DJ Plat recognition on NZ

[trippin_the_rift]

Interesting experience...

On the kiosk scanners in airnz lounge, scan the BP and DJ Plat status comes up as 'DJG' (DJ Gold).
Is this a hangup from pre-platinum days, or are DJ Plat's essentially treated the same as NZ Gold instead of GE?

 

[samh004]

From a thread I read the other day I got the impression DJ didn’t treat AirNZ GE’s as Platinums, so makes sense

 

[Mal]

The scanner at hlz didn't recognise any status for me. Lucky i was given the code as its an unstaffed lounge similar to qantaslink.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using AustFreqFly

 

[Fruitcake]

The scanner at hlz didn't recognise any status for me. Lucky i was given the code as its an unstaffed lounge similar to qantaslink.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using AustFreqFly

I'm fairly sure that's expected behaviour - the Velocity website states somewhere that upon checkin you'll receive documentation for regional lounges.


On my most recent NZ flight, my status was not picked up at all. I noticed at the beginning of the flight that a scattering of other pax on board received newspapers and a few other bits and pieces just after boarding. I wasn't too worried about that, but toward the end of the flight I explained I was a DJ plat flying NZ for the first time under the alliance, and I was wondering whether I was eligible to receive an express pass for inbound immigration. The CSM was apologetic, explained that our status didn't come through on the manifest, and checked the manual to verify DJ Plat entitlements re the express card. Interestingly the response was "yes" - but only on arrival in Australia, not in New Zealand! An interesting quirk in the rules. But points and SCs posted without intervention on my behalf. I was probably Silver when that flight was booked and even though I asked the QF checkin agent to reapply my DJ number to the booking before departure (in an attempt to pick up Plat status, which I'd only earned a few days before) obviously something went awry.

 

[LiamR]

AFAIK Velocity Platinum hasn't been configured on the AirNZ system, and as such all Plats will have Gold printed on their BPs.

This was several months ago, I assumed it had changed since then.

 

[straitman]

Interesting experience...

On the kiosk scanners in airnz lounge, scan the BP and DJ Plat status comes up as 'DJG' (DJ Gold).
Is this a hangup from pre-platinum days, or are DJ Plat's essentially treated the same as NZ Gold instead of GE?

This happened to us in Dec but I thought it would have been fixed by now.

 

[maninblack]

My status not acknowledged on NZ a few weeks ago. I think VA is a very junior partner in these alliances (SQ, DL) at this stage and they need to go and fix the systems with their alliance partners. At the moment they are not looking after their premium customers well enough, plenty of talk but little action in some areas of service. As a OW emerald I have found that the integration is pretty seamless but there have been a few glitches over the years and this is a long established program so we can expect some teething issues with these young VA alliances. Just let VA know when something doesn't work so they remain aware that there are problems.

 

[Fruitcake]

Since that last flight where I had problems, I've made a couple of booking for flights later this year. With my Velocity number applied to the booking I've been able to preallocate into Space+ on the A320 (row 3) and forward bulkhead seats in Y on the 767 (10A & 10B) during the booking process, which I definitely could not do when I booked my previous flight as a Silver. So I think things are moving in the right direction.

 

[kpc]

Since that last flight where I had problems, I've made a couple of booking for flights later this year. With my Velocity number applied to the booking I've been able to preallocate into Space+ on the A320 (row 3) and forward bulkhead seats in Y on the 767 (10A & 10B) during the booking process, which I definitely could not do when I booked my previous flight as a Silver. So I think things are moving in the right direction.

That's interesting. I redeemed my free AMEX DJ flight for Syd-Akl, which is a codeshare on NZ - added my DJ no.to booking; as the booking was done via AMEX, I couldn't touch the booking on the DJ website. When I rang DJ, they told me they cannot allocate me a seat until 14 days out...is this correct? or do do you think I will have better luck ringing NZ? AMEX (travel agent) told me they can't allocate me a seat, just can submit an aisle preference.

 

[Fruitcake]

When I rang DJ, they told me they cannot allocate me a seat until 14 days out...is this correct? or do do you think I will have better luck ringing NZ? AMEX (travel agent) told me they can't allocate me a seat, just can submit an aisle preference.

My bookings have been directly with NZ on NZ metal, so I can do allocation online (and go back in later to update them as need be). I've never booked a DJ codeshare on NZ metal, so I don't have any applicable experience to help you out, sorry.

 

[VA FF]

I am a plat and was only recognized as a silver in Dec, they weren't going to let em in, I had to show my card and lucky I had a recnet boarding pass with Virgin showing Plat.

 

[UA_SYD]

I had/have a similar seat assignment issue... booked a Y flexi SYD-AKL on codeshare.
DJ couldn't access seat maps/assign seats. NZ tried for me but said their system will not allow because its sold by DJ.

I quizzed DJ more today, as my flight is in 12 days... still no joy with DJ or NZ.
After initially blaming NZ, DJ said they do not assign seats on international short haul because they need to sight passports and therefore it was a "security issue".. when I explained that if that was the case it is a system limitation issue on their end to pre-enter passenger info etc. the agent didn't seem to want to listen. Also, said on the phone I am showing as "Gold" on the booking even though I’m Plat, so appears there is still misalignment with status recognition.

This is definitely a systems integration issue. As you all know shorthall INTL reservations is still Navitaire/New Skies system which requires lots of work to align with the GDS's in the likes of NZ. Also, Velocity alignment is still patchy and as others have mentioned is still very much in its infancy.
I think it’s important for DJ Agents to understand this and acknowledge it to their customers, rather than blame others or not understand how customers perceive this limitation...

