Minor schedule change - and now I have to phone Air NZ?

[Jack_OC]

I've got a TT flight booking (for next July) with NZ, and I have just got an email from them advising of a very minor schedule change (15 mins earlier than the original departure time). For some weird reason, the email says:

"We're reminding* you we've had to reschedule your flight(s) below due to operational requirements.

Unfortunately, this booking can’t be changed or approved online and you’ll need to review and approve the revised flight(s) with us over the phone to continue your trip."​

* despite their use of the word "reminding", this is the first I've heard of it!

Anyway, is it normal for them to insist on people phoning them to agree to minor schedule changes? What happens if I don't bother?!

I know I could probably have phoned them in the time that it took to write this post, but this kind of stuff really annoys me. Why not simply ask me to contact them about it if I'm not happy, but otherwise assume it's fine? Or failing that enable passengers to acknowledge changes online, like most other airlines do?

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

I've got a TT flight booking (for next July) with NZ, and I have just got an email from them advising of a very minor schedule change (15 mins earlier than the original departure time). For some weird reason, the email says:

"We're reminding* you we've had to reschedule your flight(s) below due to operational requirements.

Unfortunately, this booking can’t be changed or approved online and you’ll need to review and approve the revised flight(s) with us over the phone to continue your trip."​

* despite their use of the word "reminding", this is the first I've heard of it!

Anyway, is it normal for them to insist on people phoning them to agree to minor schedule changes? What happens if I don't bother?!

I know I could probably have phoned them in the time that it took to write this post, but this kind of stuff really annoys me. Why not simply ask me to contact them about it if I'm not happy, but otherwise assume it's fine? Or failing that enable passengers to acknowledge changes online, like most other airlines do?

NZ normally allows online confirmation of schedule changes. Some possible reasons why they haven't offered this to you:

* If you have connecting flights and the schedule change breaks minimum connection time. Need to select another flight.
* Aircraft type/config swap means new seats need to be selected. Need to select new seats.
* Aircraft type/config swap means booked class of travel isn't available. Need to either accept downgrade/upgraded class, or select another flight.

 

[Jack_OC]

NZ normally allows online confirmation of schedule changes. Some possible reasons why they haven't offered this to you:

* If you have connecting flights and the schedule change breaks minimum connection time. Need to select another flight.
* Aircraft type/config swap means new seats need to be selected. Need to select new seats.
* Aircraft type/config swap means booked class of travel isn't available. Need to either accept downgrade/upgraded class, or select another flight.

Thanks. I decided to go to Manage my Booking despite what the email said, and it allowed me to accept the change online. FWIW, none of the above applied - I don't have a connection, it's still the same aircraft, it's an economy only flight, and there are plenty of seats still available. In fact I still have the same seat assignments. No idea why the email said I had to phone up!

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

Thanks. I decided to go to Manage my Booking despite what the email said, and it allowed me to accept the change online. FWIW, none of the above applied - I don't have a connection, it's still the same aircraft, it's an economy only flight, and there are plenty of seats still available. In fact I still have the same seat assignments. No idea why the email said I had to phone up!

good that you were able to sort it out online, and thanks for reporting back with the outcome

 

[cvmceg]

Glad it was sorted.

Late last year we had the same request of calling for a very minor scheduling change HKG-AKL.

As Kiwiflyer said I think it related to connection concern from them. All in all it wasn't necessary and would have preferred it could have been OKed online