I posted this earlier on the Air NZ forum, but as my concerns are equally important to how Star operates, I would like to get opinions from this forum.


I am planning a trip in 18 days from Auckland to Dunedin and back. The dead lowest fare on the AirNZ.com website is NZ$908.00.

When I told friends in Auckland about this, they went to the AirNZ.co.nz website and found a return fare of NZ$375 -- but only for New Zealand residents. What is this all about? Is there a special fare for white people, too? This wouldn't bother me so much if AirNZ chose to stand alone in this world. But they are part of the Star Alliance, and this type of discriminatory treatment should be forbidden among Alliance members.

I understand local fares, as in the case of Hawaii. But those fares are for residents of the islands to get off them occasionally and visit the mainland. To the best of my knowledge, residents of Hawaii pay the same intra-island fares that the rest of planet Earth pays.

When I telephoned AirNZ tonight, the phone agent told me that if friends of mine book my ticket on AirNZ.co.nz from their home in Auckland, then I would qualify for the resident fare. This makes no sense and I don't believe it.

She also said that if I could successfully book the lower fare from outside NZ on the website, it would not be challenged. Problem is, the booking process makes you swear that you are a NZ resident, something I could never state in good faith.

So, at present it looks like I am stuck with a choice between lying (which I will not do) and extortion (which I will not pay).

Has anyone else, particularly a Star Gold member, been in this predicament with AirNZ, and how did you handle it? What are others' thoughts?

Thanks!

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~ Friends don't let friends fly coach ~