Travel alerts

Important information about travel to and from Chicago for April 2024 - October 2025

We've made the difficult decision to extend the pause on our direct services between Auckland and Chicago which was due to resume from 25 October 2024.

Unfortunately, ongoing challenges with the availability of Rolls Royce Trent 1000 engines on our 787-9 aircraft means we haven’t been able to return to our Chicago route in October as expected. We anticipate returning to Chicago when we receive our new 787 aircraft from Boeing, currently expected in the second half of  2025.

Next steps:

👉There's nothing you need to do. We will send you an updated itinerary within the next 5 business days.

👉 Keep an eye on your flight details on the Air NZ app

If your booking was made through a travel agent or third-party online agent, please reach out to them directly to confirm your options.

Rethinking your travel plans? Below are your options 👇

Travel credit: Would you rather postpone your journey? You can do so by cancelling your flight and opting for credit through Manage Booking. You'll have a whole year to book your next journey.

Refund: Would you like to change your plans altogether? You can do this by getting in touch with us here.

More information on how to apply for a credit or refund can be found here: Air New Zealand Refunds & Flight Credit | Request or Redeem Credit

Thank you for your continued support.

We know it's not the news you wished for before your travels, rest assured, we're refuelling our efforts to ensure your journey takes off as soon as possible 💜

Return of two International services:

We would like to welcome the return of our seasonal services to Hobart and Seoul in October 2024.

We will be operating three direct flights a week to both destinations until March 2025.

To book your journey with us to these seasonal destinations, you can visit our website here

April Travel Tips

Airports will be busier than ever this April with many opportunities for holiday breaks. Here are our top travel tips to help you prepare.

 Make sure you are travel-ready. This means making sure you have the Air New Zealand app downloaded, we have your contact details in your booking, and that you’re carrying photo ID.

 Please remember your carry-on bag needs to weigh less than 7kg and be small enough to fit under an aircraft seat. We have different sizes of aircraft so please make sure you read the requirements here. Don’t wait until the last minute to purchase an extra bag or a preferred seat. You can do this online. It’ll save time and you won’t have to queue.

 If you're travelling out of Auckland Airport, there are some important changes taking place which you should know about. Please visit the Transport Hub | Auckland Airport for the latest information.

 Children travelling as unaccompanied minors are important to us. Remember we need you to remain at the airport until their flight has departed. Please make sure that whoever is collecting them at the other end has their ID with them. Your tamariki are treasures and we won’t deliver them to anyone who can’t provide an ID.

 The safety and comfort of your furry whānau members is important to us. Their cage must allow them to naturally stand, sit up, turn around and lay down, and should be fitted with a small water container that is easily fillable from the outside. You can find more information on travelling with pets here

 Make sure you know the contents of your checked-in bag and ensure it doesn’t weigh more than 23kg. Are you travelling with a bulky stroller or a wheelchair? Make sure you add a bag tag. You can still take this through the airport and to the gate if you need to. Just let one of our team know so we can help you at the gate and take it from there.

 Plan to be at the departure gate 30 minutes before departure for a domestic flight or at least 45 minutes for an international flight. Some gates are further away than you might realise, our Airport team are here to help you. Please ask for assistance if you’re worried about making it to the aircraft to board on time.

 Do you need extra time and a hand to help you on board? It’s a good idea to arrive at the gate early. Let a team member know and they will help you board a little early.

 Finally, check you haven’t left anything on the aircraft. Don’t leave passports or valuables in the back of the seat. If you do discover you’re missing an important personal item, you can register your details here for lost property.

Disrupt Reimbursement Consideration

If your journey has been disrupted for a controllable reason, e.g. engineering, or crew shortages, and your new itinerary requires you to stay overnight in a place you do not reside, our airport team will be working hard to secure accommodation for you.

Over peak travel periods, availability is extremely limited and you may be required to source your own accommodation.

As a guideline, we recommend $250.00 per room and $90.00 per person, per night for meals. This is a recommended amount only, and all expenses must be reasonable and supported by itemised tax invoice receipts. Please retain all itemised tax invoice receipts, as they are required for reimbursement consideration.

To submit your reimbursement request, please visit here to do so. Alternatively, you can visit here for details on how to submit your claim through our messaging channels.