Gotta Requalify
Mar 19, 09, 6:57 am
I was in Houston when I got some bad news about my family in NZ, so changed all my flights to get back to Melbourne (Home) then travel onto NZ. (Wished that United flew via AKL still.)
Booked my flights going MEL-AKL-CHC, a couple of days before travelling. Still had flexi saver fares available going direct or via Auckland at the same level, and due to departure times, booked via Auckland (had the advantage of going on the Jumbo as well, so got the PE seats sold as Space+)
I tried to use the web site just after paying for the ticket to request and upgrade using my NZ*G upgrade voucher, but the web site didn't work. Next day back in Melbourne tried again, still didn't work so rang, they said the would put me through to the Internet help desk, asked me to hold. A couple of minutes later, came back to me and said, I have been told to do it for you.
Request made but not confirmed, (strange as it was within 3 days of travelling) but told 20 BC seats available.
20 hours before the flight, I received an e-mail with a new e-ticket confirming my flight. But I couldn't go on line and request a seat.
Check-in ok a bit long, but okay. 747 flight in BP across the tasman was normal - gate to gate IFE worked a treat. Crew friendly and food not great, but ok. Saw on the monitor that there were 301 people on the plane.
NZ Immigration must have gone to the same school as the US CBP. No humour, barking questions. I had ticked I was visiting friends and family, I travel on my NZ passport, I was using my APEC card, in the APEC line, and I get the woof "what are you doing here?" woof. My answer was just as blunt, and I was on my way.
My bag was tagged all the way to CHC, so after picking it up, clearing x-ray, I found the domestic transfer drop and they insisted on seeing my boarding pass for AKL-CHC. Then printed me a new one, then said I could keep my old one. ID, I could understand, but why did I have to dig out the old boarding pass?
Also, all I wanted to do was drop and get to the domestic terminal, but the two agents, just wanted to talk up a storm to the people in front of me. It was under an hour before my domestic flight, (they have signs up saying bags not accepted under an hour) but I would have been outside the hour okay if they hadn't, after the bags had gone on their way, and boarding passes handed over, continued to gossip. When the agent got to me, she checked the clock, but took my bag anyway.
Walked from International to Domestic, straight through security and to the lounge. Good selection of food and drink - really puts the other lounges to shame.
Flight from AKL-CHC was uneventful. New domestic offering of a small bag of Lollies (sweets, candy), and a couple of other things.
Considering I had only booked the ticket 3 days before the flight, I was amazed at hour full the 737 was. Space+ was completely full (I thought it was reserved).
Bags turned up quickly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Return
Due to the reason why I was in NZ, I didn't know when I was going home, back to Melbourne, so again only booked my flights a couple of days before travelling. Before going to NZ, I noticed that there were some business saver fares, AKL-MEL, but by the time I tried to book, they were gone.
Looking for the fares, I noticed it was cheaper for me to travel CHC-WLG-MEL than it was to go WLG-MEL direct. As I didn't want to travel on the 6:45am direct flight and transiting via WLG & AKL was the same price, I chose WLG as I will be doing the same thing in a months time.
Tasman Flexi Saver fares were still available, again put in my request for an upgrade (thinking I had more chance out of Wellington than Auckland). This time the web site worked. Again about 20 hours before the flight, got a new e-mail saying my flight was confirmed in business, but again, I couldn't pick a seat.
Tried to use the computers in CHC to check in. They are not as smart as the United Mr Chickens. For those it found my flights based on my passport and showed me everything. For the Air NZ computers, I had to say what my flight number was, what city I was going to etc. Then it rejected me as I had an International flight.
Over to the desk I went and then got checked in manually. Will know next time just to go to the desk.
Question - as an NZ*G, how many guests can I take into the domestic Koru lounge and do they have to be travelling?
Short flight up to Wellington, again Space+ was crowded, leg room good, but didn't feel special.
I thought that the departure fees were now suppose to be paid for as part of the tickets? How come they are still manually collected? Bit 3rd world if you ask me.
Lined up and paid the departure fee, then went through as the lady(?) was yelling at a guy that you can't get through there with just a boarding pass, and he had to go back over there and pay. (I think she started nicely and got louder as he tried to push past her, waving the boarding pass.)
Two duty free stores - wow - one even offering 20% off on your next trip if you sign up. I got 10% off for showing my DFS card.
Lounge was very crowded. as the flight to Sydney was leaveing at the same time. Good food and drink select. Bacardi pour measure wasn't working properly so I pulled it out and self poured. :-)
They hadn't called my flight, but I left the lounge anyway, checking out the Duty Free Store ready for my return through here after Easter. Heard them starting to board my flight and as I got to the counter the agent was turning someone away. I asked if they were boarding business class and she said yes and down I went.
Plane filled up, business class (all 8 seats) was full. Got told that there were only 10 spare seats on the plane, not bad for WLG-MEL.
Was seated in 1F, normally I don't like window seats, but the new seat in the A320 is great. It also has the new ipod connector that is used on United's new First & Business and also SQ on their new A330 in business. The crew were telling me that they loose lots of the ipod connector cables (does anyone know where I can buy one from, United sell them for US$30 each and didn't have it in the duty free carts when I asked)
The touch screen is very good. In the past I have hesitated going on the A320, but the new seat, pitch and IFE now make it a proper business class product, not some expensive premium economy product.
Only bad thing was, I was the 2nd to last person to be offered main course (guy in 1E as last) and he didn't get his choice for the main. Neither of us got our choice for dessert.
Really good flight. crew were friendly (more friendly than the jumbo crew).
The only other thing I want to comment on is that the FF points didn't post for the international legs. The two domestic flights posted okay, but the international ones will require a manual letter. I know the upgrades more than likely upset the computer, but considering my FF account shows the complimentary upgrades being used, why it couldn't post the discount economy points, I don't know.
