Jul 1, 2016, 10:36 am
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)
Jan 9, 2017, 4:35 pm
#241
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,424
And how is that going to work when there are no sufficiently early flights out of the originating city to connect to UA metal in SYD given the 0945/1030 LAX and SFO departures -- be it on NZ or, as in my case, on any airline, at all? Would seem to go against the promise that customers will not be coming out of pocket if I have to pay to RON in SYD, aside from the significant inconvenience.
FWIW, I don't have MCT at SYD written down, but NZ has arrivals WLG-SYD at 0825 and AKL-SYD at 0835. Also WLG-MEL 0805 and CHC-MEL 0800 to catch the 1025 MEL-LAX. So there are same-day options.
Jan 9, 2017, 4:38 pm
#242
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Northern California
Programs: I want to be free! Free!
Posts: 3,455
Don't get me wrong, it's a lousy situation to be in and I'm not trying to say UA is doing right by people in this situation. Just stating what I think they are likely to do for you other than "full refund only".
FWIW, I don't have MCT at SYD written down, but NZ has arrivals WLG-SYD at 0825 and AKL-SYD at 0835. Also WLG-MEL 0815 and CHC-MEL 0805 to catch the 1025 MEL-LAX. So there are same-day options.
FWIW, I don't have MCT at SYD written down, but NZ has arrivals WLG-SYD at 0825 and AKL-SYD at 0835. Also WLG-MEL 0815 and CHC-MEL 0805 to catch the 1025 MEL-LAX. So there are same-day options.
The one airport you didn't list was ZQN -- nothing leaves for SYD on any airline until 12:15.
Jan 9, 2017, 4:42 pm
#243
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: YYZ/SFO/AKL
Programs: NZ*G, back of the bus UA, corner of the MLL AC.
Posts: 373
And how is that going to work when there are no sufficiently early flights out of the originating city to connect to UA metal in SYD given the 0945/1030 LAX and SFO departures -- be it on NZ or, as in my case, on any airline, at all? Would seem to go against the promise that customers will not be coming out of pocket if I have to pay to RON in SYD, aside from the significant inconvenience.
Jan 9, 2017, 4:48 pm
#244
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Northern California
Programs: I want to be free! Free!
Posts: 3,455
Jan 9, 2017, 4:53 pm
#245
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: YYZ/SFO/AKL
Programs: NZ*G, back of the bus UA, corner of the MLL AC.
Posts: 373
Jan 9, 2017, 5:05 pm
#246
Join Date: Dec 2015
Programs: UA Silver, AA Gold
Posts: 221
I was booked on P fares after the date UA will stop flying (specifically chose a refundable P fare). After the AKL-SFO segment dropped from my reservation, I called the 1K desk.
Call #1. The agent was very friendly and understanding, but she would only book me on ANZ flights that had P availability, which was either one day before or after my original booking. These days did not work, as we have other plans booked on both ends. After a lot of discussion, she offered a refund, but said she could not accommodate me on ANZ on my original departure date without buying up to the next fare class. Said I'll think about it and goodbye. I later called back.
Call #2. Agent was far less friendly. Immediately tried to brush me off saying they don't book on other airlines for schedule changes. Talked to her a bit more -- I had to explain to her that UA pulled out of the market for that date. She put me on hold for a while. Then she came back and said she would accommodate me on ANZ on the day I want, and asked if I prefer SFO or LAX. I chose LAX, and we went back and forth on connection times (told me I could either have a <2 hr layover or a 8 hour layover, but nothing in between?!). After some more discussion and another long hold, she booked what I wanted and reissued the ticket. Ended up booked on J fare on ANZ.
But then I looked at the new e-ticket receipt, which at the bottom says "nonref" even though my original booking was specifically booked refundable.
Call #3. Asked about the refundability. She agreed that the new ticket says nonrefundable, but promised that the original fare rules would be honored if I ever needed to cancel in the future because it was due to a schedule change. Let's hope she's right if that's the case.
Call #1. The agent was very friendly and understanding, but she would only book me on ANZ flights that had P availability, which was either one day before or after my original booking. These days did not work, as we have other plans booked on both ends. After a lot of discussion, she offered a refund, but said she could not accommodate me on ANZ on my original departure date without buying up to the next fare class. Said I'll think about it and goodbye. I later called back.
Call #2. Agent was far less friendly. Immediately tried to brush me off saying they don't book on other airlines for schedule changes. Talked to her a bit more -- I had to explain to her that UA pulled out of the market for that date. She put me on hold for a while. Then she came back and said she would accommodate me on ANZ on the day I want, and asked if I prefer SFO or LAX. I chose LAX, and we went back and forth on connection times (told me I could either have a <2 hr layover or a 8 hour layover, but nothing in between?!). After some more discussion and another long hold, she booked what I wanted and reissued the ticket. Ended up booked on J fare on ANZ.
But then I looked at the new e-ticket receipt, which at the bottom says "nonref" even though my original booking was specifically booked refundable.
Call #3. Asked about the refundability. She agreed that the new ticket says nonrefundable, but promised that the original fare rules would be honored if I ever needed to cancel in the future because it was due to a schedule change. Let's hope she's right if that's the case.
