Hi -Fly Downgrade (or Upgrade?)
Jan 17, 2018, 9:36 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Auckland - New Zealand
Programs: NZ*G,Accor-Gold
Posts: 232
Hi -Fly Downgrade (or Upgrade?)
I am flying to Sydney next month (I am Elite) and have been changed to a Hi-Fly Flight. I am on an Economy Seat (Works) and can upgrade
Short Haul Upgrade to Business
Airpoints Upgrade to Premium Economy 100 AP
Airpoints Upgrade to Business 250 AP
OneUp is Unavailable for these Flight (It gives an Error)
Is its worth upgrading for a 3 Hour Flight on Hi-Fly? or should I just wait for another flight on AirNZ Metal?
How "bad" or "good" is HiFly compared to AirNZ? Food? Seats? Service? (I can't even choose a window Seat so are afraid I will get a stupid aisle seat or worse middle seat at the back of the plane)
Would it be a downgrade on HiFly if I am expecting AirNZ Service?
Has anyone asked for a discount because of this?
Short Haul Upgrade to Business
Airpoints Upgrade to Premium Economy 100 AP
Airpoints Upgrade to Business 250 AP
OneUp is Unavailable for these Flight (It gives an Error)
Is its worth upgrading for a 3 Hour Flight on Hi-Fly? or should I just wait for another flight on AirNZ Metal?
How "bad" or "good" is HiFly compared to AirNZ? Food? Seats? Service? (I can't even choose a window Seat so are afraid I will get a stupid aisle seat or worse middle seat at the back of the plane)
Would it be a downgrade on HiFly if I am expecting AirNZ Service?
Has anyone asked for a discount because of this?
Jan 17, 2018, 10:38 pm
#2
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Auckland
Programs: NZ*GE / EK*GOLD
Posts: 2,524
A340-300 | CS-TQY - Fleet | Hi Fly
Air NZ Business gets a Hi-Fly First Seat
Air NZ PE gets a Hi-Fly Business Seat
Economy gets Economy
IFE is not great
Cabin Configuration:12 First 42 Business 213 Economy
Seating Pitch:86'' First 58"/60'' Business 32''/33" Economy
There is no 'discount' but if you get downgraded they will offer you some compensation, otherwise you can change FOC to an Air NZ operated flight within 7 days of your original flight, pretty useless if you are flying on a first flight or last flight of the day back (NZ101 and NZ108) and don't have flexibility.
Air NZ Business gets a Hi-Fly First Seat
Air NZ PE gets a Hi-Fly Business Seat
Economy gets Economy
IFE is not great
Cabin Configuration:12 First 42 Business 213 Economy
Seating Pitch:86'' First 58"/60'' Business 32''/33" Economy
There is no 'discount' but if you get downgraded they will offer you some compensation, otherwise you can change FOC to an Air NZ operated flight within 7 days of your original flight, pretty useless if you are flying on a first flight or last flight of the day back (NZ101 and NZ108) and don't have flexibility.
Jan 18, 2018, 2:52 am
#3
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: SYD
Programs: Too many golds, no plat: OZ*G, AC*G, NZ*G, VA Gold, QF Gold, HH Gold, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 5,370
I'm curious to know whether the food and wine service ex-AKL on the Hi-Fly A343 is the same as on usual NZ-operated services or inferior. The seat looks nice and I can live with the poor IFE (now that I'm forewarned) but crap food and beverage would really make me regret paying for PE...
On the other hand I'm looking forward to another flight on a classic A340, as they are pretty rare these days. I always rather liked them, anaemic rate of climb notwithstanding.
On the other hand I'm looking forward to another flight on a classic A340, as they are pretty rare these days. I always rather liked them, anaemic rate of climb notwithstanding.
Jan 18, 2018, 8:28 pm
#4
Join Date: Dec 2013
Programs: NZ Airpoints GE, Qantas Platinum, Accor Diamond, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,018
The Hi-fly website gives you a good look at their seating arrangements. Their former Emirates pedigree is pretty apparent. I am booked Y to SYD connecting to J on UA and the ticket booked me into Y with no seating choice available. I will be pleased if I get bumped into J as an Elite as well as fly on one of the dwindling hair dryers.
