ZQN Winter Holidays

[samh004]

I have 57,000 AsiaMiles from my time with the MPC and a vast majority of them are expiring mid-year. So I have to use them somewhere.

The AsiaMiles website allows me to use them for a business class award flight on Qantas, so using 50,000 for a return to Queenstown seems like a good idea to me. I’m hoping the request goes through smoothly, but just had a few questions regarding what seatcounter is showing me right now.

I’d be flying BNE - ZQN, only day that service operates is a Saturday. QF185/186.

Leaving on:

17th July: D9 I5 J9 C9
24th July: D0 I0 J9 C9

Arriving back on:

31st July: D8 I4 J9 C9
7th August: D9 I5 J9 C9

Am I correct in assuming that award flights are booked into classes D and I, so a request for the 24th July would fail? Would I have a much better shot at an award on the 17th July?

Anything else I should know, from anyones past experiences?

Thanks.

 

[Travel Guru]

J Class FF Redemptions are booked into U Class which generally can't be viewed through EF or the GDS, but its fairly safe to say that if there's no I or D Class there's not likely to be any U Class.

TG

 

[futaris]

Use the QANTAS FF site.

No availability BNE-ZQN direct in Economy or Business on the 17th or 24th. Business availability on 11th Jul via SYD. 25th via MEL.

Return availability on 1 Aug via MEL or direct on 24th Jul (in Business)

NB, North Face Peak to Peak is on near Queenstown on 24 Jul 2010.

 

[serfty]

J Class FF Redemptions are booked into U Class which generally can't be viewed through EF ...

EF can show U class with premium subscription.

 

[drewbles]

J Class FF Redemptions are booked into U Class which generally can't be viewed through EF or the GDS, but its fairly safe to say that if there's no I or D Class there's not likely to be any U Class.

TG

EF did enable viewing of Z/X/U availability on QF not too long ago so it should show up. You can also setup an alert in the event availability becomes available (and it works as well - have had one for an X redemption previously). As per always though, YMMV with those fare buckets.

 

[ejb]

Sam,

I honeymooned in ZQN a few years back and found the only way to get there on points was to get J FF tix to Auckland and then pay to ZQN.

That was in summer so I would say no chance for winter.

It is however a lovely place and you should go.

ejb

 

[RockDoc]

Sam,

I honeymooned in ZQN a few years back and found the only way to get there on points was to get J FF tix to Auckland and then pay to ZQN.

That was in summer so I would say no chance for winter.

It is however a lovely place and you should go.

ejb

This isn't always the case though.

I managed to score flights for both myself and the lady PER-SYD-ZQN and then ZQN-AKL-MEL-PER all as QFF classic awards for my last trip to the snow.I even managed to book without the aid of ExpertFlyer, just by looking at the QFF website. I do recall that I booked very early (ie now, for an early Jul departure) and flew X (cattle) class.

If you are looking to book an award seat to experience business class, I personally wouldn't bother with the TT service from QF, it's little better than a domestic business seat.

I agree wholeheartedly that you should go to Queenstown though. I'll be there this year from 24th Jul to 1st Aug. Feel free to meet up with me at the Cow for good old Apre ski feed one night if you like.

 

[ejb]

This isn't always the case though.

I managed to score flights for both myself and the lady PER-SYD-ZQN and then ZQN-AKL-MEL-PER all as QFF classic awards for my last trip to the snow.I even managed to book without the aid of ExpertFlyer, just by looking at the QFF website. I do recall that I booked very early (ie now, for an early Jul departure) and flew X (cattle) class.

If you are looking to book an award seat to experience business class, I personally wouldn't bother with the TT service from QF, it's little better than a domestic business seat.

I agree wholeheartedly that you should go to Queenstown though. I'll be there this year from 24th Jul to 1st Aug. Feel free to meet up with me at the Cow for good old Apre ski feed one night if you like.

Sam was looking at U class (J) so that is what I was referring to. I started looking 10 months out from my summer honeymoon and U class is just not there to ZQN, possibly due to the 737's only having 12 J seats and few flights.

Economy could be different but Sam wants pointy end flying. TT QF J seats are great if you can get the new planes.

ejb

 

[futaris]

I wouldn't bother with Business Class Trans-Tasman, even on the 737-800. Designed for short fat people...

See this thread.

Business Premier on NZ is much better, as is Emirates...

Shame that the Asia Miles charts are distance based rather than zone based.

I don't see how you can do BNE-ZQN-BNE for less than 80k Asia Miles in Business. SYD-ZQN-SYD would be ok for 50k.

 

[ejb]

I wouldn't bother with Business Class Trans-Tasman, even on the 737-800. Designed for short fat people...

Maybe that's why I find them comfortable.

They are no SkyBedII but for the flight time they are fine, and much better than Y.

ejb

 

[RockDoc]

Fair Call ejb,

Perhaps I always managed to snag the dirty old buses on my direct SYD-ZQN flights, and then became suitably unimpressed. Only ever flew J on the company dollar to ZQN, and always fly on the cheap for my own $$ to spend more on-snow. For a 2.5 hour flight I just can't justify the expense. That's only IMHO though.

Good luck with the booking Sam, and the invitation stands to meet up with me and my mate for a meal and a few quiet ones if you make it to ZQN.

