Article: China Eastern to launch AKL-EZE route in December 2025

[AFF Editor]

This one probably wasn't on anyone's bingo card...

China Eastern will launch a Shanghai-Auckland-Buenos Aires service in December, running 2x weekly. You might even be able to book a seat with Qantas Points.

New Flights from New Zealand to Argentina... with China Eastern?!

China Eastern will launch flights from Shanghai to Buenos Aires via Auckland from December 2025, filling a void left by Air New Zealand.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[ap_member]

Fantastic news! Let’s hope the competition helps

 

[simmomelb]

Do we know when bookings will go live?

 

[Ansett Nostalgic]

Always great to see more 5th freedoms pop up especially in unexpected places.

 

[kiwitripper64]

China Eastern and QF are partner airlines, but will there be any link on this route? Will China Eastern recognise QF status for lounges? Will you be able to get QF SC and points for flying this route?
I suspect not but it would be nice to have another QF route to South America

 

[Mwenenzi]

China Eastern and QF are partner airlines, but will there be any link on this route? Will China Eastern recognise QF status for lounges? Will you be able to get QF SC and points for flying this route?
I suspect not but it would be nice to have another QF route to South America

MU~QF. All on the QF web site--->
https://www.qantas.com/au/en/qantas-experience/network-and-partner-airlines/china-eastern.html
Lounge https://www.qantas.com/au/en/qantas...ner-airlines/china-eastern.html#lounge-access
Freq flyers https://www.qantas.com/au/en/qantas...r-airlines/china-eastern.html#frequent-flyers

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AKL new release --> https://corporate.aucklandairport.c...ch-major-china-south-america-link-through-akl

 

[Supersonic Swinger]

MU~QF. All on the QF web site--->
https://www.qantas.com/au/en/qantas-experience/network-and-partner-airlines/china-eastern.html
Lounge https://www.qantas.com/au/en/qantas...ner-airlines/china-eastern.html#lounge-access
Freq flyers https://www.qantas.com/au/en/qantas...r-airlines/china-eastern.html#frequent-flyers

===========
AKL new release --> https://corporate.aucklandairport.c...ch-major-china-south-america-link-through-akl

The MU/QF partnership appears to be limited to flights between Australia and China.

Even if QF applies a codeshare to enable AU-AKL-EZE on a QF code, expect those will be much more expensive than the MU coded flights - as is the case with LATAM flights to SCL and beyond,

 

[SYD]

The MU/QF partnership appears to be limited to flights between Australia and China.

and QF codeshares within China.

Even if QF applies a codeshare to enable AU-AKL-EZE on a QF code, expect those will be much more expensive than the MU coded flights - as is the case with LATAM flights to SCL and beyond,

Actually, when QF has a Sth Am Sale, the LA codeshare is sometimes cheaper. Similarly when LA have a Sale, the QF metal is cheaper..!

We can already do AU-EZE one stop (via SCL), so I’d be surprised if QF bother with MU heading that way. Besides, the QF / LA partnership already extends to lounge access and other perks.

 

[Mwenenzi]

The MU/QF partnership appears to be limited to flights between Australia and China.

Even if QF applies a codeshare to enable AU-AKL-EZE on a QF code, expect those will be much more expensive than the MU coded flights - as is the case with LATAM flights to SCL and beyond,

As a new flight to a new location (South America) the QF-MU agreement may/may not be re negotiated.