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Old Sep 22, 2023, 10:11 am
  #1  
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Delta Flight LAX-AKL
Delta has announced that their L.A. to Auckland service, commencing late October, will now be year-round. Does the market really need FOUR airlines providing service on this route? LAX-Auckland isn't New York-London. Air New Zealand makes sense, and so does United because it has NZ as a local partner. American and Delta piling on makes much less sense, particularly given that NZ is a highly seasonal destination (albeit one whose peak season is opposite to that of Europe).
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Old Sep 22, 2023, 12:29 pm
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What's wrong with competition? It's up to the airlines to make it work and from a customer point of view I'd rather see a route overserved vs underserved. If attrition is needed, it will happen in time, in the meantime, enjoy competitive fares (which will likely be +20% on DL vs the competition because DL is a premium airline and all ).
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Old Sep 22, 2023, 1:07 pm
  #3  
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Yeah, I'll take anything that might dent the insane J fares to Australia and New Zealand, even if DL flies barely any seats.
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Old Sep 22, 2023, 1:24 pm
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In previous years, AirNZ alone would fly LAX-AKL 3x and SFO-AKL 2x daily (also LAX-RAR-AKL) during peak season, so I think plenty of demand on this route (and given how it’s being priced, they must be some solid yields)

AirNZ were a little shortsighted getting rid of the 772 fleet during the pandemic so haven’t been able to increase capacity to pre-pandemic levels so other carriers are now taking advantage.

I don’t really get Delta’s pricing strategy on this route — it’s well over every other competitor for J, but somehow people must be buying these seats?
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Last edited by samjnz; Sep 22, 2023 at 1:30 pm
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Old Sep 22, 2023, 1:35 pm
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Reward pricing for Y has been very low on this route. Not sure what the strategy is here?
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Old Sep 22, 2023, 6:45 pm
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Originally Posted by zeke3
Reward pricing for Y has been very low on this route. Not sure what the strategy is here?
Yeah, I'll fully admit to being surprised at this getting upgraded from seasonal to year-round service - the fares have been crazy low, and reward seats in both cabins have been plentiful. Maybe it's been more successful than we think, or maybe they just think it needs a little more time for the route to catch on?
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Old Sep 22, 2023, 7:28 pm
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FYI, an update on this from Delta PR:

Please note change to aircraft configuration effective April 2024: Starting from April 2024, Delta will operate the Auckland – Los Angeles route with its flagship Airbus A350-900 aircraft, featuring Delta One suites, Delta Premium Select, Delta Comfort+, and Main Cabin services. The route will be operated with a different configuration of A350-900 until the end of March 2024, where customers have a choice of three experiences: Delta One, Delta Comfort+ and Main Cabin.
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Old Sep 22, 2023, 8:44 pm
  #8  
 
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Originally Posted by TravellingChris
Delta has announced that their L.A. to Auckland service, commencing late October, will now be year-round. Does the market really need FOUR airlines providing service on this route? LAX-Auckland isn't New York-London. Air New Zealand makes sense, and so does United because it has NZ as a local partner. American and Delta piling on makes much less sense, particularly given that NZ is a highly seasonal destination (albeit one whose peak season is opposite to that of Europe).
Nothing wrong with competition. May the best one win. In the process, I can but hope prices fall from the ridiculous highs they are at right now.
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Old Sep 22, 2023, 10:06 pm
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Originally Posted by TravellingChris
Delta has announced that their L.A. to Auckland service, commencing late October, will now be year-round. Does the market really need FOUR airlines providing service on this route? LAX-Auckland isn't New York-London. Air New Zealand makes sense, and so does United because it has NZ as a local partner. American and Delta piling on makes much less sense, particularly given that NZ is a highly seasonal destination (albeit one whose peak season is opposite to that of Europe).
Also have Fiji Airways LAX-NAN-AKL & TN LAX-PPT-AKL

For Air NZ they also have USA-(AKL)-AU passengers: a good market for them.
But NZ are reducing some services. NZ 0003 LAX to AKL canceled for late october


Airlines that fly USA/Canada to/from New Zealand (not from all airports to all airports).Following the pandemic routes are being re-established and with some new routes. Schedules can change. Route restart dates subject to change.
  • American Airlines AA . DFW-AKL from 29 Oct 2022 to 25 Mar 2023(new route) Pre CV19 AA flew LAX-AKL and was due to fly LAX-CHC 3 days a week from Oct 2020. [Oneworld Alliance]
  • Air Canada AC YVR – AKL From 12 Nov 2022 [Star Alliance]
  • Air New Zealand NZ LAX SFO IAH JFK YVR ORD HNL– AKL. JFK started 17 Sep 2022. [Star Alliance]
  • Air Tahiti Nui TN LAX SEA – PPT - AKL (AS AA QF NZ partner)
  • Delta DL LAX – AKL. Due to start 28 Oct 2023 [Skyteam alliance]
  • Fiji Airways FJ LAX SFO HNL YVR – NAN - AKL WLG CHC. (Oneworld connect)
  • Hawaiian HA HNL – AKL (AA & VA partner)
  • Qantas QF JFK - AKL- SYD from 14 Jun 2023. LAX SFO DFW JFK HNL YVR* via SYD BNE & MEL. {* seasonal} [Oneworld Alliance]
  • United UA SFO – AKL, SFO - CHC from 01 Dec 2023, LAX – AKL from 28 Oct 2023 [Star Alliance]
  • And others via Australia, South America, Asia & Middle East
Last edited by Mwenenzi; Sep 23, 2023 at 2:44 pm Reason: spelling
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Old Sep 23, 2023, 1:16 am
  #10  
 
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Does this flight line up with the VS/KL/AF flights in from LHR/AMS/CDG --> LAX?

It's about time there a way to get to NZ via SkyTeam without going via Asia
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Old Sep 23, 2023, 9:03 am
  #11  
 
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Have people recently found GUCs to generally clear on these flights from C+ to up front?
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Old Sep 23, 2023, 9:27 am
  #12  
 
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Originally Posted by djsflynn
FYI, an update on this from Delta PR:
Hopefully that March end date will finally signal refurbs on these LATAM A350s. Getting tired of trying to avoid them. (They have been running them on my favorite ATL-AMS flight (DL74) for months now).
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Old Sep 23, 2023, 10:06 am
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Originally Posted by Uncle Lars
Have people recently found GUCs to generally clear on these flights from C+ to up front?
Yes and don't forget you can go directly from main cabin to D1 since there is no premium select. No need to book C+.
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Old Sep 23, 2023, 10:13 am
  #14  
 
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Originally Posted by langbr01
Yes and don't forget you can go directly from main cabin to D1 since there is no premium select. No need to book C+.
At time of booking or day of departure? That’s way too long a flight to gamble sitting in Y but if the clears at booking that is great.
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Old Sep 23, 2023, 2:41 pm
  #15  
 
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Originally Posted by IggySD
At time of booking or day of departure? That’s way too long a flight to gamble sitting in Y but if the clears at booking that is great.
Hes talking about when using a Diamond certificate to upgrade.
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