Air NZ/ Virgin Australia Trans-Tasman Alliance

[serfty]

...
So it seems when flying on NZ Pacific Island services you still get lounge access as a DJ Gold? At least that's what I read between the lines. It's all a bit unclear at this stage and I think we just have to wait to hear from personal experiences. Or the VA or Velocity crew here can clarify some more things?

No, look at that page again:

http://www.airnzagent.com.au/pv_obj...rade-Brochure-AUS.PDF#page=8&zoom=120,970,500

Velocity Gold do not get access to NZ lounges when travelling on "Pacific Island Flights", irrespective of the flight number or metal.

[TABLE="class: grid"]
[TR]
[TD]LOUNGE
ACCESS[/TD]
[TD]AIR NEW ZEALAND
DOMESTIC LOUNGES[/TD]
[TD]AIR NEW ZEALAND
INTERNATIONAL LOUNGES[/TD]
[TD]VIRGIN AUSTRALIA
DOMESTIC LOUNGES[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]AIRPOINTS GOLD
& GOLD ELITE[/TD]
[TD]YES[/TD]
[TD]YES[/TD]
[TD]YES[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]VELOCITY GOLD[/TD]
[TD]YES[/TD]
[TD]YES
excluding Pacific Island flights[/TD]
[TD]YES[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]KORU MEMBERS[/TD]
[TD]YES[/TD]
[TD]YES[/TD]
[TD]YES[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]VIRGIN AUSTRALIA
LOUNGE MEMBERS[/TD]
[TD]YES[/TD]
[TD]YES
only when travelling on a
trans-Tasman journey[/TD]
[TD]YES[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[pangwen]

No, look at that page again:

http://www.airnzagent.com.au/pv_obj...rade-Brochure-AUS.PDF#page=8&zoom=120,970,500

Velocity Gold do not get access to NZ lounges when travelling on "Pacific Island Flights", irrespective of the flight number or metal.

[TABLE="class: grid"]
[TR]
[TD]LOUNGE
ACCESS[/TD]
[TD]AIR NEW ZEALAND
DOMESTIC LOUNGES[/TD]
[TD]AIR NEW ZEALAND
INTERNATIONAL LOUNGES[/TD]
[TD]VIRGIN AUSTRALIA
DOMESTIC LOUNGES[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]AIRPOINTS GOLD
& GOLD ELITE[/TD]
[TD]YES[/TD]
[TD]YES[/TD]
[TD]YES[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]VELOCITY GOLD[/TD]
[TD]YES[/TD]
[TD]YES
excluding Pacific Island flights[/TD]
[TD]YES[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]KORU MEMBERS[/TD]
[TD]YES[/TD]
[TD]YES[/TD]
[TD]YES[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]VIRGIN AUSTRALIA
LOUNGE MEMBERS[/TD]
[TD]YES[/TD]
[TD]YES
only when travelling on a
trans-Tasman journey[/TD]
[TD]YES[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

So, if you were flying to the US from BNE/SYD/MEL via Auckland and were a Virgin Australia lounge member, you would get access in the Australian departure port (because you're going trans-tasman), but not while you're in Auckland?

 

[777]

So, if you were flying to the US from BNE/SYD/MEL via Auckland and were a Virgin Australia lounge member, you would get access in the Australian departure port (because you're going trans-tasman), but not while you're in Auckland?

That's how i read it.

 

[serfty]

That's how i read it.

However, DJ Gold (and the new Plat) would get access before the LAX flight from AKL.

FWIW, the DJ Gold would also get Access to the NZ International Lounge at LAX before their flight to AKL (but not a Virgin "lounge" member) travelling Economy.

 

[777]

However, DJ Gold (and the new Plat) would get access before the LAX flight from AKL.

FWIW, the DJ Gold would also get Access to the NZ International Lounge at LAX before their flight to AKL (but not a Virgin "lounge" member) travelling Economy.

Yep, which is fine by me.

 

[antycbr]

Some website changes

• SC earn rates same as the main partners - magic words Air New Zealand appeared on the SC earning page.
• However the fare bucket earns for status (here) are not updated yet.
• The Gold Benefits Page (here) - now shows the additional benefits of status, might need some proofreading though
• The Gold Lounge Locations page (here) - now shows lounge access on NZ. I wonder if the access to the Corporate Box and Manaia lounges in WLG and CHC respectively will cease and access revert to NZ Koru clubs?

