Nobody likes to spend more money than they need to, so we’re excited to share this legitimate way to potentially save hundreds of dollars on domestic flights with Air New Zealand.

Assuming the fares online cost more than you’d like to spend, you’re able to be flexible, and you don’t mind waiting until the day of departure to make your change, this hack could be for you!

Pro tip: This hack is designed to help people who have flexible travel plans, and find the tickets they want to be too expensive. If you can purchase affordable tickets in advance, it’s always best to do that.

How to save money by buying a flexible AirNZ fare

If you purchase a flexible domestic fare on AirNZ, you’ll be able to make changes on the day of departure without paying a penalty fee or any fare difference.

That’s right – on the day of departure, you’re able to change your ticket to any other domestic flight on the same route that has availability for free!

Don’t take our word for it though, check out what Air New Zealand have to say…

Flexichange fare rules

We use it to save money!! Often means a midnight wake up to change it on the day but saves us lots.

Jane, NZTT member

How it works in practice

Looking at flights just over a week out, the lowest price for this day was $197 (for seat only), and the most expensive fare was $718 (flexirefund).

Using this trick, you could purchase the lowest price flexichange fare (on the 9.15 am departure) for $249.

Then, on the day of departure (and only then – otherwise you’ll be charged a fare difference) you can use the AirNZ app or website to change to any other flight without paying a cent more.

You could book the 3 pm departure where:

• a lower fare class with baggage would have cost you $525 originally, saving you $249 each.
• the same flexichange fare class would have been $545. That’s a saving of $296 per person.

Which domestic Air New Zealand fares are flexible?

Flexible domestic fares on Air New Zealand are known as flexichange or flexirefund tickets.

Flexichange tickets are the more affordable of the two – they allow you to change your ticket, but don’t provide a refund.

Unsurprisingly, flexirefund tickets allow both changes and refunds. They are also more expensive.

Both have the same fare rule, allowing you to make free changes on the day of departure, so if you don’t require a refundable ticket, just grab the cheapest option available.

Why would you want a flexible domestic fare?

There are a number of reasons you might want/need to purchase a flexible ticket.

• You might want more flexibility to change your time. For example, you might arrive into New Zealand on an international flight, wanting to book an onwards domestic flight with a conservative connection time – but, you’d like to bring this flight forward if you clear customs/immigration quickly.
• The lower fares might be sold out, leaving you no choice.
• You might just want to use this trick to save money… purchasing a flexible ticket to get on the flight you want, for less than a lower fare class. But be careful doing this, as you won’t be able to change flights until the day of departure, so there’s no guarantee it’ll work.

A word of warning

There is obviously a risk in purchasing a flight that isn’t necessarily the one you want.

We only recommend doing this if you have flexible travel plans.

Though it’s unlikely (particularly on routes with lots of flights), you could find all fares sold out, requiring you to stick with your original booking.

So, it’s important you can make your original flight work if required.

Likewise, the flights that are available on the day might not be the one you originally wanted, leaving you to choose between another flight time, or sticking with your original cheaper purchase.

If you absolutely have to be on a flight, we recommend purchasing it from the get-go.

Pro tip: You’re able to change your flight from midnight on the day of departure, so if you’re hoping to snap up one of the last seats on a flight, or you just want to go to bed with certainty about your flight, it’s worth staying up until the early hours to make your change.

And there you have it, assuming you have a degree of flexibility when flying domestically with Air New Zealand, this is a legitimate way to save money.

Pro tip: If you’re planning to fly last-minute, and it genuinely doesn’t matter if you fly or not, check out Regional Gotta Go fares. They are only available on the day of departure (60 to 90 mins before the flight) and through the contact centre. Remember though, if you can’t get one of these fares, you won’t be flying. That’s why we prefer the flexi hack shared here for many people, as you’ll be guaranteed a flight.

Note: Though these fare rules were correct when this was written, and we have no reason to believe they will change, please check current fare rules when you book your tickets.

The post How to save money on your AirNZ domestic fares appeared first on New Zealand Travel Tips.