 

[futaris]

BNE-ZQN and ZQN-BNE on QF185 / QF186 seem to be the first 737-800 Trans Tasman flights from BNE anyway. The rest to AKL seem to be on older 737s.

NB, the direct BNE-ZQN flights on NZ are on A320s... Of course the QF 737-800 is MUCH better.

 

[samh004]

That was in summer so I would say no chance for winter.

It is however a lovely place and you should go.

Summer period is actually busier than winter. My parents own 2 houses there and I’ve been going every year since 1992, so I’ve seen and done nearly everything.

If you are looking to book an award seat to experience business class, I personally wouldn't bother with the TT service from QF, it's little better than a domestic business seat.

I agree wholeheartedly that you should go to Queenstown though. I'll be there this year from 24th Jul to 1st Aug. Feel free to meet up with me at the Cow for good old Apre ski feed one night if you like.

The reason I’m looking at J TT is I have asiamiles that are expiring, so need to get a ticket somewhere… and the flights for the dates I want are already nearly a thousand return in Y, so I thought, may as well just go for free. The extra luggage allowance for all my ski gear would be most beneficial too

It would be good to meet-up, my dad should be there for 2 months and I’m planning 2-3 weeks. Our usual haunt is Brazz (on the village green) after skiing but before dinner, as we’re considered locals and have loyalty cards that get us extended happy hour pricing as such.

Plus Scoop, the local journo, is often in there, so we hear all the goss

Shame that the Asia Miles charts are distance based rather than zone based.

I don't see how you can do BNE-ZQN-BNE for less than 80k Asia Miles in Business. SYD-ZQN-SYD would be ok for 50k.

According to asiamiles themselves, both BNE-ZQN-BNE and SYD-ZQN-SYD are 30k oneway in J and 50k return in J. I didn’t use the chart, I used the calculator after logging into my account. But the chart gives the same figure, as BNE-ZQN is only 1493 miles (Zone B).

 

[futaris]

According to asiamiles themselves, both BNE-ZQN-BNE and SYD-ZQN-SYD are 30k oneway in J and 50k return in J. I didn’t use the chart, I used the calculator after logging into my account. But the chart gives the same figure, as BNE-ZQN is only 1493 miles (Zone B).

1. Award zones are based on the one-way distance between origin airport and destination airport. If connecting sectors are involved, the sector distances should be summed up to determine the total one-way distance and applicable award zone. Awards in the table, unless indicated otherwise, apply to return trips.

2. The member or the Nominee may make two stopovers, two transfers or one open-jaw at either the origin, en route or turnaround point on all airline partners except Air China and Iberia where no stopovers or open-jaws are permitted. If the open-jaw is at the origin, the member or Nominee must return to the country of origin, though not necessarily to the same city. The member must depart from the intermediate point on the next available connecting flight. The preceding is all subject to airline partners' terms and conditions. For the purposes of this section, open-jaw means a flight itinerary where the departure city is different from the returning city, or alternatively, the destination city that a passenger arrives in is different from the one he/she returns from on the return portion of the trip.

Argh. Stupid chart. 1201 miles, up to 2500 miles in one direction, is 30k oneway in Business, 50k return in Business. Makes sense

Do try to make use of the stopover/open-jaw clause, if you end up transiting or can't get availability all the way. This is one big advantage that a Asia Miles award still has over a AAdvantage award.

Are you getting a Queenstown Ski Pass? They've gone up a bit this year.

 

[RockDoc]

Considered a local Sam!

I too have a house there that makes a visit a lovely tax deduction. Very helpful when travelling from WA rather than the east coast.

Sadly I can only dream of spending more than 10 or so days there at the moment. Work in the desert, prefer to spend holidays in the snow...something doesn't quite balance out. Perhaps I'll have to move to Turkey where they both sit next to each other.

I have enjoyed a drink at Brazz in times past, but looks like I might have to ingratiate myself to the one with the cheap drinks card!

 

[samh004]

Are you getting a Queenstown Ski Pass? They've gone up a bit this year.

We shall be, and we should buy them soon. I’ll get my dad on it. Last year I could get a student pass, but they seem to have done away with it this year and prices do seem to be higher… coughs!

 

[samh004]

Thanks to everyone for their advice on this. I got the email back from the travel agent earlier today confirming it all. As I don’t want to leave quite so early in July, I’ve traded my miles to my dad for an economy ticket over, so perhaps he’ll have better luck with them on a different routing.

To anyone that’s going over there, I’ll be there for 3 weeks now, from the 17th July to the 8th August. :mrgreen:

 

[hazel]

Make sure the plane doesn't take off without you. I flew SYD-ZQN with QF in September we were loaded onto buses to go out to the aircraft.
The stairs were being removed & FAs were closing the door when a passenger pointed out that his family were not on the plane & surely there was another bus arriving "oh we thought we had everyone" replied the FA.
The remaining passengers arrived on the bus a couple of minutes later.
ZQN is great - especially the Heritage Hotel.

 

[samh004]

ZQN is great - especially the Heritage Hotel.

That’s too far out of town… I couldn’t imagine walking that far in and out of town at the beginning and start of the night. It’s bad enough we stay on the Esplanade and have to drive through town to get to the ski field, those roads fill so quickly, and give them just a bit of snow and all hell breaks loose.