 

[jsoprano]

I sent an email to NZ Customer Service enquiring about lounge access for DJ Gold members for my flight AKL-PPT, this is the answer:

Response (Air NZ Koru Club)	18/07/2011 03:49 PM

[TD="colspan: 2"] Hi there,
As a Gold Velocity member yes you will have access to our lounges, however not if travelling to the pacific islands.
The alliance is only for trans tasman and domestically within Australia. No international or Pacific Islands flights.
Kind regards.
[/TD]

Now actually I thought I would get a definite answers, but I think they also got it wrong in regard to access when travelling on international services (non-pacific islands), haven't they? Still confused. Well, I'll take it this way: I won't expect access then, but will try anyway. If they send me away, fair enough. If they let me in, even better.

 

[serfty]

...
Now actually I thought I would get a definite answers, but I think they also got it wrong in regard to access when travelling on international services (non-pacific islands), haven't they? ...

I agree; that does not comply with the brochure where it specifically differentiates between "VIRGIN AUSTRALIA LOUNGE MEMBERS"¹ and "VELOCITY GOLD"².

I would reply, pointing that out the brochure applies each of the applicability¹/restriction² to the categories individually, not to both.

http://www.airnzagent.com.au/pv_obj...rade-Brochure-AUS.PDF#page=8&zoom=120,970,500

¹ only when travelling on a trans-Tasman journey
² excluding Pacific Island flights

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Dragging up an old thread, but I've got a few questions about this DJ/ANZ alliance.

I'm wondering about the possibilities of skiing in NZ (Queenstown based) this winter but the airfares to Queenstown seem a bit high from Oz but certainly affordable internally in NZ (especially out of CHC... from NZ$59). Any ideas of which is the most favourable methods of getting there in terms of SCs first, price second, then points third? I hope to fly out of OOL, but when I look at the milage calculator (DJs) it doesn't compute OOL-ZQN so how is the SCs calculated......direct route, sector milage or $ spend?

Also, do the DJ gold entitlements, mainly luggage and lounge guesting (spouse & kids), reciprocate with ANZ and if booking ANZ, is it best to use the Oz site or the Kiwi site? By nominating Velocity for SCs/points, will family pooling work if on ANZ metal (not necessarily codeshare)?

Any hints and tips will be greatly appreciated.

 

[samh004]

I found airfares on Pacific Blue from BNE last year direct for under $300 which was quite good. Might even have been closer to $200.

I was under the impression it's all calculated on the start and end point, so it doesn't matter where you connect through?

Not sure on the other questions sorry, but JQ flies from OOL *giggles*




 

[Deleted member 29185]

but JQ flies from OOL *giggles*

Shudder!!

I know......and the prices are very attractive. It's just a pity nothing else is. Imagine, I could perpetrate one of the cardinal sins (well actually multiple.....let's see gluttony, lust, envy, greed....and oh, let's not forget pride) and fly JQ whilst using ATA at the new OOL lounge :shock:.

Could I do such a thing????????

DJ, you're making decision making very difficult these days

 

[Princess Fiona]

Quick question (which I think I know the answer to). I'm guessing that NZ Domestic Grabaseat fares do not earn either Status Credits or points with DJ (although they do earn status points but not airpoints with NZ)?
Will the status benefits (Lounge, seating, boarding etc) still apply even on non-earning fare buckets?

 

[notzac]

Quick question (which I think I know the answer to). I'm guessing that NZ Domestic Grabaseat fares do not earn either Status Credits or points with DJ (although they do earn status points but not airpoints with NZ)?

It would depend on what fare class they book in to (am not familiar enough with NZ to know this, but to earn anything, a trans-tasman economy fare needs to be in one of L, G, S, K, P, F, V, W, T, Q, H, M, B or Y to earn something).

Will the status benefits (Lounge, seating, boarding etc) still apply even on non-earning fare buckets?

Lounge - definitely. Seating - don't believe so. Boarding - not sure.

