What you need to know about Air NZ’s fare changes
Air New Zealand has announced big changes to short-haul travel from June 11, along with price rises on domestic routes. Here’s what you need to know.
What are the changes?
The airline has overhauled its fare structure for flights to and from Australia and the Pacific Islands.
It’s done away with seat-and-bag fares, but you’ll be able to buy a seat-only fare and pay an extra $30 for a checked bag if you want one.
Seat-only fares will be better value than they currently are as passengers will be offered a snack they don’t have to pay extra for, and will have access to the full range of in-flight entertainment.
‘The works’ tickets, which cost $40 more than the base seat price and also include a full meal, drinks and standard seat selection, will still be available.
Passengers will no longer be able to buy food on-board, but they will be able to buy drinks using either a credit card or Airpoints.
All passengers will be offered coffee, tea, water and juice for free.
Didn’t I also hear something about new refundable fares?
You did. The airline has introduced three new flexible, refundable fares - one for each cabin class.
‘Worksflexi’ fares will cost $60 more than standard works fares, ‘premiumflexi’ fares will cost $80 more than standard premium economy, and ‘businessflexi’ fares will cost $120 more than standard business premier.
Are the flexible fares worth it?
If you think your plans might change, they sure could be.
You’ll be able to change your flights without being charged a ‘change fee’, although you may still be required to pay the difference between the new fare and the old one if the new one costs more.
These fares are also fully refundable, whereas standard fares are not.
The new fare structure should make flexible tickets more affordable. For example, a works customer travelling from Auckland to Sydney in May would currently need to pay $375 to make it a flexible booking. However, from June 11, they’d have to pay just $60.
What about the fare increases?
Air New Zealand is increasing domestic fares across all routes.
Acting general manager for domestic Jeremy O’Brien said cost increases of more than 30% were to blame. The airline did not say how much they would go up by, but a Stuff Travel member noticed a return fare from Wellington to Auckland had increased by up to $40 - or around $20 each way - overnight. Another team member saw fares from Auckland to Christchurch had also increased by about $20.
Fare rises are nothing new: Stats NZ data from March showed domestic airfares went up 7.4% in February compared to January 2024 and increased 7.7% from February 2023.
The lack of competition on domestic routes and the ongoing dispute between airlines and Auckland Airport, which will raise aeronautical charges to help fund billions of dollars of new infrastructure may also have played a part in the latest increase.
What happens if I’ve already booked to travel after June 11?
The airline told Stuff Travel that anyone already booked to travel after this date “will receive a surprise and delight” in the form of in-flight entertainment and, if they have booked a seat-only fare, a snack. So don’t worry: You’ll still get the benefits.
What if I need to change or cancel my flight with a standard fare?
If you don’t have a flexible fare, normal fare rules will apply. This means you won’t be eligible for a refund if you cancel your flight. To change your flight, you will need to pay a change fee as well any any difference in price between the original flight and the new one.
Will the fare changes affect my Airpoints and Status Points?
The number of Airpoints and Status Points you earn is affected by factors such as how much you spend on your flights and other qualifying purchases, how far in advance you book, and how you pay. In theory, the pricier domestic fares should earn you more points - however the airline hasn’t commented further on whether that will be the case.