Parents stuck in AKL
Mar 10, 2019, 3:19 am
#16
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: New Zealand (most of the time)
Programs: Air NZ Elite *G, Honors Gold, IHG Platinum Elite
Posts: 6,098
Several years ago I was flying NZ1 ex LHR in J - aircraft was delayed 24 hours due to a technical issue.
Expected and happy to stay another night, but on getting to front of line was told they had rebooked me - was VS to HKG and then CX to AKL - arrived home 3 hours latter than planned. Only seemed to be doing this for J.
Expected and happy to stay another night, but on getting to front of line was told they had rebooked me - was VS to HKG and then CX to AKL - arrived home 3 hours latter than planned. Only seemed to be doing this for J.
There are a number of different ways to get to LHR from Auckland on airlines that NZ have a relationship with.
Getting to ORD is very different - NZ are the only carrier with a direct flight that's not daily, and rerouting via LAX, IAH or SFO is space dependant.
The offer was there to get them a few hours later in economy, but that was obviously declined. It's then a waiting game for space in BP.
Mar 10, 2019, 4:23 am
#17
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: NZ
Programs: NZ*E, QF-G, EK-P
Posts: 602
Agree, I understand that - it was in response to the comment NZ is unlikely to use a different airline to get you there - they do - UA and AA both have options ex-AKL to US. I not saying they should in the OP case - I think NZ have been fair - just that they clearly do at times.
Mar 11, 2019, 2:04 pm
#18
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Sun Peaks, Taupo.
Programs: NZ Elite, AC SE100K, Westjet Teal, Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite, Nexus, Global Entry
Posts: 6,127
The two sentences above sum it up. They could have aesily made it there for the weekend, just not in the comfort they desired.
In turning down Air NZ's offer of an economy seat on a flight that would have got there in time, your parents made the choice of (possibly) foregoing the cottage in place of travelling in comfort.
Air NZ offered them hotels, presumedly meals as well, alternate flights, not sure what else one could realistically expect.
Mar 11, 2019, 4:56 pm
#19
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: New Zealand (when I'm home!)
Programs: Air NZ Elite
Posts: 1,218
This is the downside to flying J all the time. We get soft. I know under most circumstances I'd hold out for J, haha. And actually, now that I know travel insurance will probably cover it, I'll use the tip of just cancelling and rebooking on a different airline.
Mar 11, 2019, 5:14 pm
#21
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: New Zealand (most of the time)
Programs: Air NZ Elite *G, Honors Gold, IHG Platinum Elite
Posts: 6,098
This is the downside to flying J all the time. We get soft. I know under most circumstances I'd hold out for J, haha. And actually, now that I know travel insurance will probably cover it, I'll use the tip of just cancelling and rebooking on a different airline.
I have a friend who has a policy in NZ through a broker that allows him to basically get somewhere via any means possible - this would allow rebooking via another airline to get to the destination but still had some catches. When I was discussing this with him a couple of years ago he paid an extra $1000 or so per year extra on top of his base policy just for this clause.
Mar 11, 2019, 5:48 pm
#22
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: New Zealand (when I'm home!)
Programs: Air NZ Elite
Posts: 1,218
That's a bold assumption assuming your policy will allow cancelling and rebooking. What policy do you have? That's not something most will cover.
I have a friend who has a policy in NZ through a broker that allows him to basically get somewhere via any means possible - this would allow rebooking via another airline to get to the destination but still had some catches. When I was discussing this with him a couple of years ago he paid an extra $1000 or so per year extra on top of his base policy just for this clause.
I have a friend who has a policy in NZ through a broker that allows him to basically get somewhere via any means possible - this would allow rebooking via another airline to get to the destination but still had some catches. When I was discussing this with him a couple of years ago he paid an extra $1000 or so per year extra on top of his base policy just for this clause.
I actually did make sure with my travel insurance that my policy would cover me for J, my old credit card policy I relied on only covered me for economy. It would be good to check for this specific clause this.
In situations like this, I would always try and call the insurance company to check if I didn't want to pay OOP.