Air New Zealand Air Points - (Fare over) Fly 2 for 1 in May for Mother's Day - ends midnight Friday 20 April 07

Mother's Day is a time to celebrate the special significance of mums. And what better way to treat the mother in your life than with an incredible 2 for 1 Mother's Day airfare?

Available on any international flight operated by Air New Zealand for travel during May 2007, this 2 for 1 deal is the perfect way to show mums the world!

If you'd like to show how much you care with the perfect Mother's Day gift, get your 2 for 1 airfare by entering the promo-code MUM2FOR1 when you book.This special promotion is only available online until midnight on Friday 20 April, so you'll have to be quick.

So book your special Mother's Day 2 for 1 airfare now. Because all mothers deserve the world.

What you need to know: Offer only applies to adult economy class international airfares purchased online at airnewzealand.co.nz using the promo code 'MUM2FOR1'. Promo code MUM2FOR1 may not be used in conjunction with any other promo code and may only be used once per customer. Offer excludes all New Zealand Domestic flights. Offer only available on flights ticketed on and operated by
Air New Zealand. Sale ends: By midnight on 20 Apr 07. Travel period: Commenced and completed between 1 May - 31 May 07. Airpoints Dollars™: Customers who purchase fares using Airpoints Dollars will be required to pay in cash, the government and airport charges which are included in the fare. Airpoints™ terms and conditions apply. Cancellation/change fees: General terms and conditions apply, visit airnewzealand.co.nz for full details.

This is a pretty amazing deal. Here's the link in case someone didn't get the email:

http://www.webairnz.co.nz/air0010/default.html

It's valid for economy class only, and excludes grabaseat fares.

There are some nice sale fares on at the moment, and this promo seems combinable. Anyone want to go halves for a weekend trip to Australia?

There are some nice sale fares on at the moment, and this promo seems combinable. Anyone want to go halves for a weekend trip to Australia?

I just priced out a weekend MR - it would work out at less than NZ$1300 each for a rtn AKL-LHR-AKL 11/05 leaving at 9pm - 114/05 getting back at 5am and you would get time for a lunch in London (5 hour layover).

If there was a Mrs tht right now that flight would be booked, it accrues airports as per:

"LONDON HEATHROW TO AUCKLAND GLOBAL SAVER MAX FARE Airpoints Eligible for Airpoints Dollars accrual except when purchased with Airpoints Dollars or as a Grabaseat fare
Not eligible for Airpoints Confirmed Upgrades or Companion Tickets "

I assume thsi is not calssed as a companion ticket? so both would earn points?

I just priced out a weekend MR - it would work out at less than NZ$1300 each for a rtn AKL-LHR-AKL 11/05 leaving at 9pm - 114/05 getting back at 5am and you would get time for a lunch in London (5 hour layover).

If there was a Mrs tht right now that flight would be booked, it accrues airports as per:

"LONDON HEATHROW TO AUCKLAND GLOBAL SAVER MAX FARE Airpoints Eligible for Airpoints Dollars accrual except when purchased with Airpoints Dollars or as a Grabaseat fare
Not eligible for Airpoints Confirmed Upgrades or Companion Tickets "

I assume thsi is not calssed as a companion ticket? so both would earn points?

Correct, but only earns on NZ airpoints (no partner FFP earning for global saver max).

Correct, but only earns on NZ airpoints (no partner FFP earning for global saver max).


OK, so no UA, or BMI. You can book a higher fare right as long at its in the Y cabin. But I guess I can stop looking for somone to drag to London for 4 hours then. Now that would have beena real surprise for my mum if I showed up for 4 hours.

If you are okay arriving back at 9am, then you can have 10 hours in London. Take NZ2 to LHR and NZ38 back.

Fare needs to be global saver or above to earn miles on partner FFPs.

i would be keen to take up the offer and maybe join kiwiflyer but i am based in sydney... i wonder if and how sydney based Fters can benefit from this.

Only valid ex-NZ.

I would like to join in Kiwiflyer to go to Australia for a weekend, when are you leaving?

One kind FTer has already booked a trip with me. I'm down to a single day (not even a weekend) available for travel.

I'm now getting timeout errors on NZ website so I don't know if there is anything decent available on that one day.

One kind FTer has already booked a trip with me. I'm down to a single day (not even a weekend) available for travel.

I'm now getting timeout errors on NZ website so I don't know if there is anything decent available on that one day.

the site is working now.

FWIW the cheapest eligible fare I have seen is TBU for $419.12 (for 2), plenty of dates available.