 

[mr_osborne]

One thing I will say, is that if you make a dummy booking through Air NZ, it specifically says seat selection is not available if you book a virgin codeshare, and when I booked SYD-LST as an add on to AKL-SYD, I couldn't make a seat selection for the return journey. However in saying that, as a Koru, I got row 5 on the way down and row 3 on the way back...

 

[Ewing]

To add my experience to this:

I just flew NZ for the first time today, with my DJ Plat number on the booking.

The boarding pass said "DJ-G", but during the flight the CSM came up and welcomed me as a valued DJ Platinum customer - so obviously the status gets passed at least to the manifest! I did get a few strange looks from the man seated next to me who was greeted as a Gold Elite customer - I'm sure he was wondering what this "Platinum" is :mrgreen:

Overall it was a great experience. I'll definitely be flying NZ again!

 

[Bugalugz]

Just double checing im a DJ Gold, for a domestic flight would I get a Space + seat in Economy DUD-AKL? on NZ or not regognised at all domestically?

 

[cavemanzk]

Just double checing im a DJ Gold, for a domestic flight would I get a Space + seat in Economy DUD-AKL? on NZ or not regognised at all domestically?

You should be able to get a seat in space+ on domestic. Provided that there are seats free, as you can see below my flight just over a month away is almost fill in space+

 

[Leumas]

To add my experience to this:

I just flew NZ for the first time today, with my DJ Plat number on the booking.

The boarding pass said "DJ-G", but during the flight the CSM came up and welcomed me as a valued DJ Platinum customer - so obviously the status gets passed at least to the manifest! I did get a few strange looks from the man seated next to me who was greeted as a Gold Elite customer - I'm sure he was wondering what this "Platinum" is :mrgreen:

Overall it was a great experience. I'll definitely be flying NZ again!

Yes, on the few flights I've had with NZ, I always get greeted and a set of J headsets. Even though some people mentioned they get it from QF/Jetconnect too, I've only ever had that once out of dozens of flights with them.

 

[straitman]

I had/have a similar seat assignment issue... booked a Y flexi SYD-AKL on codeshare.
DJ couldn't access seat maps/assign seats. NZ tried for me but said their system will not allow because its sold by DJ.

I quizzed DJ more today, as my flight is in 12 days... still no joy with DJ or NZ.
After initially blaming NZ, DJ said they do not assign seats on international short haul because they need to sight passports and therefore it was a "security issue".. when I explained that if that was the case it is a system limitation issue on their end to pre-enter passenger info etc. the agent didn't seem to want to listen. Also, said on the phone I am showing as "Gold" on the booking even though I’m Plat, so appears there is still misalignment with status recognition.

This is definitely a systems integration issue. As you all know shorthall INTL reservations is still Navitaire/New Skies system which requires lots of work to align with the GDS's in the likes of NZ. Also, Velocity alignment is still patchy and as others have mentioned is still very much in its infancy.
I think it’s important for DJ Agents to understand this and acknowledge it to their customers, rather than blame others or not understand how customers perceive this limitation...

This week I have had some interesting discussions with people over the seat allocations issue. The people I talked to include the Koru Club Manager in Melbourne and the Virgin Customer Experience Manager.

The two significant things that came out of this were that currently there is no way a DJ Plat on an NZ codeshare can do a seat allocation and that this is currently a limitation of the Virgin computer system and how it integrates.

The Lounge Manager did say though that she goes through all the bookings the day prior to travel and allocates seats as best she can. (I understood that to mean that she tries to give people any remaining good seats.) The other thing re the DJ-G on the boarding is that their computer system still sees people as Platinum but the BP printing is another limitation of how the information is transferred.

The Virgin Customer Experience Manager said that these issues will all be resolved before year end when Virgin introduce Sabre.

Yes, on the few flights I've had with NZ, I always get greeted and a set of J headsets. Even though some people mentioned they get it from QF/Jetconnect too, I've only ever had that once out of dozens of flights with them.

Zero recognition for us on our MEL-AKL flight.

 

[kpc]

This week I have had some interesting discussions with people over the seat allocations issue. The people I talked to include the Koru Club Manager in Melbourne and the Virgin Customer Experience Manager.

The two significant things that came out of this were that currently there is no way a DJ Plat on an NZ codeshare can do a seat allocation and that this is currently a limitation of the Virgin computer system and how it integrates.

The Lounge Manager did say though that she goes through all the bookings the day prior to travel and allocates seats as best she can. (I understood that to mean that she tries to give people any remaining good seats.) The other thing re the DJ-G on the boarding is that their computer system still sees people as Platinum but the BP printing is another limitation of how the information is transferred.

The Virgin Customer Experience Manager said that these issues will all be resolved before year end when Virgin introduce Sabre.

Zero recognition for us on our MEL-AKL flight.

Interesting info, Bill....exactly what I found out. Flew DJ code share on NZ metal Syd - Akl yesterday...despite all my efforts, I could not preallocate my preference of forward aisle seat....only aisle seat was something like row 29!! I kept my window seat in row 8 with free middle seat. I think my flight back to Syd tomorrow is full, so I shudder to think what seat I'll get . DJ need to fix this problem ASAP!

 

[Leumas]

Interesting info, Bill....exactly what I found out. Flew DJ code share on NZ metal Syd - Akl yesterday...despite all my efforts, I could not preallocate my preference of forward aisle seat....only aisle seat was something like row 29!! I kept my window seat in row 8 with free middle seat. I think my flight back to Syd tomorrow is full, so I shudder to think what seat I'll get . DJ need to fix this problem ASAP!

Dare I say, this is a 'major' issue for me. I look forward to be out of the terminal in under 10 minutes from the moment I step off the plane. If it's going to be row 29, I could be still be stuck on the plane for 10 minutes...

#firstworldproblem