all flights to & from US on NZ are sold out of award seats for Dec through to Feb - and have been for some time. This isnt surprising for peak season.

What makes you think coach award is going to be available so late and for peak season?

According to NZ's award availability chart all flights to & from US on NZ are sold out of award seats for Dec through to Feb - and have been for some time. This isnt surprising for peak season.

A standard award on UA (flying UA metal) is available as long as there is an economy seat open on the plane (downside is 2x miles required for standard awards). I could use UA in a pinch (SFO-SYD, LAX-SYD or LAX-MEL).

Sorry - didnt realise you were talking about the UA flights to Oz. The other downside is needing to purchase Oz-NZ at peak season in short notice. But as long as flexible it shouldnt cost too much.

Dont know how flexible you are, but maybe more availability on 31st Dec (skips new years eve)?

I really dont know your chances - you just need to be lucky. Things to improve the odds is flexibility (dates/routes) and keep checking back all the time.

Another thought - I presume you are allowed an open jaw in UA *A award. Perhaps you could try for LAX-NAN or PPT and purchase separately NAN (or PPT)-AKL-CHC? These shorter legs are fairly cheap in econ, and not too bad in biz (can purchase one-way fine).

I know many of you are on the edges of your seats, so let me update you on my quest for a business class award, r/t in January. An economy seat opened up on NZ for Jan. 9, so I now have workable flights in each direction!

Using 90k United miles (plus $75 change fee), I now have:

Jan. 9: SFO-LAX-AKL-CHC, economy
Jan. 20: ZQN-CHC-LAX-SFO, business

If I can, I'll change the outbound to SFO-AKL-CHC or SFO-LAX-CHC, and, of course, I'll grab a business seat if one becomes available. If no bus. seat becomes available, I'll still be paying 90k miles for this econ/bus award. Even, so, that seems like a very good deal during high season.

Calling the United partner award desk nearly every day for the past 20 days has been a chore, but it finally paid off.

Dhuey, I am very optimistic for you that business class award space will open up on NZ for you. Remeber that it should not matter which *A carrier you are booking through, as long as NZ has reward space available, then it is yours for the taking, or anyone else who beats you to it.
My advice is to use the Availability tool on a regular basis, and see what opens up.
Last Feb, I was holding 2 award F seats for my wife and child, I held a paid F seat. I checked for award space a week before departure, low and behold, another award seat opened up. I have checked numerous dates and flights closer to departure time to see if my theory is correct, it appears to be.
IMbiasedO, NZ is one of the best at opening up more award seats closer to departure.
For our future travel to NZ, I will try to book a couple of seats ahead of time, and wait till closer for the third. I will always prtect myself with a rev seat just in case.

Thanks, taupo. That would seem like the normal airline approach -- try to sell those premium seats; release them for awards only when it's clear that they're not going to sell.

I really want that upgrade on the outbound. Spending more than half a day in an economy seat sounds pretty undesirable.

I am assuming that NZ allocates X amount of seats for award purposes at the outset, then releases more seats as they are available.

If you have to be in an economy seat for the 12 hour ride to AKL, their is no better economy seat and leg room than NZ's. The FA's will treat you like a customer, very refreshing when compared to many NA carriers and employees.

I'm glad to hear the service is good on NZ. My main goal, though, is some sleep. I would have much trouble sleeping in an economy seat. Don't get me wrong -- I'm quite lucky to be going on this trip, and lucky once more to get a mileage award. I'd just be even happier if I can get a few hours of sleep en route.

Thanks again, folks, for the helpful advice -- especially to Kiwi Flyer. I'm optimistic that a bus. seat will open up on LAX-CHC. That seems like a purely leisure market in which few people would pay for a premium cabin.

That seems like a purely leisure market in which few people would pay for a premium cabin.

You would be surprised by the high number of well to do Americans travelling to Queenstown. I would imagine this played a large role in NZ's decision to start this route.
I know of two American families who have homes in Queenstown, and would only fly in F, usually several times a year.
Your very right about the leisure part, just some wealthy leisure travellers!!

...I know of two American families who have homes in Queenstown, and would only fly in F, usually several times a year....

Are they looking to adopt a 37 year old man who is potty trained and fluent in English?

Are they looking to adopt a 37 year old man who is potty trained and fluent in English?

You just described moi :D

Sorry if this is boring anyone to death, but here's another update:

An economy seat opened up on LAX-CHC, so the outbound flights are now perfect (SFO-LAX-CHC). The last thing left is to move to business class on the long flight.

I post this in the hope that it's helpful to others who seek mileage awards. The trick is call, call back and keep calling back. If you can get only one direction, grab it, book the other direction for any available date and keep trying to change it to the date(s) you need.

Big score today. Using the "smiley" availability tool, I spotted one business class seat available on the outbound. Better still, it's on the SFO-AKL flight! Instead of LAX and its mixed reviews lounge, I get my local United International Red Carpet Club -- one of the best!

Thanks once again, Kiwi Flyer and taupo for your extremely helpful advice. Now, I can't wait to go cycling, kayaking and hiking in the south island.

