Air New Zealand Missed Flight Policy

It always happens when you least expect it. It doesn't matter who is right or wrong or what actually happened. You missed your flight; You need to take care of that now. First there was doubt, then a series of promises, then some fear, heart palpitations, racing thought “How are you?”. Frankly, I never thought this would happen to me, but I was a little nervous when I found myself in this unfortunate situation. Because I have no idea what to do and this has never happened to me before; so the best I can do is keep trying and making mistakes.

This post is a summary of my trial and error process. Some things work, some have the potential to work, some cause the inevitable to die. I want to share this experience if it happens to you and I hope it helps you save time, stress, and anxiety. Without further ado, if you've (hopefully ever) missed a flight, read on for my tips and tricks.

1. +61(1800) 718 568 Call Airline : My first line of defense was to call Air New Zealand and see if there was anything they could do. Maybe you can pay the $100 fee for a transfer to a later flight? I explained the whole situation but I felt like they wouldn't bother and they told me "no". While a phone call can often help +61(1800) 718 568 , in this case it's the go-to. One woman referred me to another and they all told me to book a new flight - full price.

Since I booked the entire route from Frankfurt to Shanghai, Auckland and Christchurch via a third-party website (Travel Smarter - recommended by the way), they told me that the process would be more difficult and more expensive if I bought a new ticket directly. ..I'm not sure about that. But he seemed unwilling to help, so the search ended. Time for Plan B.

2. Find Cheap Flights Last Minute Flights : In New Zealand there is a service called Grab-a-Seat and they book some cheap flights (domestic and international) at very low prices. So if you act fast (and get lucky), you can score yourself some great deals. Unfortunately, prices were high on the day I wanted to fly and I couldn't find a flight (Jetstar or Air New Zealand) for less than NZ$300.

In the past, people could use "stand-up" flights; just show up and hope to get yourself a cheap seat in the end. It's actually a win-win situation, but as more and more people start doing this, Air New Zealand is ending their replacement flights because they're losing too much profit. Today there is a new but similar concept/product called Gotta Go Fares, but it is not available for all destinations (e.g. not Auckland to CHCH). You can find more information and tips on these cheap fares in this article: AirNZ Gotta Go fare description.

3. Get to the airport as soon as possible Chapter : I can't stress it enough: Get to the airport as soon as possible! Honestly, it makes your life easier because you're already there and can get on the last plane even if no one shows up. You can ask other airlines if the last seat is available. However, it is most logical to reach the airport as soon as possible.

You can search for cheap flights on the spot (or on the road), and it will also save you time calling people because the person you want to talk to is already there! Plus, a truly personal conversation can have a huge impact. When it’s over the phone, it’s just not very personal. They can’t see you, they can’t feel your energy or the desperation - and so people tend to not go out of their way for you.

4. Fly standby - and cross your fingers :  Of course, it depends on your luck and the person helping you. I was super fortunate to have been approached by a friendly AirNZ staff who asked about my situation. While he was typing some random stuff on his computer, I told him the whole story. A few minutes later he handed me my boarding pass and said, "I can't let you off the plane earlier because it's completely full, I hope you don't mind." Wow, okay. “Hmm… What will this price be?” - I asked reluctantly, ready to pay 250 NZD. He just waved his hand and winked at me. “Don't worry, there's room and I'd be happy to help you,” he replied.

I can't talk. I'm confused how he struggled to do this to me and had no motivation for it myself. I can't tell you how happy and lucky I am that a well-intentioned person found me and took my passport for free.

5. Other options : If you're flying within the island (e.g. Auckland to Wellington), you have other options such as taking a bus or hitchhiking. You can get there in one day. Since it takes at least two days to hitchhike or take a bus from Auckland to Christchurch, my best bet is to try my luck at the airport. 

The higher the price you pay for your ticket, the airline will give you a discount. This also depends on who you buy your ticket from. You have a better chance of getting a good deal if you buy from an airline rather than from an online travel agency.

Buying a full price ticket from the airline means the airline will rebook you on the next flight, but who will buy the ticket unless someone else pays? Like me, you may have bought the cheapest, non-refundable ticket, but this does not mean that you won money.

Quite a few airlines will re-book you for a fee, and again that might depend on the original ticket price. Expect to get squeezed. On a discount carrier, the cost might even be more than the original ticket price, but that might be cheaper than buying a last-minute fare. 

This will affect how your airline responds to your issue. But beware, the check-in staff have heard every excuse in the book and they don't actually care.

What airlines really love is time. If the plane leaves on time, it means it arrives at its destination on time, the next flight schedule is not affected, and everyone is happy.

On the contrary, being late for your flight will not solve the problem and will not affect the flight time that suits you. However, it is not impossible to rebook for another flight and it will help your situation if you give a good reason for your late arrival.

A passport forgotten at home on the way to the airport, a child left behind at the same time, or a medical emergency are all causes for sympathy.

Confusion in the morning and afternoon, going to the wrong airport, asking your pet to help with the sheep's needs, or not hearing the announcement because you were wearing noise-cancelling headphones are just some of the excuses passengers make. Everything is incomplete and not worth fixing.

In fact, Spring Airlines flight from Bangkok to Shanghai was delayed by 30 minutes because a frustrated passenger tried to stop the crew from closing the door. From where? Her daughter was shopping irresponsibly at the store. 

Flight eventually took off without them.

During the 2018 US wildfires, road closures due to smoke and fire were inevitable for late-flight passengers at LAX.

Some say that American Airlines gives free "wheel drive" home exit passes to passengers who miss their flights. Come to the check-in desk after your flight, tell them that your plane tire got stuck on the way to the airport; As long as you arrive at the airport within a reasonable time after your flight, the airline will reschedule you for the next flight. Flight. This stinks of urban legend, but it's worth a try. Expect some eyes to turn behind the counter, though. 

If you travel by air frequently enough, you almost certainly will eventually miss a trip. Either it was beyond your control, or it was your fault.

Much relies on how fast you progress through the seven stages of grief when it's your turn. As science puts it, "pulling the fat from the fire" is the final chore of rectification, and the sooner you get past shock, disbelief, denial, shame, and wrath and arrive at acceptance, the better.

You might not have a strong hand depending on the situation, but there are occasionally tactics that might assist you achieve where you want to go without incurring significant costs.

If your airline won't help you if you missed your flight due to uncontrollable events like traffic, a storm, or a tree falling over your driveway, your travel insurance might.

Only after a while will there be monetary recompense. It is your responsibility to bargain for a solution at the lowest feasible cost in the interim.  If you purchase a business class ticket on the next trip that becomes available, your insurance may not think that you made all reasonable efforts to minimize the damage.