Air New Zealand Air Points - How to handle two bookings on same day on different flights?

Sorry, I couldn't think of a better title but here is the problem. I'm booked on an award flight (X class) with my wife after Easter on NZ (same PNR). I just got word from work that I need to fly to Japan the day we're due to be back in Sydney. The only way I can get to Japan in time is if I skip my last sector of my award ticket (AKL-SYD) and fly straight from AKL to NRT on NZ on a paid ticket.

Now, I'm a bit worried because the flight AKL-SYD leaves 1h or so prior to my AKL-NRT flight and, of course, I don't want us to get in trouble when we check in my wife for AKL-SYD and say, ah by the way I'm not coming with her. But at the same time if I call the now to tell them that I won't be flying on that flight I'm afraid that the rest of the flights on our award ticket might get modified in some way.

I could, of course, cancel the last leg of my award ticket but that would mean a cost of US$100 and they would need to separate our PNR into two which might mess up our seat allocation etc.

Any idea how I could best handle this? If there is no risk to our ticket I have no problem to let NZ know that I won't fly my last segment but I just don't want them to cancel the last sector for my wife, too.

I think the only safe way will be to split your ticket and either cancel your AKL-SYD or change the dates (making a stopover in AKL or lengthening your stopover?). You can always ask them to make a TCP note on your PNRs to keep seating together.

Otherwise, you run the risk of the computers deciding you can't possibly make the second ticket and autocancelling it.

You might be able to get away with it if you have the ticket issued just SURNAME/INITAL; and keep your frequent flyer number away from it.

And ensure the contact information is different.

Or fly CX.

If I split our PNR wouldn't we loose our current seat allocation? We've got some nice exit rows which I don't want to give up...

The other problem is that we don't currently have a stopover >24h in AKL only an overnight stop. Therefore, to change the date on the last sector I would need to introduce a stopover which means rebooking the whole itinerary (and there are no seats available for awards). :confused:

You might be able to get away with it if you have the ticket issued just SURNAME/INITAL; and keep your frequent flyer number away from it.

And ensure the contact information is different.

Or fly CX.

How would this work to book a ticket with only your surname plus initial? Never tried this. Wouldn't that cause problems in terms of credit of FF points later on?

I could book with a different FF number without any problems and phone number can also be different.

I could book with a different FF number without any problems and phone number can also be different.

Matching is done on name.

The SMITH/J flying AKLNRT could be different to the SMITH/JOHN flying SYDAKL if there is nothing that a human could positively match them by if the two bookings were to be turned up by computer.

So, let me get this right. You can actually make flight bookings (via a TA) by just giving them your last name and first initial? I'll give that a shot tomorrow and see how this goes.

Are you saying I can still add a FF number to the booking in that case even though my first name is not complete? I would, of course, use a different FF number from the one in the other booking. Thanks for all your help.

It did used to be possible.

Current permissible practice varies by airline/system so I can't really help with specifics to your situation.