Delta Air Lines to New Zealand
#47
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
Air Tahiti Nui is a Delta SkyMiles partner but not a SkyTeam carrier. If you asked for SkyTeam carriers to Auckland she may have answered you correctly.
Malaysia Airlnes is another SkyMiles/not SkyTeam carrier with service to AKL for possible DL miles redemption.
Malaysia Airlnes is another SkyMiles/not SkyTeam carrier with service to AKL for possible DL miles redemption.
#48
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Auckland, NZ/New York, NY/ATL
Programs: DL DM MM, BIS 2.3MM, EK Gold, SQ Gold, Marriott Gold, HH Gold,
Posts: 5,189
1. ATN (Air Tahiti Nui) is very difficult to find award availability on in economy with DL miles. Nearly impossible in business. Do not go off of what EF says for DL availability; this is all oneworld partner availability.
2. While you can redeem on Malaysian, 95% of all agents will tell you that you are full of crap and it is impossible. I had to go through 6 agents to find one willing to even entertain the possibility that I knew what I was talking about
#50
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Chihuahua
Programs: SPG Plat, HHonor Diamond, Hyatt PLAT, Marriott PLat, UA 1K, AA EXP, DL PLAT, BMI Gold, Co PLAT
Posts: 1,949
Just a little FYI here.
1. ATN (Air Tahiti Nui) is very difficult to find award availability on in economy with DL miles. Nearly impossible in business. Do not go off of what EF says for DL availability; this is all oneworld partner availability.
2. While you can redeem on Malaysian, 95% of all agents will tell you that you are full of crap and it is impossible. I had to go through 6 agents to find one willing to even entertain the possibility that I knew what I was talking about
1. ATN (Air Tahiti Nui) is very difficult to find award availability on in economy with DL miles. Nearly impossible in business. Do not go off of what EF says for DL availability; this is all oneworld partner availability.
2. While you can redeem on Malaysian, 95% of all agents will tell you that you are full of crap and it is impossible. I had to go through 6 agents to find one willing to even entertain the possibility that I knew what I was talking about
I saw you are Diamond, too bad, that's one of perks for Diamond member:Salt Lake City call center. Last week, I was helping someone with Air Tahiti award, our wonderful diamond desk agent answered my request with :"I don't think Air tahiti is our partner."
I don't call Diamond center anymore, whenever I help any diamond member now, I use my Platinum number to call in, make life a lot easier.
BTW, EF does showcorrect inventory for Air Tahiti using Delta miles
Last edited by yyliu88; Jan 17, 2011 at 9:24 am
#51
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Chihuahua
Programs: SPG Plat, HHonor Diamond, Hyatt PLAT, Marriott PLat, UA 1K, AA EXP, DL PLAT, BMI Gold, Co PLAT
Posts: 1,949
Flying to New Zealand this fall. Would like to use my SkyMiles account (currently 210,000+) to obtain two Premium tickets.
When I spoke to an amazingly ill-informed Delta international rep, I was first told the only partner serving Auckland was Korean, via Seoul. With a little more digging I got her to acknowledge that Air Tahiti Nui and V Australia also fly the route (a bit more directly perhaps?).
Questions: Are there any other SkyTeam partners flying to Auckland I should be aware of?
I'm hoping to fly in to Auckland and home from Christchurch or Queenstown. Do any of these carriers allow for such a routing?
Air Tahiti Nui is the most convenient to Auckland, with nonstops from LAX. But beyond that, do any of these carriers rank higher than the others in terms of the quality of their "premium" cabin or in the availability of seats in the "low" category (traveling in Oct).
Would happily use my AA miles to fly the route on Qantas, but it's time to empty out my SkyMiles account. Thanks for any guidence provided.
When I spoke to an amazingly ill-informed Delta international rep, I was first told the only partner serving Auckland was Korean, via Seoul. With a little more digging I got her to acknowledge that Air Tahiti Nui and V Australia also fly the route (a bit more directly perhaps?).
Questions: Are there any other SkyTeam partners flying to Auckland I should be aware of?
I'm hoping to fly in to Auckland and home from Christchurch or Queenstown. Do any of these carriers allow for such a routing?
Air Tahiti Nui is the most convenient to Auckland, with nonstops from LAX. But beyond that, do any of these carriers rank higher than the others in terms of the quality of their "premium" cabin or in the availability of seats in the "low" category (traveling in Oct).
Would happily use my AA miles to fly the route on Qantas, but it's time to empty out my SkyMiles account. Thanks for any guidence provided.
V OZ doesn't fly that route anymore, so your options are Air Tahiti(via PPT), Korean air(via ICN) and Malaysia airline(via KUL)
you don't have enough for 2 people in premium cabin because they are 150K each.
you can not return from CHC or ZQN as none of Delta partner serve them
#52
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: SAN
Programs: AS 100K, DL MM, AA PLT
Posts: 2,934
Also, keep in mind you can catch AF to PPT and link up with TN there.
IME, TN loads 1 F (which you can't get with DL miles), 2 C, and a bunch of Y awards on pretty much every flight, so if you book far enough ahead, not too hard to get.
IME, TN loads 1 F (which you can't get with DL miles), 2 C, and a bunch of Y awards on pretty much every flight, so if you book far enough ahead, not too hard to get.
#53
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Auckland, NZ/New York, NY/ATL
Programs: DL DM MM, BIS 2.3MM, EK Gold, SQ Gold, Marriott Gold, HH Gold,
Posts: 5,189
Well, I guess you are misinformed by many agents again, TN is one of the easiest partner to find award seats in both Economy and business using Delta miles.
