Virgin Australia and Air NZ form new partnership

[EneleAUS]

Has anyone booked through VA an ANZ metal flight with a VA flight number in business and been able to select biz seats? I'm looking at Perth Auckland with Air New Zealand but to maximise VA points and SC.

I wasn't able to book my seat online but I called the ANZ contact centre and they did it for me

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Has anyone booked through VA an ANZ metal flight with a VA flight number in business and been able to select biz seats? I'm looking at Perth Auckland with Air New Zealand but to maximise VA points and SC.

The last time I booked with AirNZ, via FB travel, so it wasnt with AirNZ directly, I wasnt able to pick my seat, even in premY.
I believe that they ie AirNZ if you book direct, would dictate seat preferences, but if you book with a partner, that is not that opportunity.
If seat selection is very important to you, what I would do, is book directly with AirNZ, enter your SQ KF #, and then transfer the points later to VFF from KF, yes, you loose 35% but, at the least, you do get to select your own seats.
If you book with VA, to fly AirNZ, and are not able to pick your preferred seats, and you get the "allocation at airport", then you have lost the chance of your preferred seat, either 1a or 1f.

 

[iamsuperandrew]

This may have been answered, but if I am a VA platinum (might be Gold by the time we fly) and I take a ANZ flight from CHC - ZQN (assuming its only economy 1 class plane) can we still enter the lounge?

 

[HS-TQE]

This may have been answered, but if I am a VA platinum (might be Gold by the time we fly) and I take a ANZ flight from CHC - ZQN (assuming its only economy 1 class plane) can we still enter the lounge?

No.

Lounge access only covers the Tasman legs.

 

[iamsuperandrew]

No.

Lounge access only covers the Tasman legs.

Might have to use PP/ AMEX global lounge collection ones

 

[PERLHR]

I will be watching over the next few months revenue tickets on the the PER-AKL sector especially as QF are commencing the route also early 26 I think. As VA Plat and never having ever been to AKL and North Island, thinking it could be a relatively good return on VA booking with Air New Zealand metal....perhaps!

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

AirNZ dom and trans Tasman, on the narrow body, is always one class, they do not have J or econX, but if you can pick row 1 or exit row over wing, its a bit more space.
But they do pack like sardines, have done the CHC and WLG to AKL flight several times.
They do not ever have J, not even on the Aus - NZ A320neo/A321neo, no matter if the flight is quite long, 3.5 hrs + 2 hrs time diff = 5.5 hrs give or take.

 

[HS-TQE]

Also to add VA also chose not to purchase and resell W (Premium Economy) on NZ's limited widebody flights between the East Coast Capitals and AKL as part of their unilateral travel agent partnership with NZ.

 

[bcworld]

Also to add VA also chose not to purchase and resell W (Premium Economy) on NZ's limited widebody flights between the East Coast Capitals and AKL as part of their unilateral travel agent partnership with NZ.

Often PE cabins are small...I think its probably more a case that the operating carrier guards that inventory for their own management. VA doesn't sell premium economy on Singapore Airlines, United...or actually I think any of its partner airlines.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

On all my AirNZ flights, premY is always full(y) occupied.
Also, AirNZ sells NZ$30 for preferred seating in many of their flights.
PremY tends to retail for NZ$600 upwards on east coast flights Aus to AKL, and yep, only available on their (AirNZs own website).

 

[AviationNZ]

AirNZ dom and trans Tasman, on the narrow body, is always one class, they do not have J or econX, but if you can pick row 1 or exit row over wing, its a bit more space.
But they do pack like sardines, have done the CHC and WLG to AKL flight several times.
They do not ever have J, not even on the Aus - NZ A320neo/A321neo, no matter if the flight is quite long, 3.5 hrs + 2 hrs time diff = 5.5 hrs give or take.

I'm curious, what does the time difference have to do with the amount of time you're on the plane and whether it is in economy or business? By that logic, a flight from RAR to AKL is 4.5 hrs + 22 hour time diff = 26.5 hrs. Clearly the time difference has no bearing whatsoever.

