Air NZ Experience as Velocity Platinum

[bcworld]

Having now checked in, NZ wanted a FF program to input into the booking with no option for VA. I ended up just putting in my NZ one so we'll see how that affects the booking as far as lounge access at BNE tomorrow.

I would not have done that. I don't believe you will earn anything in Airpoints due to the unilateral nature of this arrangement and the VA flight number.

You hopefully got this fixed (VA number added) at check in.

 

[roby]

I would not have done that. I don't believe you will earn anything in Airpoints due to the unilateral nature of this arrangement and the VA flight number.

You hopefully got this fixed (VA number added) at check in.

I am always curious about what would happen if you put in your NZ number (or another Star program ) in a VA coded flight. After all, metal counts in *A world. Would you earn nothing or would you double dip? I wish I could test it out but there is no point for me booking a VA code as I have *G status.

 

[HS-TQE]

I am always curious about what would happen if you put in your NZ number (or another Star program ) in a VA coded flight. Would you earn nothing or would you double dip? I wish I could test it out but there is no point for me booking a VA code as I have *G status.

Nothing / Zero benefits. It's a unilateral arrangement where you need to book the VA code on the NZ operated flight.

Unless if VA has a bilateral partnership with the Star partners (UA, AC, SQ, NH) or those Star carriers with unilateral arrangements to VA domestic (SA and AI) putting any other Star Alliance Airline FF not partnered with VA also grants nothing / Zero benefits.

 

[roby]

Nothing / Zero benefits. It's a unilateral arrangement where you need to book the VA code on the NZ operated flight.

Unless if VA has a bilateral partnership with the Star partners (UA, AC, SQ, NH) or those with unilateral arrangements to VA domestic (SA and AI) putting any other Star Alliance Airline FF not partnered with VA also grants nothing / Zero benefits.

Although I understand where you are coming from, I have yet to encounter any instances where a Star carrier operated flight would deny *G benefits. Whether you will earn points is a different story.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Using TG (((or EVA iar, LOT or Lufthansa (who are all in *A))), as an eg with VFF, tho, they are not partners, but there are ways of tranferring TG points earn to VFF, via KF, but the earn rate is degraded, so to speak
Or any *A partner that is not a partner in VFF, is to put as much of your points earn to KF miles, with all partners, yes, even AirNZ, and then transfer the points to VFF, you do loose 0.35 points per transfer, this might be the better way to do it, if you want to earn VFF in the end, from the AirNZ partnership in *A.
Rather than doing it the current VA and AirNZ way.
If you have status in KF, or any other *A member, keep putting all your flights to KF, and then transfer the points to VFF, in the end at 1 to 0.65.

 

[chooms]

Real time update sitting in the Strata Lounge at AKL…

BNE was a breeze and even sent down express security lane just showing VA WP card on phone (security was a zoo).

BNE NZ lounge was nice (and a refreshing non-crowded change from the QF lounge). Plenty of food (including scones and Jam) and booze, but no meeting room which would have been nice as I had a couple of meetings to do pre-flight.

Priority boarding honored by showing VA WP card.

No mention of VA WP on boarding pass (or NZ airpoints for that matter despite entering in info).

On departure at AKL I showed VA WP card at the NZ Premium check in and was waved through to an agent. Agent said no lounge access as that is only on way to NZ, not the other way and that I shouldn’t have been given access to Premium Check in. Interesting.

I thought I’d test this ‘no lounge access’ order by heading first to the NZ lounge. Welcomed me but said I’d need to go to Strata Lounge. I mentioned I had been told at check in that no lounge access was to be given and she said that was wrong info and they’d pass on that experience to airport services.

No issues at strata lounge, boarding pass stamped and VA number taken down. Nice lounge, but hot food option was one thing: fajitas. Cold food selection not bad.

Will probably use the VA coded flights again once my QF WP status ends in June, but I have one more visit to the SYD F lounge to do before then and I plan on drinking the champagne dry to farewell my time with QF.

 

[chooms]

I would not have done that. I don't believe you will earn anything in Airpoints due to the unilateral nature of this arrangement and the VA flight number.

You hopefully got this fixed (VA number added) at check in.

Nothing posted yet on VA activity statement but I’ve found mine usually takes a few days anyway. I’ll follow up with VA if nothing there in a week. Not overly fussed as I’ve requalified WP and gifted WP this year already.

 

[henrus]

No mention of VA WP on boarding pass (or NZ airpoints for that matter despite entering in info).

What I’m hearing is that soft benefits like priority boarding just require a card and nothing more. I’m flying on non VA codeshares but have VA status so I might put that one to the test

 

[chooms]

What I’m hearing is that soft benefits like priority boarding just require a card and nothing more. I’m flying on non VA codeshares but have VA status so I might put that one to the test

I should note the VA codeshare/flight number is prominent next to the NZ one on the BP and had to show that at the entrance to the boarding queue.

 

[bcworld]

Nothing posted yet on VA activity statement

It sounds like if it (your VA number) was ever there, you overwrote it with an NZ number...so I doubt they will post.

 

[jeppetto367]

Nothing posted yet on VA activity statement but I’ve found mine usually takes a few days anyway. I’ll follow up with VA if nothing there in a week. Not overly fussed as I’ve requalified WP and gifted WP this year already.

I've read on a forum or article post (sorry can't remember where) that people who have booked a VA codeshare with their VA number have managed to also get points credited to SQ by doing what you've done. It's weird as outside of this VA/NZ 'partnership' I've never heard of this happening, but you may very well get both!

 

[roby]

I've read on a forum or article post (sorry can't remember where) that people who have booked a VA codeshare with their VA number have managed to also get points credited to SQ by doing what you've done. It's weird as outside of this VA/NZ 'partnership' I've never heard of this happening, but you may very well get both!

Haha, knew it. This partnership will never start to make sense until it becomes bilateral.

 

[HS-TQE]

Haha, knew it. This partnership will never start to make sense until it becomes bilateral.

Aeroroutes did mention back in December 2024 about NZ codes 'tentatively' appearing on some VA domestic eoutes, but no further news has appeared on that since then.

I'd suspect VA would be negotiating their cut/commission on their side of a proposed bilateral partnership as a glorified Travel Agent for NZ as VA would be leaving almost all of Trans-Tasman operating expenses on NZ in the proposed bilateral partnership (and as the non-flying partner/the authorised travel agent on the Tasman).

This is as opposed to the old Joint Venture (JV) where VA had to contribute to costs as well as do their share of the flying in the JV and reportedly lost money on NZ services when it was operated as a Jv.

 

[darv]

I've read on a forum or article post (sorry can't remember where) that people who have booked a VA codeshare with their VA number have managed to also get points credited to SQ by doing what you've done. It's weird as outside of this VA/NZ 'partnership' I've never heard of this happening, but you may very well get both!

I’ve done BNE-AKL a few times on a VA ticket and got both AirPoints and Velocity points / SC.