New Zealand Travel Bubble Announcement

[encryptededdy]

Does that mean they'd fund a hotel if that was the only way to connect?

Well, they didn't straight up cancel it. I'll wait and see what they get back to me with I suppose. According to @henrus since it's not within 14 days they may not have to, but I would certainly hope that they do.

 

[jakeseven7]

Hopefully this measure speeds up the vaccine rollout to allow NZ to reopen the borders faster!

——

Breaking: NZ announces sweeping new vaccine mandates​

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says her government will mandate COVID-19 vaccines for any worker of a business that requires a vaccine certificate at entry, as the country reported 179 new local cases in an effort to drive flagging vaccination rates.

Ms Ardern said this afternoon that cabinet had decided to place the mandate on businesses, meaning restaurants, cafes, gyms and other “close proximity” businesses that chose to operate with greater freedoms, while requiring vaccine certification, will have to comply.

As it happened: Crown found to be unfit to hold Melbourne casino licence; Victoria records 1510 new local COVID-19 cases, four deaths; NSW records 282 new cases, one death

Crown will today learn whether it will retain its Melbourne casino licence, the Prime Minister will unveil green energy policies as soon as today and NSW’s anti-corruption inquiry continues.

www.smh.com.au

 

[henrus]

Well, they didn't straight up cancel it. I'll wait and see what they get back to me with I suppose. According to @henrus since it's not within 14 days they may not have to, but I would certainly hope that they do.

On second thought the NZ5470 9am flight that is scheduled to arrive in AKL at 10:15am meets a minimum connection time in AKL and does allow connections to the 12pm so they'll likely rebook on this (from memory dom to intl minimum connection time is 70 minutes).

That being said I agree with @justinbrett , the last three flights of NZ5470 it's arrived between 20 and 28 minutes late each time which would mean a rather short and possibly stressful connection depending on how quickly you can get yourself from dom to intl. A night in AKL which wouldn't be funded by Air NZ would remove this stress.

Regarding the flight changes, the policy is reasonably well explained:

International Schedule Changes

www.airnzagent.co.nz

 

[burmans]

Hopefully this measure speeds up the vaccine rollout to allow NZ to reopen the borders faster!

——

Breaking: NZ announces sweeping new vaccine mandates​

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says her government will mandate COVID-19 vaccines for any worker of a business that requires a vaccine certificate at entry, as the country reported 179 new local cases in an effort to drive flagging vaccination rates.

Ms Ardern said this afternoon that cabinet had decided to place the mandate on businesses, meaning restaurants, cafes, gyms and other “close proximity” businesses that chose to operate with greater freedoms, while requiring vaccine certification, will have to comply.

As it happened: Crown found to be unfit to hold Melbourne casino licence; Victoria records 1510 new local COVID-19 cases, four deaths; NSW records 282 new cases, one death

Crown will today learn whether it will retain its Melbourne casino licence, the Prime Minister will unveil green energy policies as soon as today and NSW’s anti-corruption inquiry continues.

www.smh.com.au

This is absolutely what was needed but suspect some won’t like this!

 

[encryptededdy]

Very cool, the only option presented to me is "Request a credit".

Guess I'll be spending 2 hours on hold today...

Hopefully they can change my ticket to fly me up the day before

 

[Berlin]

Very cool, the only option presented to me is "Request a credit".

Guess I'll be spending 2 hours on hold today...

Hopefully they can change my ticket to fly me up the day before

That sucks man! I find Air NZ generally really bad with this, I had numerous cancelations like this over bubble openings/ closures and you really can't do much about it. Qantas had been always much better with this and usually gives you re-booking options or even a phone call.

My experience might admittedly be skewed though due to high status with QF but only Silver with *Alliance. Still- not good enough Air NZ, in any case!

 

[justinbrett]

Just make sure they don't cancel your AKL-SYD

 

[Mattg]

My experience might admittedly be skewed though due to high status with QF but only Silver with *Alliance. Still- not good enough Air NZ, in any case!

I still don't understand how airlines can get away with cancelling your flight, and not offering a refund. Air NZ, Virgin Australia and several other airlines are guilty of this. I am now going out of my way to avoid booking with airlines with such a ridiculous policy where possible (although obviously at the moment there is no choice of airline for NZ to AU).

 

[encryptededdy]

Got through after 1h15m on hold, which isn't too bad in the grand scheme of things.

They offered the ATR flight with 1h45m (but realistically less if it's always late) connection time.

I asked if they could fly me up the day before, and I would cover my own accommodation expenses. Answer is no, if I wanted that I can cancel and re-book.

Since cancelling and rebooking would mean the risk of losing the flight entirely (since there seems to be just 1 or 2 seats left) and also another $1000 in expenses (My business flight was booked for $619, a multi-city would be $1499 AKL-SYD + $119 WLG-AKL), I went ahead and took their offer of the ATR flight alternative.

Fingers crossed I have enough time to connect.

 

[Berlin]

Fingers crossed I have enough time to connect.

If they offer this connection and in the end it doesn't work out due to a delay of their own, doesn't this at least mean they'll have to then finally pay your accomodation and meals until they can re-book you on the next available seats to Sydney?

Obviously not what you want, I fully understand but at least they'd not get around to deny you accommodation in this case or am I wrong?

 

[justinbrett]

Got through after 1h15m on hold, which isn't too bad in the grand scheme of things.

