Qantas and Air NZ announce codeshare partnership

[dajop]

RLast year I had a return ticket (award) from SQ [MEL-SIN] and a separate paid ticket from LH [SIN-FRA-SOF] and when I arrived at Mel the check-in agent checked my bags direct to SOF saying you are on *A all the way today so there's no problem checking your bags all the way regardless of having two tickets issued by two different companies.

Check-in agent was wrong re star alliance comment, as serfty pointed out this is an (unwritten) SQ policy, and has nothing to do with alliances. SQ will through check to most non-LCC carriers, even when on separate tickets. All of these through-checking policies are carrier specific.

 

[p--and--t]

Check-in agent was wrong re star alliance comment, as serfty pointed out this is an (unwritten) SQ policy, and has nothing to do with alliances. SQ will through check to most non-LCC carriers, even when on separate tickets. All of these through-checking policies are carrier specific.

Thanks for clarifying that Serfly and dajop

 

[Corny44]

WARNING DO NOT fly on Air New Zealand …… standard is WAY below QANTAS. It is a step backwards for the flying kangaroo.

 

[JohnK]

As some have mentioned, did not see this coming.

 

[dajop]

WARNING DO NOT fly on Air New Zealand …… standard is WAY below QANTAS. It is a step backwards for the flying kangaroo.

Leaving aside subjective views of Air NZ standards, in the context of this particular arrangement, it is hard to see how how it is a "step backwards". It's expanding choices and benefits for those connecting to New Zealand domestic flights.

 

[dairyfloss]

Leaving aside subjective views of Air NZ standards, in the context of this particular arrangement, it is hard to see how how it is a "step backwards". It's expanding choices and benefits for those connecting to New Zealand domestic flights.

Indeed - and, if comparing to the flying kangaroo, the current QF-marketed alternative for NZ domestic travel may more akin to a reversing off a cliff, anyway...

 

[AviationNZ]

WARNING DO NOT fly on Air New Zealand …… standard is WAY below QANTAS. It is a step backwards for the flying kangaroo.

Tell us what you really think! Hahaha.

I'd probably put them on pretty level pegging to be honest. Both have some stand out features and both have some room for improvement.

 

[Quickstatus]

SQ will through check to most non-LCC carriers, even when on separate tickets. All of these through-checking policies are carrier specific.

Is this more a result of the SIN hub?. I would think that because through checking is open to most non LCC carriers at SIN, It would be less confusing for SQ to through check it’s passengers at the other end as well?

 

[NZflygirl]

There's no *A - *A interline on separate tickets.

AirNZ won't even interline NZ - NZ on separate tickets.

I've had Air NZ allow domestic NZ to international NZ on separate tickets. Economy obviously and then onwards in PE.

Also had Air NZ allow check bags through for AKL-SIN on NZ, then separate SQ SIN-DPS. Wasn't a problem. Status may have played a part and was business first leg then economy 2nd leg.

Same process landing in Auckland (not sure about other airports) even if on separate or same ticket. Pick bags up then drop off at Air NZ within international terminal as long as >60min before domestic flight departs. I used to arrive off EK at times and manage the domestic leg with a flexitime. Could change the time of the flight on the day free of charge. It's really easy once you get your head around it with very little difference in practice to being all on the one ticket anyway.

 

[serfty]

Status may have played a part

Absolutely! The only recent report I have come across indicate that status was the likely reason; I have had it as an *Elite, but that was over 5 years ago.

Promoted policy is not to do so.

 

[Chicken]

This is basically saying "You can have NZ, we'll take AU, make peace, anyone else ......"

To me, this is very anticompetitive, they have effectively locked out any competitor. Kind of like the territory division between Hoyts and Event Cinemas.

 

[dajop]

Is this more a result of the SIN hub?. I would think that because through checking is open to most non LCC carriers at SIN, It would be less confusing for SQ to through check it’s passengers at the other end as well?

No, I suspect it has more to do with trying to maintain the premium branding/full service concept. Will be interesting to see if it survives the rationalistion program now underway.

 

[Berlin]

Kind of like the territory division between Hoyts and Event Cinemas.

Really? Where’s that- somewhere out in the Bush? While not exactly on topic, I got two Hoyts and two Event cinemas within less than 45 minutes walking distance from here. Certainly not what I would call a “territory division”.

 

[jomar]

Applicable to 30 domestic NZ services and 85 domestic AU services (no trans-tasman services included).

Details on codeshare partnership:

• Will commence on October 28, the same day that the Air NZ/VA agreement is due to expire.
• Codeshare bookings will be available from the end of July

I have some domestic NZ travel coming up in November and would quite like to book it as QF. It's now late August — has anyone seen any sign of codeshare booking actually becoming available?

Trying to book post-Oct-28 WLG-ROT at qantas.com just comes up with no flights available. And I've been checking the Partner Airlines list and earning tables regularly, but they still don't list Air New Zealand (though airberlin is still there!).

