TT + Connections

[carpenteria]

Been mulling over some flights over to NZ, but tragically (?) I have never actually gone out that way, so while I have been paying attention since the whole DJ/NZ tie up I haven't actually made use of it before. So hopefully there are some simple answers to a few queries I have managed to collect up!

For the following assume I am looking to go from TSV-CHC via say BNE.

1. Say a flight is booked through DJ for the above. I assume the same rules of status earn are in effect as per the norm (origin to destination, therefore 20 SC) but how are points worked out? Is TSV-BNE worked out on $ of the ticket and BNE-CHC worked out via mileage? Or is the whole thing done via mileage due to the short-haul component?

2. If the above was booked through NZ, would you then earn status per segment (ie 10 for TSV-BNE then 20 for BNE-CHC)? Therefore if I was really after the status I could go TSV-BNE-AKL-CHC for 35 (Bit of a farce for 5 SC though ). However doing this would probably net me less points owing to losing the gold bonus I would assume.

3. Is there any way to check the booking class when booking via NZ's booking engine? Is The works+Flex=Y? Perhaps a better way of phrasing it, what is considered "Full Fare Economy" (Y or B) for that level of SC earn? Can't seem to find any definitive way to check, the NZ site says fare class is to the right on the passenger details screen, but I beg to differ! ...actually, according to this post:

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....irgin-australia-trans-31227-6.html#post564325

Y and B are flexi, so I'm guessing that is the answer?

Thanks for your time! Got to love newbie questions...

 

[JohnK]

Sorry I do not know the answer but hoping one of the Velocity experts sees this and posts the answer for you. Surely you are not the first to attempt this type of itinerary.

 

[carpenteria]

No probs... Given how well established the NZ/DJ alliance would be by now I would of assumed as much!

None the less, I have managed to more or less extract an answer to 3 above, pretty sure Works+Flexible Ticket counts as "Full Fare Economy" as far as Velocity status earn rate is concerned. I would assume this would then apply to all legs regardless of who's metal I'm actually on.

But as for the other 2 questions, not so much luck. Anyone connected with NZ who can answer that?

 

[moa999]

I believe the Origin to Destination rules only apply to Australian segments.
so think you should earn separate SCs for TSV-BNE and BNE-CHC.

Given Virgin seems to price as individual flights I suspect you will just get the $multiple on the domestic portion.

 

[carpenteria]

Hmm, yeah thought that might be the case for points. However as far as status credits are concerned there is this lovely bit of fine print on the status credit page:

When you purchase a single domestic or international short haul fare with Virgin Australia and there is a via point which does not involve a stopover, the Status Credits are awarded on the mileage from origin to destination

So it would seem that booking vis NZ would earn more status as it is per actual flight segment, not overall distance like DJ. Just wondering if someone has tried booking with NZ with a connecting flight with DJ. I imagine there should be no problems, but wouldn't want to lose out on SC's when I just could of booked the domestic segments seperately, which I don't want to do but will if I have to!

 

[oz_mark]

I believe the Origin to Destination rules only apply to Australian segments.
so think you should earn separate SCs for TSV-BNE and BNE-CHC.

It applies to DJ coded flights:

6.21 When a Member takes a flight with a flight number beginning with DJ that includes a connecting flight(s) on the same itinerary. This is considered one Eligible Sector. For example Albury to Brisbane via Sydney is one Eligible Sector.