A340-300 | CS-TQY - Fleet | Hi Fly
A340-300 | CS-TQY - Fleet | Hi Fly
Jan 18, 2018, 10:16 pm
#5
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: NZ GE, QF
Posts: 399
I'm curious to know whether the food and wine service ex-AKL on the Hi-Fly A343 is the same as on usual NZ-operated services or inferior. The seat looks nice and I can live with the poor IFE (now that I'm forewarned) but crap food and beverage would really make me regret paying for PE...
On the other hand I'm looking forward to another flight on a classic A340, as they are pretty rare these days. I always rather liked them, anaemic rate of climb notwithstanding.
On the other hand I'm looking forward to another flight on a classic A340, as they are pretty rare these days. I always rather liked them, anaemic rate of climb notwithstanding.
I'm looking forward to flying the A340 again, I like them as a plane and it will be a step back in history to sit in those seats.
Jan 23, 2018, 2:01 pm
#6
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Auckland
Programs: NZ Elite Partner/Silver (in own right), PR Classic, QF Bronze, UA Member, VA Red
Posts: 1,563
AKL-PER on HiFly. AirNZ is now implying a more comfortable experience due to a different aircrft being used - any insights into what this new level of comfort entails :-)
From email to custoner: "Your upcoming flight will be operated by one of these Hi Fly aircraft. Please note if you have already travelled on a Hi Fly operated service between Auckland and Perth recently, the aircraft you are currently booked to travel on is a different aircraft to the one you would have flown on previously and we believe it will provide a more comfortable experience for customers."
From email to custoner: "Your upcoming flight will be operated by one of these Hi Fly aircraft. Please note if you have already travelled on a Hi Fly operated service between Auckland and Perth recently, the aircraft you are currently booked to travel on is a different aircraft to the one you would have flown on previously and we believe it will provide a more comfortable experience for customers."
Jan 23, 2018, 3:45 pm
#7
Join Date: Feb 2007
Programs: NZ Koru
Posts: 6,435
AKL-PER on HiFly. AirNZ is now implying a more comfortable experience due to a different aircrft being used - any insights into what this new level of comfort entails :-)
From email to custoner: "Your upcoming flight will be operated by one of these Hi Fly aircraft. Please note if you have already travelled on a Hi Fly operated service between Auckland and Perth recently, the aircraft you are currently booked to travel on is a different aircraft to the one you would have flown on previously and we believe it will provide a more comfortable experience for customers."
From email to custoner: "Your upcoming flight will be operated by one of these Hi Fly aircraft. Please note if you have already travelled on a Hi Fly operated service between Auckland and Perth recently, the aircraft you are currently booked to travel on is a different aircraft to the one you would have flown on previously and we believe it will provide a more comfortable experience for customers."
Which apparently has working AVOD, and lie flat J class.
The A332 has now left.
Jan 23, 2018, 5:11 pm
#8
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Auckland
Programs: NZ Elite Partner/Silver (in own right), PR Classic, QF Bronze, UA Member, VA Red
Posts: 1,563
AKL-PER is now operated by 9H-SUN A340-313 9H-SUN - Fleet Hi Fly
Which apparently has working AVOD, and lie flat J class.
The A332 has now left.
Which apparently has working AVOD, and lie flat J class.
The A332 has now left.
It does, but is limited: "Seat-back entertainment will be available on board for all customers, however, this will be different from the entertainment system offered on Air New Zealand aircraft. The content selection is limited therefore you may wish to bring your own reading material and/or fully charged personal electronic device."
Last edited by jeffrocowboy; Jan 23, 2018 at 6:33 pm
Jan 23, 2018, 5:17 pm
#9
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: South Island, New Zealand
Programs: Krisflyer, Qantas Frequent Flyer, Air NZ Airpoints, Koru, NZ*S and former *G
Posts: 320
AKL-PER is now operated by 9H-SUN A340-313 9H-SUN - Fleet Hi Fly
Which apparently has working AVOD, and lie flat J class.......
Which apparently has working AVOD, and lie flat J class.......
Jan 23, 2018, 9:33 pm
#10
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: New Zealand (most of the time)
Programs: Air NZ Elite *G, Honors Gold, IHG Platinum Elite
Posts: 6,273
Jan 24, 2018, 12:30 am
#11
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: South Island, New Zealand
Programs: Krisflyer, Qantas Frequent Flyer, Air NZ Airpoints, Koru, NZ*S and former *G
Posts: 320
and better than some (eg: BA) .... however the point I was intending to make is that it is a 'downgrade' in that respect from NZ with aisle access for everyone in J (and as an aside presumably fares haven't changed?).