Please note the Promo code may only be used once per customer.

Friend of mine and I are doing AKL-LAX-LHR-HKG-AKL on the 2-4-1 deal on a weekend -- mostly to say we've done it and for fun.

Gives us, as Kiwi Flyer said, about 10 hours in LHR. Enough for a few quick beers...

Friend of mine and I are doing AKL-LAX-LHR-HKG-AKL on the 2-4-1 deal on a weekend -- mostly to say we've done it and for fun.

Gives us, as Kiwi Flyer said, about 10 hours in LHR. Enough for a few quick beers...

OK, I own up, Kiwi Flyer and myself are doing exactly this, the weekend of the 12/05/07, I guess that would mean a RTW in about or maybe even less than 60 hours.

p.s. good to meet you today Kiwi Flyer and thanks for the kind words.

2 first for me today, I met my first fellow FT'er in person, and I booked my first true MR.

OK, I own up, Kiwi Flyer and myself are doing exactly this, the weekend of the 12/05/07, I guess that would mean a RTW in about or maybe even less than 60 hours.

p.s. good to meet you today Kiwi Flyer and thanks for the kind words.

2 first for me today, I met my first fellow FT'er in person, and I booked my first true MR.

ajnz, which weekend you flying?

Also just to add, not only was it an offer for mothers day, but I will be home (all be it for 10 hours) for mother tht's birthday, and she will be very supprised when I turn up for lunch!!! Maybe this means it's not a tru MR?!!!

tht

ajnz, which weekend you flying?We're doing it on the 18/05-21/05... the weekend after you and Kiwi Flyer :)

Kiwi Flyer, any thoughts on making the very quick transit in LAX into an exit/entrance in order to have a fast shower? I've never done the through flight. Neither of us are planning on upgrading, both both of us are NZ*G.

I've just read these two (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=487936&referrerid=75090) threads (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=601540).

It seems unclear whether *G in Economy can access the KC/premium transit lounge (?). The Air NZ phone droid says only Business Class can, as does the website.

However, I think we can possibly make the immigration/security gauntlet in 1h50m......... thoughts?

I am hoping to use LAX shower. Depends on how early/late arrive at LAX (and if they come onboard to announce there's 1000 people at immigration already).

I've had times in business class (so quicker off the a/c) and unable to use the shower. Then again a couple of weeks ago I was in the lounge within 10 minutes of a/c doors opening (about the only time it has taken under an hour for me).

I am hoping to use LAX shower. Depends on how early/late arrive at LAX (and if they come onboard to announce there's 1000 people at immigration already).

I've had times in business class (so quicker off the a/c) and unable to use the shower. Then again a couple of weeks ago I was in the lounge within 10 minutes of a/c doors opening (about the only time it has taken under an hour for me).

Kiwi Flyer,

Will webe able to get our LHR-HKG boarding pass at LAX, or when we get to LHR, or will we have to check in 2 hours prior etc at LHR

tht

We're doing it on the 18/05-21/05... the weekend after you and Kiwi Flyer :)

Kiwi Flyer, any thoughts on making the very quick transit in LAX into an exit/entrance in order to have a fast shower? I've never done the through flight. Neither of us are planning on upgrading, both both of us are NZ*G.

lol, will miss you twice, am going the week before you on this 2 for 1 trip, and the week after for a birthday weekend in NYC (grab a a seat).

May will be a busy month!

tht

Will webe able to get our LHR-HKG boarding pass at LAX, or when we get to LHR, or will we have to check in 2 hours prior etc at LHR

Probably only when check in opens at LHR (3-4 hours prior) unless using FCC in LHR (but then hassles getting back out. If ask nicely at AKL they might especially open up return check in for us but chances are no.

Depends on ... if they come onboard to announce there's 1000 people at immigration already ...Just curious Kiwi Flyer, but presumably your comment above doesn't concern anyone holding an APEC pass? So someone who does hold one can probably get to the lounge and back pretty quickly regardless of the number of mere mortals in the hall?

Sure - I doubt there are too many people queuing in whatever line the APEC pass entitles to use at LAX.

I read through a few more pages of the archives, and spoke to another Air New Zealand phone person, and compared the various notes on the Air NZ website.

I'd be very interested to hear from people who have actually done the NZ2 through-flight and managed to clear immigration for the in transit component. Air NZ were very clear on the phone that you won't be able to (time wise - although I've personally not had a problem with LAX immigration, but I've only ever flown NZ6), and even if you could, the Immigration staff would turn you back. Some other threads here indicated that they headcount/note pax who enter the transit facility and will want to know where the missing pax are.

