lokijuh

Have to pay extra for luggage on many fares for CO, US, UA domestic US flights. Elite members (including star silver and star gold members) get checked luggage included free of charge - as if any elite members check luggage in the US anyway (!)

Depends if they think they are competing with DJ or JQ (is that what the world's come to?) For travel on lowest DJ fares - both silver and gold velocity members get free checked luggage. On the lowest JQ fares no-one gets free checked luggage.

Kiwi Flyer

I beg to differ. LA AKL-SYD is very well timed for AKL-based people. SYD-AKL not so well timed.

LA catering in J is much better than Y (on any airline trans-tasman). The complaints are about lack of substance, not the quality. There is usually a couple of really good wines to distract oneself from the meal being a sandwich.

cavemanzk

Plus with LAN J, you have breakie in the QP, then sleep most of the way to SYD. That sounds alot better than being rammed into a a320

Sydfly

Now, NZ has completely lost it

I also think they market themselves as a premium airline. By now cutting out J on the connecting flights to US/Asia from Australia they basically send mixed messages to their customers. Who in their right mind would purchase a J fare to the US via AKL and then suffer through 3.5h of economy??? Right now I can't see that they made any changes on the SYD-AKL route for later this year. Most of the flights are 320 and will have Y only.

If Space+ goes, so will my business with NZ...Period...

Yes, my business also only pays for Y travel sadly. However, as they only book the cheapest fare I would now end up in just a seat with NZ and would have to pay for everything out of my pocket if I wanted e.g. extra space or extra food. I don't even earn miles for the flights. So, why would I fly NZ in the future? I'd rather get on QF, earn miles, get food and lounge access.

I think from a marketing perspective NZ has done the worst they can to damage their brand. This no longer is an airline with a consistent product. Why try to be two things at once? It doesn't work.

It's sad to see this development...

Kiwi Flyer

BNE, SYD, MEL (& PER in one direction) have widebody flights which connect to/from most of the longhaul flights, and thus will still have business class. I'd be very surprised if that doesn't continue - there are a lot of connecting Australia passengers, particularly on the North America flights.

brenrox

that I think many are missing. NZ are not cutting Buisness class completly to Aus - They still have 777, 767 and occasional 747 servicing aus and I'm sure if NZ has any intellegence, these will operate to best suit the buisness traveller.

lokijuh

Until they downgrade more services to Jetstar. Wonder what their strategic response will be - 1) Great lets snare the biz market 2) Great lets get Jetstar to operate more AKL & WLG flights.

DCF

What a crappy downgrade.

There are six Quuensland-based Gold Elites in my family. We now have to fly during working hours on NZ135/6 BNE-AKL if we want a proper product on flights to the Pacific via AKL.

And if we want to continue to fly long-haul from our local airport OOL to the USA and UK we have to fly the first and last sectors in Economy?

Its goodbye Air NZ, hello V Australia from us. I'm going to contact Velocity on Monday to see whether they will status match us, as Air NZ no longer meets our needs.

DCF

Yes Kiwiflyer, but I always take the Saturday morning AKL-HNL flight, and can work in Queensland on Friday because I take the evening BNE-AKL or OOL-AKL flight.

From now on, I can only fly Business Class if I take an extra day off work.

No thanks.

Leumas

Except New Zealand exists south of the Bombay Hills. Either that, or Air NZ thinks there is no business travellers outside of Auckland.

Leumas

The fearless leader at QF has stated there will be no more JQ taking over QF routes. Of course, it doesn't stop them from doing what they've done to CHC. Ultimately, it's just words, so who knows.

I'm hoping QF will take Option 1, but I suspect Option 2 will eventuate.

evanroberts

I read this as suggesting that the new approach will be trialled on CHC-SYD, and gives NZ the flexibility to change things before a full roll-out. That seems sensible.

As *G I'd be quite happy to buy seat + bag, and have a better meal in the lounge before the flight.

But like others I wonder why the removal of Space+.

I note also that only the movies are pay per view, even with seat you still get access to games, music, tv.

Indeed if you're a business traveler going to Australia for the day or overnight, seat might be a great option. Though the 32" pitch will make the laptop usage a bit more difficult.

Would be nice if they offered power in the seats like will be doing on longhaul.

Shazzadude

They're going to have to deliver on those meals now if they're effectively charging for the privilege. J meals perhaps?

Rebound

Removal of Space+ is still my biggest problem, i am happy to fly Y trans-tasman as Space+ is very comfortable, not too fussed about a meal but something lite is fine (what they have currently) and the IFE is fine for short hops, i usually just have the airshow on and listen to some music.

walshmi

I had this sent to me for those interested....

http://www.4shared.com/file/24446036.../Matariki.html

Short video explaining the new service.