Trying to non-rev back from AKL or SYD to LAX or SFO on 3/31 or 4/1. Have passes on AirNZ or could use walk-up pass agreement with United. I thought mid-week, mid-season, no holidays would be a relatively safe time to go, but I'm starting to be told otherwise. Any load updates or suggestions as to why these flights look packed? Should I still bother trying this trip, if I can wait as late as 4/2?
Spring break!
I have been looking at loads for all sorts of flights, including Asia, Europe, and the Carribbean and they are either full or too close for comfort.
Who says there is a bad economy?......Lol!
Vulindlela - Senior NonRev Correspondent - Indianapolis
This might sound naive, but students go to New Zealand on Spring Break?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Mark LP @ Mar 17 2009, 11:28 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>Could just be cheap cheap seats. Our premium end dropped off but we are overselling Y by a huge amount with a massive discounted fare diluting yields. Plus competition competition competition! V Australia, Qantas, United and Air NZ etc are all in a fare war across with Pacific which is making people want to travel. For example V Australia are selling tix for around $950 AUD return to LAX.Trying to non-rev back from AKL or SYD to LAX or SFO on 3/31 or 4/1. Have passes on AirNZ or could use walk-up pass agreement with United. I thought mid-week, mid-season, no holidays would be a relatively safe time to go, but I'm starting to be told otherwise. Any load updates or suggestions as to why these flights look packed? Should I still bother trying this trip, if I can wait as late as 4/2?[/b]
Nick - NonRev Correspondent - Singapore
Home is wherever I happen to be
My husband came in yesterday on the QF bne-lax flight. The night before there were over 80 seats but when he checked in it was totally full. The counter agent said that the A380's were out of commission and they were bringing people up from Syd to get them over to the states. Also I was looking on the internet yesterday and say QF offering return tickets for a 1 week sale for 600 return... I was shocked! Im hoping that we can get him back without any problems!
Yeah, with that Qantas "travel stimulus' offer, $598 roundtrip ticket from LA/SF to Sydney/Melbourne/Ackland, I'm not surprised. What's the ZED fare run around $500?
Keep'em Flying
Migflanker - Senior NonRev Correspondent - Los Angeles
With all the hype and hysteria reported in the media about the "global economic crisis" there is a massive late booking trend happening at the moment for most carriers ex-Oz.
As others have mentioned, there are those suicidal 600-700AUD fares currently offered on the Trans-Pac by all the major players as well.
<span style="font-family:Lucida Sans Unicode">AL - NonRev Correspondent Australia/Oceania/Asia </span>
My last ZED on QF from LAX to SYD was about $150 each way.
Hi everyone....we're back.
I wanted to let you all know how the flights went. We took the 7:30p LAX-AKL Air NZ flt 3/24 and the B777-200 had at least 50-70 seats empty. When we checked in at the LAX counter I asked the agent what the chances were of us getting on and he said 105%.
The return on 3/31 was a different story. About a week out we checked with Air NZ. The numbers looked tough, but possible...about 28 seats with 3 non-rev on 7:15p return (B777) and about 38 seats with 8 (Air NZ) non-revs listed. The seats all went bye-bye when we went to fly.
When we checked in (about 5 hours early), we were told the first flight was overbooked and the second flight had 9 seats, of which 8 were already going to be filled by a dead-heading crew. Then the word came on the first flight....3 open seats with one standby in front of us....unfortunately, the flight got weight restricted because of massive cargo (frozen meat we were told). Only the one standby ahead of us got on.
But the Air NZ staff was amazingly friendly and helpful. We laughed off the first bump and proceeded to get ready for the second. After retagging our bags, the customer service agent smiled and immediately gave us boarding passes for the second flight (we were in shock)....she didn't want us to sweat it out for another 3 hours.
All in all, a great experience. The weather was perfect, food great, scenery amazing and flights smooth. Did I mention the US dollar is worth almost double in New Zealand....that allowed us to stay at a 5-star hotel (The Langham in Auckland) and enjoy dining out a lot.
Cheers....and thanks again to the Air NZ staff (especially Debbie in Auckland).
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Mark LP @ Apr 2 2009, 09:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>Trust me Mark, I had no idea my buying lamb, would have such a far-reaching effect. All I can say is, it was a real-ly good sale.The return on 3/31 was a different story. ....
....unfortunately, the flight got weight restricted because of massive cargo (frozen meat we were told). Only the one standby ahead of us got on.[/b]
Thanks for the update.
Keep'em Flying
Migflanker - Senior NonRev Correspondent - Los Angeles
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