And, the final question: What happens if you get to C&I and the line is too long (as judged by you), can you turn back and get to the transit facility?

I'll be very interested if Kiwi Flyer and tht manage it, given they're flying the weekend before myself :).

Oh -- secondary question, and semi-related -- has anyone had success in waitlisting/asking at the airport to fly on NZ6 instead of NZ2 on the AKL-LAX leg? The availability on NZ6 right now is quite a bit better than NZ2 so I was wondering if they'd be amenable to an NZ*G doing it..... my guess is probably not.

I read through a few more pages of the archives, and spoke to another Air New Zealand phone person, and compared the various notes on the Air NZ website.

I'd be very interested to hear from people who have actually done the NZ2 through-flight and managed to clear immigration for the in transit component. Air NZ were very clear on the phone that you won't be able to (time wise - although I've personally not had a problem with LAX immigration, but I've only ever flown NZ6), and even if you could, the Immigration staff would turn you back. Some other threads here indicated that they headcount/note pax who enter the transit facility and will want to know where the missing pax are.

And, the final question: What happens if you get to C&I and the line is too long (as judged by you), can you turn back and get to the transit facility?

I'll be very interested if Kiwi Flyer and tht manage it, given they're flying the weekend before myself :).

Oh -- secondary question, and semi-related -- has anyone had success in waitlisting/asking at the airport to fly on NZ6 instead of NZ2 on the AKL-LAX leg? The availability on NZ6 right now is quite a bit better than NZ2 so I was wondering if they'd be amenable to an NZ*G doing it..... my guess is probably not.


I dont have an APEC pass in any case, thinking back to previous trips, I have never left the holdingpen (when in Transit) I did last time to connect on UA to JFK. One issue may be that we will only recive on BP, AKL-LHR, and that may not be enough to get back in to security. I guess it maybe worth doing a little more research before we attempt, given the sort time frame of the trip < 60 hours, there wont be alot of room for error.

As an aside, do you think I will be able to connect to a domestic flight around 1 hour after we are due back in to AKL, does this flight get in early / late on time?

tht

I dont have an APEC pass in any case, thinking back to previous trips, I have never left the holdingpen (when in Transit) I did last time to connect on UA to JFK. One issue may be that we will only recive on BP, AKL-LHR, and that may not be enough to get back in to security. I guess it maybe worth doing a little more research before we attempt, given the sort time frame of the trip < 60 hours, there wont be alot of room for error.

As an aside, do you think I will be able to connect to a domestic flight around 1 hour after we are due back in to AKL, does this flight get in early / late on time?

tht

One BP isn't an issue for security. They see you're flying on to LHR or AKL and info matches your visa visa/waiver form of a short transit. In my view, immigration will not care if you try to go landside. However there may be NZ/airport staff on the corridor from the airbridge trying to ensure economy through pax use the holding pen.

Personally I don't think there will be any problem. I know exactly where I am going, am quick, have no issues with US immigration (other than the horrid process that is) and well used to US security processes. Once in the lounge, Air NZ knows exactly where we are (and this may well be earlier than the last economy transit pax makes it into the holding pen) ;)

As I said before, when immigration queues are bad the immigration officer who comes on the a/c before they let pax off will announce the queues are bad (so they dissuade through business pax from going to the lounge).

Int->dom minimum connection time is 1:30 IIRC. 1 hours is doable but you need your flight to be on time or early and no significant queues at immigration or agriculture quarantine. On the earlier flights arriving from LAX, SFO, PER, etc I find time to landside can be well over an hour if unlucky. The HKG flight arrives later at a lull in arrivals - so should be reasonably quickly through. That said, today's arrival for example is an hour late.

Oh -- secondary question, and semi-related -- has anyone had success in waitlisting/asking at the airport to fly on NZ6 instead of NZ2 on the AKL-LAX leg? The availability on NZ6 right now is quite a bit better than NZ2 so I was wondering if they'd be amenable to an NZ*G doing it..... my guess is probably not.

I'm sure Air NZ (or a travel agent) would be happy to sell you an NZ6-to-NZ2 connecting ticket if you asked for it - there's nothing in the fare rules to prohibit this. I'm not sure if they would accept a change at the airport without you paying a change fee, however.

