Changing First Flight Of A Layover Ticket
Jun 28, 2023, 6:59 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2022
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Posts: 158
Changing First Flight Of A Layover Ticket
Long story short, I made the foolish decision to purchase my wife Taylor Swift tickets as an early Christmas and birthday surprise (will be for the next decade's worth at the price those tickets cost).
Not wanting to miss out on flights, as soon as I got the tickets I jumped on Air NZ and booked a return flight from Chch to Sydney via Auckland (fly up on the Wednesday night, depart Auckland at 9am on Thursday). I was able to get premium economy for hardly any more than a seat + bag fare from Chch on the Thursday AM, and now we don't have to be up a at 3am either.
The flight to Auckland the day before is the 8.40pm departure from Chch. What I'd like to do is try and leave earlier but keep the single ticket/booking to Sydney - we have a family friend in Auckland we'd like to try and meet up with, so want to try and get a mid afternoon departure from Chch to Auckland.
Does anybody know if it's possible to get Air NZ to accommodate this kind of request? Basically change just the Chc-Auckland flight and not the Auckland-Sydney flight.
If I try and change online I can only adjust the entire travel itinerary if that makes sense?
I'm hoping somebody can give me a pointer before I commit to spending the next hour or so on hold (seeing as I've already spent hours in the useless Ticketmaster lobby this week trying to score the darn tickets)
Not wanting to miss out on flights, as soon as I got the tickets I jumped on Air NZ and booked a return flight from Chch to Sydney via Auckland (fly up on the Wednesday night, depart Auckland at 9am on Thursday). I was able to get premium economy for hardly any more than a seat + bag fare from Chch on the Thursday AM, and now we don't have to be up a at 3am either.
The flight to Auckland the day before is the 8.40pm departure from Chch. What I'd like to do is try and leave earlier but keep the single ticket/booking to Sydney - we have a family friend in Auckland we'd like to try and meet up with, so want to try and get a mid afternoon departure from Chch to Auckland.
Does anybody know if it's possible to get Air NZ to accommodate this kind of request? Basically change just the Chc-Auckland flight and not the Auckland-Sydney flight.
If I try and change online I can only adjust the entire travel itinerary if that makes sense?
I'm hoping somebody can give me a pointer before I commit to spending the next hour or so on hold (seeing as I've already spent hours in the useless Ticketmaster lobby this week trying to score the darn tickets)
Last edited by samjaynz; Jun 28, 2023 at 7:00 pm Reason: missed info
Jun 28, 2023, 7:16 pm
#2
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Long story short, I made the foolish decision to purchase my wife Taylor Swift tickets as an early Christmas and birthday surprise (will be for the next decade's worth at the price those tickets cost).
Not wanting to miss out on flights, as soon as I got the tickets I jumped on Air NZ and booked a return flight from Chch to Sydney via Auckland (fly up on the Wednesday night, depart Auckland at 9am on Thursday). I was able to get premium economy for hardly any more than a seat + bag fare from Chch on the Thursday AM, and now we don't have to be up a at 3am either.
The flight to Auckland the day before is the 8.40pm departure from Chch. What I'd like to do is try and leave earlier but keep the single ticket/booking to Sydney - we have a family friend in Auckland we'd like to try and meet up with, so want to try and get a mid afternoon departure from Chch to Auckland.
Does anybody know if it's possible to get Air NZ to accommodate this kind of request? Basically change just the Chc-Auckland flight and not the Auckland-Sydney flight.
If I try and change online I can only adjust the entire travel itinerary if that makes sense?
I'm hoping somebody can give me a pointer before I commit to spending the next hour or so on hold (seeing as I've already spent hours in the useless Ticketmaster lobby this week trying to score the darn tickets)
Not wanting to miss out on flights, as soon as I got the tickets I jumped on Air NZ and booked a return flight from Chch to Sydney via Auckland (fly up on the Wednesday night, depart Auckland at 9am on Thursday). I was able to get premium economy for hardly any more than a seat + bag fare from Chch on the Thursday AM, and now we don't have to be up a at 3am either.
The flight to Auckland the day before is the 8.40pm departure from Chch. What I'd like to do is try and leave earlier but keep the single ticket/booking to Sydney - we have a family friend in Auckland we'd like to try and meet up with, so want to try and get a mid afternoon departure from Chch to Auckland.
Does anybody know if it's possible to get Air NZ to accommodate this kind of request? Basically change just the Chc-Auckland flight and not the Auckland-Sydney flight.
If I try and change online I can only adjust the entire travel itinerary if that makes sense?
I'm hoping somebody can give me a pointer before I commit to spending the next hour or so on hold (seeing as I've already spent hours in the useless Ticketmaster lobby this week trying to score the darn tickets)
You’ll need to call NZ and ask them to change. They could make the change free of any fees as presumably the ‘add-on’ fare CHC-AKL will be in full Y class given you are in PE AKL-SYD.
