Fare inclusions on *A reward booking on NZ?

[ChrisFlyer]

Curious if anyone here has experience flying with NZ across the Tasman, on an economy flight booked using *A miles?

I can see that 1 checked bag is included on the ticket, which means it's not treated like a basic 'Seat' fare, but curious if inflight food is included too?

(It's unclear from the booking whether *A partner rewards are treated like 'Seat + Bag', or 'Seat + Bag + Meal'.)

Wouldn't normally book economy flights with *A miles, but the 4hr AKL-BNE flight was only 12.5k SQ miles plus the true government taxes (didn't seem to be a carrier surcharge), and with my recently matched NZ Gold status, I already get free extra legroom seats, priority check-in, lounge access etc etc, so economy is fine.

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

It's the works fare category.

theworks

The Works offers a delicious inflight meal, the latest movies & seat select on your Air New Zealand flight. Keep kids entertained & enjoy no-charge drinks.

www.airnewzealand.co.nz

Includes movies, checked bag, food and drink.

 

[henrus]

On Trans Tasman/Islands X class books into the works.

On NZ domestic flights X class books into Seat and Bag.

Once booked you'll need to call Air NZ telling them you have a partner booking reference and provided them with passenger names, dates and flight numbers at which point they'll give you the Air NZ booking reference - these always end with the letter H.

Using this Air NZ booking reference you can manage your booking online including regular free seat selection that is allowed for works bookings.

Regarding the *G benefits, don't expect to receive them if you book with a different star alliance program. When you booking using SQ miles then the SQ frequent flyer number is stuck in the booking and can't be changed (this is a feature of all redemption bookings on NZ).

The Air New Zealand Airpoints terms and conditions say the following:

When you book your travel, you may only specify one Airline's loyalty programme or frequent flyer programme in your booking. Your loyalty or frequent flyer points will be credited to your chosen programme and you may only access the benefits of the chosen programme for that travel. For example, you cannot earn Airpoints Dollars or Status Points and use the benefits of another Airline's loyalty programme or frequent flyer programme. In addition, you cannot use the benefits of the Airpoints programme and earn loyalty or frequent flyer points with another programme.

Because Air NZ state that you can only specify one program and your SQ number is stuck then it's often not possible to do what you're planning.

There is a separate section where they can add a status program called FTQS however over the phone it's unlikely that they will do that for you, I've been knocked back a few times and had success others (but more recently it's been a firm no).

When accessing the lounge, airport staff can generally accept the *G card but you may get some pushback or others who may say no because they don't know how to do it.

There was a thread about this on flyertalk a few years back (and nothings changed since then):

Is it the end of the FQTV/FQTS entry fields? - FlyerTalk Forums

Air New Zealand | Air Points - Is it the end of the FQTV/FQTS entry fields? - Originally Posted by sbiddle Not necessarily. Many would credit NZ flights solely to A3 as a super easy way to get *G status, and then reap the benefits of that. I don't think anybody could honestly say that this is...

www.flyertalk.com

 

[SYD]

Regarding the *G benefits, don't expect to receive them if you book with a different star alliance program. When you booking using SQ miles then the SQ frequent flyer number is stuck in the booking and can't be changed (this is a feature of all redemption bookings on NZ).

The Air New Zealand Airpoints terms and conditions say the following:

Because Air NZ state that you can only specify one program and your SQ number is stuck then it's often not possible to do what you're planning.

Related question, what about using NZ A*G on a SQ award on SQ metal?

 

[henrus]

Related question, what about using NZ A*G on a SQ award on SQ metal?

It shouldn't be a problem. I've never personally used *G status in that exact situation that but I have been able to use VA Platinum benefits on an SQ award on SQ metal. As SQ has no advanced benefits of status it's easiest to just update the FF number at check-in and there has never been any push back with all agents willing to update the FF number.

As another data point, I've had an SQ award operated by CA (Air China), despite being at the domestic check-in in Beijing (limited English), I just joined the *G queue and they were willing to update the FF program to NZ*G.

Alliance wide there is no technical limitation but obviously, airlines are free to impose their own restrictions which is what Air NZ has done in this case. I believe they are one of the only *A carriers who impose this crazy restriction but technically at a bare minimum, they should be following *A guidelines and providing the standard benefits on the presentation of a *G card (or virtual card).

In my opinion, NZ-specific benefits such as HVC seating and extra cabin baggage should really be limited to NZ*G only and this will make the program much more attractive.

A bit off-topic but if you're interested in a detailed explanation of specific *G benefits then the reference guide is a good start (I can't find an updated version online so this is the 2018 version):

https://portal.staralliance.com/cms/publications/reference-guide/starallianceguide_1201b.pdf/@@download/file/StarAllianceGuide_1201b.pdf

 

[SYD]

A bit off-topic but if you're interested in a detailed explanation of specific *G benefits then the reference guide is a good start (I can't find an updated version online so this is the 2018 version):

https://portal.staralliance.com/cms/publications/reference-guide/starallianceguide_1201b.pdf/@@download/file/StarAllianceGuide_1201b.pdf

Tah. I was UA A*G for many years post Ansett but let it lapse with the VA hookup with NZ and SQ (which was adequate for my non-QF/OW travel).

In addition to the NZ status match (that I’m about to do), there’s always the UA SM that can be done every 5yrs, plus any others that pop up in between...

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Interesting to hear that it books as a Works fare on Tasman - thanks, that's great!

While the website wouldn't let me remove the SQ number, NZ was able to swap it for my Airpoints number quick and easy: and straight away the Gold benefits like seat selection became alive, so it appears to have been linked properly.

Also, found a quick and easy way to get the NZ PNR on SQ awards is to use Check My Trip (put in the SQ Amadeus booking ref, then the page shows the NZ ref).

Will see how I go at the airport, and which status ends up on the boarding pass.

Thanks all!

 

[henrus]

While the website wouldn't let me remove the SQ number, NZ was able to swap it for my Airpoints number quick and easy: and straight away the Gold benefits like seat selection became alive, so it appears to have been linked properly.

Good to know they're not being difficult about it.

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Good to know they're not being difficult about it.

Yeah, was very straightforward... don't know whether it helped that I mentioned I was excited about the Touch of Gold promo at the same time, haha.

 

[Notyourbag]

Can confirm when you book an Air New Zealand award flight with UA they also provide the air new Zealand booking reference number.