AIR NZ Domestic standby fares

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IlDuce

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Topic # 107358 10-Aug-2012 08:30
Anyone had any experience with AIR NZ Domestic standby fares? How successful were you? Dues to the grounding of the Eagle Air fleet, I'm stranded in Wellington and cannot get back to Timaru. There is a flight today and tomorrow, with many spare seats, but they will not let me catch earlier flight unless I pay them $387 on top of what I have already paid for my one way ticket... I'm happy to cut my holiday short and leave early... but If I am any later than my flight time, it will cost me my job. I'm thinking my only option may be to spend the next 2 days sitting at the airport hoping to get a flight Wellington to Christchurch... but wonder how successful I will be with their standby fares?

johnr

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Reply # 670374 10-Aug-2012 08:34
Rent a car and drive then Systems Engineer Vodafone NZ http://forum.vodafone.co.nz

floydbloke

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Reply # 670376 10-Aug-2012 08:37
$387 out of pocket vs losing my job. I know what I'd do.

johnr

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Reply # 670379 10-Aug-2012 08:40
floydbloke: $387 out of pocket vs losing my job. I know what I'd do. It's a no brainer really Systems Engineer Vodafone NZ http://forum.vodafone.co.nz

Dingbatt

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Reply # 670380 10-Aug-2012 08:43
johnr: Rent a car and drive then A slip had closed SH1 on the Kaikoura coast. Probably clear by now? You'd stand a pretty good chance Wellington to Christchurch in the middle of the day, wouldn't you? I would have thought that Air NZ would have made arrangements for you if there was a problem that prevented their aircraft from flying. Areas of Geek interest: Home Theatre, HTPC, Android Tablets & Phones, iProducts.

freitasm

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Reply # 670390 10-Aug-2012 08:49
Are you saying you have a standby ticket, but even with free seats Air NZ is not letting you in? Or did you purchase a non-refundable, non-transferable ticket, in which case it's not "stand by" and Air NZ only really needs to carry you on that specific flight? Mauricio Freitas (Geekzone Admin, Devil's Advocate, my blog, technology disclosure, my tweets, Web Performance Optimization) Geekzone Price comparison \| Amazon Kindle order page \| How to get the best out of Geekzone \| New Zealand IT Jobs \| Geekzone News \| Jinglebugs

astrial

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Reply # 670391 10-Aug-2012 08:49
Have you even spoken to Air NZ? Surely they will be making alternative arrangements if you already had a booking with them.

freitasm

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Reply # 670392 10-Aug-2012 08:51
astrial: Have you even spoken to Air NZ? Surely they will be making alternative arrangements if you already had a booking with them. Alternative arrangements are only generally available once a journey has started. He's got a one way ticket. This implies the journey has not started yet. I don't think Air NZ sells open date tickets, so if his ticket has a date, is non-transferable then he either stick to the date on the ticket, or pay the difference to change the ticket type. Could the OP please explain exactly what type of ticket you have? Mauricio Freitas (Geekzone Admin, Devil's Advocate, my blog, technology disclosure, my tweets, Web Performance Optimization) Geekzone Price comparison \| Amazon Kindle order page \| How to get the best out of Geekzone \| New Zealand IT Jobs \| Geekzone News \| Jinglebugs

allan

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Reply # 670432 10-Aug-2012 09:47
I'm assuming the OP has a non-refundable fare and for whatever reason is wanting to cut his holiday short and travel earlier as he indicated. So the only fares available in the next few days will now be in the megabuck range. So what he is asking about is people's success in using the Air NZ Standby Fares as an option. Never used one, so I can't comment specifically, but personally if you need to get back early I'd grab the cheapest current on either Air NZ or Jetstar to Christchurch and catch a bus to Timaru. You can get into some weird situations with non-refundable fares. I am in Auckland for the weekend on Air NZ grabaseat fares and was travelling back on Monday evening. I now need to be back Monday morning to attend a funeral. Cheapest option by a substantial margin is to just flag away the Air NZ fares and travel back on Jetstar.

keewee01

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Reply # 670535 10-Aug-2012 12:20
As allan mentioned - get back via Christchurch as you'll have a lot more options available to you. I've not had any experience with the Stand-by tickets either, sorry.

ajobbins

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Reply # 670570 10-Aug-2012 13:16
I've always found Air NZ to be very flexible when it comes to rebooking on flights they have cancelled. I would imagine that if there is a flight you want to be on, and there is empty seats, your shouldn't have too much of an issue talking them into letting you take it- It's safe option for them as a) they have to re-accommodate you at some point b) weren't going to sell that seat anyway c) may have to squeeze you on to another near full flight which they might have been able to sell the seat closer to your original ticket day/time. Twitter: ajobbins

Dingbatt

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Reply # 670581 10-Aug-2012 13:42
After rereading the OP. The Eagle Air grounding (due to cracks?) hasn't actually stranded you yet, as you weren't due to travel for another 2 days. That will be why you are expected to stump up extra money because you are attempting to change what I assume is a non-transferable non-refundable ticket. I can understand your apprehension that you may not get home in time for work if the grounding continued for an extended period. If this is the case, have you asked for an update on whether services are likely to be back to normal by your original travel date? And if not, how do AirNZ propose to get you home on time. Areas of Geek interest: Home Theatre, HTPC, Android Tablets & Phones, iProducts.

John2010

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Reply # 670616 10-Aug-2012 15:13
Dingbatt: After rereading the OP. The Eagle Air grounding (due to cracks?) hasn't actually stranded you yet, as you weren't due to travel for another 2 days. That will be why you are expected to stump up extra money because you are attempting to change what I assume is a non-transferable non-refundable ticket. I can understand your apprehension that you may not get home in time for work if the grounding continued for an extended period. If this is the case, have you asked for an update on whether services are likely to be back to normal by your original travel date? And if not, how do AirNZ propose to get you home on time. As I understand it ALL tickets for flights that are serviced by Beech 1900s on or prior to 14 August will be fully refunded by Air NZ on request. If that is so, I would look at cashing up, rebook WLG->CHC then rental car to Timaru. Dunno what you paid for WLG->TIU so don't know how compares cost wise, but to CHC best you may do is <$200 for SmartSaver over weekend plus whatever rental is.

shadybrothers

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Reply # 670628 10-Aug-2012 15:45
NZ8163 departs at 10:15am tomorrow morning, only cost $307, bargain OP this is a slap in the face!