I class availability for an Air New Zealand flights through US Airways - need advice

[sergeyvzn]

Does anyone know if US Airways somehow has a restricted access to I class seats on Air New Zealand?

I've been trying to book to J tickets SYD-RAR-SYD in September, I can see I class availability on the United booking engine, Avianca's LifeMiles engine and on ExpertFlyer (9 seats in both directions for the direct NZ60/61 flights) but when I rang US Airways the agent I spoke to said she could not see anything in business for the return flight (there were I class seats available for the flight to RAR), economy only. When asked why she thinks it is she said (honestly) she had no idea.

So I hung up and rang later, spoke to another lady, she said she could not even see NZ61 in their system for the date I was after! I asked her why is that as there is definitely a flight there and she said "that's probably because Air New Zealand does not want us to sell these flights". She could only see connections via Auckland but again economy only:evil:

I'm not sure what to do now - wait? IS there a chance Air New Zealand will release some business award seats to US Airways?

My guess is that US Airways are somehow restricted in access to these seats as they are the cheapest (30K for J class return as opposed to 50K on United and 55K through LifeMiles)

Any ideas? I would very much appreciate any advice on this situation

 

[serfty]

Re: I class availability for an Air New Zealand flights through US Airways - need adv

...

Any ideas? I would very much appreciate any advice on this situation

Report on FT that AirNZ are really tightening up with Premium cabin rewardavailability.

It's not just US Dividend miles and *A gernally, it's also poor for NZ's own FFers.

 

[sergeyvzn]

Re: I class availability for an Air New Zealand flights through US Airways - need adv

Report on FT that AirNZ are really tightening up with Premium cabin rewardavailability.

It's not just US Dividend miles and *A gernally, it's also poor for NZ's own FFers.

thanks serfty! I will have a look at what people talk about on FT

what bugs me is that I can see availability pretty much everywhere - through United, through LifeMiles, on Expert Flyer, wandering aramean etc but US Airways agents can't see the seats! Mind you they are not very bright and normally geographically challenged but all 3 persons I've talked to said the same thing "can't see NZ61 in our system"...

I might just book the flights through United, I've got enough points there, it's just that it's an extra 20K per person, much more expensive

 

[smit0847]

Re: I class availability for an Air New Zealand flights through US Airways - need adv

I would keep trying with US. It's a direct flight so a valid routing, and if you can see it on LM and UA (have you checked awardtravelr too?) I don't think it's unavailable - it's just a matter of getting an agent to ticket it for you. I've never, ever seen NZ long-haul to LAX or LHR available in partner programs (they're probably the strictest *A carrier on this) but I thought short-haul was fine.
I've been told every random excuse under the sun as to why I couldn't book something that I knew I could so I kept calling back and have always found someone who can do what I want.


Are the flights that important to you though? As I understand it they use the old 767 recliner J product on that route and it's not a very long flight from memory. There's much more value than can be extracted from an inter-region award with a bit of patience, luck and cunning.......

 

[sergeyvzn]

Re: I class availability for an Air New Zealand flights through US Airways - need adv

I would keep trying with US. It's a direct flight so a valid routing, and if you can see it on LM and UA (have you checked awardtravelr too?) I don't think it's unavailable - it's just a matter of getting an agent to ticket it for you. I've never, ever seen NZ long-haul to LAX or LHR available in partner programs (they're probably the strictest *A carrier on this) but I thought short-haul was fine.
I've been told every random excuse under the sun as to why I couldn't book something that I knew I could so I kept calling back and have always found someone who can do what I want.


Are the flights that important to you though? As I understand it they use the old 767 recliner J product on that route and it's not a very long flight from memory. There's much more value than can be extracted from an inter-region award with a bit of patience, luck and cunning.......

that was my thought, too. All the 3 agents I have spoken to so far sounded as they were half asleep and clearly did not care very much. Will try again and might need to escalate to a supervisor

these specific flights are important, unfortunately. I've got a villa booked for these specific dates to suit the flights (silly, I know but the villa deal was too good to pass by) so another combination of flights via Auckland wouldn't suit. Yes, it is the older J recliner on 767 but it's a direct flight, we don't really want to go via Auckland on A320 in economy. There's a combination of 767 to Auckland and then a 777-200 from Auckland to Sydney for the next day and we could extend the villa for a day but no I class seats available for these flights at all

wish me luck talking to US Airways

 

[sergeyvzn]

Re: I class availability for an Air New Zealand flights through US Airways - need adv

if anyone is interested in the end of the story - I ended up by using my United Mileage Plus miles to book it through United.

I had spent 30 mins on the phone with various US Airways staff including two supervisors and the verdict was they could not do anything. NZ61 for that particular date I need it (Sep 13) was not in their reservation system. That's it. Dead end. The supervisor said it was probably due to Air New Zealand not making the seats available for US Airways due to the low price. They may have been available earlier (in March) but are not available now and they could not do anything about it.
:shock:
Now I'm stuck with heaps (260K) of US Dividend Miles, hopefully they will transfer 1:1 to the AAdvantage

 

[serfty]

Re: I class availability for an Air New Zealand flights through US Airways - need adv

I have come across recent reference to US not permiitng redepmtion from some time later this year (possible to to the move to the AA/oneworld umbrella).

 

[sergeyvzn]

Re: I class availability for an Air New Zealand flights through US Airways - need adv

I have come across recent reference to US not permiitng redepmtion from some time later this year (possible to to the move to the AA/oneworld umbrella).

still does not explain why NZ60 for the flight there in September is available and NZ61 for the flight back also in September is not. Does not exist. I guess it will remain a mystery forever