Air New Zealand Air Points - New online check in - seat selection

Early days yet since I believe this only started today, but has anyone used it?

Am interested to know if *GE, *G or KC can still get seats closer to the front of the plane? Are they blocked out on the seating chart?

Doesn't work for my multi-sector domestic trip.

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Note the booking meets all the conditions for OLCI laid out here (http://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/change_cancel/which_bookings.htm).

I had similar problems when NZ trialled OLCI on main trunk - wouldn't recognise any of my bookings.

Early days yet since I believe this only started today, but has anyone used it?

Am interested to know if *GE, *G or KC can still get seats closer to the front of the plane? Are they blocked out on the seating chart?

Tried it on a few bookings and all is blocked out ahead of me. These have my UA*G number in the booking. I'm also interested in other's experiences

Jeff

Yes Preferred seats are still there. When you mouse-over them it comes with 'preferred seat'. However there are still not many - for example on peak 737 flights there would be more Gold Elite's then there were preferred seats (Rows 1 -7). Row 3 is usually blocked out until about 24 hours prior to departure. As non-status pre-assignments are likely to increase as you can do them online (and I suspect non-status passengers are more likely to book online?) this means Rows 8 onwards will likely be full and later booking elite's will either need to be put in the 20s or have some people moved.

And for pre-assignment of exit rows you still need to ring....

I don't think you can change your frequent flyer number using online check-in?

I don't think you can change your frequent flyer number using online check-in?

That would be annoying (assuming I can actually get OLCI to work). One of the good things about quick check machines is ability to change FFP.

Just checked in on a Link flight - all seats on the plane were available.

Just checked in on a Link flight - all seats on the plane were available.As it should - you are *G after all.

By all seats I take it you include in this 1F and the exit row (whatever that is). Also how close to departure was this?

I'm guessing from what I've read so far, UA codeshares, 9560 and 9589, don't qualify for OLCI, correct? So still need to check with NZ CS- will status as *G make a difference for available seats (booked in economy)? Thanks!

As it should - you are *G after all.

By all seats I take it you include in this 1F and the exit row (whatever that is). Also how close to departure was this?

Yep - including 1F. It's a tiddly little Beechcraft though, so not sure if that makes a difference. There were little body pics in rows 3 and 4 so they must have been booked already. Flight is for Saturday morning.

Rows 3 & 4 are the preferred rows for elites on Beechcraft 1900D. No windows 1F and row 2.

I hope NZ continues pre-allocating seats for elites before OLCI window opens. I'm not going to be happy getting 20E when I check in close to departure.

I don't think there is an OLCI Window Kiwi?

It is curious that 1F is open - because normally that seat comes up as occupied through the GDS until the flight goes to flight editing when all the seats turn into premium seats (though I take it this doesn't happen if using OLCI?).

If there is no OLCI window then I hope NZ auto-allocates me at time of booking a decent seat and blocks some out from OLCI for late purchases by elites.

If I'm travelling last minute (read expensive fare) why should I be stuck in a middle seat way down the back?

The method NZ used before introducing OLCI worked reasonably well for me, since few passengers pre-selected seats. The method QF uses also works well in my experience. I'd hate for this to be a backward step for their better customers.

I used it the other day for flights from WLG to CHC & return in July!

I managed to get seats 1B & 1C in the ATR72 (exit row I think) despite having no status with NZ - whether or not I get to keep remains to be seen I guess

The last 3-4 rows at the back had been blocked for elites or taken already - I guess these are desirable as the first pax to disembark

1. With the ATR row 1 is the furthest from the door. Last to disembark.

2. With non-NZ *G bookings online I've always had to ring to get a forward seat.

:mad: As mentioned above I couldn't OLCI for this trip. I was give okay seats on some flights and terrible seats on others. Not happy.

I don't think there is an OLCI Window Kiwi? The window appears to open immediately after a ticket is purchased, no matter when that happens to be. So it's a window, just a very very wide one. :)

Aaargh!

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Tried it on a few bookings and all is blocked out ahead of me. These have my UA*G number in the booking. I'm also interested in other's experiences

Jeff

I think I was wrong about this one. Done a batch of 4 OLCI's tonight and found that in the 1/4 where my *G number was entered the seat map let me chose any seat. Where my non status NZ number was entered I rung and had my UA number substituted and viola.. the seat map opened up

It allowed me to chose 12F on 737 flights (although a warning about able bodied popped up) but would not allow me to chose 10 or 11. Left one flight on my NZ number (although I thought about changing that number, doing an OLCI, and then seeing if I could change it back)

Sometime recently the format of the OLCI boarding pass has changed. There is now more information (which fills up the whole page) and a duplicate "tear off" boarding pass "for airport use"

I can certainly see advantages in this for me

Jeff

I think I was wrong about this one. Done a batch of 4 OLCI's tonight and found that in the 1/4 where my *G number was entered the seat map let me chose any seat. Where my non status NZ number was entered I rung and had my UA number substituted and viola.. the seat map opened up

It allowed me to chose 12F on 737 flights (although a warning about able bodied popped up) but would not allow me to chose 10 or 11. Left one flight on my NZ number (although I thought about changing that number, doing an OLCI, and then seeing if I could change it back)You do know they can put two frequent flyer numbers into the one booking right?

You do know they can put two frequent flyer numbers into the one booking right?

Yes now that I think about it I should have asked for my UA number to be put into the FQTS field and my NZ number into the FQTV (at least for one itinerary so I don't get dinged the $20 for the privilege of airpoints membership)

Jeff