They offered the ATR flight with 1h45m (but realistically less if it's always late) connection time.

I asked if they could fly me up the day before, and I would cover my own accommodation expenses. Answer is no, if I wanted that I can cancel and re-book.

Since cancelling and rebooking would mean the risk of losing the flight entirely (since there seems to be just 1 or 2 seats left) and also another $1000 in expenses (My business flight was booked for $619, a multi-city would be $1499 AKL-SYD + $119 WLG-AKL), I went ahead and took their offer of the ATR flight alternative.

Fingers crossed I have enough time to connect.

EF is showing your AKL-SYD flight is sold out. And your new ATR flight.

 

[encryptededdy]

If they offer this connection and in the end it doesn't work out due to a delay of their own, doesn't this at least mean they'll have to then finally pay your accomodation and meals until they can re-book you on the next available seats to Sydney?

Obviously not what you want, I fully understand but at least they'd not get around to deny you accommodation in this case or am I wrong?

Yeah, probably. Usually I wouldn't mind a fun and interesting travel experience like this, but this is one of the few times where I really do want to get to my destination on time.

edit: Also I would have to get a second $250 covid test if delayed

There's very few seats on AKL - SYD on the Sunday though, although there's lots of space on the AKL - MEL flights.

Speaking of the AKL - MEL flights though, I wonder why AirNZ is operating 5 flights a week to Melbourne but only 2 a week to Sydney? Surely there's more demand for Sydney, given the flights are completely sold out?

 

[Berlin]

Yeah, probably. Usually I wouldn't mind a fun and interesting travel experience like this, but this is one of the few times where I really do want to get to my destination on time.

There's very few seats on AKL - SYD on the Sunday though, although there's lots of space on the AKL - MEL flights.

Speaking of the AKL - MEL flights though, I wonder why AirNZ is operating 5 flights a week to Melbourne but only 2 a week to Sydney? Surely there's more demand for Sydney, given the flights are completely sold out?

That's odd indeed, I'd also think there's at least the same demand for SYD as for MEL?

I'm on the first Sydney flight on the 5th myself- so I understand not wanting to be delayed on this occasion to the fullest!

 

[henrus]

I wonder if you fly NZ to MEL and then connect same day to SYD what the restrictions are?

Obviously Victoria requires a test within the first 24 hours of arrival (but NSW doesn't) however if you've left by then do you still have to do it or are you supposed to not get on the MEL to SYD flight until you've had that test come back negative?

I'm on the first Sydney flight on the 5th myself- so I understand not wanting to be delayed on this occasion to the fullest!

I just discovered that the 5th isn't the first flight. There is actually a flight on the 1st which appears to be full.

It's showing as NZ751 at 9:30am on the 1st and expert flyer shows a reasonably full seat map and zeroed out in all classes:


This may have been a recent addition because the schedule is still showing a freight only service on the 1st. What's even more confusing is the number of freight only services they're operating (daily) but just a handful of self loading freight flights.

 

[Mattg]

I wonder if you fly NZ to MEL and then connect same day to SYD what the restrictions are?

Obviously Victoria requires a test within the first 24 hours of arrival (but NSW doesn't) however if you've left by then do you still have to do it or are you supposed to not get on the MEL to SYD flight until you've had that test come back negative?


I just discovered that the 5th isn't the first flight. There is actually a flight on the 1st which appears to be full.

It's showing as NZ751 at 9:30am on the 1st and expert flyer shows a reasonably full seat map and zeroed out in all classes:
View attachment 263202

This may have been a recent addition because the schedule is still showing a freight only service on the 1st. What's even more confusing is the number of freight only services they're operating (daily) but just a handful of self loading freight flights.
View attachment 263204

Weird. There doesn't seem to be any seats available on that flight for sale. I wonder who's booked on it?

 

[Berlin]

Weird. There doesn't seem to be any seats available on that flight for sale. I wonder who's booked on it?

Certainly wasn't available when we both booked a few weeks ago. So very good question- who the heck is on there?

 

[henrus]

Weird. There doesn't seem to be any seats available on that flight for sale. I wonder who's booked on it?

I wonder if an agent or someone else has snapped up the entire allocation to use themselves? It's certainly a flight and seat allocations have occurred in all cabins, I have a feeling it was added about a week ago.

I wonder what would happen if you contacted Air NZ or a travel agent and asked to be wait listed on the 1 November flight?

 

[justinbrett]

Might be a special flight put on by the Australian High Commission to get people home that can't wait

 

[Berlin]

Might be a special flight put on by the Australian High Commission to get people home that can't wait

Like "very important" people- the rich and famous? Surely they wouldn't want to get home in Economy.

To be honest- they didn't give a toss for years now to get people home who "couldn't wait". So why now, 4 days before regular flights open up? Intriguing.

 

[MooTime]

Obviously Victoria requires a test within the first 24 hours of arrival (but NSW doesn't) however if you've left by then do you still have to do it or are you supposed to not get on the MEL to SYD flight until you've had that test come back negative?

On a same but different issue of sorts.
Mid year I flew MEL-ADL-MEL, day trip to keep up status etc, was required to do a test & wait for result in Adelaide, I was on a flight outta there couple hours later, didn't leave the airport, didn't bother with the test as line was too long.

Didn't hear boo from anybody about it. No follow up of any sort.