Travelling to NZ, and my partner and I are Platinium with Velocity.

Travelling to NZ, and my partner and I are Platinium with Velocity. Should we book through AirNZ or Virgin for a AirNZ sector?

Well if you are Platinum and are going from say Melbourne to Christchurch, if you book an AirNZ flight through VA with a VA flight number, you might want to check if you get the 100% velocity points bonus ( i don't know if this applies to all flights with a VA number or if it only applies to VA flight number and VA Metal). Can anyone clarify this? If you a referring to flights within NZ, I don't know which flights, if any earn you points. In 2012 I flew from Dunedin to Christchurch on an Air NZ flight and it didn't earn any Status or flyer points.

You will receive the Platinum extra miles (100%) if you are ticketed under the VA code, even if the flight is operated by Air New Zealand. Have had the extra miles credited many times on their codeshares. However, if you are ticketed under the Air New Zealand NZ code, you will not receive the Platinum bonus.

I found VA prices to be slightly cheaper than Air NZ on most of my flights, so I hope you also get the added bonus of lower ticket cost, even if the flight is operated by Air NZ.

If the 777/763/747 is important to you, I would book it on the Air NZ website.

I made a mistake once, I myself love the wide bodied as in planes, my first booking, was with VA or VB at that time, to fly on the 777 from MEL to AKL, and AKL to MEL, going across from MEL to AKL, no one could give me a window seat.

On the way back, VA or VB at the time, for some reason, moved me from MEL to AKL by that 777, they put me onto a narrow 737 AKL to SYD!  Then to ADL.

NOT happy.

Of course, this reply of mine, is only relevant if you like the space or feel of the wider planes.  737s and me do not make a good match.  Sometimes, no choice but to take it as it comes, ie ADL to AKL direct with Air NZ, but I don't appreciate being moved.

I did not kick up a stink with VA (VB) though.