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I’m expecting an opening to Australia to be announced in November as long as this govt doesn’t drag out talks and take forever to allocate ministerial portfolios etc. I can’t see them allowing quarantine free travel from NSW and VIC just yet. Should have been announced by now if we didn’t have an election!
The pacific islands likely next opening. Of the islands Air NZ used to fly to I think only Tahiti has an issue with COVID currently. If we can do Oz and the pacific islands safely I’d be pretty happy with that.
I’d look to Asia next year to see if countries like Taiwan are allowed in to either NZ or Australia. I saw a recent stuff article from an epidemiologist suggesting very low risk countries like Australia could self quarantine for 14 days but I can’t see government doing that to Oz. Govt doesn’t take all the advice thrown at them (thank goodness).
I wouldn’t mind seeing a trusted traveler type system set up where, as long as you have a safe plan and deemed trustworthy enough to execute it then you can travel elsewhere but quarantine at home. Great if you can work from home. Most people do the right thing. Wishful thinking on my part! Things look pretty dire in the US/EU right now so, wait and see.
Back in Mar/Apr I did consider offloading APD but to be honest I’d just be buying crap I don’t need. I don’t expect to get the same type of value from APD as previously but I do still expect to get value. Air NZ won’t be going under so I’ve no concerns about losing APD altogether.
You’ve got it 🙂
You could book your own ticket separately with cash then use the airpoint dollars for the other members. It’s sort of the same thing. Then call Air NZ to ask them to link the bookings just in case they need to juggle passengers around – RARE you’d lose your seat but it happens. Try social media (save some phone time).
I don’t travel with my partner that often but when we do I typically use the airpoint dollars for his ticket but we still split the cost of the paid ticket which is cheaper. In a roundabout way it’s a points and cash option and we’re basically getting there for half price.
I just had a quick look at the flexipay option with airpoints for domestic fares and it has some flexipay cost in there as well, and if you have to pay the rest by credit card you also get charged for the credit card fee.
You are far better off booking full fares using airpoint dollars and paying outright cash for the other.
Hi Clokisk.
I’m assuming disabled travellers use the same companies as other people. Just have to disclose detailed info on the disability. Sometimes that may result in increased fees or being declined for certain aspects of the policy but I’d start there.
https://www.consumer.org.nz/services/travel-insurance/guide
Kiwis have reciprocal medical cover with the UK. https://www.health.govt.nz/new-zealand-health-system/eligibility-publicly-funded-health-services/reciprocal-health-agreements
https://www.canstar.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Canstar-Travel-Insurance-NZ-2019-Singles.pdf Comparison travel insurances in NZ in table form. UK scroll towards the bottom. There are different options if you’re after travel insurance for one trip or multiple trips etc.
Hope that gives you a starting point?
Forgot to report back but my main claim for reimbursement was eventually successful from the credit card company. I had to be my own detective to some degree and things took a looong time to sort but a good outcome.
These are my thoughts for any cancellations. The best thing to do is get online and plan your own reroute.
The airline will want to keep you on their aircraft network. e.g. if you’re headed to New York it really doesn’t matter if you fly Auckland to LA, San Francisco, Vancouver, Chicago or Houston.
Much like the Sydney routes you can fly into Melbourne, Gold Coast, Brisbane then connect onwards probably with Qantas to Sydney.
Asia you can probably route through Hong Kong or Singapore then onwards with those airlines to your destination.
Always sort the long haul leg first (which pretty much describes every plane leaving NZ!)
It’s not difficult, just jump on google flights. That way you can call Air NZ and tell them what you want while everyone else is playing the passive game and waiting to hear back and will end up with leftovers.
I basically dislike the hassle of chasing up a refund and amounts etc. I’m put off just by reading others stories on forums and seeing how long things can take. It would wind me up.
I don’t think I’d take any refunds or reorganise my own flights as closer the time they’re likely to be more expensive which would also irritate me.
I saw their marketing once. It was in the newspaper. Pricing is probably what works in their favour most.
I asked a question on social media and received no answer either which was disappointing.
Bula bid was a joke. Difficult to find on the website. And ridiculous pricing ie more than a round trip ticket. Also in the lounge was approached for a 2k upgrade. (Excuse me?? :P)
Slept like a log in extra leg room seat. Jealous he does this better than myself. Price was different in different directions ~90 over and 170 on the return. Did this on the long haul legs only. Doesn’t seem worth it for shorter legs to pay extra. Had A330 the whole way.
Said food was ok. Curry stuff. Breakfast not that great. Man of few words. He had access to the Fiji lounge with priority pass which he said was quite good and was grateful for the shower.
