Air NZ Experience - Platinum VFF

[gibosity]

I flew to Wellington this week with Air NZ, having booked my flights through Virgin.
Thought I’d post a couple of things worth noting:

* Access to Air NZ lounges is fine, but have your Velocity card/app ready. Going into both AU and NZ lounges, I scanned my boarding pass only to have ‘Entry Denied’ flash up on the screen. AU lounge staff looked at my boarding pass and let me in once I mentioned VFF Plat. Wellington lounge staff asked to see my Velocity card (app)

* Priority boarding is fine, but be prepared to mention VFF Plat, as there’s no sign of this on the boarding pass

* No priority bag tags makes for a long wait upon arrival

It’s an odd arrangement between the two airlines, but still beneficial. Hopefully it’s gets smoother

 

[SheikYerbouti]

Still nothing available if you're a Plat flying VA SYD - ZQN, not even lounge, right?

 

[HS-TQE]

Still nothing available if you're a Plat flying VA SYD - ZQN, not even lounge, right?

Correct, the ZQN routes are not part of the unilateral NZ partnership. Lounge access is only available if booked on the VA cdoeshares on NZ metal.

 

[i0sam0i]

Am I s.o.l booking through airnz (which was significantly cheaper than VA) to use the lounge etc.?
Or is there a way to increase chances (I have managed to use QF lounge and benefits while on a air tahiti ticket trans tasman)

 

[henrus]

as there’s no sign of this on the boarding pass

Did the boarding pass have the VA code written on it?

 

[antycbr]

Am I s.o.l booking through airnz (which was significantly cheaper than VA) to use the lounge etc.?
Or is there a way to increase chances (I have managed to use QF lounge and benefits while on a air tahiti ticket trans tasman)

You need to be on the VA code to access the VA benefits with NZ. The reason why the VA code is more is to pay for the benefits…

 

[The-Aviator]

I am looking at prices around upcoming public holidays and I'm shocked by how uncompetitive they are... I am literally seeing comparable Qantas flights in J for cheaper!

The premium VA are tacking onto the NZ flight doesn't help, saw posts earlier in the partnership suggesting the prices would be the same at both airlines but doesn't seem to have turned out that way.

 

[serfty]

I am looking at prices around upcoming public holidays and I'm shocked by how uncompetitive they are... I am literally seeing comparable Qantas flights in J for cheaper!

Note that since currently QF have a sale on and such comparisons may not be as relevant. That is not to say the VA marketed fares are competitive in any case.

QANTAS International Red Tail sale

QANTAS has dropped a International Red Tail sale , managed to get a flight in Y SYD-DFW-EWR/LAX-SYD for under $1700 for JUN26-JUL17. Was hoping to hold off for a DSC, but as a self funded QFF, the opportunity for a US Summer fare under $2,000rtn can't be passed up.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[The-Aviator]

Note that since currently QF have a sale on and such comparisons may not be as relevant. That is not to say the VA marketed fares are competitive in any case.

Hadn't realised this - you're right - interestingly enough it seems Auckland in J was one of the few destinations in the sale with no blackout over Easter however that wasn't the case in Y, which meant in some cases booking J was cheaper than Y!

 

[Coxyb76]

I noticed that you cannot book PE with a Virgin Code share on AirNZ, nor do they do NZ internal flights.

 

[HS-TQE]

I noticed that you cannot book PE with a Virgin Code share on AirNZ, nor do they do NZ internal flights.

The NZ internal flights was never part of.the unilateral partnership.

It's a limited one way (unilateral) partnership that only covers the main Trans-Tasman routes where Virgin acts as the authorised travel agent on behalf of NZ for their own customers flying from Australia to the main cities of New Zealamd.

 

[Coxyb76]

The NZ internal flights was never part of.the unilateral partnership.

It's a limited one way (unilateral) partnership that only covers the main Trans-Tasman routes where Virgin acts as the authorised travel agent on behalf of NZ for their own customers flying from Australia to the main cities of New Zealamd.

And not being able to book Premium Economy?

No interconnects also make it more expensive to book via V as the separate interconnect ticket usually costs more than if booked on the same ticket. Id be happy to not earn Status/Points on the interconnect but have the added benefit of a lower fair and security of being looked after if there are delays/cancellations which would effect the next flight.

 

[justinbrett]

And not being able to book Premium Economy?

No interconnects also make it more expensive to book via V as the separate interconnect ticket usually costs more than if booked on the same ticket. Id be happy to not earn Status/Points on the interconnect but have the added benefit of a lower fair and security of being looked after if there are delays/cancellations which would effect the next flight.

NZ has a partnership with QF for domestic flights. They each codeshare on each others flights.

VA are effectively playing travel agent for NZ TT flights only. It’s a very limited agreement.