Last edit by: IBJoel
27 March 2018
United Airlines suspends NZ service (Suspension Period: April 18, 2017 - October 30, 2017)
Per New Zealand Herald quoting UA:
Air New Zealand service between Auckland and Chicago
From Nov. 30, 2018, Air New Zealand will operate three times weekly, year-round service with its new configuration Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. Flight time will be approximately 15 hours northbound and just over 16 hours southbound. Air New Zealand code share service will be offered on around 100 flights across the U.S. for convenient connections to Auckland via Chicago. United Airlines operates more flights from its hub at O'Hare International Airport than any other airline, with more than 500 flights to 147 airports across the United States.
United expands service between San Francisco and Auckland
Beginning in April 2019, United will extend service between its West Coast hub in San Francisco and Auckland to year-round with three-times-weekly service. In partnership with Air New Zealand, United's flight arriving in Auckland will offer passengers more than 20 connections across the region. The return trip utilizes United's extensive route network in San Francisco, which provides connections to the United States, Canada, and Latin America. United operates more than 290 daily flights from its hub at San Francisco International Airport to 79 airports across the U.S. and 26 international destinations. Tickets for the expanded San Francisco schedule will be available on united.com and airnewzealand.com later this year.
United service between San Francisco and Auckland will operate with a Boeing 777-300ER between November and March and will operate with Boeing 777-200ER aircraft between April and October.
From Nov. 30, 2018, Air New Zealand will operate three times weekly, year-round service with its new configuration Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. Flight time will be approximately 15 hours northbound and just over 16 hours southbound. Air New Zealand code share service will be offered on around 100 flights across the U.S. for convenient connections to Auckland via Chicago. United Airlines operates more flights from its hub at O'Hare International Airport than any other airline, with more than 500 flights to 147 airports across the United States.
United expands service between San Francisco and Auckland
Beginning in April 2019, United will extend service between its West Coast hub in San Francisco and Auckland to year-round with three-times-weekly service. In partnership with Air New Zealand, United's flight arriving in Auckland will offer passengers more than 20 connections across the region. The return trip utilizes United's extensive route network in San Francisco, which provides connections to the United States, Canada, and Latin America. United operates more than 290 daily flights from its hub at San Francisco International Airport to 79 airports across the U.S. and 26 international destinations. Tickets for the expanded San Francisco schedule will be available on united.com and airnewzealand.com later this year.
United service between San Francisco and Auckland will operate with a Boeing 777-300ER between November and March and will operate with Boeing 777-200ER aircraft between April and October.
UA will now fly the 77W on SFO AKL when it resumes operation 29OCT17 - 22MAR18 (from SFO). Overall frequency will be 6 weekly, and increasing to 7 weekly from mid-Dec. UA73/74 is canceled.
http://www.routesonline.com/news/38/...as-of-01sep17/
http://www.routesonline.com/news/38/...as-of-01sep17/
Per New Zealand Herald quoting UA:
This change is in response to seasonal variations, which will also see United Airlines adding an additional three flights per week starting December 18, 2017 after resuming its daily Auckland to San Francisco services on October 31, 2017. This will increase services to a total of 10 United's flights per week during the high seasonal demand period. Passengers who have already purchased tickets during the suspended period are being contacted by the airline and offered flights on the Air New Zealand service instead. We apologise to customers for any inconvenience and advise that customers will not be out of pocket as a result of this shift in scheduling and will retain all frequent flyer benefits."
SFO-AKL JV w/NZ, all year UA metal, 77W Nov18-Mar19, 772 Apr19-Oct19 (+newORD-AKL NZ)
#181
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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I have a flight booked during that time as well. I can see the reservation and seats logging in with PNR, but cannot find the flight if trying to book on United's website. Called United and agent stated the flight is still available and my reservation is fine. Advised her of reports that's the SFO - Auckland flight is now seasonal and she states it is not true. Explained to her it the flights are not showing on United's website and she claims it is sold out. Will call back later and hopefully speak to another agent.
#182
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Northern California
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maybe i'll wait until the official announcement to save myself that kind of asinine conversation... i would've asked her if she thinks it's likely that it's "sold out" every day for months this far out.
The more I try to investigate options the more I realize what a PITA this is.
#183
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Colorado, USA
Posts: 24
My wife and I are booked SFO-AKL-SFO in May/June with award tickets in J.
I've never had this happen before where a flight I've booked is pulled from the schedule. Anyone know what UA typically does in this situation? I'm Gold and my wife is 1K. I'll have her call the 1K line once there's a more formal announcement.
I've never had this happen before where a flight I've booked is pulled from the schedule. Anyone know what UA typically does in this situation? I'm Gold and my wife is 1K. I'll have her call the 1K line once there's a more formal announcement.
#184
Join Date: Jan 2005
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maybe i'll wait until the official announcement to save myself that kind of asinine conversation... i would've asked her if she thinks it's likely that it's "sold out" every day for months this far out.
The more I try to investigate options the more I realize what a PITA this is.
#185
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My wife and I are booked SFO-AKL-SFO in May/June with award tickets in J.
