Status Credits on Air NZ

[juliusg]

I recently flew internally in NZ on Air NZ booked tickets, and discovered the fare class was not eligible for Status Credits (or indeed points!). Had I known I would have booked a more expensive ticket as I need the SC.

Anyone know which fares on Air NZ are in Discount Economy class Q, H, or M? These are good for SC according to the VA website. The class of fare is not evident when booking.

Seems a lost opportunity for VA here. Appreciate any input!

 

[greenfish]

I recently flew internally in NZ on Air NZ booked tickets, and discovered the fare class was not eligible for Status Credits (or indeed points!). Had I known I would have booked a more expensive ticket as I need the SC.

Anyone know which fares on Air NZ are in Discount Economy class Q, H, or M? These are good for SC according to the VA website. The class of fare is not evident when booking.

Seems a lost opportunity for VA here. Appreciate any input!

You can see the booking class on AirNZ before paying. Choose the flight, then click "continue with regular payment" then click "view full itinerary". You will see the fare class you've chosen.

There is no set pattern wih AirNZ and fare classes. Generally, for any given flight, seat right through to works book into the same class. Then the flexi versions then book into a different class (but again the same across all variants).

Short of booking over the phone, often the only way to book in an VA earning class is to choose a different "fuller" flight with higher fares. It all seems quite random.

 

[juliusg]

You can see the booking class on AirNZ before paying. Choose the flight, then click "continue with regular payment" then click "view full itinerary". You will see the fare class you've chosen.

There is no set pattern wih AirNZ and fare classes. Generally, for any given flight, seat right through to works book into the same class. Then the flexi versions then book into a different class (but again the same across all variants).

Short of booking over the phone, often the only way to book in an VA earning class is to choose a different "fuller" flight with higher fares. It all seems quite random.

Thanks, Greenfish. Actually no, having done as you suggested, 'View Itinerary' doesn't give a fare class! Short of actually paying for the flight, there seems to be no way to know whether the flight is good for VA points!

 

[greenfish]

Thanks, Greenfish. Actually no, having done as you suggested, 'View Itinerary' doesn't give a fare class! Short of actually paying for the flight, there seems to be no way to know whether the flight is good for VA points!

It definitely does. You need to select a flight, then click "continue with regular payment" then click "view full itinerary" (the first page itinerary link does not show it). I use it all the time, and confirmed before making my post above.

 

[greenfish]

See image below, under service class, the letter G is the fare class:



This is from the page where you enter the passenger details but before payment is made.

 

[Demon_fan]

See image below, under service class, the letter G is the fare class:

View attachment 53761

This is from the page where you enter the passenger details but before payment is made.

Pretty sure that means that G is the fare bucket.

i was under the impression the only time you get booked into the SC fare bucket when flying internally is if you are connecting from a flight that originated in Australia. I could be wrong however.

Whatever the deal is, when booking internal flights with AirNZ forget about SC. if you ever find the correct fare bucket, the cost outweighs the SC.

I also realised this the hard way last year when booking internal flights.

 

[greenfish]

Pretty sure that means that G is the fare bucket.

i was under the impression the only time you get booked into the SC fare bucket when flying internally is if you are connecting from a flight that originated in Australia. I could be wrong however.

Whatever the deal is, when booking internal flights with AirNZ forget about SC. if you ever find the correct fare bucket, the cost outweighs the SC.

I also realised this the hard way last year when booking internal flights.

The cost "sometimes" outweights the SCs. For example flying over Xmas on a specific day, one of the flights had an SC earning fare bucket / class for about an extra $30. Worth it for a family of 5 with family pooling.

What's odd is that changing the booking type (e.g. seat, seat + bag) does not change the fare class, and even choosing the flexi option doesn't neccessarily result in an SC earning booking.

Unfortunately even if bookng a connecting TT ticket, the domestic flight doesn't neccessarily earn SCs. See the exclusion table:

 

[AviationNZ]

What's odd is that changing the booking type (e.g. seat, seat + bag) does not change the fare class, and even choosing the flexi option doesn't neccessarily result in an SC earning booking.

