US Dividend Miles Buy/Gift Miles 100% bonus - Cheap way for F/J *A Awards

[casanovawa]

Hey, i hear continuously that it is exceedingly difficult to get J sets on NZ to LAX, but from their route map i see they also fly direct to SFO, is it the same situation getting J seats on both routes ie not good???

 

[Insaneous]

I think you should re-read page 1 on the equivalent FT thread, that will help. Alot of your questions are answered if you have read them. Pay attention to "piecing" your segments to make an itinerary.

thanks, ill re-read it again. Alot to take in and just trying to make sure I fully understand it and that it's applicable to my needs before I actually spend cash on points!

 

[smit0847]

Hey, i hear continuously that it is exceedingly difficult to get J sets on NZ to LAX, but from their route map i see they also fly direct to SFO, is it the same situation getting J seats on both routes ie not good???

All NZ 777 J is extremely difficult to get.

 

[casanovawa]

Yeah i looked on their route map and the direct AKL-SFO seems to be a 747-400 so just wondering if that might have more seats or not as popular and so might be an alternative to come back through NZ?? Not sure how the seats compare in the 747 to the 777.....

 

[anat0l]

Yeah i looked on their route map and the direct AKL-SFO seems to be a 747-400 so just wondering if that might have more seats or not as popular and so might be an alternative to come back through NZ?? Not sure how the seats compare in the 747 to the 777.....

Sitting in the nose of the 747 in J isn't such a bad experience (except seats in rows 1 and 2). Of course, there is also upper deck, which has the advantage of only 2 columns of seats rather than the main deck which has 4 columns of seats.

Other than that, the seats are the same as those in the 772; only the 77W (777-300ER) has the newest Business Premier seats with the newest hard and soft product.

 

[travelislife]

thanks, ill re-read it again. Alot to take in and just trying to make sure I fully understand it and that it's applicable to my needs before I actually spend cash on points!

You know you can actually call up and make your booking without buying any points? You put the itinerary on hold and then you can then buy the points and call back within three days to pay and ticket the flight. One of the best bits about the program I reckon.

I have just done a 'share' of 30,000+30,000 so will see how long it takes. Will then be sharing 30,000+30,000 back the other way, essentially buying 60,000 miles for $700 which will allow me and my GF to to F to Europe instead of J, an 'upgrade' for only $350 return, bargain!

 

[smit0847]

If anyone has success stories in securing any NZ long-haul J seats (aside from recliner 767s) I would be very interested to hear it - I had dismissed it as impossible just like SQ A380.

 

[anat0l]

If anyone has success stories in securing any NZ long-haul J seats (aside from recliner 767s) I would be very interested to hear it - I had dismissed it as impossible just like SQ A380.

I managed to secure 2 sectors this year on NZ 772 J.

One of them was PEK-AKL. The other was AKL-SYD (which I suppose doesn't really count).

PEK/AKL was pretty spotty on availability. PVG/AKL was similarly spotty. HKG/AKL was near impossible for the time period I was looking at (even though it too uses a 772). NRT/AKL was pretty spotty and is always at risk for being subbed out by a 763.

Trans-Pacific is always a tough cookie. UA F and NZ J - near impossible almost all the time.

 

[k3nnis]

What is the best tool to view NZ J award availability? And free

 

[anat0l]

What is the best tool to view NZ J award availability? And free

I just use ANA. Does the job for me.

 

[Alanslegal]

If anyone has success stories in securing any NZ long-haul J seats (aside from recliner 767s) I would be very interested to hear it - I had dismissed it as impossible just like SQ A380.

Well NZ is hard to get. I have tried both with USDM as well as SQKF. However if one can snare up seats, even in Y, those South Pacific to South Pacific awards are an absolute bargain if one is heading to PPT.

 

[k3nnis]

Thanks. Will try that one.

Is there a pattern of when NZ releases their J award inventory? like 4 weeks out or usually 300+ days out.

I just use ANA. Does the job for me.

 

[anat0l]

Thanks. Will try that one.

Is there a pattern of when NZ releases their J award inventory? like 4 weeks out or usually 300+ days out.

I believe NZ release inventory to their FFers at least 300 days out (certainly IIRC elite Standby Upgrades can be registered this far out). As for alliance-wide, not sure - can't answer that one.

For whatever it's worth, I booked my NZ J seats (viz. my US DM itinerary) in early Feb this year; flew in late Apr. Once again, it should be noted that the route I was searching is definitely not as popular as the Trans-Pacific routes.

 

[k3nnis]

Thanks. Which route did you take and which aircraft?

I believe NZ release inventory to their FFers at least 300 days out (certainly IIRC elite Standby Upgrades can be registered this far out). As for alliance-wide, not sure - can't answer that one.

For whatever it's worth, I booked my NZ J seats (viz. my US DM itinerary) in early Feb this year; flew in late Apr. Once again, it should be noted that the route I was searching is definitely not as popular as the Trans-Pacific routes.

 

[anat0l]

Thanks. Which route did you take and which aircraft?

PEK-AKL and AKL-SYD, on non-consecutive days. Both on the NZ 777-200 aircraft with the older Business Premier product.

 

[k3nnis]

Is the 777-200 old J seats the same as the VS upper class seats SYD-HKG?

PEK-AKL and AKL-SYD, on non-consecutive days. Both on the NZ 777-200 aircraft with the older Business Premier product.

 

[anat0l]

Is the 777-200 old J seats the same as the VS upper class seats SYD-HKG?

Notwithstanding the new VS UC seats, I'd say it's better. The NZ leather seems more tightly pulled and yet feels softer than the somewhat flimsy leather on the VS seats. The bed forms by the top of the seat flipping forward (watch out when this happens!), which exposes the "other side" of the seat of a softer fabric covering (which you further put a light overlay on top); on VS, the seat simply slides forward (as you'd "expect") and you have a thin cover sheet. The area inside the seat seems a bit bigger, too.

But yes it's essentially the same seat (and NZ had to pay VS for the rights both for this BP seat and the new BP seat).

 

[k3nnis]

Thanks for the info So I guess even getting J on NZ 772-200 is not that bad at all And service is probably better than VS I presume. So are the new NZ BP J seats the same as the new VS J seats? Did they follow suit again??

Notwithstanding the new VS UC seats, I'd say it's better. The NZ leather seems more tightly pulled and yet feels softer than the somewhat flimsy leather on the VS seats. The bed forms by the top of the seat flipping forward (watch out when this happens!), which exposes the "other side" of the seat of a softer fabric covering (which you further put a light overlay on top); on VS, the seat simply slides forward (as you'd "expect") and you have a thin cover sheet. The area inside the seat seems a bit bigger, too.

But yes it's essentially the same seat (and NZ had to pay VS for the rights both for this BP seat and the new BP seat).

 

[bcworld]

on VS, the seat simply slides forward (as you'd "expect") and you have a thin cover sheet.

The VS UC seat (as seen on the A346 from HKG) also flips over...it definitely doesn't slide forward to a flat bed as most other seats do...in fact they have very limited recline.

 

[travelislife]

NZ seats have really dried up since they brought in the new 'one up' bidding system for upgrades for their own flyers (even NZ FFs hate it and have less availability than before as they are trying to get some cash for the seats). Before that system came in there used to be a mix of seats released about 90 days out from travel.