Mileage Run on Air NZ

[cssaus]

I'm about 1500 miles or so short of making 1K for the year so I thought I might do a MR on AIR NZ from SYD-AKL and back for the day.

Just wanted to confirm that all fares booked on the Air NZ web site provide the mileage accrual I need for UA MP.

 

[dajop]

Just wanted to confirm that all fares booked on the Air NZ web site provide the mileage accrual I need for UA MP.

DEFINITELY NOT! Only fares booked in Tasman Flexi Saver or Tasman Flex fares are eligible for accrual. Tasman Smart Saver fares are excluded from mileage accrual on any program.

 

[trooper]

SECOND THAT!...

It will work.. but just be ultra careful that you DO book a mileage accruing flight... simple rule is that the cheapest Trans Tasmans don't!

I did much the same thing just last Friday - to hit NZ Gold :mrgreen: - ... from SYD... flew across on the 9:40 am, back on the 5:00 pm.... chose those two as they were both 763... put in for standby upgrades both ways.. and got them both..

Quite a pleasant day really! (Except for the O-dark hundred start in CBR!)

 

[cssaus]

ok, bit the bullet and booked a MR for next Tuesday. SYD-AKL on the 7.00am flt returning on the 3.30pm flt getting back into SYD at 5.00pm. There was a 1.00pm return flt but I thought that would be cutting it too fine. My wife thinks I'm crazy

Booked a TASMAN FLEXI SAVER FARE which states for Airpoints/Frequent Flyer "Eligible for Airpoints Dollars accrual....."

I was short 1546 miles of making 2008 1K qualification.

Trying to see on the Air NZ if it allows online check-in, does anyone know? Also, how do I go about getting seat allocation?

 

[trooper]

Not aware of any OLCI.... but then again I haven't looked!

Seats? You gotta call! (I have found NZ's call centre to be bloody good.. AND they are all NZ based.. no outsourcing! )

Have a good day with it!

 

[dajop]

Trying to see on the Air NZ if it allows online check-in, does anyone know? Also, how do I go about getting seat allocation?

Doesn't have online check-in facilities (coming soon I think). Easiest way to get seat allocation is call Air NZ, and they should be able to do it (a qualifier here - not sure if they do it for non NZ status pax, but worth giving a try).

 

[futaris]

Go to airnewzealand.com.au - Bookings - Request Boarding Pass Copy:

https://flightbookings.airnewzealand.com.au/isbook_en_AU/review/

I don't think you can do seat allocation online. Have to ring and ask.

 

[littl_flier]

(a qualifier here - not sure if they do it for non NZ status pax, but worth giving a try).

I've had seats allocated on NZ as a non-status passenger. Again, the call centre is excellent and will deal with all your queries.

Enjoy the day!

 

[cssaus]

I've had seats allocated on NZ as a non-status passenger. Again, the call centre is excellent and will deal with all your queries.

Enjoy the day!

As people have suggested, rang the call centre and they were only too happy to provide me with seat requests.

 

[cssaus]

Just thinking about what to put on the NZ immigration arrival card as to the purpose of my visit, "Business", "vacation" or is there a box labelled "Mileage Run" that I can tick

 

[serfty]

Can't help you, from Feb-OCt one can always say "the rugby", but this is the wrong time of year.

In all honesty, Just tell them (and explain) "MR"!

 

[trooper]

Can't help you there either I'm afraid...

I went.. Aircraft-lounge-aircraft!!!

(Can I say I went to NZ if I didn't pass through immigration? Hmmmm)

 

[cssaus]

Can't help you there either I'm afraid...

I went.. Aircraft-lounge-aircraft!!!

(Can I say I went to NZ if I didn't pass through immigration? Hmmmm)

OK.

From the sounds of it, I don't even need to clear immigration, even better. Hopefully I can get my return boarding pass when I check-in at Sydney.

 

[trooper]

Quite possibly!

I did.. somewhat to my surprise... in any case there is an NZ transit desk airside at AKL..

.... or you can get it in the lounge as I have just remembered you are *Gold!!! Silly me....

 

[cssaus]

Well, I completed my MR to AKL yesterday.

Caught Air NZ flt NZ100 (767-300) from SYD to AKL which left at 7.00am and arrived at 12.00pm. Returned on Air NZ flt NZ105 (777-200ER) which left at 3.30pm and arrived at 5.00pm.

The On arriving at AKL I went thru to International Transfers and therefore didn't need to clear immigration. Went to the Air NZ Customer Service Desk and collected my return boarding pass.

Passed the time in the Air NZ lounge and I was quite impressed with the spread they were offering for lunch, selection of salads and freshly carved hams.

The only thing now is sit and wait for the miles to turn up in my MP account

Nothing to do with the MR but on the return flt, sitting in economy I was approached by a FA who offered me an express clearance pass for Sydney noting that I was a *A Gold member. Didn't need the pass through immigration being an APEC card holder but at Quarantine I was told that the APEC card is not recognised for express clearance and I was forced to surrender the express pass that I was given.

 

[JohnK]

In all honesty, Just tell them (and explain) "MR"!

When I went to NZ in January earlier this year I was stopped by 2 customs/immigration officers as I was walking towards immigration. I must look like a suspicious type of person even in a crowd. Anyway they asked a whole lot questions of where I am going, what I am doing in NZ, what I do for a living etc.

My routing was actually SYD-AKL-WLG-CHC and they could not comprehend the reasons behind this routing rather than a direct SYD-CHC. I tried to explain to them that it was actually cheaper to route this way that I got more FF points and status and would allow me to reach CHC around the same time as my friend who was travelling SYD-AKL-CHC on an SQ award with Air NZ.

It does sound weird trying to explain to someone the concept of mileage runs.

 

[Arthur Hodgson]

It does sound weird trying to explain to someone the conept of mileage runs.

Yes, I was given a hard time by the security people in BKK when checking in recently for a trip to SYD on UA. They couldn't get their heads around my itinerary which was BKK-NRT-SFO-LAX-SYD. They kept saying I should take the direct TG flight, and I kept saying it was a free ticket from Mileage Plus.

In the end, the local UA people had to step in and explain that my ticket was valid and there was a good reason for flying that route.

GWB has a lot to answer for.