Jan 9, 2017, 6:21 pm
#247
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: California
Programs: AA EXP, lowly UA 1K; Hyatt Diamond, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold; National EC, Hertz PC
Posts: 2,215
Really disappointed by UA in their lack of pro-activeness on this issue -- even if they weren't going to just automatically rebook you on the NZ flights an email at least alerting you to call to discuss options would have been more appropriate. Think I am still going to wait to see how things shake out over the next week, but so far not impressed whatsoever.
Jan 9, 2017, 7:01 pm
#248
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Northern California
Programs: I want to be free! Free!
Posts: 3,455
Really disappointed by UA in their lack of pro-activeness on this issue -- even if they weren't going to just automatically rebook you on the NZ flights an email at least alerting you to call to discuss options would have been more appropriate. Think I am still going to wait to see how things shake out over the next week, but so far not impressed whatsoever.
Jan 9, 2017, 11:18 pm
#249
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SFO
Programs: UA MMGold, HH Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 1,263
Jan 10, 2017, 2:01 am
#251
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: ICN
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 224
I was surprised to see my business saver AKL-SFO flight missing when I happened to check my reservation. No e-mail or red text indicating any changes. I was worried that it would mess up my stopover and the miles required for my pre-October 6th award ticket.
After being transferred to web support, the first part my trip was changed from AKL-SFO-IAD-GRU to AKL-PEK-SFO-PTY-GRU without any additional miles but a small increase in taxes. The agent was able to keep my remaining flights intact.
After being transferred to web support, the first part my trip was changed from AKL-SFO-IAD-GRU to AKL-PEK-SFO-PTY-GRU without any additional miles but a small increase in taxes. The agent was able to keep my remaining flights intact.
Jan 10, 2017, 8:45 am
#252
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: None - previously UA
Posts: 4,867
I was surprised to see my business saver AKL-SFO flight missing when I happened to check my reservation. No e-mail or red text indicating any changes. I was worried that it would mess up my stopover and the miles required for my pre-October 6th award ticket.
After being transferred to web support, the first part my trip was changed from AKL-SFO-IAD-GRU to AKL-PEK-SFO-PTY-GRU without any additional miles but a small increase in taxes. The agent was able to keep my remaining flights intact.
After being transferred to web support, the first part my trip was changed from AKL-SFO-IAD-GRU to AKL-PEK-SFO-PTY-GRU without any additional miles but a small increase in taxes. The agent was able to keep my remaining flights intact.
Jan 10, 2017, 12:15 pm
#253
Join Date: Nov 2014
Programs: UA 2MM
Posts: 1,679
I figured I would share my experience here getting rebooked, we were on UA in J on Saver Award Tickets, luckly we only had one way tickets and award tickets on a another reservation to Australia. All in all it took 5 calls and about 3 hours to be rebooked. Ultimately we were rebooked out of SYD on the nonstop, everytime I called was told they have no availability (even on the own metal out of SYD) and on the fifth call I realized they were speaking about saver availability. After explaining the situation they rebooked us in UA J out of SYD, I just held my ground and explained that I didn't want to be rebooked through Asia or take Y but would be shoot to get myself to SYD, but it took a ton of time to accomplish.
Jan 10, 2017, 1:48 pm
#254
Join Date: May 2004
Location: SFO sometimes
Programs: UA 1K, AA gold, A3 gold
Posts: 1,634
FYI here is the UA policy that went out to travel agents, though it only covers revenue tickets.
Code:
Issue date: 8 JAN 2016 Service discontinuation: San Francisco (SFO) – Auckland, New Zealand (AKL) Travel period: April 15, 2017 – October 29, 2017 United is offering travel protection for customers due to a seasonal service suspension. Disrupted passengers should be booked onto Air New Zealand (NZ) services by booking inventory through normal GDS availability using the following guidelines: Passengers with SFO origin or destination: rebook onto NZ SFO-AKL service Passengers with origins or destinations closer to west coast gateways versus Houston: rebook via NZ LAX-AKL service Passengers with origins or destinations closer to Houston, or in eastern USA: rebook via NZ IAH-AKL service As a last option, passengers may be rebooked onto UA services via Sydney, Australia (SYD) and then onto NZ to New Zealand. Note: Passengers should be rebooked onto NZ operations between SFO/LAX/IAH – AKL using the UA marketing flight number or in accordance with the below mapping: SFO/LAX/HOU-AKL in either direction UA marketing RBD NZ operating RBD F to C A to C J to C C to C D to D Z to Z P to J Y to Y B to B M to M H to H Q to Q V to V W to W S to T T to L L to S K to G G to K For all other markets, please rebook in the originally ticketed booking class (RBD) in accordance with the class mapping shown below. Other international Sectors UA marketing RBD NZ operating RBD F to C A to C J to C C to Z D to Z Z to J P to J Y to Y B to M M to H E to Q U to Q H to V Q to W V to T W to L S to S T to S L to S K to S G to S N to S
Jan 10, 2017, 5:46 pm
#255
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: ICN
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 224