I'm sure Air NZ (or a travel agent) would be happy to sell you an NZ6-to-NZ2 connecting ticket if you asked for it - there's nothing in the fare rules to prohibit this. I'm not sure if they would accept a change at the airport without you paying a change fee, however.

And fare difference also, which at the last minute could be substantial.

I'm sure Air NZ (or a travel agent) would be happy to sell you an NZ6-to-NZ2 connecting ticket if you asked for it - there's nothing in the fare rules to prohibit this. I'm not sure if they would accept a change at the airport without you paying a change fee, however.Yes, they absolutely will sell you that connection. However, their website won't (easily), and the ticket's already been issued.... hence my question on whether anyone has any experience (or better yet, success) on standing by for the earlier departure to LAX.

Kiwi Flyer, as always, thanks for your thoughts on the transit. :)

tht and Kiwi Flyer keep us posted on how this goes :).

Good so far. Watch out for a short trip report soon (link (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=692401)).

Enjoying a few quiet drinks in SQ F lounge in LHR.

Good so far. Watch out for a short trip report soon (link (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=692401)).

Enjoying a few quiet drinks in SQ F lounge in LHR.

Just joined Kiwi Flyer in the F lounge,

All going well.

tht

Just a quick update on the trip, firstly thanks to Kiwi flyer.

Trip report:

Friday the 11th of May 16.45pm, left central Auckland by car, traffic was not to bad, we arrived at the airport by 5.30pm. Proceeded to the premium check in, agent said they would block the middle seat of our row of 3. Drinks and a shower in the lounge. Upon boarding we found the blocked middle had been assigned, we switched to a middle and isle 2 rows forward to allow a couple to sit together.

Arrived in LA and proceeded to clear customs and immigration, cues were not very long, but it still took a while, we did get back in to the NZ lounge, but only had time for a shower and sandwich before we had to board.

Upon arrival in London at about 10.30am, I was off the plane and out of the airport within 25 mins, no cues there! However when I got to the London Underground, it was closed! Proceeded to the Heathrow express and GBP29 later (the Tube home in GBP 2.90) I was underway. I changed to the Tube, and upon arriving at Earls court, I bumped in to 2 of my brothers (we were planning to meet at home). We all proceeded to our parents house, where my Mother was very surprised to see me (because I live in NZ). We had a BBQ and sang happy birthday and it was time to get underway again. Friends droped me at Paddington station (I don't miss London traffic, even worse than the North western at 7.30am). The Heathrow express was there, and within 20 minutes I was back at Heathrow's Terminal 3. Checked in and headed strait to the lounge to meet Kiwi Flyer again (he had a side trip). Another shower and change of cloths and we were underway again at about 9pm. This time loads were light in Y, so we had a row of 3 each to ourselves.


Hong Kong was our next stop, I had issues getting through transit with my boarding pass, so had a long walk back to the NZ desk, but before long I was back in the SQ F Lounge with Kiwi Flyer, another shower, and some drinks later we were back on the plane for our last flight. Again I had a row of 3 to myself, so I made a bed with 3 blankets an 4 pillows, and managed to sleep form right after dinner until the PA announcement for breakfast (which is rare for me).

We arrived early and picked up duty free, I rushed to my car, to drop of my duty free and get some clean cloths, I then proceeded to check in for my flight to WRE. I met Kiwi Flyer gain at the domestic Kuru club for a coffee. He had a shower and left for work, and I am now waiting for my flight, also showered n feeling surprisingly good for having been around the world in less than 60 hours!

All in all a great trip, hope to repeat it soon, next stop JFK (Via a $496 NZ Grab a Seat fare to LAX).

Again a big thanks to Kiwi Flyer's status and knowledge who made the whole trip allot easier for me!

tht

Thanks tht ^

You left out the duty free bargain!

Thanks tht ^

You left out the duty free bargain!

That I did, anyone going through AKL at the moment can pick up 1 Liter of Havana Club (much better than Bacardi for Mojitos) for NZ$12.90, it turned out even better for us, Kiwi Flyer had 2 spend $80 and get $10 off vouchers, and I had to but Hennesey for a friends wedding, so we both basically got a free bottle of Havana Club each :-)

Thanks for posting your experiences, tht, sounds like you guys had a great trip.

Glad to hear that it was possible to get through C&I at LAX. It looks like both NZ2 and NZ6 this Friday are quite full, so it may not be possible for us to get through depending on the queues... we'll definitely give it a shot though.

Looks like NZ38 the whole way through is pretty empty though, and we have exit row seats at the moment but a seatmap is showing a large number of empty 3 and 4 seat sets so may well be able to have a sleep....