I saw you are Diamond, too bad, that's one of perks for Diamond member:Salt Lake City call center. Last week, I was helping someone with Air Tahiti award, our wonderful diamond desk agent answered my request with :"I don't think Air tahiti is our partner."
I don't call Diamond center anymore, whenever I help any diamond member now, I use my Platinum number to call in, make life a lot easier.
BTW, EF does showcorrect inventory for Air Tahiti using Delta miles
I saw you are Diamond, too bad, that's one of perks for Diamond member:Salt Lake City call center. Last week, I was helping someone with Air Tahiti award, our wonderful diamond desk agent answered my request with :"I don't think Air tahiti is our partner."
I don't call Diamond center anymore, whenever I help any diamond member now, I use my Platinum number to call in, make life a lot easier.
BTW, EF does showcorrect inventory for Air Tahiti using Delta miles
And yes, I have run into many many misinformed Diamond agents. I should try the old PM line as well if it is truly better.
#54
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: HNL
Programs: DL PM/1MM, BW DE (lifetime), HH DE, Marriott PE (lifetime), National Emerald Executive
Posts: 7,193
#55
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: USA
Programs: AAdvantage (Exec Plat), United, Delta
Posts: 270
Ah, yes. I forgot that Delta's awards are now one-way as well -- my bad. So, it'll cost a minimum of 150,000 miles for one roundtrip ticket in premium (if I can get it at the "low" level) vs. 115,000 for business on a more direct route using AA miles on Qantas? Now I understand the term SkyPesos.
A correction (I think): V Australia partner Virgin Blue flies from Sydney to major cities in New Zealand, so I think that's still an option, no?
The Delta agent told me that Air Tahiti flies via Port-au-Prince. Buy that girl a map, please.
A correction (I think): V Australia partner Virgin Blue flies from Sydney to major cities in New Zealand, so I think that's still an option, no?
The Delta agent told me that Air Tahiti flies via Port-au-Prince. Buy that girl a map, please.
#56
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: TUL
Programs: AA Plat, DL FO/1MM, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, National Exec Elite
Posts: 2,102
Effective April 6, 2010 SkyMiles members can now redeem miles for Award Travel on all V Australia (VA) flights in Economy and Business Classes. V Australia (excluding Virgin Blue) currently offers flights for a number of international routes out of Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, Australia. Please check with V Australia for complete route and award information.
AKL is the only destination in NZ that you can access via a DL Skymiles award ticket. Your options as others have indicated:
1. KE via ICN (KE/DL/etc to ICN)
2. TN via PPT (AF/HA to PPT)
3. MH via KUL (KE/CZ/etc to KUL)
4. CZ via CAN (KE/DL/etc to CAN)
The last option is a new one that becomes available in the next few months.
#57
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: SAN
Programs: AS 100K, DL MM, AA PLT
Posts: 2,934
Ah, yes. I forgot that Delta's awards are now one-way as well -- my bad. So, it'll cost a minimum of 150,000 miles for one roundtrip ticket in premium (if I can get it at the "low" level) vs. 115,000 for business on a more direct route using AA miles on Qantas? Now I understand the term SkyPesos.
#58
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: USA
Programs: AAdvantage (Exec Plat), United, Delta
Posts: 270
You are correct, Erasmus -- 125,000 AA miles for roundtrip business on Qantas. My memory was foggy.
Which is still a lot better than 150,000 Delta miles for a connection through Tahiti or Korea. And Qantas flies to other New Zealand destinations.
Too bad about Virgin Blue. I guess I'll be leaving those Delta miles in my account to be devalued some more.
Which is still a lot better than 150,000 Delta miles for a connection through Tahiti or Korea. And Qantas flies to other New Zealand destinations.
Too bad about Virgin Blue. I guess I'll be leaving those Delta miles in my account to be devalued some more.
#59
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: East Coast
Programs: All major Airlines, Hotel Chains, Credit Cards and Car Rentals
Posts: 1,261
Ah, yes. I forgot that Delta's awards are now one-way as well -- my bad. So, it'll cost a minimum of 150,000 miles for one roundtrip ticket in premium (if I can get it at the "low" level) vs. 115,000 for business on a more direct route using AA miles on Qantas? Now I understand the term SkyPesos.
Also a small correction, it is 125K in C using AA miles to Australia/New Zealand. However, this is 125K award does not allow connecting at HKG or other asian points while DL allows connection at ICN and others. So, 150K DL I think is a reasonable award (though nothing spectacular like AC or US).
#60
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: HNL
Programs: DL PM/1MM, BW DE (lifetime), HH DE, Marriott PE (lifetime), National Emerald Executive
Posts: 7,193
You are correct, Erasmus -- 125,000 AA miles for roundtrip business on Qantas. My memory was foggy.
Which is still a lot better than 150,000 Delta miles for a connection through Tahiti or Korea. And Qantas flies to other New Zealand destinations.
Too bad about Virgin Blue. I guess I'll be leaving those Delta miles in my account to be devalued some more.
Which is still a lot better than 150,000 Delta miles for a connection through Tahiti or Korea. And Qantas flies to other New Zealand destinations.
Too bad about Virgin Blue. I guess I'll be leaving those Delta miles in my account to be devalued some more.
Just HA "business class" is a joke (as bad as DL domestic), so you might as well save the miles and book it as SAN-HNL-SYD in coach on HA. Benefit is, HA flies to SAN, so you don't need to any short-haul connector flight to LAX (or drive up), you can just fly SAN-HNL-SYD.