I believe that's because you can book any product with what ever the lowest booking class available is, i.e. booking classes aren't associated with specific products. If G class is what is available, you simply buy up to the product you want with fixed costs for that.

Either through a TA or the contact centre, you could request a specific booking class which will earn SC's.

 

[greenfish]

I believe that's because you can book any product with what ever the lowest booking class available is, i.e. booking classes aren't associated with specific products. If G class is what is available, you simply buy up to the product you want with fixed costs for that.

Either through a TA or the contact centre, you could request a specific booking class which will earn SC's.

Yes agreed, I was really trying tomake it clear for anyone else trying to book that it doesn't make any difference what option you select. It is a shame that choosing flexi doesn't automatically book into a VA earning class.

I have called the contact centre and nearly died of shock at the fare that would earn SCs, so didn't try that again

 

[NZflygirl]

Yes agreed, I was really trying tomake it clear for anyone else trying to book that it doesn't make any difference what option you select. It is a shame that choosing flexi doesn't automatically book into a VA earning class.

I have called the contact centre and nearly died of shock at the fare that would earn SCs, so didn't try that again

does the the domestic flexi plus fare on nz earn sc on virgin? It's the highest one. When flying QF/EK I book this to protect against flight delays. I can change flight on the day to another time or fully refund if need be. I book the cheapest flexi plus fare to save a bit of $$ knowing I will be changing the flight on the day. It gets me my desired time for a cheaper price without the risk of locking it in. So is this type of fare eligible for earn on VA?? If booked through the NZ website would you just show your VA card at NZ check in? Is this a better way of guaranteeing sc earn than booking via the VA website?

I learned i didnt didn't accrue NZ SP on VA internal flights but I can't remember what fare they were. I didn't pay attention


Edit: just read a different thread it's Q,H,M to earn credit on domestic in NZ.

Im now now thinking I could possibly have earned SP on VA but ... Well I tend to book seat + bag so that might have been the issue.

 

[AviationNZ]

does the the domestic flexi plus fare on nz earn sc on virgin?

Earning Velocity point and SC's on domestic flight is entirely based on the booking class, not the product you purchase. All booking classes are available with the 4 products. For example, if S class is the lowest booking class, then you can purchase S class Seat, S class Seat + Bag, S class Flexitime, and S class Flexiplus. You earn on Q, H, B and Y class domestic NZ fares

If booked through the NZ website would you just show your VA card at NZ check in? Is this a better way of guaranteeing sc earn than booking via the VA website?

You can enter your Velocity number when booking the flight on the NZ website. As mentioned above, the only way to 'guarantee' SC's is to book in Q, H, B or Y class. In many cases, this would mean you'll need to ring the call centre or book through a travel agent as they'll be able to manually purchase those booking classes for you.

 

[greenfish]

Im now now thinking I could possibly have earned SP on VA but ... Well I tend to book seat + bag so that might have been the issue.

If booking on NZ, doesn't matter whether you book seat only right up to the works - all the same fare class. Choosing flexi does change the fare class. Use the steps I've outlined earlier in the thread to see if the flights will earn on VA.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

You can try J or C or D from Au to AKL linking to CHC which will give Y in that same booking AKL - CHC.
OR book a VA tour (as mentioned on here in the past) into NZ with VA flights, which I think gives M or K.
Near impossible to get Y NZdom otherwise.
Even an NZ $135 Works Deluxe didn't earn me anything except S class AKL - CHC not linked to a J Au to NZ.
On iPod.

 

[Tom125]

Hello,

Does anyone know how often Velocity/AirNZ review their status credit policy?

I'm flying Premium Economy SYD to SFO via AKL on AirNZ. In the past there was no premium economy from SYD to AKL and so the fare class was economy for that sector and earned status credits (and if you were lucky you actually got a PE seat).

AirNZ has recently launched PE on their trans tasman flights. My latest ticket to SFO is in A class (Premium Economy) from SYD to AKL. There was no price difference between this and full fare economy on that sector. However I noticed that Velocity's website doesn't show Premium Economy as earning status credits under the trans tasman section of AirNZ.