^ ^

Well done, perseverance pays.

I have garnered far more from these forums than I can ever re-pay, so it is nice to be able to help someone every once in a while. Now KF on the other hand, gives much more than he receives.

Enjoy NZ.

Big score today. Using the "smiley" availability tool, I spotted one business class seat available on the outbound. Better still, it's on the SFO-AKL flight! Instead of LAX and its mixed reviews lounge, I get my local United International Red Carpet Club -- one of the best!

Thanks once again, Kiwi Flyer and taupo for your extremely helpful advice. Now, I can't wait to go cycling, kayaking and hiking in the south island.

Well done, enjoy your flight and NZ ^

Congrats ^

Enjoy your trip

Postscript: Just out of curiosity, I checked to see if any F award seats opened up on my itin. They did! I spent the extra 30k miles.

I realize there is a split of opinion here on how much better F is over C. Still, these are such long flights. A little bigger seat, a little more horizontal just might mean more sleep for me. Also, hanging out in United's International First Class Lounge will let me feel far more important than I really am.

Man, that availability tool is cool!

Trust me, it is the best 30k in points you could pay.

Enjoy... :D

Mark
p.s. you know if you did not pay, you would be looking through the curtain and kicking yourself...

Postscript: Just out of curiosity, I checked to see if any F award seats opened up on my itin. They did! I spent the extra 30k miles.

I realize there is a split of opinion here on how much better F is over C. Still, these are such long flights. A little bigger seat, a little more horizontal just might mean more sleep for me. Also, hanging out in United's International First Class Lounge will let me feel far more important than I really am.

Man, that availability tool is cool!

As Koro Flyer mentioned, the points are well spent.

Their is a huge comfort difference between NZ F and C. The seats are wider, recline well, and the distance between the seats is vast. At 6'4", I find the room to be more than enough.
Congrats on snagging the seats, and enjoy.

Yes that tool is cool, however, kudos need to go to NZ also, for making more award seats available as departure days draw closer. AFAIK, they are one of the only carriers that do this.

In the past week, I noticed quite a few first and business seats open up on several flights for mid-January dates. If anyone gave up on these dates, look again.

Congratulations on getting your flights.

You changed your dates, routing, and class of service several times. How many change fees did you have to pay, and which changes provoked fees?

Congratulations on getting your flights.

You changed your dates, routing, and class of service several times. How many change fees did you have to pay, and which changes provoked fees?

Good question. I think I ended up with four changes, but I never did re-ticket. On the phone, they never charged me to alter the reservation. They said I would have to pay at the airport to re-ticket. However, because I ended up scrapping the C award entirely, I will end up paying only the $100 fee to return the 90k miles to my account (the 120k miles for the F award were charged separately).

If I had re-ticketed the C award at an airport counter, I wonder if they would have charged me for one change or four. Even if I had faced $400 in change fees, it would have been worth it. The discount coach fare for this itinerary was around $2,200.

By the way, my F itin. is presently available for $11,826.50. No one actually pays that fare, right?

By the way, my F itin. is presently available for $11,826.50. No one actually pays that fare, right?

Well they do, but I doubt any Fter would.

At least not out of thier own pocket :D

In these threads, the availability tool has been mentioned several times. Can I use that tool without being an Airpoints member? I would like to spend some LH miles on NZ flights.

To use the availablility tool (actually there are at least two commonly used by FTers) you need only a computer and some trust as you download executable code and fire it up.

The "smiley" tool (as opp. to "KVS Availability Tool") has been more useful for me, since it allows you to check for award availability on NZ (O=first class award; I=business class award).

The link I used to download this tool no longer seems to work. Does anyone have a working link to the smiley tool? If not, Cal, I could email you the software as an email attachment.

To use the availablility tool (actually there are at least two commonly used by FTers) you need only a computer and some trust as you download executable code and fire it up.

The "smiley" tool (as opp. to "KVS Availability Tool") has been more useful for me, since it allows you to check for award availability on NZ (O=first class award; I=business class award).

The link I used to download this tool no longer seems to work. Does anyone have a working link to the smiley tool? If not, Cal, I could email you the software as an email attachment.

dhuey, thank you very much for that information! I did a google search for "availability tool" and found a link which allowed me to download "availability tool 1.64". It was REALLY helpful in finding 2 business class award seats SFO-AKL-NAN-LAX right after Christmas in peak holiday season!

Yep, sure is great (taupo's idea). I suppose I could have called United's Partner Award desk every day for a month, but that would have taken a lot longer. I would just do a daily search on that availability tool. It took less than a minute each time.

Yep, sure is great (taupo's idea). I suppose I could have called United's Partner Award desk every day for a month, but that would have taken a lot longer. I would just do a daily search on that availability tool. It took less than a minute each time.

If I cannot get the award seats I want, I shall withdraw my suggestion as noted above, and send a nasty bug to exterminate your access to the tool ;) :p

Fear me no more, taupo. If I were to schedule any more NZ trips in the next five years, my wife would serve me with divorce papers upon my return.