 

[Digicola]

I'm curious, what does the time difference have to do with the amount of time you're on the plane and whether it is in economy or business? By that logic, a flight from RAR to AKL is 4.5 hrs + 22 hour time diff = 26.5 hrs. Clearly the time difference has no bearing whatsoever.

Sure feels like 26.5 hours when flying on a JQ bird middle seat

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

I have had the pleasure of having the 58a on the QF 747, when they flew it from PER - SYD, on a QFd flight, many years ago now.
It was a red eye.
I thought, ooo, good idea to put backpack in underseat area, then, ooooo, found out it was a bad idea.
PremY for me on AirNZ from now on, or if I have to fly Y, would do a comfort seat booking.
Middle seat on the JQi/JQd on anything of a flight, some might like it, cheap cheap, but would be torturous.

 

[i0sam0i]

Flew BNE - AKL return this weekend.
Was able to select seats through the airnz app, paid to select front of economy for both flights.
Online check in with HLO.
Friday at the Brisbane airnz lounge, no issue with entry as I explained upfront that I was platinum with book via VA. Verified passport at lounge as well.
Sunday afternoon at Auckland on return I tried my luck at the lounge but was redirected to strata. They printed my boarding pass amd marked up that it was VA booked. Verified passport. Didn't go to the strata lounge as wanted a burger and a beer.
All in all pretty straight forward. Cost was only a few bucks more through VA compared to airnz.

 

[henrus]

Sunday afternoon at Auckland on return I tried my luck at the lounge but was redirected to strata.

This is expected.

It's the Strata lounge in Auckland and the Virgin lounge on the Gold Coast or Adelaide (whereas in the latter two Air NZs own status passengers are sent to the QF Club), all other airports are the Air NZ operated lounge where it exists.

 

[PERLHR]

Interestingly I see that QF are commencing Perth to Auckland. When I'm comparing biz prices at the moment for next year it's around 400 dollars cheaper to fly with QF!!! Wonder if that will change...

 

[Mondo]

Flew BNE - AKL return this weekend.
Was able to select seats through the airnz app, paid to select front of economy for both flights.
Online check in with HLO.
Friday at the Brisbane airnz lounge, no issue with entry as I explained upfront that I was platinum with book via VA. Verified passport at lounge as well.
Sunday afternoon at Auckland on return I tried my luck at the lounge but was redirected to strata. They printed my boarding pass amd marked up that it was VA booked. Verified passport. Didn't go to the strata lounge as wanted a burger and a beer.
All in all pretty straight forward. Cost was only a few bucks more through VA compared to airnz.

How did you select your seats on the airnz app? Did you have to get the air nz booking reference, or just used the virgin one?

 

[i0sam0i]

This is expected.

It's the Strata lounge in Auckland and the Virgin lounge on the Gold Coast or Adelaide (whereas in the latter two Air NZs own status passengers are sent to the QF Club), all other airports are the Air NZ operated lounge where it exists.

expected yes - never hurts to ask tho

Post automatically merged: Yesterday at 10:16 AM

How did you select your seats on the airnz app? Did you have to get the air nz booking reference, or just used the virgin one?

On the airnz app - the airnz reference was in the virgin app. VA Choice goes across to NZ Works, and so I paid (within airnz app) for more favorable seats.

 

[PERLHR]

expected yes - never hurts to ask tho

Post automatically merged: Yesterday at 10:16 AM

On the airnz app - the airnz reference was in the virgin app. VA Choice goes across to NZ Works, and so I paid (within airnz app) for more favorable seats.

I'm just wondering why this will probably not work on paid biz ticket when flying ANZ biz on VA booking!! So frustrating...and biz cabin ex Perth looks like 2-2-2?

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

If its the old loaned to AirNZ b777, then its the 2x2x2 J seating plan.
AirNZs own b777 is 1x2x1 in J, have used it several times.
Unless they are selling premY as J!!!