Air New Zealand Air Points - Group of 30 in September

Hi there. I'm presently looking to book a group of about 30 people in September who need to go to SYD from various places in the US. We're figuring that the best plan is for us to meet at LAX and then fly as a group to SYD.

We looked at UA and Qantas, but NZ has the best group fare (by far, btw). The only advantage of UA and Qantas is that they are non-stop, but that's not a big deal for us.

Since I've never flown NZ, I'm wondering if any NZ experts have any tips, especially regarding group bookings.

Also, I'm a *G through USAir. What advantages (especially any that are not well-known) does my status offer me on NZ?

Thanks in advance!

Very nice NZ lounges at LAX, AKL & SYD.
Extra baggage allowance.
Access to preferred seating - but since you will be part of a group you will be seated with the rest of the group.

Whether you are flying coach or business, NZ offers a significantly better product than QF and UA. 34" pitch on 747 (32" on 777), ptv with avod, nice food and drink, good service.

Very nice NZ lounges at LAX, AKL & SYD.
Extra baggage allowance.
Access to preferred seating - but since you will be part of a group you will be seated with the rest of the group.

Whether you are flying coach or business, NZ offers a significantly better product than QF and UA. 34" pitch on 747 (32" on 777), ptv with avod, nice food and drink, good service.


Thanks!

We're flying coach.

Yes, the seat pitch on NZ is about equal to UA's Economy Plus, which costs extra.

As for preferred seating for me, is there any way to override the fact that I'm in a group. I doubt that NZ will be putting us all together anyway.

If it is booked as a group they'll try to seat you all together.

If it is booked as a group they'll try to seat you all together.


Well, that's cool. I've travelled with groups on other airlines before and the seating was quite random. (We're typically placed in groups of 2-3 throughout the cabin.)

Even though NZ will try to seat us together as a group, will they honor my *G status if I request a preferred seat?

Also, I just noticed that you have over 27,000 posts on FT!! Wow! You must have helped a lot of people since 2003. ^

Well, that's cool. I've travelled with groups on other airlines before and the seating was quite random. (We're typically placed in groups of 2-3 throughout the cabin.)

Even though NZ will try to seat us together as a group, will they honor my *G status if I request a preferred seat?

Also, I just noticed that you have over 27,000 posts on FT!! Wow! You must have helped a lot of people since 2003. ^They will try - if the whole group is on one PNR a SSR entry is used to request group seating ‘(variables) GROUP BLOCK SEATING RQST’.

If you want a preferred seat what happens is the PNR is divided out and you are put on your own PNR (it can have up to 9 pax on it). So if you are *G you can have yourself plus 8 other pax 'divided out' and put into NV (preferred) seats, and then the rest of the group seated together (this would generally end up at the back).

If you want a preferred seat what happens is the PNR is divided out and you are put on your own PNR (it can have up to 9 pax on it). So if you are *G you can have yourself plus 8 other pax 'divided out' and put into NV (preferred) seats, and then the rest of the group seated together (this would generally end up at the back).


Thanks for the response.

I'm not quite clear about this yet. Are you saying that if I am *G, up to eight other passengers will also be able to get preferred seating even if they are not *G? Or would my own PNR only include others in my group who are *G also?

Also, does having a different PNR affect the group rate we are being offered?

Thanks for the response.

I'm not quite clear about this yet. Are you saying that if I am *G, up to eight other passengers will also be able to get preferred seating even if they are not *G? Or would my own PNR only include others in my group who are *G also?

Also, does having a different PNR affect the group rate we are being offered?My apologies.
The rate is the same - hence why the PNR is 'divided out' after booking has been made and a NZ record locator issued.

It was that up to eight other passengers will be able to get preferred seating even if they are not *G by virtue of being on the same PNR as a *G (I think the reason this does not work for the entire group of 30 is because once a PNR has more than 9 in it seating cannot be selected from the seat map availability). This may not always work - for example Air NZ may move their seating requests around without telling anyone.

We're figuring that the best plan is for us to meet at LAX and then fly as a group to SYD.