KAL priority pass lounge is closed when the Fiji Airways flight departs LAX and they have cut access to the restaurant PF Chang. I see Qantas is now allowing pay per use access for their lounges as long as it doesn’t impact their own customers.
Clearing transfer was awful on the way back through. One person on.
Also managed to get his mini bottle of whisky confiscated on the way over. Oops. He should have told them at duty free he was transferring through so hopefully they would have put it in a sealed bag. Or he should have bought it in Fiji.
I bought a replacement for him on my way out which he didn’t finish. Returning to NZ he was over the alcohol limit due to a purchase for friends but I told him customs would just wave it and they did. It was 200ml and he only had half so instead of binning it he got to keep it. (Should have listened to me in the first place and taken the other half used mini bottle he had sitting in the cupboard!)
Anyway, sounds like it mostly worked out well for him.
Twice in one year isn’t good. I have a samsonite I bought on sale. Still thought it was expensive. Only one wheel repair. One other part. Surviving well though but not using it lately. Had soft case as well, smaller black wolf, then Sierra which also broke. Mainly the bars the handles slide back into within the bag. I also don’t like the book-style opening for samsonite. Doesn’t work for most rooms. Prefer soft shell. Has compartments. Easier organizing gear.
You can either go for something expensive and hope it lives up to the durability test, or accept something cheaper and accept you’re going to replace every couple of years. I went for option B. Figured I’d cry less than if I went with option A and it didn’t work out 🙄
I also didn’t want want to spend that much on … a bag.
It’s a pretty short flight across the ditch. LATAM and sometimes Qantas red eyes provide amenity kits on the Tasman. Maybe eye mask or something on Emirates which were day flights so never bothered with those.
NZ isn’t the best seat in seat mode. Agree it’s a pain to cloud watch and turn around for the drinks stand. Something I’m sure they’ll fix when they eventually update the seat properly.
Bed mode is great 🙂 which is useful given they do a lot of long haul flights overnight. I’ve pretty much decided if it’s day flying with NZ I’m only aiming for premium economy. Feel like dozing at best rather than sleeping. Night flight I think lie flat is nicer so aim for business or economy SkyCouch although PE is fine too.
Other airlines to fly on the ditch are Qantas A330s to Brisbane, Melbourne & Sydney, LATAM to Sydney, China airlines to Brisbane, Emirates from Christchurch to Sydney & in November Singapore Airlines Wellington to Melbourne on their A350 for more of a long haul lie flat experience. It’s not necessary on short flights but the option is there. Qantas and Virgin have recliner seats for business on their 737s which are more like PE on Air NZ except I think I prefer Air NZ. China Airlines and LATAM are generally cheapest for business.
With the EY partnership it’s generally going to be VA and NZ for the Tasman leg. You could always swap out with someone in PE for that leg. I’ve thought of doing that.
I need more info please.
What info are you after?
If not sold yes, should be available for upgrades but the flights close ~ 3hrs prior to departure when check-in opens. Some people have had upgrades clear at the gate so it could happen any time.
Unless you can confirm them prior it’s a fingers crossed situation because you don’t know who else is in the upgrade pool with you.
I think paying for a twin seat long haul is worth it for the extra space. I lift the arm rest up and swing my legs into the middle seat area which is good for a stretch. I don’t think they make you pay though if it’s light loads.
I have to admit I don’t even think about train travel in NZ. It feels pretty nonexistent whereas in the UK it’s a reasonable option as they actually have a network.
I’ve seen variable train prices and generally compare to flights. Sometimes it’s more expensive than flying. Possibly even rent a car and drive although there’d be one way fees so maybe not.
You could have taken the train to Manchester then flown to any of the London airports then taken the various transport options into the city. Some of the ticket prices aren’t too bad although Manchester airport appears to have a terrible reputation.
I think I paid less than you to get from Euston to Glasgow. That might even include the Uber ride in!
You can see A class availability on expert flyer into Premium Economy but you can’t see R class for business on expert flyer. I read some people call up to clear upgrades. I’ve had it clear pretty much immediately after booking without calling.
If you don’t have access to expert flyer and you’re after premium economy you can just go through the booking process. The website shows you in brackets if A class is available. Look for ‘deal’ or the purple triangles at the top of the boxes. They’ll likely have A class available. Then book and apply your upgrade. It should clear < 30mins. I never checked prior to 30mins.
If you’ve already booked and then find A class, you could call up and ask them to clear your upgrade. I’m not sure if it clears immediately if you have booked but wait for A class and then apply online.
Also with business class, if there is I class available I would call and see if they can clear your upgrade.
It’s not about how many seats you see on the seat maps, there have to be specific classes available to clear upgrades. They will process the upgrades closer the time and well, you really don’t know who else is in the queue or if they requested their upgrade earlier etc
