NEWS

  • Excess Baggage Rate Increase

  • Premium Economy Spaceseat Surcharge to SOPAC

  • New Air New Zealand Uniforms go Live

  • Air New Zealand & Virgin Australia Airlines Group Announce New-look Joint Network

  • B777-300ER Premium Economy Seating Reconfiguration

  • Air New Zealand & Etihad Airways: Code Share Approved

  • Richard Simmons Helps Get ANZ Passengers Fit to Fly

  • Daily from San Francisco

  • TSA Secure Flight Program

  • Air New Zealand to offer mobile text and email services inflight

  • ECONOMY SKYCOUCH™ NOW ON SALE

  • New Baggage Allowances Simplified Across Network


    • Excess Baggage Rate Increase - Shorthaul & Longhaul

    (December 6, 2011) Air New Zealand wishes to advise that all Domestic, Tasman and Longhaul excess baggage charges will increase for bookings made after 12 December 2011 (LAX time) for travel from 17 January 2012.

    Any travel booked & ticketed prior to the 12th of December (LAX time) for travel on or after 17 January will continue to qualify for the excess baggage allowance permitted at the time of purchase. This will apply to the entire journey for up to one year.

    The table below shows the new excess baggage rates.

    Standard baggage allowances apply. Excess baggage refers to baggage beyond the standard allowances.

    Additional piece charge per person from USA in USD Additional piece charge per person from Canada in CAD
    All Long Haul Routes $70 (second additional bag $200, third & fourth additional bag $250 each) $70 (second additional bag $225, third & fourth additional bag $265 each)

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    Premium Economy Spaceseat Surcharge to the Southwest Pacific

    (September 28, 2011) More space, less intrusion. The state-of-the-art Spaceseat™ will ensure that your flight is definitely more Premium than Economy.

    Premium Economy is about creating ample space and privacy. The design of our revolutionary new Spaceseat™ means that the person sitting in front of you can’t recline into your personal space. The seats that run through the inner space of the cabin have been designed for couples, so you can relax together, or turn to face each other to share a meal. The seats on the outer space of the cabin cater more for those who need some uninterrupted work time, or for people who prefer to keep to themselves during the flight.

    In response to customer feedback, we have removed an entire row from the cabin, so now customers can enjoy even more space and up to 6" more leg room.

    With immediate effect we are implementing the following surcharge on all Premium Economy published fares from US/CA/MX to Southwest Pacific:

    • A $150 USD/CAD surcharge for each transpacific sector will be applicable to all 773 operated services with the new Premium Economy Spaceseat™

    The surcharge will auto-price in your GDS and appear as a Q surcharge in the fare ladder and will be commissionable at your regular incentive level. As a contracted account, you will have until close of business on October 11, 2011 to ticket at the existing fare levels for reservations made on or before September 27, 2011. Air New Zealand currently operates a daily 773 service on NZ1/NZ2 between Los Angeles and Auckland, and will progressively introduce additional 773 services on NZ5/6 between Los Angeles and Auckland starting in December 2011.

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    New Air New Zealand Uniforms go Live

    (May 30, 2011) Air New Zealand's new Trelise Cooper designed uniform goes live today -- with international crew and international airline concierges the first to wear this fabulous new look. Take a sneak peak behind the scenes at Air New Zealand's 'Clothes Hangar' which has the job of outfitting more than 5,000 of our uniformed staff.

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    Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia Airlines Group Announces New-look Joint Network

    (May 16, 2011) Air New Zealand Ltd (NZSX: AIR) and Virgin Australia Airlines[1] (ASX: VBA) have today announced plans for their new-look joint trans-Tasman network, a key part of their new alliance.

    The alliance will connect Air New Zealand’s domestic network of 26 ports to Virgin Australia’s domestic network of 31 domestic ports, offering the largest ever Australasian route network for trans-Tasman travellers. The new network announced today will be effective for the upcoming Northern Winter 2011 schedule (November 2011 - March 2012) and tickets will be on sale from July this year when the code share commences.