Booked my flights going MEL-AKL-CHC, a couple of days before travelling. Still had flexi saver fares available going direct or via Auckland at the same level, and due to departure times, booked via Auckland (had the advantage of going on the Jumbo as well, so got the PE seats sold as Space+)
I tried to use the web site just after paying for the ticket to request and upgrade using my NZ*G upgrade voucher, but the web site didn't work. Next day back in Melbourne tried again, still didn't work so rang, they said the would put me through to the Internet help desk, asked me to hold. A couple of minutes later, came back to me and said, I have been told to do it for you.
Request made but not confirmed, (strange as it was within 3 days of travelling) but told 20 BC seats available.
20 hours before the flight, I received an e-mail with a new e-ticket confirming my flight. But I couldn't go on line and request a seat.
Check-in ok a bit long, but okay. 747 flight in BP across the tasman was normal - gate to gate IFE worked a treat. Crew friendly and food not great, but ok. Saw on the monitor that there were 301 people on the plane.
NZ Immigration must have gone to the same school as the US CBP. No humour, barking questions. I had ticked I was visiting friends and family, I travel on my NZ passport, I was using my APEC card, in the APEC line, and I get the woof "what are you doing here?" woof. My answer was just as blunt, and I was on my way.
My bag was tagged all the way to CHC, so after picking it up, clearing x-ray, I found the domestic transfer drop and they insisted on seeing my boarding pass for AKL-CHC. Then printed me a new one, then said I could keep my old one. ID, I could understand, but why did I have to dig out the old boarding pass?
Also, all I wanted to do was drop and get to the domestic terminal, but the two agents, just wanted to talk up a storm to the people in front of me. It was under an hour before my domestic flight, (they have signs up saying bags not accepted under an hour) but I would have been outside the hour okay if they hadn't, after the bags had gone on their way, and boarding passes handed over, continued to gossip. When the agent got to me, she checked the clock, but took my bag anyway.
Walked from International to Domestic, straight through security and to the lounge. Good selection of food and drink - really puts the other lounges to shame.
Flight from AKL-CHC was uneventful. New domestic offering of a small bag of Lollies (sweets, candy), and a couple of other things.
Considering I had only booked the ticket 3 days before the flight, I was amazed at hour full the 737 was. Space+ was completely full (I thought it was reserved).
Bags turned up quickly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Return
Due to the reason why I was in NZ, I didn't know when I was going home, back to Melbourne, so again only booked my flights a couple of days before travelling. Before going to NZ, I noticed that there were some business saver fares, AKL-MEL, but by the time I tried to book, they were gone.
Looking for the fares, I noticed it was cheaper for me to travel CHC-WLG-MEL than it was to go WLG-MEL direct. As I didn't want to travel on the 6:45am direct flight and transiting via WLG & AKL was the same price, I chose WLG as I will be doing the same thing in a months time.
Tasman Flexi Saver fares were still available, again put in my request for an upgrade (thinking I had more chance out of Wellington than Auckland). This time the web site worked. Again about 20 hours before the flight, got a new e-mail saying my flight was confirmed in business, but again, I couldn't pick a seat.
Tried to use the computers in CHC to check in. They are not as smart as the United Mr Chickens. For those it found my flights based on my passport and showed me everything. For the Air NZ computers, I had to say what my flight number was, what city I was going to etc. Then it rejected me as I had an International flight.
Over to the desk I went and then got checked in manually. Will know next time just to go to the desk.
Question - as an NZ*G, how many guests can I take into the domestic Koru lounge and do they have to be travelling?
Short flight up to Wellington, again Space+ was crowded, leg room good, but didn't feel special.
I thought that the departure fees were now suppose to be paid for as part of the tickets? How come they are still manually collected? Bit 3rd world if you ask me.
Lined up and paid the departure fee, then went through as the lady(?) was yelling at a guy that you can't get through there with just a boarding pass, and he had to go back over there and pay. (I think she started nicely and got louder as he tried to push past her, waving the boarding pass.)
Two duty free stores - wow - one even offering 20% off on your next trip if you sign up. I got 10% off for showing my DFS card.
Lounge was very crowded. as the flight to Sydney was leaveing at the same time. Good food and drink select. Bacardi pour measure wasn't working properly so I pulled it out and self poured. :-)
They hadn't called my flight, but I left the lounge anyway, checking out the Duty Free Store ready for my return through here after Easter. Heard them starting to board my flight and as I got to the counter the agent was turning someone away. I asked if they were boarding business class and she said yes and down I went.
Plane filled up, business class (all 8 seats) was full. Got told that there were only 10 spare seats on the plane, not bad for WLG-MEL.
Was seated in 1F, normally I don't like window seats, but the new seat in the A320 is great. It also has the new ipod connector that is used on United's new First & Business and also SQ on their new A330 in business. The crew were telling me that they loose lots of the ipod connector cables (does anyone know where I can buy one from, United sell them for US$30 each and didn't have it in the duty free carts when I asked)
The touch screen is very good. In the past I have hesitated going on the A320, but the new seat, pitch and IFE now make it a proper business class product, not some expensive premium economy product.
Only bad thing was, I was the 2nd to last person to be offered main course (guy in 1E as last) and he didn't get his choice for the main. Neither of us got our choice for dessert.
Really good flight. crew were friendly (more friendly than the jumbo crew).
The only other thing I want to comment on is that the FF points didn't post for the international legs. The two domestic flights posted okay, but the international ones will require a manual letter. I know the upgrades more than likely upset the computer, but considering my FF account shows the complimentary upgrades being used, why it couldn't post the discount economy points, I don't know.