Hmmm. I see qantas.com will offer me various SYD-ROT options and on Oct 28 the AKL-ROT sector changes from NZ flight numbers to QF codeshare flight numbers. I didn't notice anything in the articles announcing this stating that these codeshare flights could only be booked in conjunction with international travel on (trans-Tasman) QF metal, but perhaps I'm being stupid imagining that it would apply for purely domestic travel on the other carrier?

(Our international travel to New Zealand is in fact a QF booking on a mixture of EK/QF metal, but it was a complicated enough booking made months ago and I don't fancy my chances of tacking another sector onto it now…)

 

[Mattg]

I have some domestic NZ travel coming up in November and would quite like to book it as QF. It's now late August — has anyone seen any sign of codeshare booking actually becoming available?

Trying to book post-Oct-28 WLG-ROT at qantas.com just comes up with no flights available. And I've been checking the Partner Airlines list and earning tables regularly, but they still don't list Air New Zealand (though airberlin is still there!).

Hmmm. I see qantas.com will offer me various SYD-ROT options and on Oct 28 the AKL-ROT sector changes from NZ flight numbers to QF codeshare flight numbers. I didn't notice anything in the articles announcing this stating that these codeshare flights could only be booked in conjunction with international travel on (trans-Tasman) QF metal, but perhaps I'm being stupid expecting that it would apply for purely domestic travel on the other carrier?

(Our international travel to New Zealand is in fact a QF booking on a mixture of EK/QF metal, but it was a complicated enough booking made months ago and I don't fancy my chances of tacking another sector onto it now…)

It was quite clear in Qantas' announcement that the NZ domestic codeshares can only be booked in conjunction with a Qantas trans-Tasman flight. This is nothing more than a codeshare agreement, and not a proper partnership, so you can't book WLG-ROT as a standalone trip on a QF flight number.

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

I have some domestic NZ travel coming up in November and would quite like to book it as QF. It's now late August — has anyone seen any sign of codeshare booking actually becoming available?

Trying to book post-Oct-28 WLG-ROT at qantas.com just comes up with no flights available. And I've been checking the Partner Airlines list and earning tables regularly, but they still don't list Air New Zealand (though airberlin is still there!).

Hmmm. I see qantas.com will offer me various SYD-ROT options and on Oct 28 the AKL-ROT sector changes from NZ flight numbers to QF codeshare flight numbers. I didn't notice anything in the articles announcing this stating that these codeshare flights could only be booked in conjunction with international travel on (trans-Tasman) QF metal, but perhaps I'm being stupid imagining that it would apply for purely domestic travel on the other carrier?

(Our international travel to New Zealand is in fact a QF booking on a mixture of EK/QF metal, but it was a complicated enough booking made months ago and I don't fancy my chances of tacking another sector onto it now…)

QF codeshare on NZ domestic is only in conjunction with QF trans-Tasman.
NZ codeshare on QF domestic is only in conjunction with NZ trans-Tasman.

There can be no stand-alone code shares for domestic (or for solely trans-Tasman) because that would fall foul of competition authorities.

 

[AviationNZ]

QF codeshare on NZ domestic is only in conjunction with QF trans-Tasman.
NZ codeshare on QF domestic is only in conjunction with NZ trans-Tasman

NZ codeshare on QF domestic also applies to other NZ routes such as North/South America, Norfolk Island, etc.

Likewise QF codeshare on NZ domestic applies to other routes such as Asia, Europe, etc.

 

[muppet]

NZ codeshare on QF domestic also applies to other NZ routes such as North/South America, Norfolk Island, etc.

Likewise QF codeshare on NZ domestic applies to other routes such as Asia, Europe, etc.

Yeah but how will you use it without a trans-tasman??

 

[jomar]

It was quite clear in Qantas' announcement that the NZ domestic codeshares can only be booked in conjunction with a Qantas trans-Tasman flight.

Thanks all for the replies; I guess it's the expected answer and not very surprising.

Nonetheless I really don't think it's clear in the QANTAS AND AIR NEW ZEALAND ANNOUNCE CODESHARE DEAL TO MAKE TRAVEL EASIER press release as linked in the first posting in this thread. It alludes to “connections” a few times, but that doesn't seem definitive.

Is it simply that the n-th freedom international aspect is conclusively implied by the term “codeshare agreement”? Fair enough, but that doesn't seem like it would be clear to a neophyte…

Or were you reading a different Qantas announcement?

 

[Mattg]

Thanks all for the replies; I guess it's the expected answer and not very surprising.

Nonetheless I really don't think it's clear in the QANTAS AND AIR NEW ZEALAND ANNOUNCE CODESHARE DEAL TO MAKE TRAVEL EASIER press release as linked in the first posting in this thread. It alludes to “connections” a few times, but that doesn't seem definitive.

Is it simply that the n-th freedom international aspect is conclusively implied by the term “codeshare agreement”? Fair enough, but that doesn't seem like it would be clear to a neophyte…

Or were you reading a different Qantas announcement?

That particular announcement was when they initially announced plans to codeshare. Subsequent announcements have contained a lot more detail.

Even so, that one does say the airlines will continue to compete across the Tasman.