    Under the new network, Air New Zealand will operate approximately 70% of the capacity and Virgin Australia’s Pacific Blue[2] airline will operate 30%, similar to the relative market share the airlines had prior to the commencement of the Alliance.

    Total capacity is currently above that required by the alliance proposal to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and New Zealand Ministry of Transport (MOT).

    The planned joint trans-Tasman network will see the adjustment of Air New Zealand and Pacific Blue flight times to ensure more convenient schedules for passengers, for example:

    • Brisbane-Wellington - previously both airlines had flights at similar times four days per week and no afternoon flights on some days. The new schedule will see Pacific Blue operate a double daily service of morning and afternoon/evening flights
    • Brisbane-Christchurch - previously both airlines had flights at similar times four days per week. The new schedule will see the two airlines operate a combined double daily service of morning and afternoon/evening flights
    • Queenstown-Sydney - previously both airlines had flights at similar times on Tuesdays and Saturdays only. The new schedule will offer a flight five days a week in peak demand months
    • Wellington-Sydney - previously both airlines had flights at similar times two days a week and no afternoon flights on some days. The new schedule will see Air New Zealand operating double daily services of morning and afternoon/evening flights

    There will also be transferring of capacity on some routes between the two airlines where appropriate, for example:

    • Pacific Blue will take up Air New Zealand services between Sydney/Melbourne and Dunedin, operating during the December and January peak. There is also improved connectivity via Christchurch to new double daily Christchurch-Brisbane, Christchurch-Sydney and Christchurch-Melbourne services
    • Air New Zealand will assume all Wellington-Sydney flying and Pacific Blue will assume all Brisbane-Wellington flying

    Capacity changes will occur on some routes to match demand and market conditions, for example:

    • Capacity on Air New Zealand Auckland-Adelaide services will increase by 16%, with a daily service in the peak summer months, and Auckland-Perth services will increase to eight times per week (up 4%) over the summer peak.
    • Air New Zealand will take over operation of the Auckland-Cairns route and frequency will be matched to projected demand
    • Total capacity into and out of Wellington is up 3.5%, with Melbourne-Wellington enjoying the largest increase of 10.5% and Brisbane-Wellington up 5%
    • Capacity on Christchurch markets will be reduced by around 14% to match the ongoing reduction in demand as a result of the recent earthquakes

    Total capacity to and from Auckland remains unchanged, including Air New Zealand’s wide body services on Auckland-Sydney, Auckland-Melbourne and Auckland-Brisbane.

    The Alliance has four key components:

    1. A broad free-sale code share arrangement covering all Tasman sectors and domestic Australian and New Zealand sectors as part of a connecting journey
    2. A revenue share agreement
    3. Reciprocal loyalty scheme benefits to members of Air New Zealand’s Airpoints loyalty programme and Virgin Australia’s Velocity Rewards programme.
    4. Reciprocal lounge access to qualifying guests of either airline


    [1] Formerly known as the Virgin Blue group of airlines.
    [2] Pacific Blue will also operate under the name Virgin Australia by the end of 2011.


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    Boeing 777-300ER Premium Economy Seating Reconfiguration


    (May 13, 2011) - Air New Zealand’s innovative new Boeing 777-300 interiors have been receiving excellent feedback and as well as receiving a prestigious Crystal Cabin Award last month, yesterday took out Conde Nast Traveller’s 2011 Innovation and Design Awards for the Economy Skycouch™, selected ahead of both Singapore Airlines’ and Lufthansa’s respective First Class A380 cabins.


    Innovation requires constant improvement and there have been a couple of areas customers have said we can improve further, specifically speed of the food and beverage service, which we’ve already addressed, and the amount of leg room for tall people in some of the Premium Economy Spaceseats.

    Therefore, Air New Zealand will be removing one row of Premium Economy seating from the aircraft to provide passengers in this cabin with up to six inches (15cm) of additional legroom. The Premium Economy product on this aircraft is already superior to that offered by any other carrier and this change will further enhance this fact.