Looking forward to reading Kiwi Flyer's report too.

It is possible. While an NZ staff is at the end of the airbridge directing t'fer pax to the holding pen we just ignored and went past. Immigration doesn't care.

On Friday queues at immigration, customs and security were not particularly long (I've seen much longer at all three places), however we still only just had time for a quick shower in the lounge (boarding was about 10 minutes after we arrived) - and lucky there were enough free showers. There were 3 of us in economy who did this, plus an unknown number in business.

My only problem now will be in 2 weeks flying without Kiwi Flyer to NYC, there will be no *G, Showers, Lounge etc.....

Letting my *G drop was easy, getting it back in Y wont be as easy!

Here is a great story, after that whole trip, NZ managed to lose my bag between AKL and WRE. But it came on the next flight and was at my hotel when I got there :-)

Also OT: looking through my passport last night, I don't seem to have received a new PR stamp? Not sure it is an issue? May contact immigration to check.

tht

I thought you weren't checking a bag? Did they not put it into the hold on arrival at the a/c, or was the flight totally full (and thus may not have had any room to put it in the hold or on a spare seat inside)?

It is possible. While an NZ staff is at the end of the airbridge directing t'fer pax to the holding pen we just ignored and went past. Immigration doesn't care.Thanks for that.

If you get to the point of Immigration and deem the queues too long, can you turn back to the transit lounge instead?

"Oops I screwed up and walked too far"?

Nonetheless it should be fun, and I'm prepared to run if necessary. Hopefully security will be reasonably short.

As an aside, were you able to get seating allocated for the flights on a segment-by-segment basis or would they only allocate on the through flight basis?

I've not been able to convince the phone res people to do it on a per segment basis. Right now we have an aisle/middle pair, and the window seat is free. I just called to ask if it was possible to get the aisle/window and block the middle, and the agent refused to do so saying that NZ does not do that (and never has?!) and that even the checkin agents at the airport can't do it; and that only the duty manager at the airport can, after the flight has gone to airport control.

This surprises me as I've had no problem with them doing middle seat blocking in the past.... admittedly I've also had trouble getting ahold of GOOD reservation agents lately.

"Our Heathrow flights are very full at the moment" is the reason given... which still seems odd to me as there are still W fares available; however business and premium economy do appear to be sold out (showing C1 right now).

Probably, with some hassle (need to find an officer who is prepared to escort you back to the holding pen).

Thing is the immigration is only the first of 3 queues that need to worry about. Customs is another - on Friday we were through that in 1 minute, but sometimes can take much longer. Security upstairs is not visible until you get there so just have to take a punt that it will be okay.

As an aside, were you able to get seating allocated for the flights on a segment-by-segment basis or would they only allocate on the through flight basis?

I've not been able to convince the phone res people to do it on a per segment basis. Right now we have an aisle/middle pair, and the window seat is free. I just called to ask if it was possible to get the aisle/window and block the middle, and the agent refused to do so saying that NZ does not do that (and never has?!) and that even the checkin agents at the airport can't do it; and that only the duty manager at the airport can, after the flight has gone to airport control.

This surprises me as I've had no problem with them doing middle seat blocking in the past.... admittedly I've also had trouble getting ahold of GOOD reservation agents lately.

"Our Heathrow flights are very full at the moment" is the reason given... which still seems odd to me as there are still W fares available; however business and premium economy do appear to be sold out (showing C1 right now).

Only through flight seat assignment unless you are ticketed with separate flight coupons.

NZ does not guarantee seat blocking. When I called to select seats I put in a request for middle seat, which they noted. By the time we checked in the seat had been taken, but after the check in agent spoke with someone we got it blocked (passenger moved from middle to an aisle seat). On boarding someone else had taken the seat. The flight was almost totally full (maybe 2 empty seats in economy, both way near the back).

Unfortunately with the nature of the flight - being 2 legs on 1 number, plus NZ's ace up the sleeve for overbooking by having earlier flight to LAX also to juggle loads for LAX destination passengers as well as through passengers - it is difficult to judge loads based on fares available on NZ website. For our flight NZ was selling reasonably priced global saver fares online on the afternoon of day of departure - so I thought the seat block would hold. I was wrong. On the other hand, the return flight was half empty with many status pax getting a row of 3 or 4 to themselves, or sharing a row of 4 with just one other.

