star alliance flights Perth to Auckland

[Disco]

Is it possible to book Air New Zealand as *A with SIA awards? I've checked the SIA website and there are no flights listed Per to AKL and vv. Also called on a help line which was very not. Information and suggestions welcome.

 

[Mattg]

it is technically possible as I have done this before. In my case I booked CHC-AKL-PER on Air NZ as a KrisFlyer Star Alliance award. I think I had to call up because it was a mixed class award with CHC-AKL in Y and AKL-PER in J, but AKL-PER should be bookable online.

A few things to be aware of:

1. Air NZ releases very little award availability, so that’s most likely your issue. You can use a website like seats.aero to check for seats though, it’s possible there might be something.
2. There is a known issue where the SQ website errors out sometimes when trying to book NZ awards. Not sure if that was ever fixed.
3. You probably already know this, but when searching for award seats on the SQ website, you need to select the Star Alliance box otherwise it only shows SQ operated flights by default.

 

[Disco]

it is technically possible as I have done this before. In my case I booked CHC-AKL-PER on Air NZ as a KrisFlyer Star Alliance award. I think I had to call up because it was a mixed class award with CHC-AKL in Y and AKL-PER in J, but AKL-PER should be bookable online.

A few things to be aware of:

1. Air NZ releases very little award availability, so that’s most likely your issue. You can use a website like seats.aero to check for seats though, it’s possible there might be something.
2. There is a known issue where the SQ website errors out sometimes when trying to book NZ awards. Not sure if that was ever fixed.
3. You probably already know this, but when searching for award seats on the SQ website, you need to select the Star Alliance box otherwise it only shows SQ operated flights by default.

Thank you Matt, most appreciated. Yes, I did look at the *A box and couldn't quite believe the complete lack of award availability including economy for about a month. Thought there must be something I was missing. I will do a rethink on using expiring miles - probably have to redeem on Virgin to Sydney or Melbourne.
Di

 

[Mattg]

Thank you Matt, most appreciated. Yes, I did look at the *A box and couldn't quite believe the complete lack of award availability including economy for about a month. Thought there must be something I was missing. I will do a rethink on using expiring miles - probably have to redeem on Virgin to Sydney or Melbourne.
Di

I just checked and currently, seats.aero is not picking up any NZ award availability on the direct PER-AKL v.v. route over the next year

 

[Sprucegoose]

Air NZ releases very little award availability

Given that, what is the point of being a member of their program?

 

[WilsonM]

Given that, what is the point of being a member of their program?

Airpoints don't need reward availability for NZ flights - and there's some not-abhorrently-terrible redemption rates on partners

 

[Disco]

I just checked and currently, seats.aero is not picking up any NZ award availability on the direct PER-AKL v.v. route over the next year

Thank you. It's a hard route to search. I found a seat on am early morning flight perth to AKL much to my surprise. Only economy so I'm thinking about it, probably should book quickly. The website disappears seats in an eye blink.

 

[Disco]

it is technically possible as I have done this before. In my case I booked CHC-AKL-PER on Air NZ as a KrisFlyer Star Alliance award. I think I had to call up because it was a mixed class award with CHC-AKL in Y and AKL-PER in J, but AKL-PER should be bookable online.

A few things to be aware of:

1. Air NZ releases very little award availability, so that’s most likely your issue. You can use a website like seats.aero to check for seats though, it’s possible there might be something.
2. There is a known issue where the SQ website errors out sometimes when trying to book NZ awards. Not sure if that was ever fixed.
3. You probably already know this, but when searching for award seats on the SQ website, you need to select the Star Alliance box otherwise it only shows SQ operated flights by default.

Hmm yes, well I booked the seats and I think...... the website glitch is still a happening. Received a message to call Sydney at the payment end. Only economy but surprised to see a lot of availability for the overnight flights as well. Or maybe that is the glitch and they shouldn't be displayed. Guess I'll find out either later today or tomorrow, Sydney call centre has some odd hours.
Thanks for your info Matt; its been a bit of a learning experience and yes, the redemption rates are surprisingly good. Taxes and surcharges higher than SIA.
Di

 

[kangarooflyer88]

It is possible to fly Auckland to Perth via Sydney/Melbourne/Brisbane on Air New Zealand connecting onto Virgin Australia for the domestic leg of I’m not mistaken. I cannot however comment on the availability on the flight across the ditch but suspect there should be decent availability on Virgin from the east coast to Perth.

-RooFlyer88

 

[Disco]

It is possible to fly Auckland to Perth via Sydney/Melbourne/Brisbane on Air New Zealand connecting onto Virgin Australia for the domestic leg of I’m not mistaken. I cannot however comment on the availability on the flight across the ditch but suspect there should be decent availability on Virgin from the east coast to Perth.

-RooFlyer88

Thank you and yes, there is. However, I didn't really want to take the Virgin flight with points as ANZ is much better value with SIA awards. Not sure whether there is any availability across the ditch and we prefer the direct flight.. So I'll probably just book a revenue fare when I'm sure nothing will be available. Which seems about now Still have a few committments to sort out before making the booking.

 

[Mattg]

It is possible to fly Auckland to Perth via Sydney/Melbourne/Brisbane on Air New Zealand connecting onto Virgin Australia for the domestic leg of I’m not mistaken. I cannot however comment on the availability on the flight across the ditch but suspect there should be decent availability on Virgin from the east coast to Perth.

-RooFlyer88

This is not possible on a single KrisFlyer award ticket. On separate tickets it would be possible.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

This is not possible on a single KrisFlyer award ticket. On separate tickets it would be possible.

Is that a limitation of booking an award online or a limitation of the program in general? One wonders if you could call it in?

 

[Mattg]

Is that a limitation of booking an award online or a limitation of the program in general? One wonders if you could call it in?

It's a program limitation. You can't combine different award types, and in this case the NZ flight must be booked as a Star Alliance award while the VA flight would be a specific partner airline award.

You also can't combine VA and SQ flights on the same award ticket. But you can combine (for example) NZ and SQ flights as SQ Saver inventory can be booked as part of a Star Alliance award.

 

[Disco]

It's a program limitation. You can't combine different award types, and in this case the NZ flight must be booked as a Star Alliance award while the VA flight would be a specific partner airline award.

You also can't combine VA and SQ flights on the same award ticket. But you can combine (for example) NZ and SQ flights as SQ Saver inventory can be booked as part of a Star Alliance award.

I wasn't aware of the program limitation in this respect. Didn't want to do it as I don't like the change and mix of airlines without at least an overnight. The general tardiness/unreliability of airlines these days leaves me underwhelmed. Or, just as likely, our increasing maturity making us more risk adverse. Good to know the program limitations for possible other routes.
Di