    The reconfiguration of this cabin to 44 Spaceseats will take place over several days in late August and as a result a Boeing 777-200 will operate five return NZ1/2 services during this time as follows:

    • Tuesday 16th, Friday 19th and Monday 22nd August AKL-LHR and corresponding return LHR-AKL services on Wednesday 17th, Saturday 20th and Tuesday 23rd August
    • Monday 29th and Wednesday 31st August AKL-LHR and corresponding return LHR-AKL services on Tuesday 30th August and Thursday 1st September


    The B777-200 is not fitted with Air New Zealand’s Economy Skycouch™. Customers booked and ticketed to travel in an Economy Skycouch™ on any of the affected flights will receive a full refund for the Economy Skycouch™ product upgrade portion of their ticket should they choose to continue to travel on the same flight. Customers that prefer to change travel dates so that they can continue to fly in an Economy Skycouch™ can change for no additional charge to another flight operated by the B777-300, either the day before or day after the original travel date.

    Air New Zealand Agency Support will contact travel agents that have customers booked to travel in Economy Skycouch™ on the affected flights to assist with re-accommodation.

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    Air New Zealand and Etihad Airways in code share arrangement

    (April 14, 2011) Air New Zealand, has received government approval for its code share agreement with Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates. The new code share services will be available for sale from April 14 2011, for travel from April 18.


    Air New Zealand will code share on Etihad's services between Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Abu Dhabi as well as between Abu Dhabi and London Heathrow.


    Etihad Airways will code share on Air New Zealand trans-Tasman and domestic services.


    The code share will also integrate Air New Zealand Airpoints™ and Etihad's “Etihad Guest” loyalty programmes, enabling customers to earn and spend on each other's flights.

    Code share details:

    Air New Zealand code share on Etihad as follows:

    • 11 return flights per week between Sydney and Abu Dhabi

    • 3 return flights per week between Brisbane and Abu Dhabi

    • 7 return flights per week between Melbourne and Abu Dhabi

    • 3 return flights per day between Abu Dhabi and London Heathrow

    Etihad code share on Air New Zealand as follows:

    • Domestic services between Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown

    • Trans-Tasman services between Sydney and Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington, Rotorua and Queenstown

    • Trans-Tasman services between Brisbane and Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington

    • Trans-Tasman services from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch to Melbourne

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    Richard Simmons Helps Get Air New Zealand Passengers Fit to Fly

    (March 28, 2011) – Air New Zealand’s safety ambassador for its new inflight safety video is US fitness legend Richard Simmons.

    Starting today, Simmons will be putting Air New Zealand customers through their paces, as he takes them step-by-step through the airline’s pre-flight safety briefing. The inflight video features Air New Zealand cabin crew and Les Mills fitness instructors working out in colorful lycra, fluorescent leg warmers and sweat bands.

    Simmons is also assisted in conveying the key safety messages with some celebrity cameo roles by the Amazing Race host Phil Keoghan, sporting a bright yellow headband, television personality Paul Henry, in orange shorts and pink sweat band, and Silver Fern Temepara George in some stunning silver hot pants.

    Watch carefully and you may even catch a glimpse of Air New Zealand CEO Rob Fyfe, who donned pink shorts and a purple head band for the occasion.

    ‘Fit to Fly’ follows on from the airline’s hugely successful recent inflight safety videos, which have totaled more than 7,000,000 views on YouTube, including ‘Bare Essentials of Safety’ which featured body-painted staff and ‘Crazy about Rugby’ featuring All Blacks players including captain Richie McCaw.

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    New Zealand Daily from San Francisco

    Starting December 10, 2010, your San Francisco clients can say goodbye to dreary winter weather and hello to summer in New Zealand. Air New Zealand will offer daily flights from San Francisco to Auckland to help your clients escape the cold. Seven flights a week means seven opportunities for your clients to experience the stunning natural attractions of New Zealand. From sunny beaches and volcanoes to remote hiking, fiords, and lush rainforests, New Zealand summer awaits.

