Originally Posted by
Thai-Kiwi
This seems a significant effort to sit in a larger seat for 3 hours. Sure, I understand the interest in experiencing the product (and I am doing the same), but perhaps the 'juice isn't worth the squeeze'?
Effectively you are simply dealing with AirNZ with the absence of a preferred seat (extra legroom seat), for which your money will be refunded. I doubt you have a case for a full refund (without penalty) as they can still carry you in business class on the same route and at the the same time.
If this is booked 'standalone' (ie not a through-sector from/to the US), then you'll also find the NZ (and Aust) consumer protection laws here are useless, and nothing like the US/Europe.
Yep. Just an AvGeek who likes to experience things, and this is/was much more affordable then any realistic chance of me ever being on IAH-AKL or vice versa. My wife and I will be on vacation in Sydney and Brisbane, so literally the only reason we added a night into Melbourne was to fly this plane - now that this is gone, we're just going to stay in Sydney an extra day.
Anyways the phone agent would not waive the change fee, but it was "only" approximately 100 AUD to change, which I guess is cheaper than I thought it'd be. So 984 AUD /644 usd later I'm rebooked onto SYD-AKL.
I do think not waiving the change fee is still in very poor form/service, especially since Air NZ specifically advertises this product. But it is what it is. Thanks for the help and confirming this flight was flying - just please say a prayer for me that this doesn't happen again or I will be very, very upset.