I've never had this happen before where a flight I've booked is pulled from the schedule. Anyone know what UA typically does in this situation? I'm Gold and my wife is 1K. I'll have her call the 1K line once there's a more formal announcement.
I've never had this happen before where a flight I've booked is pulled from the schedule. Anyone know what UA typically does in this situation? I'm Gold and my wife is 1K. I'll have her call the 1K line once there's a more formal announcement.
It helps to research and have a new itinerary in mind before you call. If you can find X space on MEL/SYD-AKL on NZ, then you can force IN on SFO-SYD or SFO-LAX-MEL. You can also get a full refund, but you're probably not interested in that.
#186
Join Date: Aug 2003
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Right... I just swapped out the outbound on my own since I can route through SYD. There is no reasonable solution available involving UA overwater on the return, however, due to the early AM departure time of SYD-SFO. Will lose a day in NZ in addition to whatever hassle/cost the solution entails...
#187
Join Date: Feb 2015
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 957
So I alerted a friend to this deal over New Years....He booked two F tix SFO-AKL and then separately booked travel to SYD. He just asked if I thought he'd be able to simply switch his ticket to California-SYD once his flight was eliminated, or whether UA will force him to have a final destination of AKL. I think he can go to SYD, correct?
#188
Join Date: Dec 2015
Programs: UA Silver, AA Gold
Posts: 221
I too have a flight booked during this timeframe. I called 1K desk last night and after a long hold was advised that it was because they plan to change the aircraft. I'm guessing she was misinformed if the route is now going seasonal.
Very interesting because I booked the flight the day before it was zeroed out. However, on that day before, fares dropped significantly enough that I canceled a previous reservation and rebooked on the exact same itinerary to realize significant savings. Then within hours the inventory that I just booked was zeroed out. Very interesting.
Very interesting because I booked the flight the day before it was zeroed out. However, on that day before, fares dropped significantly enough that I canceled a previous reservation and rebooked on the exact same itinerary to realize significant savings. Then within hours the inventory that I just booked was zeroed out. Very interesting.
#189
Join Date: Feb 2007
Programs: NZ Koru
Posts: 6,415
So I alerted a friend to this deal over New Years....He booked two F tix SFO-AKL and then separately booked travel to SYD. He just asked if I thought he'd be able to simply switch his ticket to California-SYD once his flight was eliminated, or whether UA will force him to have a final destination of AKL. I think he can go to SYD, correct?
Most likely UA would be happy to change you to there nearest port, that being SYD or MEL.
#190
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 4,772
My wife and I are booked SFO-AKL-SFO in May/June with award tickets in J.
I've never had this happen before where a flight I've booked is pulled from the schedule. Anyone know what UA typically does in this situation? I'm Gold and my wife is 1K. I'll have her call the 1K line once there's a more formal announcement.
I've never had this happen before where a flight I've booked is pulled from the schedule. Anyone know what UA typically does in this situation? I'm Gold and my wife is 1K. I'll have her call the 1K line once there's a more formal announcement.
#191
Join Date: Jul 2013
Programs: DYKWIA, But I'm a "Diamond Guest" UA 1K/2MM
Posts: 2,258
I made two calls to GS today. Both agents, when prompted, agreed that there were no SFO-AKL flights being sold after April 16.
I have a saver+GPU ticket for my son and paid BF ticket for me. So I asked about re-routing. They were OK switching me to the ANZ flight. But said they could not switch my son's award+GPU ticket; he would have to fly coach or get a standard award ticket.
So I asked them to re-route on UAL metal via SYD. So now we both have BF SFO<->SYD. I have Biz on ANZ from SYD<->AKL; my son only has economy. Not great, but it looked like space was evaporating quickly so I wanted to get it done.
I have a saver+GPU ticket for my son and paid BF ticket for me. So I asked about re-routing. They were OK switching me to the ANZ flight. But said they could not switch my son's award+GPU ticket; he would have to fly coach or get a standard award ticket.
So I asked them to re-route on UAL metal via SYD. So now we both have BF SFO<->SYD. I have Biz on ANZ from SYD<->AKL; my son only has economy. Not great, but it looked like space was evaporating quickly so I wanted to get it done.
Last edited by porciuscato; Jan 6, 2017 at 5:24 pm
#192
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#193
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It will be subject to the fare rules, if its an F ticket it should offer some flexibility around flight changes. Although there isn't F on SYD-SFO/LAX anymore so would probably require an downgrade to J.
Most likely UA would be happy to change you to there nearest port, that being SYD or MEL.
Most likely UA would be happy to change you to there nearest port, that being SYD or MEL.
#194
Join Date: Feb 2007
Programs: NZ Koru
Posts: 6,415
UA could get you onto NZ, it would just require them to purchase an fare from NZ.
SYD-LAX/SFO are operated by the 789, not 772.
#195
Join Date: Aug 2003
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I've never heard of United purchasing a ticket for someone on another airline because they pulled a route -- seems the preferred option when they cannot reaccomodate is to simply cancel and refund the ticket.