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    TSA Secure Flight Program

    Secure flight is a program implemented by the TSA that enhances the security of domestic and international commercial air travel through the use of improved watch list matching. By collecting additional passenger data, it will improve the travel experience for all airline passengers, including those who have been misidentified in the past.

    Before you are able to complete a booking with us, you will be required to enter the name, date of birth and gender for each traveling passenger. Agents who receive the DOCS pop-up should simply enter the required information as an SSR.

    • Name as it appears on government-issued I.D. when traveling
    • Date of Birth
    • Gender
    • Redress Number* (if available)

    The airline will transmit this information to Secure Flight, who uses it to perform watch list matching. This serves to prevent individuals on the No Fly List from boarding an aircraft and to identify individuals on the Selectee List for enhanced screening. After matching passenger information against government watch lists, Secure Flight transmits the matching results back to airlines. For more information about the Secure Flight program please visit, www.tsa.gov/secureflight.

    *A Redress Number is assigned by DHS to customers who believe they've been mistakenly matched to a name on the watch list to prevent misidentification.

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    Air New Zealand to offer mobile text and email services inflight

    Air New Zealand will be enabling its new Boeing 777-300 aircraft with mobile phone and data capability, with the first aircraft due for delivery in November this year.

    The introduction of the new service will enable Air New Zealand’s customers to use their iPhone, Blackberry and GSM mobile phones to safely send and receive emails and text messages during their flights.

    "Feedback from our customers has shown they wish to be able to text, and check emails, to stay in touch with friends, family and colleagues during their long-haul flights," says Ed Sims Air New Zealand Group General Manager International Airline.

    The new service will also enable customers to use their Netbooks or laptops used in conjunction with their mobile broadband connection (e.g. Telecom’s T-Stick and Vodafone’s Vodem) to access their emails and internet.

    Based on recent customer feedback, Air New Zealand does not currently plan to enable voice calls onboard.

    "Customers onboard our new Boeing 777-300 aircraft will be able to use their own GSM/GPRS devices safely when the system is activated during the cruise stage of flight," says Mr Sims.

    "Passengers will also be requested to keep their phones on 'silent' mode."

    Air New Zealand is delivering this service to its customers in partnership with Aeromobile, the world's leading inflight phone and data operator.

    Customers will be billed by their own mobile service provider, as with any other international roaming plan.

    Standard inflight roaming costs apply, which with Telecom XT is 80c per outbound text and no cost to receive them. The cost for mobile broadband is $40.00 per megabyte of data. Other mobile phone providers, including Vodafone, will be confirming pricing in the coming months.

    The new mobile text and data service is subject to regulatory approval.

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    AIR NEW ZEALAND ECONOMY SKYCOUCH™ NOW ON SALE

    Air New Zealand's new Economy Skycouch™ product is now on sale for travel from 1 April 2011 on selected flights (NZ2 & NZ1) between Auckland, Los Angeles and London.

    There are a total of 20 Economy Skycouches on each B777-300. To travel in an Economy Skycouch passenger/s must upgrade their Economy Class ticket/s, and is only available if the Economy ticket/s is issued on Air New Zealand (086) paper. An upgrade from an Economy ticket to an Economy Skycouch can be booked at anytime but is subject to availability of the Economy Skycouch at the time the upgrade is booked.

    Travel Agents with customers that want to upgrade from Economy Class to an Economy Skycouch should follow this booking procedure. Please note: it is not possible to book an Economy Skycouch in your GDS at this time.

    Step 1

    Book regular Economy seats in GDS for all passengers in travelling party.

    Quote regular Economy seat price including any child discount.

    Ticket booking.

    Step 2

    Contact Air New Zealand Travel Agency Services at 1 800 262 2468 and request upgrade availability and prices to Economy Skycouch™.

    Air New Zealand will upgrade your ticketed booking and send you an e-ticket (revalidation showing additional collection).

    The cost for the upgrade is dependent on the makeup of the passenger group and travel origin and destination. The indicative 'from' price for each passenger grouping when upgrading to a single Economy Skycouch is as follows.

    Passenger Grouping Details
    (Must be booked on the same PNR)