Jan 25, 2018, 4:22 pm
#13
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: New Zealand (most of the time)
Programs: Air NZ Elite *G, Honors Gold, IHG Platinum Elite
Posts: 6,273
Jan 25, 2018, 6:55 pm
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Auckland - New Zealand
Programs: NZ*G,Accor-Gold
Posts: 232
I can't really change my flights and I have stuff already organized. I'm taking the 1st flight on Saturday (NZ101 at 7am) and the last flight on sunday (NZ108 at 6:55pm) so I'll have to see how good (or bad) HiFly are..
Jan 27, 2018, 2:43 am
#15
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 652
Engineering Ground Staff - some HiFly (saw a few wearing old tatty HiFly hi-viz vest, some NZ near gate)
Flight Crew - HiFly
Cabin Crew mostly HiFly (with some T-shirt attired NZ ones, I guess they are only there for CS since they not rated for A340 ops, I usually get a "welcome back" on NZ metal, but no recognition from NZ crew for FF status, not important to me anyway).
Toiletries - sames as NZ (you can see below, barf bag in the background also from NZ) NZ inflight magazine also in seat pocket.
CATERING (no menu provided)
Basically J Wines & Champagne
Choice of
J Fish (Salmon)
J Chicken (thigh single piece)
or
Y Beef (any beef that is not fillet = Y)
plated Y (inc plastic cutlery) in a single Y style tray including J entree and Y/PE dessert (Choc brownie)
+ 2nd extra Y dessert (Kapiti Ice Cream not pictured)
+ Works Deluxe Cheese
- missing was warm nuts before meal.
IFE
Decade+ ish old 4:3 low res / not VOD (no pause/stop etc)
Basically 8 channels of movies (not new but recent releases). They all start at the same time (options are not announced, so you channel surf to guess what is playing on what channel)
Listed below for your convenience.
1. King Arthur
2. Guardians of the Galaxy 2
3. Going in Style
4. Beauty and the Beast
5. Wonder Woman
6. Hidden Figures
7. Lego Batman Movie
8. Chips
(the last time I flew TT J with this old IFE, there was only a choice of about 3 or 4 movies)
SEATS
F Seats (for J) pictured.
Lots of leg room.
Glad to have flown the A340, not many around these days. The rate of climb of this old 'hairdryer' is hardly anaemic.
As the only Emirates I've been is on their A380, it was interesting to see what an Emirates plane from the old days. Not keen on the Tawa coloured veneer though.
Hi Fly crew was not bad (most NZ ones are still better), though they were exotic looking and very easy on the eye. I did actually pay attention to the safety demo.
Flight Crew - HiFly
Cabin Crew mostly HiFly (with some T-shirt attired NZ ones, I guess they are only there for CS since they not rated for A340 ops, I usually get a "welcome back" on NZ metal, but no recognition from NZ crew for FF status, not important to me anyway).
Toiletries - sames as NZ (you can see below, barf bag in the background also from NZ) NZ inflight magazine also in seat pocket.
CATERING (no menu provided)
Basically J Wines & Champagne
Choice of
J Fish (Salmon)
J Chicken (thigh single piece)
or
Y Beef (any beef that is not fillet = Y)
plated Y (inc plastic cutlery) in a single Y style tray including J entree and Y/PE dessert (Choc brownie)
+ 2nd extra Y dessert (Kapiti Ice Cream not pictured)
+ Works Deluxe Cheese
- missing was warm nuts before meal.
IFE
Decade+ ish old 4:3 low res / not VOD (no pause/stop etc)
Basically 8 channels of movies (not new but recent releases). They all start at the same time (options are not announced, so you channel surf to guess what is playing on what channel)
Listed below for your convenience.
1. King Arthur
2. Guardians of the Galaxy 2
3. Going in Style
4. Beauty and the Beast
5. Wonder Woman
6. Hidden Figures
7. Lego Batman Movie
8. Chips
(the last time I flew TT J with this old IFE, there was only a choice of about 3 or 4 movies)
SEATS
F Seats (for J) pictured.
Lots of leg room.
Glad to have flown the A340, not many around these days. The rate of climb of this old 'hairdryer' is hardly anaemic.
As the only Emirates I've been is on their A380, it was interesting to see what an Emirates plane from the old days. Not keen on the Tawa coloured veneer though.
Hi Fly crew was not bad (most NZ ones are still better), though they were exotic looking and very easy on the eye. I did actually pay attention to the safety demo.