This plan can be quite risky. If everyone is flying to LAX on a separate PNR (and carrier), if there are any delays into LAX, persons missing the LAX-AKL flight may have a hard time getting accommodated since they're on a separate PNR. With a group of 30, someone is bound to have a travel irregularity.

Further, flying on a booking like this will require a bit of skill to be efficient (e.g., telling checkin agents to interline bags to NZ despite being on a separate PNR), that sort of thing. Otherwise, people will have to reclaim bags, and recheck them with NZ in LAX, and you know the LAX setup is a challenge in and of itself.

I would reconsider the LAX meeting idea.

This plan can be quite risky. If everyone is flying to LAX on a separate PNR (and carrier), if there are any delays into LAX, persons missing the LAX-AKL flight may have a hard time getting accommodated since they're on a separate PNR. With a group of 30, someone is bound to have a travel irregularity.

Further, flying on a booking like this will require a bit of skill to be efficient (e.g., telling checkin agents to interline bags to NZ despite being on a separate PNR), that sort of thing. Otherwise, people will have to reclaim bags, and recheck them with NZ in LAX, and you know the LAX setup is a challenge in and of itself.

I would reconsider the LAX meeting idea.


Very intersting! Thanks for the warning.

Unfortunately, I don't think we have any choice but to meet at LAX -- or SFO. We have people originating in Philly, New York, Florida, Iowa, and Portland, and San Diego. So we'll need to combine as a group somewhere.

I was assuming all along that we would have to recheck our bags with NZ at LAX. Many of us will be flying USAir, and I wouldn't trust USAir with doing an interline. (Actually, I didn't even know an interline was possible.)

Your warning will make me stress that all parties meeting at LAX leave a lot of time to get there. Fortunately, the LAX-AKL flight is scheduled for 9:45P, so everyone will have ample time to get to LAX.

Your warning will make me stress that all parties meeting at LAX leave a lot of time to get there. Fortunately, the LAX-AKL flight is scheduled for 9:45P, so everyone will have ample time to get to LAX.

Is there a way you can use a group meeting desk of sorts? I know some carriers offer this service when you have people from various areas coming into the same place.

That way everyone will be protected, and the coordinator could get reports on who's on what flight.

Is there a way you can use a group meeting desk of sorts? I know some carriers offer this service when you have people from various areas coming into the same place.

That way everyone will be protected, and the coordinator could get reports on who's on what flight.


What's a "group meeting desk"? Does NZ offer this service at LAX?

What's a "group meeting desk"? Does NZ offer this service at LAX?

It's a reservation call center at the airline.

If you're hosting a meeting in a city, and have a discount or some other deal or terms setup with the airline, each participant can call into the desk and book their travel, originating wherever they come from to the same destination.

I know the U.S. airlines all have something like this.

It's a reservation call center at the airline.

If you're hosting a meeting in a city, and have a discount or some other deal or terms setup with the airline, each participant can call into the desk and book their travel, originating wherever they come from to the same destination.

I know the U.S. airlines all have something like this.


Interesting, but I'm still not totally clear. Are you saying that each person might be able to book their travel to LAX through NZ? Or do we book the flights to LAX ourselves and then inform NZ or our itineraries so that NZ can keep track?

Interesting, but I'm still not totally clear. Are you saying that each person might be able to book their travel to LAX through NZ? Or do we book the flights to LAX ourselves and then inform NZ or our itineraries so that NZ can keep track?


You would specify your meeting in SYD, and desire they try to get on LAX-AKL-SYD on those dates/flights, and the agent would help them book from wherever they're starting all the way to SYD.

The key would be that each person would get one ticket, so they'd be protected in the event of irregular ops.

You would specify your meeting in SYD, and desire they try to get on LAX-AKL-SYD on those dates/flights, and the agent would help them book from wherever they're starting all the way to SYD.

The key would be that each person would get one ticket, so they'd be protected in the event of irregular ops.


Great idea!! So if, for example, I have a ticket for PHL-LAX-AKL-SYD and my flight from PHL is so delayed that I miss the LAX-AKL leg, then NZ will rebook me on the next LAX-AKL flight.

OK, so how do I set this up? Do I just contact NZ's group-sales desk when I want to book my PHL-LAX leg on US?