I queried it with the platinum velocity team but was told no, it doesn't earn status credits and it's not their decision it's AirNZ's. This seems mightily unfair as had I booked the same ticket for the same price but in economy for the first sector I would have got points. I'm pretty sure it's because it's a new offering from AirNZ and so they haven't updated the velocity T&C.

I noticed Singapore Premium took a while to feature on the Velocity site when that was launched. Does anyone know how often these things are reviewed by AirNZ/Velocity?

 

[bullerdude]

Hello,

Does anyone know how often Velocity/AirNZ review their status credit policy?

I'm flying Premium Economy SYD to SFO via AKL on AirNZ. In the past there was no premium economy from SYD to AKL and so the fare class was economy for that sector and earned status credits (and if you were lucky you actually got a PE seat).

AirNZ has recently launched PE on their trans tasman flights. My latest ticket to SFO is in A class (Premium Economy) from SYD to AKL. There was no price difference between this and full fare economy on that sector. However I noticed that Velocity's website doesn't show Premium Economy as earning status credits under the trans tasman section of AirNZ.

I queried it with the platinum velocity team but was told no, it doesn't earn status credits and it's not their decision it's AirNZ's. This seems mightily unfair as had I booked the same ticket for the same price but in economy for the first sector I would have got points. I'm pretty sure it's because it's a new offering from AirNZ and so they haven't updated the velocity T&C.

I noticed Singapore Premium took a while to feature on the Velocity site when that was launched. Does anyone know how often these things are reviewed by AirNZ/Velocity?

Yep the Singapore PE status credit earn only popped up on the website recently; I had been wondering the same thing as I purchased PE fares just after the launched.

My guess is that it will be updated in the month prior to the first NZ PE trans-tasman flight.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

There will now be a huge price factor for A class.
Got premY AKL MEL and loved it before A class came in.
When I flew that route I only got 15 VA SC but if you go to the VA earning SC part of their website now, NZ A class now earn 45 VA SCs.

 

[NZflygirl]

Earning Velocity point and SC's on domestic flight is entirely based on the booking class, not the product you purchase. All booking classes are available with the 4 products. For example, if S class is the lowest booking class, then you can purchase S class Seat, S class Seat + Bag, S class Flexitime, and S class Flexiplus. You earn on Q, H, B and Y class domestic NZ fares

You can enter your Velocity number when booking the flight on the NZ website. As mentioned above, the only way to 'guarantee' SC's is to book in Q, H, B or Y class. In many cases, this would mean you'll need to ring the call centre or book through a travel agent as they'll be able to manually purchase those booking classes for you.

Why do you enter the velocity number into the nz website vs just searching through the virgin website? Is it pricing differences or does the status point calculator switch over to showing you the velocity sc earn? Or does it show you the fare classes?
id like to keep everything on the same ticket but well I was hoping to keep the air nz flights earning sp with nz then have the VA flight earn with VA but I think that might be difficult and I'll have to make it either a VA or NZ ticket.

 

[AviationNZ]

Why do you enter the velocity number into the nz website vs just searching through the virgin website? Is it pricing differences or does the status point calculator switch over to showing you the velocity sc earn? Or does it show you the fare classes?
id like to keep everything on the same ticket but well I was hoping to keep the air nz flights earning sp with nz then have the VA flight earn with VA but I think that might be difficult and I'll have to make it either a VA or NZ ticket.

There sometimes minimal price differences on VA/NZ websites, but I now see what you're asking. You want to earn with NZ on the NZ flights, but earn with VA on the VA flights.

I'm not 100% on this, but if you enter either FF number into the booking, it will apply to all flights in the PNR and I don't know of a way to split the earning.

 

[AnthFlyer]

Not sure about that. I earned SCs on an internal flight a few months back.

Whatever the deal is, when booking internal flights with AirNZ forget about SC. if you ever find the correct fare bucket, the cost outweighs the SC.

 

[Tom125]

... if you go to the VA earning SC part of their website now, NZ A class now earn 45 VA SCs.

No, it still says that's for Long Haul only, not Trans Tasman. When I queried with Velocity they said no status credits on Trans Tasman A/O class. As you've only recently been able to book this class and can't fly it yet I'm hoping this will change closer to the time as bullerdude says.