If you had booked a Manchester to Dunedin fare, you would have been covered, equally your Travel insurance will cover you for extra costs due to the delayed connection.

What you traveled half way across the world with no travel insurance?

I do shop around for airfares, and if i am combining two carriers on different tickets due to price I add in the cost of an overnight - its worth it for the lack of worry tension stress a short connection with delays might give you.

Its a travel lesson, hard to learn it the expensive way.

Maybe it would have been better to book a flight MAN SYD then connect direct to DUD.

Just a thought.

As for rudeness, I have always experienced great service from the EK staff, so maybe you got back what you gave. Was not there - so no idea what happened but if you snarl at someone pretty good chance they will snarl back. If you are nice to someone, Hi how is your day going, ours is great also we just had a great flight all the way from Manchester, but now we have a slight problem, can you help me find a solution for it.

normally the response is sure, I'm sorry to hear about your problem, tell me about it and I will see what I can do.

Ah - thats not good, look, let me book you on the first flight in the morning, and let me call ANZ and see if they can give you a nights accomodation and some meal vouchers.

Maybe ....... maybe not