Air New Zealand - New Trans-Tasman and Pacific Island Structures

[Pointy_End]

Flew CHC-BNE today on NZ203 A320 in seat 7A - the "Space +" section. In fact have flown "Space +" three times in the past month. I find the seat spacing quite good for the shortish 3 1/4 hour flight. With seat back video movies/entertainment and good meal/drinks service, I was beginning to enjoy this Trans Tasman product.

Having used the Business Trans-Tasman A320 service several times in the past year and really liking that product very much for it's quiet cabin and exemplary food/beverage service, I was still finding it hard to justify the $900-1000 fare.

I was planning several more Trans Tasman flights in the next six months, but now seeing this new "choices" cough coming in soon and loss of J, to me NZ feels like the JetStar/Pacific Blue products which I will never come to use. I might try the full service QF product.

 

[yohy?!]

Just saw an ad for the new structure in today's Daily Telegraph in Sydney.

'Seat Only' fares pricing at $179 SYD-CHC

 

[serfty]

Ex NZ they are NZD139.

Sydney - Blackboard Deals - Flights - Blackboard Deals - Offers - Air

Round trip cost ex AKL is NZD227.

 

[samh004]

But JQ offers seat only for $129 quite often, so what’s the advantage to NZ’s option? I wonder how many AirPoints you’ll earn.

 

[anat0l]

But JQ offers seat only for $129 quite often, so what’s the advantage to NZ’s option? I wonder how many AirPoints you’ll earn.

Well, NZ are having a sale at the moment of CHC-SYD o/w for NZD 89, seat only. Can't see JQ matching that unless it were to save their life.

Advantages of NZ over JQ (comparing non-flexible NZ seat only vs. JQ JetSaver Light):

• Status points (no Airpoints Dollars, though), cf. JQ no status credits OR points; although *A members will get nothing (no change from before)
• Fares can be interlined in NZ domestic, cf. JQ is point-to-point; not to mention very soon NZ can even interline with DJ. (QF/JQ interlining is either quite messy, quite expensive or non-existant).
• Star Alliance elites can still get benefits on NZ (except no baggage, but e.g. *G can get lounge access & extra carry-on), cf. oneworld elites cannot get any benefit from flying JQ. In fact, NZ elites also get benefits (e.g. where status provides it, priority check-in, lounge access, priority baggage handling, and GEs get a greeting on board). QF elites on JQ only get lounge access, a squiggle and nothing else; ow elites, absolutely nothing.
• NZ provide free tea/coffee/water for a seat only fare, cf. JQ provide absolutely nothing.

In saying all that, if NZ have got their strategy right, they purport that the main people who would buy Seat only fares are leisure travellers and not business travellers (this board has one notable exception to that demographic assumption). So there's a good chance that most of these people will not have any status at all, which rubs out a couple of the benefits detailed above. The other remaining benefits - interlining and free basic drinks - are non-apparent to the person on the street (in the former) or token to nothing (in the latter). So if you really want to be critical, then perhaps there is no competitive advantage.

 

[serfty]

$160 SYD-CHC return fares finish today

The sale for the SYD-CHC launch fares where one can get a "Seat Only" fare from AUD160 return sale finishes TODAY!

(For travel 18 Aug – 21 Sep and 12 Oct – 14 Dec, ).

Christchurch - Hot Deals - Flights - Hot Deals - Promotions - Air

The cheapest seat only fares are pricing at $18 each way, the other $124 is the

.

Airpoints members can earn 60 SC's for these, (no Airpoints $).

 

[drron]

Looking at travelling SYD-CHC late december.The new NZ fare has a works plus at $307 whereas the cheapest QF econ ticket is $395.
Now on NZ will get lounge access and middle seat free if I am not mistaken.But no Krisflyer miles it would seem.
On QF though Will get Flounge and meals would seem to be equivalent plus QFF or AA miles.
Coming home the QF fare is actually cheaper so seems a no brainer.
Should we fly NZ outbound?

 

[samh004]

Looking at travelling SYD-CHC late december.The new NZ fare has a works plus at $307 whereas the cheapest QF econ ticket is $395.
Now on NZ will get lounge access and middle seat free if I am not mistaken.But no Krisflyer miles it would seem.
On QF though Will get Flounge and meals would seem to be equivalent plus QFF or AA miles.
Coming home the QF fare is actually cheaper so seems a no brainer.
Should we fly NZ outbound?

At this stage, you could also wait for better fares/sales surely? It seems you’re booking a long way out.

As for flying on current prices, I’m sure you’ll make use of the F lounge to the tune of about $88 at least

 

[drron]

At this stage, you could also wait for better fares/sales surely? It seems you’re booking a long way out.

As for flying on current prices, I’m sure you’ll make use of the F lounge to the tune of about $88 at least

Only problem is it is school holidays and 5 days before Christmas-already the cheapest fare has the hurry up logo on QF.Dont think it will get cheaper.I certainly am feeling the Flounge will tip the scales though did want to see what NZ was like.

 

[kelpie]

Sorry to bring up an old thread, but I gave the new layout of the A320 a go earlier this year. Never again.

It might be OK for families and other leisure travellers (and the fares are indeed cheap), but for business travel it is hopeless because the seat pitch is too tight to open up a laptop. The only chance of doing any work on the flight is in row 1.

Meanwhile the QF 737s give WP travellers like me the option of row 4 and the exit rows further back as well.

I miss the old Space+ seats.

 

[haydensydney]

I miss the old Space+ seats.

I miss the J *sob* :-|

 

[trooper]

True... but having flown the new product (3D both ways) I was rather relieved.

I certainly won't be telling horror stories about it...

2D/E/F didn't seem as bad as reported and would perhaps be OK for someone wanting to use a laptop... (??) avoiding the possible problems of row 1...

Cabin crew seemed to handle the storage of carry ons for rows 1 & 2 quite well....

I might be a bit too well disposed towards NZ at the moment of course... upgrades cleared both ways (AKL-LAXvv) to BP on the new 773.... verrra nice indeed....:mrgreen:

 

[serfty]

Kelpie, do you have status on NZ?*

If so you can then preselect seating eveon on "Seat only Fares".

Also, AirNZ have listened to complaints and (aside from exit row seats) are increasing the number of 33"/34" pitch seats in the all international economy 320's from 12 to 27 by taking a one row of 3 seats out.

*(They comped me based on my WP two years ago)

 

[clifford]

I might be a bit too well disposed towards NZ at the moment of course... upgrades cleared both ways (AKL-LAXvv) to BP on the new 773.... verrra nice indeed....:mrgreen:

Sounds like it, but good luck to you.

 

[kelpie]

Kelpie, do you have status on NZ?*

If so you can then preselect seating eveon on "Seat only Fares".

Also, AirNZ have listened to complaints and (aside from exit row seats) are increasing the number of 33"/34" pitch seats in the all international economy 320's from 12 to 27 by taking a one row of 3 seats out.

*(They comped me based on my WP two years ago)

That is good news about the Space+ seats coming back.

To answer your other question, they did comp me a membership at *G level just recently, but I normally use my SQ membership instead.