What is the Status of the Planned Houston-Auckland Service?
#211
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,120
Delta used to fly a L1011 into Maui from DFW, but it had to then fly to Honolulu (refueling there), before it could have enough runway to make it back to Dallas w/ full passenger load.
#212
Join Date: Feb 2007
Programs: NZ Koru
Posts: 6,423
NZ has taken 772/77W into WLG a couple of times, most times with out passengers just for promo purposes and they where only to/from AKL or CHC. The only time that passenger 772 have been used to WLG was after the CHC earthquake as evac flights.
AKL - 1,418,000
WLG - 397,900
CHC - 379,100
HLZ - 212,000 (1.2hr drive from AKL)
NPE - 125,300
TRG - 123,500 (2hr drive from AKL)
#213
Join Date: May 2004
Location: US
Programs: UA Lifetime Gold, IHG Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 977
I understand that NZ is looking at AKL-IAH since United pulled out - and also to compete with QF on SYD-DFW.
As a UA flyer I hardly think of NZ as even being a Star Alliance member anymore. No award availability, upgrades via auction, very restrictive bag allowance even for *G on Aust/NZ regional services, no more preferential seating (OK, UA does that too for foreign elites). NZ is increasingly an LCC with some premium economy and business seating which fetches top dollar.
As a UA flyer I hardly think of NZ as even being a Star Alliance member anymore. No award availability, upgrades via auction, very restrictive bag allowance even for *G on Aust/NZ regional services, no more preferential seating (OK, UA does that too for foreign elites). NZ is increasingly an LCC with some premium economy and business seating which fetches top dollar.
#214
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: IAH
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Posts: 846
#215
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORF, RIC
Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium; IHG Platinum
Posts: 7,049
Reviving an old thread, UA cancelled the AKL service (allegedly in retaliation for the City of Houston approval of WN international service), but Air NZ has just now announced that the next US city they will fly will be Houston. Will UA code share on this, I am sure Air NZ is hoping for good connecting traffic to make this route work. Did UA miss the boat, they could have introduced the route in their own metal.
"Air NZ will begin nonstop service to George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) beginning in December 2015, using B772 and five flights per week."
#216
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Denver, CO, USA
Programs: Former 1KMM now free as UA Gold MM, former HH D, Marriott Lifetime Plat
Posts: 1,123
#217
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Clinging to the edifices of a decadent past from the biggest city in America nobody really cares about.
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Posts: 9,077
Glad to see NZ here in IAH along with the other long-haul carriers: NH, SQ, KE, BR, KL, AF, BA, LH, TK, EK, QR, and 5Y (counting the LAD Houston Express).
#218
Join Date: May 2003
Location: RDU, NC, USA
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton something
Posts: 844
That's what happens when you have a product that people are willing to actually pay for. I was lucky enough to snag an upgrade several years ago on an NZ 744 LAX-AKL - it was without question the most comfortable flight and the best inflight service I've ever had. I can see why they wouldn't have to give many of these seats away!
#219
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: SIN
Programs: UA 1K MM, SQ PPS, CX Silver, Accor Platinum, Marriott Gold, SPG Silver
Posts: 679
But the paying passengers also won, as NZ is MUCH nicer than UA in almost all respects (especially at the stubby end of the plane).
#220
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,803
I never understood why people here are so forgiving of NZ for basically thumbing its nose at the alliance.
#221
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: SEA
Programs: NZ Elite (*G)
Posts: 657
Secondly, I'm very happy having cleared 15 of 16 transoceanic upgrades to Business on NZ since I switched from UA about 3 years ago - I fear that record would not be as good if they were more generous to other airlines in the alliance. Selfish reason, I know.
Last edited by SeaProf; Apr 15, 2015 at 7:33 pm
#222
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,803
For a different perspective, try making UA connections between LAX and SEA when flying NZ in or out of LAX. While there used to be options, those are largely gone and now NZ needs to use AS and VX to get to or from SEA. So I often miss out on frequent flyer points because UA has such limited connection possibilities.
Secondly, I'm very happy having cleared 15 of 16 transoceanic upgrades to Business on NZ since I switched from UA about 3 years ago - I fear that record would not be as good if they were more generous to other airlines in the alliance. Selfish reason, I know.