I know NZ is not really SkyTeam territory, but I have a ton of miles to burn getting HighPeak family to NZ as part of our emmigration to Wellington. I thought I would use the services to KL to KUL, then MH to AKL in biz. Alternatively, I was thinking of KE via ICN. So I call FB Plat line and see how they handle it. It cannot be done - and not due to lack of seats.
A number of issues arise.
Firstly, you can only book one-ways with AF and KL. Neither fly anywhere near Australia or NZ. KE, MH and other SkyTeam partners (even on codeshare flights) require a return trip, so I am told. If I book a return I lose half the miles for the return sector, should I try to cancel.
However, after much kicking around options we decide that a MAN-CDG-NRT-NOU could get us close as (amazingly) that obscure airline called Air Calin do not require return-only awards.
I asked if I could break the journey in NRT - sorry, not on one-way awards. I have checked and SB also fly to NZ. However, I do not want to use New Caledonia simply as a transit point, so I will have to use another award and see if I can get seats on SB from NOU to AKL. Failing that, I can dip into my Star account and use ANZ.
It is only when you try to use the miles that you run into the small print. It is also when you try to use miles that you realise how restrictive the programme actually is, and how 'virtual' the SkyTeam alliance is. I am sure that all of these restrictions are there - but it seems that FB actually must have sat down and dreamed up these conditions.
And finally, are there any Air Calin experiences out there, in biz? Their website is minimalist, and the seats on the A330 do not look lie-flat (something that would be welcome on the NRT-NOU sector).
Sorry to ramble, but FB really couldn't make my simple request as complex as this if they really tried.
I need a lie down now.
Thanks in advance.
HP1
