There’s good and bad news in Air NZ’s reworked fares to Australia

Air New Zealand passengers jetting to Australia or throughout the Pacific will no longer be able to buy snacks in the sky from mid-June as part of a revamp of the carrier’s inflight offering and ‘Seats to Suit’ fares on all short-range international flights.

Aimed at delivering ‘more choice and greater flexibility’, the overhaul sees the addition of three new flexible fares: worksflexi, premiumflexi and businessflexi, all of which are refundable and include waived change fees.

At the same time, ‘Seat+Bag’ fares, which currently receive a checked baggage allowance of 23kgs in economy, will be axed. This will instead be replaced with a ‘Seat’ fare sans luggage, with a bag offered as an add-on for NZ$30 (AUD$27.50).

In place of a bag, travellers booked on a Seat fare will now receive a snack and inflight entertainment as standard (meaning no need to hand over NZ$10 for the privilege of watching a movie).

Taking effect June 11, Air New Zealand General Manager Short Haul Jeremy O’Brien says these changes have been created based on customer feedback, adding passengers have said they “want choice and flexibility when they fly, so the improved and simplified fare options are designed to give customers just that.”

“Works customers will continue to receive the same great inclusions currently on offer including one checked bag, a full meal and drinks, entertainment and free standard seat selection.”

The revised short-range fare types are now as follows:

With every passenger now receiving a snack or meal, the ability to buy inflight snacks will be discontinued – that means no more cheese and crackers or bacon and egg paninis – though the airline confirms drinks will still be available for purchase. 

Vouchers for entertainment, snacks and drinks will also no longer be offered on the ground for use onboard, with all transactions instead processed in the air via credit card or redeeming Airpoints.

As previously reported by Executive Traveller, Air New Zealand’s ‘Eurobusiness’-style Works Deluxe package will be discontinued from May 1, meaning the middle seat of the front row on short-range flights will no longer be left empty.