I have a booking AKL-BKK-PEK for 2 in J. That gives me a 3.5hr layover in BKK and a 4hr CA flight overnight. Plus I have a separately ticketed BA flight from PEK to connect to (6hr layover) so a simpler routing would be better.

Naturally I would prefer to fly on the direct NZ flight. It would also save me �150pp in YQ. Currently there is 1 J seat available. I can make a separate booking to grab this seat, hoping another opens at some stage without releasing my current booking for the two of us, but is this a good idea?

Is there a chance on NZ that a second seat opens when the first is booked, or in the worst case could I be damaging the chance of a second paired seat popping up in the next couple of months? The flight is over Christmas, but looks fairly open for now.

Thanks

If you don't mind paying the �25.00 cancellation fee on a booking you've made but don't end up using, I'd say it is a good idea to book the one seat you can see know, and hope a second seat opens up too.

I'd say you have a greater chance of bagging one seat now, and a second opening up nearer to departure time, than letting it go and hoping two seats open up later on.

There will be those who object to you intentionally blocking award availability by doing this, however if your conscience can overcome this ( - which a lot of people's does!) I'd go for it.

For what it's worth, I managed to book the flight I wanted yesterday AKL-PEK. My experience, having watched nearby days as well, is that NZ open up seats again 30 or 31 days out. From zero, I was able to book 2 seats and there are 4 more free.

Agent was a bit confusing about the re-calc of YQ. Guess I'll have to watch my statements and maybe call PTS.

If anyone is trying to get to NZ with a combination of Avios (+241) and bmi I think this is a great option. LHR-PEK is 150k+voucher for 2 in F now, and then it 37.5k bmi +�120. We're also stopping in OZ; shame we don't have time for another Asia stop on the way back.