Air New Zealand Air Points - Air Points reward on VS

Was looking at reward flights for family Mel/Hkg. Thought only option was on SQ (not a bad option), but is expensive as I understand it it will cost AP to SQ and then further AP from SIN to HKG (and long in flt time). Then had a brain wave of flying VS ex SYD (is same points as Star Alliance).

Would be interested if anyone has reemed AP for VS? Any difficulties? How far out should I look?

[QUOTE=Would be interested if anyone has reemed AP for VS? Any difficulties? How far out should I look?[/QUOTE]

I tried to in 2003 for LHR-JFK-LHR. After much confusion between Air NZ and Virgin on the phone - neither was sure which should book the reward - Air NZ finally did so. The operator was surprised when the reward confirmed straight away, and said that usually the system showed it as pending for a few days until Virgin confirmed it in their system. All was well, and I paid the taxes and got my reservation confirmation. About a month or six weeks later, and only about a month before I was due to travel, Air NZ e-mailed me to say that my reservation had been cancelled by Virgin. I rang to complain and was told that as a partner - ie not a *A member - Virgin was entitled to do this at any time up until departure. From the loads (which I checked later) it appeared to me that the flights got busy so Virgin decided to bump me and sell the seat (which was in Upper Class) to someone else. B@stards. :mad: I will never rely on Virgin for a reward ticket again.

Wow, gratn, that's really poor. A confirmed award flight that can then be cancelled any time at the whim of the operating airline is not really worth anything. I wonder if that shoddy arrangement has improved since then? I certainly know a few VS frequent flyers who have booked awards on NZ, which were honored in good faith.

CorporateFlyer, if it's any consolation, by all acounts the loads on VS between SYD and HKG are fairly weak, so you may well be in luck, if you're prepared to take the risk...

Wow, gratn, that's really poor. A confirmed award flight that can then be cancelled any time at the whim of the operating airline is not really worth anything. I wonder if that shoddy arrangement has improved since then? I certainly know a few VS frequent flyers who have booked awards on NZ, which were honored in good faith....

I know - I'm still pissed about it 18 months later as it was the only time I had left to go to NY while based in the UK, and I didn't have the available cash to pay for the tickets. From memory I took my wife to Devon and Cornwall instead - hardly the same! The point of difference seemed to be *A member vs partner airline. Seemingly *A members must honour reservations but Air NZ couldn't do anything about Virgin reneging because they are only a "partner". It makes booking Virgin too risky for me, so I have never tried again. I agree with you, however, that it may be safer for flights in the Pacific where Virgin's loads are lower.