MP cannot book Air New Zealand awards
Dec 22, 2006, 1:36 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: NL
Programs: LH, FB, UA, CO, AA, SU, ET.....I flew 141 different airlines
Posts: 13
MP cannot book Air New Zealand awards
2 weeks ago I wanted to book an NZ Melbourne to Tonga/Samoa award ....
I looked at the ANA website and there was still availability.
So I called United where a nice guy told me that
he couldnt enter the NZ system for now....
So I called back the other day. Still he couldnt book it!
Now its 2 weeks later and still United cannot book NZ awards
from Amsterdam. The chap, who was really helpful, told me that MP main office knows about the problem but they cant solve it yet!
Does anybody knows why it takes so long to solve it.....coz I dont want my seats to be taken by somebody else
I looked at the ANA website and there was still availability.
So I called United where a nice guy told me that
he couldnt enter the NZ system for now....
So I called back the other day. Still he couldnt book it!
Now its 2 weeks later and still United cannot book NZ awards
from Amsterdam. The chap, who was really helpful, told me that MP main office knows about the problem but they cant solve it yet!
Does anybody knows why it takes so long to solve it.....coz I dont want my seats to be taken by somebody else
Dec 22, 2006, 1:50 pm
#2
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: nyc, bne
Programs: UA 1K MM, VA Plat, EY Gold
Posts: 224
2 weeks ago I wanted to book an NZ Melbourne to Tonga/Samoa award ....
I looked at the ANA website and there was still availability.
So I called United where a nice guy told me that
he couldnt enter the NZ system for now....
So I called back the other day. Still he couldnt book it!
Now its 2 weeks later and still United cannot book NZ awards
from Amsterdam. The chap, who was really helpful, told me that MP main office knows about the problem but they cant solve it yet!
Does anybody knows why it takes so long to solve it.....coz I dont want my seats to be taken by somebody else
I looked at the ANA website and there was still availability.
So I called United where a nice guy told me that
he couldnt enter the NZ system for now....
So I called back the other day. Still he couldnt book it!
Now its 2 weeks later and still United cannot book NZ awards
from Amsterdam. The chap, who was really helpful, told me that MP main office knows about the problem but they cant solve it yet!
Does anybody knows why it takes so long to solve it.....coz I dont want my seats to be taken by somebody else
Dec 22, 2006, 1:58 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: NL
Programs: LH, FB, UA, CO, AA, SU, ET.....I flew 141 different airlines
Posts: 13
The trip will be for September 2007.
So you mean it could be that United already
used their quota for Air new Zealand??
Thanks for your help !!
So you mean it could be that United already
used their quota for Air new Zealand??
Thanks for your help !!
Dec 22, 2006, 2:08 pm
#4
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Central California
Programs: Former UA Premex, now dirt
Posts: 6,531
There has been a technical problem with the NZ system that is fouling up the inter-airline reservation system recently. The ANA award system can't even show available seats - everything shows up with a triangle symbol for "waitlist only." This has been going on for over a week. When UA told you they couldn't access NZ for award seats, it was the truth. Nobody outside NZ can, until the problem is fixed.
Dec 22, 2006, 2:10 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Where I'm at
Programs: UA 1P 1MM, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,740
Don't recall seeing others not being able to book any NZ awards, but maybe MP redemptions have reached some sort of limit with NZ for issuing of awards between now and the end of '06 as others have reported for other partners.
Some general advice that may be helpful:
NZ C awards can be hard to find availability for.
Additionally, a stategy you might find helpful is to look for MP availability of individual segments of the entire trip ... that is MEL-AKL, AKL-TBU, TBU-APW ... Then try to piece together an itinerary that works for you ... be willing to be flexible and book as far out as possible.
You do realize that things on Tonga have been a little rebellious recently ?
Welcome to FT ^
Some general advice that may be helpful:
NZ C awards can be hard to find availability for.
Additionally, a stategy you might find helpful is to look for MP availability of individual segments of the entire trip ... that is MEL-AKL, AKL-TBU, TBU-APW ... Then try to piece together an itinerary that works for you ... be willing to be flexible and book as far out as possible.
You do realize that things on Tonga have been a little rebellious recently ?
Welcome to FT ^
Last edited by im-headed-west; Dec 22, 2006 at 2:18 pm
Dec 22, 2006, 2:12 pm
#6
Join Date: Feb 2004
Programs: AA 'kettle', Marriott Gold, ICH Gld, Hertz 5*
Posts: 5,258
The OP might find this thread of interest...
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=632321
Not exactly the same topic, but some information contained within may suggest a course of action.
Did the agent contact NZ and request a manual sell? You mention "seats"....how many?
You might find more information by Googling the following...
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...=Google+Search
Good luck!
Pat
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=632321
Not exactly the same topic, but some information contained within may suggest a course of action.
Did the agent contact NZ and request a manual sell? You mention "seats"....how many?
You might find more information by Googling the following...
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...=Google+Search
Good luck!
Pat
Dec 22, 2006, 4:09 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: NL
Programs: LH, FB, UA, CO, AA, SU, ET.....I flew 141 different airlines
Posts: 13
Yes I know Tonga is a little wild now but my trip is still far....and whatever happens in Tonga it will always be safer than Nigeria or Cameroon...
Did you do this route before ??
Thanks for your help ^^_______^^
Did you do this route before ??
Thanks for your help ^^_______^^
Dec 22, 2006, 4:17 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: NL
Programs: LH, FB, UA, CO, AA, SU, ET.....I flew 141 different airlines
Posts: 13
The OP might find this thread of interest...
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=632321
Not exactly the same topic, but some information contained within may suggest a course of action.
Did the agent contact NZ and request a manual sell? You mention "seats"....how many?
You might find more information by Googling the following...
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...=Google+Search
Good luck!
Pat
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=632321
Not exactly the same topic, but some information contained within may suggest a course of action.
Did the agent contact NZ and request a manual sell? You mention "seats"....how many?
You might find more information by Googling the following...
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...=Google+Search
Good luck!
Pat
Pat thanks for the great links.....so one thing is sure....even when the ANA tool shows availability its possible that its not an availability for MP
Dec 22, 2006, 4:29 pm
#9
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 17
I'm trying to get award travel for Nov. 2007. ANA shows award seats, UA has nothing, not even in standard ticket, any class. I'm booking so far out for the same reason as others, the few award seats go fast, no matter the status or miles. Good to know that maybe it is an internal issue and that it will get worked out.
Dec 22, 2006, 4:38 pm
#10
Moderator, Hilton Honors
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: on a short leash
Programs: some
Posts: 71,422
FWIW Tonga is not a high demand destination for mileage awards - should be much easier getting awards MEL-TBU than AKL-LAX for example.
Dec 22, 2006, 4:46 pm
#11
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Dec 22, 2006, 5:30 pm
#12
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Los Angeles, USA
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Dec 22, 2006, 5:32 pm
#13
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Join Date: Apr 2004
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Dec 22, 2006, 6:33 pm
#14
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Central California
Programs: Former UA Premex, now dirt
Posts: 6,531
Dec 22, 2006, 8:51 pm
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Where I'm at
Programs: UA 1P 1MM, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,740
I will travel back to New Zealand, AKL & ZQN, and RAR in April and booked the Y seats in July via MP, and even then segments were not completely wide open.
Some other stuff:
If you haven't already found it, FT has a sub forum covering travel to that area which is very helpful.
David Stanley authors great books covering the South Pacific and has provided some of his info for free on his website.