Domestic airfare special until midnight tonight

There is no better time to visit relatives or have a weekend away.  Air New Zealand have just announced the release of Special Domestic airfares for sale until midnight tonight, 09 March 2009.

Auckland – Wellington vv $49 one way 
Auckland – Christchurch vv $59 one way 
Auckland – Queenstown vv $99 one way 
Christchurch – Queenstown $59 one way
Christchurch – Rotorua vv $59 one way 

Tavel must be commenced and completed between 14 Mar - 06 Apr & 27 Apr - 09 Jun 09.  Capacity is extremely limited and will not be available on all services so call your Executive Holidays consultant to make a booking now.
 

Exclusive offer at Hotel Grand Chancellor Auckland Airport

We have a fantastic exclusive offer for all Executive Holidays clients – free upgrade during March at Hotel Grand Chancellor Auckland Airport.

For the month of March, Hotel Grand Chancellor Auckland Airport is showcasing its newly refurbished Deluxe and Executive Rooms, by offering a free upgrade to the next room type for every new booking made through our team. Stylish, contemporary, with your needs in mind – book now!   Subject to availability, terms and conditions apply.

Online check in

Cathay Pacific has now expanded its online checkin service to allow pre-printing of boarding passes.

Passengers can visit www.cathaypacific.com and checkin up to 48 hours before departure. Print off your boarding pass and if you have no checked luggage, you can proceed direct to the boarding gate at least 30 mins before boarding.

If you have checked luggage, just head to the special online checkin counter to drop your bags at least 45 minutes before departure and then head up to the departure lounge.
 

Rent an Avis car for only $19 per day.

Take advantage of this RED HOT DEAL and book a one-way rental from Auckland Airport to Auckland Downtown, or from Christchurch Airport to Christchurch Downtown, for less than the cost of a taxi.  That's right! You can get a rental car to the city for just $19 per day* with their Airport One-Way Red Hot Deal. Plus they'll give you your first tank of petrol FREE!

Maximum rental period is 24 Hours and the offer is only available at the following locations:

• Pick-Up from Auckland Airport and return to Auckland City (one-way only)
• Pick-Up from Christchurch Airport and return to Christchurch City (one-way only)

Take advantage of this saving and also enjoy these great Avis benefits:

• New Vehicle Fleet – enjoy driving a late model vehicle. Our average vehicle age is less than 12 months.
• Free 24 hour Avis Cares roadside assistance. For complete motoring peace of mind.
• Fly Buys Points available on all qualifying rentals.*
• Free Road Maps to get you on your way.

More liquids, aerosols & gels being confiscated

More LAGs (Liquids, Aerosols and Gels) are being confiscated at Auckland Airport - a trend that is concerning officials who have asked us to remind passengers of the regulations.

Common LAGS include:

• water and other drinks
• foods in sauces or containing a high liquid content 
• creams, lotions, cosmetics and oils
• perfumes
• sprays
• gels including hair and shower gels
• contents of pressurised containers, including shaving foam, other foam and deodorants
• pastes including toothpaste
• liquid soaps
• fluid filled cigarette lights
• lipsticks, lip gloss or lip balm and
• any item of similar consistency at room temperature.

These or similar items can only be taken in carry-on baggage on board aircraft in containers of 100ml or smaller, with all containers fitting into the single transparent 1 litre plastic bag. This bag must then be presented separately at the secuirty screening point.

You can still pack as many of these items as you like, in any quantity, in your check in baggage. The usual restrictions relating to dangerous goods still apply. 

When the rules first came in during April 2007 there was a reasonably high level of confiscations that decreased markedly as publicity alerted travellers. However some complacency appears to have set in with an increase being noticed in December 2008. Each day 0.38 tonnes of LAG's are disposed of at Auckland Airport!

Air NZ want Qantas frequent flyers

Air New Zealand is celebrating the departure of its long-time rival Qantas from the domestic air travel market by offering Qantas frequent flyers the opportunity to join up with Air New Zealand Airpoints and retain their teir status.

Just cut up your old Qantas Frequent Flyer card, print out and fill in the application form, then send both to them to the address below and they'll match your current status with Qantas to the equivalent Air New Zealand Airpoints Status for the next 12 months with no joining fee.

If you're already an Air New Zealand Airpoints member, cut up your Qantas Frequent Flyer card and complete and print out this form then send those to them. They'll then upgrade your Airpoints membership to the equivalent Airpoints tier for 12 months.

Send them to:     Slice It
                           Air New Zealand
                           Private Bag 93537
                           Takapuna 0740

All you need to do to keep this tier status is to earn enough Status Points by your retain review date (which is between 10-12 months of your join date) to meet the tier threshold.  See here for more details.

Meanwhile Qantas have launched a complimentary membership offer to join the Qantas Frequent Flyer Program. The normal joining fee for NZ residents is $50. This offer is valid until 31 March 2009.   Click here to join online by 31 March 2009.