*A Awards availability for South Pacific (PPT)

[M@rcoPolo]

I'm trying to burn some KrisFlyer miles for flights SYD - AKL - PPT return (2 seats) next June on NZ flights.

Using the United.com awards search tool I managed to find 2 seats in C for SYD/AKL/SYD that can also be confirmed by SQ
- HOWEVER -
for AKL/PPT/AKL - although United.com shows quite a few dates during the month with availability in Y the SQ agent I called cannot see any availability for the whole month of June (!) between AKL and PPT.

I was under the impression inventory released by NZ would be the same for all *A partners but that's obviously not the case... would anyone know if there's a way to check actual availability for SQ without having to spend hours on the phone with the KrisFlyer call center?
Also I'd appreciate any tips / past experience stories for redemptions to PPT (e.g. awards inventory becoming available closer to the date?! or it's just impossible to redeem using SQ?)

 

[kamchatsky]

It it not a SQ issue. It is a general "NZ not releasing C between AKL-PPT issue" to *A members. It has been happening for the last few years.

NZ does release Y about 9-11 months out before they closed the door completely. Nothing for C at all.

I redeemed SYD-AKL-PPT NZ J for 2 pax, on two separate trip in 2009. I think since 2012-2013 they have completely closed the doors.

Alternatively you can look at redeeming on TN using say AA miles ...

 

[M@rcoPolo]

It it not a SQ issue. It is a general "NZ not releasing C between AKL-PPT issue" to *A members. It has been happening for the last few years.

Actually it does show decent availability on UA (in Y), problem is I don't have enough miles with UA

It looks like the inventory is not released "equally" to all *A members, UA requires more miles for the same award so perhaps NZ is getting more in return and gives UA more inventory?

 

[kamchatsky]

Whatever you see at UA should also appear at SQ ..... I assume you asked SQ for particular flight on particular day?

 

[M@rcoPolo]

Whatever you see at UA should also appear at SQ ..... I assume you asked SQ for particular flight on particular day?

Absolutely - I gave SQ the NZ flight number and date, they could not see availability in Y or C. I then asked them to check AKL to PPT availability for any date in June and they couldn't find a single seat. Below is the screenshot from United.com showing saver awards availability in Y for 10 dates in June. I called SQ twice speaking to two different agents and the result was always the same - zero zip nothing nada

 

[drron]

On the UA site did you go on and see if you could actually book the seats on UA.
On aa.com it often shows availability on partner airlines but when you continue there are in fact no award seats.

 

[M@rcoPolo]

On the UA site did you go on and see if you could actually book the seats on UA.
On aa.com it often shows availability on partner airlines but when you continue there are in fact no award seats.

Absolutely, I entered passenger details and I went all the way to final payment / credit card info.
Award inventory is clearly made available to UA but not to SQ - possibly because UA charges more miles for the same award, meaning NZ get more revenue per seat?

Note I don't have an issue with SYD/AKL/SYD - the inventory I see on UA is also available when I call SQ - even in C - my problem is only with AKL/PPT/AKL

 

[andye]

Are you able to take advantage of the Amex MR (or Diners)>SPG>Mariott>UA conversion?

 

[kpc]

Alternatively you can look at redeeming on TN using say AA miles ...

Did exactly that in 2015: Booked Syd-Akl (Qf Y) followed by Akl-Ppt (TN J) return with AA miles....Unfortunately, had to stump up $$$ for Ppt-Moz-Bob return on VT!!

 

[M@rcoPolo]

Are you able to take advantage of the Amex MR (or Diners)>SPG>Mariott>UA conversion?

I suppose I could but it's not a great use of Amex MR (that's where my SQ points mostly come from BTW) - I believe the conversion ratio AMEX MR to UA going via SPG>Marriott is about 1.8 to 1, right?

With a stopover in AKL, in Y UA comes down up 62,500 miles vs SQ 25,000 miles - actually with SQ it's only 35,000 in C although realistically it's impossible to get C on the PPT legs (but definitely doable on SYD/AKL/SYD legs - and you can mix C & Y if C is not available for all legs...)

Anyway if my maths are correct, in Y with United I would need approx 112,000 AMEX MR... I suppose I could but at that point it's probably easier to buy revenue tickets and use AMEX MR elsewhere...

 

[kamchatsky]

I suppose I could but it's not a great use of Amex MR (that's where my SQ points mostly come from BTW) - I believe the conversion ratio AMEX MR to UA going via SPG>Marriott is about 1.8 to 1, right?

With a stopover in AKL, in Y UA comes down up 62,500 miles vs SQ 25,000 miles - actually with SQ it's only 35,000 in C although realistically it's impossible to get C on the PPT legs (but definitely doable on SYD/AKL/SYD legs - and you can mix C & Y if C is not available for all legs...)

Anyway if my maths are correct, in Y with United I would need approx 112,000 AMEX MR... I suppose I could but at that point it's probably easier to buy revenue tickets and use AMEX MR elsewhere...

Unless you do Marriott Travel Packages which also give you 7 night accommodation certificate with higher number of UA miles. It is one of the best features of Marriott program.