It is possible they’ll charge you a Service Fee - check the Fare Rules. Presumably you have a TT premium Economy Smart Saver fare?
https://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/tasm...ns-smart-saver
Jun 28, 2023, 7:19 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2022
Programs: Airpoints Elite
Posts: 158
You’ll need to call NZ and ask them to change. They could make the change free of any fees as presumably the ‘add-on’ fare CHC-AKL will be in full Y class given you are in PE AKL-SYD.
It is possible they’ll charge you a Service Fee - check the Fare Rules. Presumably you have a TT premium Economy Smart Saver fare?
https://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/tasm...ns-smart-saver
It is possible they’ll charge you a Service Fee - check the Fare Rules. Presumably you have a TT premium Economy Smart Saver fare?
https://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/tasm...ns-smart-saver
Jun 28, 2023, 7:36 pm
#4
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The actual PDF e-ticket should also show the fare class ‘letter’ - CHC-AKL Y, AKL-SYD U or E. But that isn’t so important in this case.
See this example below
Last edited by Thai-Kiwi; Jun 28, 2023 at 7:42 pm
Jun 28, 2023, 7:46 pm
#5
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Jun 28, 2023, 7:46 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2022
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Posts: 158
Flexi should allow such changes for free. We did just this recently for an overseas journey to tidy-up a better connection.
The actual PDF e-ticket should also show the fare class ‘letter’ - CHC-AKL Y, AKL-SYD U or E. But that isn’t so important in this case.
See this example below
The actual PDF e-ticket should also show the fare class ‘letter’ - CHC-AKL Y, AKL-SYD U or E. But that isn’t so important in this case.
See this example below
Jun 28, 2023, 11:51 pm
#7
Join Date: Dec 2022
Posts: 464
I’ve successfully gotten something like this changed, was originally on a PM flight wlg to AKL, enroute to SG, messaged on whatsapp and they changed me to a morning flight for free.
they did say something about since they can’t take credit card details on whatsapp they waived the service fee. Might be a good option since you’re not in a rush
they did say something about since they can’t take credit card details on whatsapp they waived the service fee. Might be a good option since you’re not in a rush
Jun 29, 2023, 2:02 am
#8
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: New Zealand (most of the time)
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Posts: 6,273
Domestic add-ons are flexi for all international trips even if they don't say it.
I've routinely changed to earlier flights for WLG-AKL before evening US departures - I've never bothered calling to get this done (apparently that is a lot of work for them) but on the day checkin staff can easily change the flights.
I've routinely changed to earlier flights for WLG-AKL before evening US departures - I've never bothered calling to get this done (apparently that is a lot of work for them) but on the day checkin staff can easily change the flights.
Jun 29, 2023, 2:24 am
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2005
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Domestic add-ons are flexi for all international trips even if they don't say it.
I've routinely changed to earlier flights for WLG-AKL before evening US departures - I've never bothered calling to get this done (apparently that is a lot of work for them) but on the day checkin staff can easily change the flights.
I've routinely changed to earlier flights for WLG-AKL before evening US departures - I've never bothered calling to get this done (apparently that is a lot of work for them) but on the day checkin staff can easily change the flights.
Jun 29, 2023, 2:12 pm
#10
Join Date: Apr 2013
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Posts: 6,273
I will reference this by saying my last US trip was Oct 2019 - but I don't see why Air NZ would have changed anything. They need the flexibility component so it's easy for them to change domestic connections for arrivals if flights are delayed or people miss connections due to delays on arrival.
With married fares domestic addon prices are all over the place. I had two US trips in 2019 with crazy (4hr +) connections in Auckland because the fare prices for say a LAX-WLG with a 8am AKL-WLG were maybe $200 more than say a 11am AKL-WLG.
I'd just book the cheaper fare and then rock up to domestic and they'll happily change to the earlier flight. Likewise after nearly having a Chicago holiday ruined after a delayed WLG-AKL flight on a Friday evening I am a little risk averse when it comes to ~75 - 90 min connections at AKL. If I can see there are weather issues or delays starting to happen with a plane or across the network during the day I just turn up and change to an earlier flight.
With married fares domestic addon prices are all over the place. I had two US trips in 2019 with crazy (4hr +) connections in Auckland because the fare prices for say a LAX-WLG with a 8am AKL-WLG were maybe $200 more than say a 11am AKL-WLG.
I'd just book the cheaper fare and then rock up to domestic and they'll happily change to the earlier flight. Likewise after nearly having a Chicago holiday ruined after a delayed WLG-AKL flight on a Friday evening I am a little risk averse when it comes to ~75 - 90 min connections at AKL. If I can see there are weather issues or delays starting to happen with a plane or across the network during the day I just turn up and change to an earlier flight.