The row of 3 was great for me, made a nice bed with 4 blankets and 5 pillows, and got a solid 6 or 7 hours sleep, did not wake up once, before the PA came on to offer breakfast.

tht

NZ does not guarantee seat blocking. When I called to select seats I put in a request for middle seat, which they noted. By the time we checked in the seat had been taken, but after the check in agent spoke with someone we got it blocked (passenger moved from middle to an aisle seat). On boarding someone else had taken the seat. The flight was almost totally full (maybe 2 empty seats in economy, both way near the back).Did the call centre block a seat for you? I have never had any luck getting that done by the call centre.

Yes through call centre. Got the spiel block isn't guaranteed.

I call back about once a week pre departure to confirm seat is still in place, but not had a problem yet, another things is if you lose status after you book, your booking retains the status (in my experience) and this includes printing *G on your BP. So if you find yourself in that situation DONT make any changes to your booking, as this may reset you status to your current one.

tht

I've had the call center do it in the past; but this morning I was told it wasn't doable at all - by the call center, checkin agents, or koru club... which is blatantly wrong.

Sometimes I feel like NZ's call center quality has dropped a lot in the past year; but then I get some real stars on the phone that have gone out of their way to help me.... I just seem to be getting less-than-useful agents more often than in the past.

I've had the call center do it in the past; but this morning I was told it wasn't doable at all - by the call center, checkin agents, or koru club... which is blatantly wrong.

Sometimes I feel like NZ's call center quality has dropped a lot in the past year; but then I get some real stars on the phone that have gone out of their way to help me.... I just seem to be getting less-than-useful agents more often than in the past.

UA's version of this has one answer = hang up and call back until you get someone who can help. But don't give your PRN until they say they can help you, so they don't note your repeated calls down.

tht

I call back about once a week pre departure to confirm seat is still in place, but not had a problem yet, another things is if you lose status after you book, your booking retains the status (in my experience) and this includes printing *G on your BP.Can anyone confirm this is only for people with other * stati [ie NZ*G drops to NZ*S it updates automatically]?

Yes through call centre. Got the spiel block isn't guaranteed.Interesting,
I have never been able to talk the call centre into blocking seats, regardless of how many elite's are travelling on fully flexible tickets, and have tried many times.

Never had problems with getting check-in agents or lounge staff to do it (by phone), but the number of times I've checked in to find say the 3rd passenger in the group has been moved from the other aisle seat into the middle between the other two passengers on the ticket (not just the middle seat having someone put it - obviously someone went to effort to **** with my careful plans).

Unfortunately 3 - 4 hang-up's and call-backs for every flight just isn't sustainable for me.

In our case it didn't work either, which is disappointing but understandable.

The call centre is unable to physically block seats - when you ask them, they will simply assign the window and aisle, and put a note in asking flight editing to keep the middle seat free, which obviously is dependant on flight loads.

To be honest, flight editing is a small department and a lot of the process is automated, so half the time I doubt they'd even see the note.

The airport of course has full freedom to block seats.

Thanks nz_crew. It is a little disappointing that the call center can't organise it with flight editing. I have sent an email to flightcomment mentioning that, and that I was surprised that the call center agent told me that it couldn't be done at all, anywhere.

We will see what happens on checkin on Friday.... ITN will no longer show me the seatmap due to being within 72 hours of departure.

NZ2 and NZ6 are now both showing V7 which is my booking class, so I'm still going to try sweet talk someone (!) into switching us to NZ6.

trip report posted (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=692401)

The call centre is unable to physically block seats - when you ask them, they will simply assign the window and aisle, and put a note in asking flight editing to keep the middle seat free, which obviously is dependant on flight loads.

To be honest, flight editing is a small department and a lot of the process is automated, so half the time I doubt they'd even see the note.

The airport of course has full freedom to block seats.Thanks nz_crew- very interesting! Do you know if it thereotically possible for the call centre to ring the flight editing department, or for an airport staffer in Auckland to block a seat on a flight leaving Wellington?

I believe theoretically it's possible, however being a small and somewhat overworked department they don't look favourably on such phone calls from the callcentres (so a callcentre friend tells me). Asking a callcentre operator to call flight editing may thus put them in an awkward position.

Automatic seat blocking for Elites would be nice, but I can think of two reasons why NZ might not think it's worth the effort. First, the loads on main trunk routes are generally pretty high, and the amount of Elites travelling on peak services is pretty high (30-40 isn't uncommon on a weekday NZ101, for example). Secondly, seats are often assigned specifically for weight and balance issues (I've even had this occur on a lightly loaded 767, believe it or not) so I'd imagine seat blocking on ATR or Dash 8 aircraft may play havoc with that.

