Hi Often1.
Thanks for the updates re DOT not enforcing. In NZ many people pay directly for Air NZ transactions ( as the charge for using a CC can add some $$ to the price). We use something called POLI which is essentially a direct transfer from your bank account to Air NZ's - hence no chargeback option. The other issue is the time allowing for CC chargebacks this side of the planet appears fairly restricted - about 2 months in most cases with ' exceptions' made for longer periods at the discretion of the card issuer.
So if they have bought and paid for the tickets in the last 4 months + then they first have to convince their CC issuer ( often a bank) to actually take up the option in the first place.
So, even with a good number of DOT complaints from this side of the planet, Air NZ can continue to operate as they currently do and apply a different view to refunds.
Unfortunate. The many who did pay by credit card are seeing their chargebacks processed. Perhaps not as quickly as in the UK, Australia, or the US, but processed nonetheless.