NZ pulled I (*A Business award) inventory from all AKL-SYD flights?
Feb 9, 2013, 4:01 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: UK
Programs: BA GGL, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 371
NZ pulled I (*A Business award) inventory from all AKL-SYD flights?
I booked a *A award ticket which includes an NZ flight from AKL-SYD. There was no *I* availability on my date, so I booked into *X* (*A Economy Class award) for now.
I have been checking the for the *I* availability every now and again and I noticed that there seems to be none for the entire year. There were plenty of dates before, but a couple of days ago it was all pulled. Does anyone know why this is? Will it come back?
I have been checking the for the *I* availability every now and again and I noticed that there seems to be none for the entire year. There were plenty of dates before, but a couple of days ago it was all pulled. Does anyone know why this is? Will it come back?
Feb 9, 2013, 7:26 am
#2
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: NZ
Programs: NZ Gold, BA Gold, QF Silver, IHG Platinum Elite Ambassador, Accor Diamond
Posts: 1,048
Bear in mind that not all AKL-SYD flights have business class. Around half tend to be operated by Airbus A320s which are single class aircraft, the others are mostly operated with 767s or 777s which do have a business product.
Having said that, the A320 economy class is sold with four different products, the top one involves the middle seat being left vacant, front few rows of the aircraft (which include seats in the Space + extra legroom section), lounge access, greater luggage allowance and includes food and drinks (the two bottom products have "buy on board").
Odds are that your X class award (on any aircraft) will be the "standard" "Works" product which is standard economy with food/beverage service included.
Having said that, the A320 economy class is sold with four different products, the top one involves the middle seat being left vacant, front few rows of the aircraft (which include seats in the Space + extra legroom section), lounge access, greater luggage allowance and includes food and drinks (the two bottom products have "buy on board").
Odds are that your X class award (on any aircraft) will be the "standard" "Works" product which is standard economy with food/beverage service included.
Feb 9, 2013, 7:32 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: UK
Programs: BA GGL, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 371
Bear in mind that not all AKL-SYD flights have business class. Around half tend to be operated by Airbus A320s which are single class aircraft, the others are mostly operated with 767s or 777s which do have a business product.
Having said that, the A320 economy class is sold with four different products, the top one involves the middle seat being left vacant, front few rows of the aircraft (which include seats in the Space + extra legroom section), lounge access, greater luggage allowance and includes food and drinks (the two bottom products have "buy on board").
Odds are that your X class award (on any aircraft) will be the "standard" "Works" product which is standard economy with food/beverage service included.
Having said that, the A320 economy class is sold with four different products, the top one involves the middle seat being left vacant, front few rows of the aircraft (which include seats in the Space + extra legroom section), lounge access, greater luggage allowance and includes food and drinks (the two bottom products have "buy on board").
Odds are that your X class award (on any aircraft) will be the "standard" "Works" product which is standard economy with food/beverage service included.
At this rate though, it appears all I class awards on this route are currently gone.
Feb 9, 2013, 8:24 am
#4
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: LCY
Posts: 1,222
Feb 9, 2013, 8:51 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: UK
Programs: BA GGL, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 371
Feb 10, 2013, 1:26 pm
#8
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Auckland, NZ
Programs: UA 1MM, NZ Gold Elite
Posts: 96
Yes, looks like all Business rewards trans-Tasman are impacted - Brisbane used to be wide-open for rewards up the front of the plane and they have all gone too.
Interestingly, business class inventory on NZ for non-stop flights to Honolulu and Japan is still available. Nothing of course for AKL-US mainland flights..
My comments based on looking for award flights at united.com
Interestingly, business class inventory on NZ for non-stop flights to Honolulu and Japan is still available. Nothing of course for AKL-US mainland flights..
My comments based on looking for award flights at united.com
Feb 10, 2013, 2:05 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: UK
Programs: BA GGL, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 371
Yes, looks like all Business rewards trans-Tasman are impacted - Brisbane used to be wide-open for rewards up the front of the plane and they have all gone too.
Interestingly, business class inventory on NZ for non-stop flights to Honolulu and Japan is still available. Nothing of course for AKL-US mainland flights..
My comments based on looking for award flights at united.com
Interestingly, business class inventory on NZ for non-stop flights to Honolulu and Japan is still available. Nothing of course for AKL-US mainland flights..
My comments based on looking for award flights at united.com
I wonder if this is being done on purpose or by accident. Does anybody have any insight into this? Maybe I will give Air NZ a call tomorrow morning.
Feb 10, 2013, 2:21 pm
#10
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: NZ
Programs: AA, UA, QF, TK, EY, NZ
Posts: 447
Sounds like a big joke to me. What's there to protect for NZ's sake across the Tasman? Or is it some big plan to make everyone bid for using the oneup system somehow? Not cool.. And another reason why I'm not that keen on becoming an elite with NZ.
Feb 10, 2013, 2:32 pm
#11
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Auckland, NZ
Programs: UA 1MM, NZ Gold Elite
Posts: 96
At least with NZ Airpoints, if you have enough Airpoint dollars, you can always use them. Admittedly, the earn rate is pathetic.
Feb 10, 2013, 2:41 pm
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: UK
Programs: BA GGL, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 371
Surely this is not a permanent change. Restricting/reducing Business inventory is one thing, but to eliminate it completely seems a little too far fetched even if NZ has been reducing the benefits offered to other *A members.
Feb 10, 2013, 2:46 pm
#13
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: NZ
Programs: AA, UA, QF, TK, EY, NZ
Posts: 447
Sounds like possibly a similar case in terms of AA booking on QF across the Tasman. But although QF only has 12 J seats in their 738s, it doesn't seem to affect any AA member booking a J award seat.. And surely NZ can't sell out J for every trans Tasman flight.. Because if they did, I'd see them bringing back J to the A320.
Feb 10, 2013, 2:50 pm
#15
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Auckland, NZ
Programs: UA 1MM, NZ Gold Elite
Posts: 96
A bit off-topic but there is a precedent. SQ doesn't make any inventory in F (and often C) available to (most) of *A members.