 

[markis10]

I think you might be in luck, should be P class if this info from FT is accurate, then again it could be F:

FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Booking Class guide - Air NZ international services

C = Long term published Business
D = Long term published Business
Z = Short term published Business
J = Short term published Business
I = Business Award/Redemption (ie UA mileage member into Business)
R = Airpoints Business Award Upgrade class

U = Long term published Premium Economy
E = Long term published Premium Economy
O = Long term published Premium Economy
A = Short term published Premium Economy/Premium Economy Reward upgrade class

Y = Full Economy Flexi
B = Economy Flexi
M = Economy Flexi
H = Economy Flexi

Q = Economy Flexi-Saver
V = Economy Flexi-Saver
W = Economy Flexi-Saver
T = Economy Flexi-Saver

L = Economy Smart Saver
S = Economy Smart Saver
G = Economy Smart Saver
K = Economy Smart Saver
P = Economy Smart Saver (Domestic Grab-A-Seat/Trans Tasman short term Economy Sale) - Generally not valid for Longhaul.
F = Economy Smart Saver (Domestic Grab-A-Seat special ie $1 specials) - short term
X = Economy Redemption/Award (ie Star carrier economy redemption class)
N = staff category - subload/non-subload

 

[Princess Fiona]

The booking class on the ticket is K for the domestic flight CHC-ZQN, and the TT (Works) flights are L and S. VA has K class listed as earning on TT fares but K isn't listed as an earning class in NZ domestic fares
No biggy, as still pretty happy with the fares overall.

 

[burmans]

The booking class on the ticket is K for the domestic flight CHC-ZQN, and the TT (Works) flights are L and S. VA has K class listed as earning on TT fares but K isn't listed as an earning class in NZ domestic fares
No biggy, as still pretty happy with the fares overall.

Well at least you get some points for the TT. Seems amazing to me you can get DJ points for an NZ flight NZ themselves won't give you points for!

 

[sail0r]

Re: Air NZ/ Virgin Australia Trans-Tasman Alliance-no fast bag for Velocity in NZ

NZ has 'fast bag'- like QF's 'premium hand luggage' when flying on the smaller regional planes.

Officially confirmed through NZ and velocity call centres that velocity status members have no access to fast bag

Best you can do is try your luck in the lounge (which at least, we have access to)

I have had success in the past just going to normal check in counter, but this could be a lottery that I have not played enough to know the odds (and not keen to gamble on it)

Have also had a 'concessional' win when my bag, though it fits through the guides, can't be stowed on the small planes, so the co-pilot had to stow it in the hold for me (shouldn't be their job, they have more important things to deal with)

I for one would rather drive than risk my carry on in the hold (work equipment, etc). It is beyond me why the would retain this for their premiums only.

 

[serfty]

Re: Air NZ/ Virgin Australia Trans-Tasman Alliance-no fast bag for Velocity in NZ

...

I for one would rather drive than risk my carry on in the hold (work equipment, etc). It is beyond me why the would retain this for their premiums only.

Because there is now a 'bag' fee for checked luggage - those with no elite bennies could circumvent thse charge using 'fast bag'.

 

[flyingfan]

I flew Air NZ (ZQN-MEL) as a DJ platinum recently, having entered my Velocity number into the booking. I didn't know what to expect and was very pleasantly surprised.

Before takeoff the FA, walking around with a list, found me along with a few other people, greeted me by name and offered me a newspaper and noise-cancelling headphones. She came again a little later to check if I needed anything else, remembering my name.

As we were descending another FA came over and offered me an Express Path card, although I ended up stashing it for next time. My baggage had been checked as priority and was the fifth one out. I was one of the very first people out of the airport.

From my perspective the alliance is working brilliantly

 

[cavemanzk]

I flew Air NZ (ZQN-MEL) as a DJ platinum recently, having entered my Velocity number into the booking. I didn't know what to expect and was very pleasantly surprised.

Before takeoff the FA, walking around with a list, found me along with a few other people, greeted me by name and offered me a newspaper and noise-cancelling headphones. She came again a little later to check if I needed anything else, remembering my name.

As we were descending another FA came over and offered me an Express Path card, although I ended up stashing it for next time. My baggage had been checked as priority and was the fifth one out. I was one of the very first people out of the airport.

From my perspective the alliance is working brilliantly

Not when your a NZ status holder and you get chucked on a sub-stand DJ 738 arccoss the Tasman