I was supposed to be on the return NZ1, and that side (while nowhere near as frustrating compared to those on the inbound) could have been handled better in terms of comms and comms re: alternate routes back - essentially there were none, then a fairly bizarre route home just turned up in the app many hours later.

As in all these situations, you have to be ready to be your own advocate quickly when disrupts occur, and push pretty relentlessly for your new travel plan. I doubt the comms of a pre-Covid Air NZ would have struggled as much with the comms for an Elite on this occasion, but that’s a moot point. The only real drama (certainly for Elites) is getting through on the phone - they were swamped beyond swamped on the lines that day, plus Gabrielle etc etc - tough day for Air NZ.