These are probably the reasons why NZ prefers to keep it an unadvertised, unautomated 'on the day' thing (purely speculation on my part)

I believe checkin staff should be able to block seats on any flight. I assume that this could later be undone by staff at the other station, however.

Thanks nz_crew- very interesting! Do you know if it thereotically possible for the call centre to ring the flight editing department, or for an airport staffer in Auckland to block a seat on a flight leaving Wellington?

Are you talking domestic? In my experience for non peak hour 737/A320 flights as long as load is low enough seat blocking happens every time. Makes it a bit tricky on shoulder peak flights, when checking in using quickcheck (or OLCI I suppose) to decide if seat next to allocated one is empty and blocked or is full.

A very helpful reply again nz_crew, I don't know what we would do without you!

Are you talking domestic? In my experience for non peak hour 737/A320 flights as long as load is low enough seat blocking happens every time. Makes it a bit tricky on shoulder peak flights, when checking in using quickcheck (or OLCI I suppose) to decide if seat next to allocated one is empty and blocked or is full.Yep that has been a recent thing (well many months now) they've been doing which is good. However I'm not sure if they do this for several passengers travelling on the same PNR, or if they would move pre-allocated seats around (eg if someone has put themselves in the middle before they edit it - I don't know why they would do that but it happens).

They probably have some minor automation for all that. For example people with 'VIP Seating' (or words to that effect) on their record often end up with that blocked middle. Even if the flights are quite heavily loaded.

Would be helpful if they had a big X on blocked seats when going through OLCI & QuickCheck, but I guess that would open up a whole new set of problems!

I've seen and experienced it both ways with 2 pax on a PNR. I would guess the process doesn't pick this up and only sorted by sharp-eyed check in agent (in my experience anyway).

After enough such flights I think I can now spot from the quickcheck seat map if blocking is in place (look for empty middle seats further back), but it isn't foolproof. One recent flight (flying alone) I was allocated a middle seat (was peak hour flight so I just thought it was full). On boarding I saw the window seat was blocked so switched to that.

... another things is if you lose status after you book, your booking retains the status (in my experience) and this includes printing *G on your BP

Can anyone confirm this is only for people with other * stati [ie NZ*G drops to NZ*S it updates automatically]?

I can confirm that this has happened to me too. Booked some flights early in '06, non-NZ *G status expired Feb '06, then eight flight sectors across NZ, UA and US in May '06 all displayed *G on the boarding pass. This was a bonus on three counts; for clearing security via the premium lines in DEN after an overnight there on the outbound, for gaining lounge access at DEN outbound and CLT inbound, and - as well as both of the above applying to a zero status colleague travelling with me, not having to surrender KC guest passes for the same colleague at AKL Intl on the outbound, and at LAX and at AKL domestic on the inbound.

Just got back from doing this myself. What a blast :) ^

- No success in changing to NZ6 on the AKL-LAX sector due to the ticket being issued non-reroutable (part of the discount fare structure? Global Saver + Global Saver Max). They were willing to do it until they noticed that. NZ6 went out with 25 empty Y seats and full in PE and Biz.

- NZ2 AKL-LAX went out full in PE and Biz with only a handful (10 or so) Y seats free.

- Wasn't possible to clear US Customs & Immigration to get to the Koru Club due to being narrowly beaten to the terminal by a VS flight (on G-VBIG no less), thus there being 400-ish pax queuing already. Turned back to the transit pen which did indeed suck. No access to the premium transit pen for *G either.

- Turned out that a family relation was the Captain on the flight, and suddenly the service got VERY good. Crew found the whole itinerary amusing. :)

- NZ2 LAX-LHR went out full in PE & Biz, few less seats in Y than the AKL-LAX sector.

- Customs in LHR didn't care/find it odd that we were going to Auckland from Auckland via LHR. Early arrival of NZ2 by about 30 minutes, no wait for Customs & Immigration, so was on the tube and in the city by 11:30.

- Great weather in LHR and got to do quite a bit of stuff in the city.

- LHR checkin for the HKG flight is actually in Zone G, not Zone E as promised by the board. Some serious work required to get us checked in as our upgrades had changed to BP on the LHR-HKG leg. We lost our exit row 43BC seats for the itinerary.

- Biz was full in Zone A, and had 1 empty seat upper deck, and about 12 empties in Zone B.

