VA/NZ service on TT

[blingy90]

Hello,

I'm about to reach gold with velocity, and just wanted to get some clarification on trans Tasman services.

If I book a VA ticket but operated with NZ on a saver lite fare, I'll have a checked baggage included and have access to the koru lounge... Is this correct? Obviously will earn points including bonus points and sc's.
aside from that, are there any other added benefits as a gold ff? Seat selection?

the flip side of this equation-if you book with air NZ, as a gold, my understanding is you get no more recognition then a passenger with no ff status. That correct?

Thanks for any feedback

 

[Deleted member 29185]

trans Tasman.

If I book a VA ticket but operated with NZ on a saver lite fare, I'll have a checked baggage included

I'll leave the ins and outs to more experienced AFFers but be aware saver lite is a reduced baggage capacity...(1 x 23kg)

I think if you book with ANZ you still get luggage, lounge, SCs and points.....just not status bonus points. (but I could be wrong)

 

[greenfish]

There is a good summary here:

http://www.airnzagent.co.nz/assets/...liance-Trade-Brochure-NZ-v16-FINAL25sep12.pdf

Worth noting:

IMPORTANT – Please note that a DJ Premium customer who books on a NZ
or NZ7000 series flight will not be entitled to any additional checked baggage
allowance over and above what is included as part of the NZ fare.

So if you book an NZ Seat only fare, it looks like you won't get a free bag.

Watch out for domestic legs too - NZ domestic legs seldom book into SC earning classes, but if booked as VA codeshares, will earn SCs + points.

 

[dovey35]

Lounge entry no problems, treated the same as flying in australia really as a plat

 

[quick_dry]

If I book a VA ticket but operated with NZ on a saver lite fare, I'll have a checked baggage included and have access to the koru lounge... Is this correct? Obviously will earn points including bonus points and sc's.
aside from that, are there any other added benefits as a gold ff? Seat selection?

all correct, except I've never been able to get seat selection done on an NZ operated flight. VA can't do it, they tell you to try with NZ, who said they couldn't do it either - I don't know if it was just luck or by the system but I've had good seats up the front so far.
Recognition for gold/plat is excellent, coming down to do the introduction, handshake, arrival quick passes, etc (and offer the noise cancelling headphones since I've been plat)

 

[AaronBradford]

Seat selection is a no-go TT when VA is the marketing carrier and NZ the operating carrier. Have had no issues with baggage or lounge access at either end. When going AKL -> Pacific Islands on a VA ticketed fare though there's no Koru access.

 

[jpk]

To get PE seats on an NZ 773, does a VA Plat need to be on a Works fare, or will an ordinary seat only fare get you there too?

 

[notzac]

Works fare if you want to guarantee it. In theory you'll be eligible for one of those seats at check in, but I don't like your chances of getting one (especially seeing as there's no such thing as OLCI with NZ). Think of it as a $50 nice seat fee

 

[pythonisman]

I just got back from a trip to ZQN where I flew NZ over and VA back, both on VA marketed flights, as a VA WP. I booked before Sabre and "Saver Light", so was on a Saver fare, and was entitled to 3x23KG bags.

As a SG pax on a Saver Lite you'll be allowed 1x23KG bag. Checked baggage allowance | Virgin Australia
If you book a "Seat Only" fare through NZ, you won't receive any baggage allowance.

Recognition on the outbound NZ operated flight was excellent - I didn't get to preselect a seat but was issued 3A, received full lounge access (+3 pax) in SYD, personal greetings by the Cabin Manager, newspaper, noise cancelling headphones, and was made to feel special.

Recognition was nonexistent on the VA operated return flight yesterday, though I was allocated 4A and had a platinum shadow which was nice.

On the way back from ZQN yesterday however, Koru club would only allow 1 guest, which surprised me given the language on the Velocity website. Has anyone else encountered these rules with the "Regional" Koru club lounges?

 

[serfty]

...
On the way back from ZQN yesterday however, Koru club would only allow 1 guest, which surprised me given the language on the Velocity website. Has anyone else encountered these rules with the "Regional" Koru club lounges?

Yes, *GE are permitted five guests except for the regional lounges where it's only the one.

 

[jpk]

To get PE seats on an NZ 773, does a VA Plat need to be on a Works fare, or will an ordinary seat only fare get you there too?

I followed notzac's advice and did a Works on the way out. Those PE seats are weird, not sure NZ did a great job on those. Interestingly, I just did a Seat Only on the return as it was on the A320. As it was on the same booking I still got seat selection and was able to choose a Space+ seat.

Outbound only GE's got papers, express pass and recognition. Inbound I got all 3.

 

[Ausbt]

Recognition on the outbound NZ operated flight was excellent - I didn't get to preselect a seat but was issued 3A, received full lounge access (+3 pax) in SYD, personal greetings by the Cabin Manager, newspaper, noise cancelling headphones, and was made to feel special.

On the way back from ZQN yesterday however, Koru club would only allow 1 guest, which surprised me given the language on the Velocity website. Has anyone else encountered these rules with the "Regional" Koru club lounges?

I flew ZQN-SYD last Saturday and was completely blown away by the levels of recognition by the NZ crew. Provided with noise cancelling headphones, newspaper, separate greetings by CSM and FAs and they slipped me red wine and ice cream even though I was on a Saver Lite. I indicated my appreciation.

At ZQN Koru club though, I was also slightly 'challenged' at the door over admission of our entire party (myself and my 12 and 10 y.o. children). Ultimately allowed in, but I can imagine they are pretty strict with adult guests. It's a nice little lounge and of course has beautiful views, as does most everywhere in Queenstown. Enjoyed a lovely stay at the Hilton also and some good skiing - I just love the place really.

 

[Fruitcake]

Outbound only GE's got papers, express pass and recognition. Inbound I got all 3.

Strangely I think that's actually part of the service. The FA consulted the service manual to determine our entitlements as Velocity SG (this was when the alliance was very 'young') and I distinctly recall her reading, "arrival card... inbound no, outbound yes," before she handed us an arrival card for SYD. (I assumed inbound/outbound was with reference to direction of travel relative to New Zealand).

 

[Deewhy]

I flew ZQN-SYD last Saturday and was completely blown away by the levels of recognition by the NZ crew. Provided with noise cancelling headphones, newspaper, separate greetings by CSM and FAs and they slipped me red wine and ice cream even though I was on a Saver Lite. I indicated my appreciation.

I did this exact same thing recently and got the same experience. Super treatment on nz and totally underwhelmedby va. The cabin in PE for VA was empty bar what I could figure out was a VA staffer doing some sort of audit. He spent half the time in the coughpit and half the time in the cabin wheree he was 100 percent occupied by the cabin mgr who plonked her backside down on the armrest opposite him and had a good oldchin wag. I was in 3c so got to hear their whole life stories.
All th while I I didn't even get a welcome or a word from her being a plat. Too busy I guess......

I'm amazed the partner airline appreciates me more than my own airline. Va needs to have a good look at itself on this front.