- Did a landside transit in HKG just to make things difficult for ourselves (why not...). No problems there either.

- HKG-AKL had 100+ empty economy seats, but was 100% solid in PE and Biz again.

- Crew were absolutely fantastic on all sectors; the IFSD (?) on the HKG-AKL sector went above and beyond and ensured we had Business class drinks at all times, recognised both of us as *G and was more than happy to do anything he could to ensure we had a great flight; thanked us multiple times for maintaining NZ elite status and to continue our patronage of NZ.

- All in all a fantastic weekend, well worth the money, and the service in both Biz and Economy absolutely exceeded expectations.

- NZ customs found us slightly weird on arrival.

- Tetris appears to have a memory leak and take down the IFE with regularity if played intensively. We effectively had a 3 day tetris competiton.

Do have a few negative comments to mention to NZ (esp. with the exit row seat loss due to the upgrade request); and will fill in a few more blanks in the future, but I have some work to catch up on.

:cool: hopefully we smoothed the way with customs for you guys

Now on the Trip Kiwi Flyer was saying that it would be possible to do a faster RTW, depending on connections and daylight saving etc.

What is the definition of a true RTW?

Our trip has a Pacific and Atlantic crossing, we visited Australasia, North America, Europe and Asia, and in doing so took in both the Northern and Southern hemisphere.

Would the SG flight count as well and would it be allot faster?

tht

Planning a fastest possible RTW (as commercial passenger) tht? I think you're a few years too late. Be hard to beat Concorde records.

Planning a fastest possible RTW (as commercial passenger) tht? I think you're a few years too late. Be hard to beat Concorde records.

True, but there was no lie flat on Concord (AFAIK), so we could still plan and fly the fastest lie flat RTW (as a commercial passenger).

tht

Anyway all we need to qualify it is to add another variable, for example,

- *A.
- Wide Body
- All 747 (If they Switch AKL-LAX-LHR) Back.
- In any case the Concord one would have been a special Schedule right?
- Lie flat....

I do remember one fun record from concord, which as the fastest golf put, they added the speed of the aircraft to that of the put!...

I was so close to flying Concord, they had a 20 minute supersonic flight from LHR-MAN for around GBP250, some time between 1997 and 2000, I don't recall exact dates. You went out over the Irish seam, went supersonic and then back. I believe it was to re-position aircraft for Caribbean flights? In hind sight I so wish I had done it, but as a student GBP250 on Concord vs. GBP39 First class on Virgin trains was a hard call! Knowing what I I know now, I would have jumped at the chance!!!

tht

True, but there was no lie flat on Concord (AFAIK), so we could still plan and fly the fastest lie flat RTW (as a commercial passenger).

tht

Is this an offer to provide a free ticket in first/business? :D Very generous of you.

There must be far faster RTWs that use the (much shorter) northern hemisphere polar routes that still count as transpacific or transatlantic crossings. It would easily be possible in 3 sectors, like say LHR-YVR-NRT-LHR (though I haven't looked up how the schedules work, the total distance is less than 2/3 of your AirNZ route, since it eliminates all the massive extra distance of going down to the southern hemisphere band back). Bearing in mind that LHR and AKL are virtually as far away from each other as it is possible for 2 place on the globe to be, it's never going to be the shortest...

After a couple of minutes on Great Circle Mapper (http://gc.kls2.com/cgi-bin/gc?PATH=LHR-HKG-AKL-LAX-LHR%2CLHR-YVR-NRT-LHR%2CCPH-ORD-NRT-CPH%2CCPH-BJS-ORD-CPH%2CCPH-SEA-NRT-CPH%2CARN-BJS-ORD-ARN%0D%0A&RANGE=&PATH-COLOR=red&PATH-UNITS=mi&SPEED-GROUND=&SPEED-UNITS=kts&RANGE-STYLE=best&RANGE-COLOR=navy&MAP-STYLE=) the shortest valid RTW (in distance, not necessarily time) that I could find that used existing *A routes was ARN-PEK-ORD-ARN at 15037 miles. That would be achievable in 33 hours and 15 minutes... assuming you could make a 12 minute connection at ORD. Surely that would be do-able to the intrepid FTers of this board? :D

FAI rules for RTW (http://www.fai.org/ballooning/global/rtwrules.asp) require a minimum distance of 36787km (the length of the Tropic of Capricorn).

Is this an offer to provide a free ticket in first/business? :D Very generous of you.


I think Lotto picked the wrong numbers again last week, but will keep you posted.....:D