More than 100 aftershocks have been recorded since the 6.5 earthquake in the Cook Strait just after 17.00 yesterday (Sunday). While some of the shocks are being felt hundreds of miles away, Wellington is experiencing the brunt of the impact. Best expert predictions are that the activity is likely to continue, so Air New Zealand is extending the following flexibility for customers who are already booked and ticketed to travel to/from Wellington.

General Rule Flexibility

The following flexibility will be permitted on all fare types for passengers ticketed to travel to/from Wellington up to and including Thursday 25th July 2013. This information relates specifically to tickets issued on Air New Zealand 086 ticket stock and covers both domestic and international travel.

Options are as follows:

Passengers ticketed for travel to and from Wellington prior to and including Thursday 25th July 2013 may defer their travel to a later Air New Zealand flight in the same booking class inside 12-months of the original date of travel without penalty. If only higher booking classes are available, the fare differential will apply. If the proposed date of travel is unknown, then the value of the ticket may be held in credit for payment towards travel within the same 12-month validity.
Passengers ticketed to travel to Wellington prior to and including Thursday 25th July 2013 may change their travel to another Air New Zealand destination without penalty. Any fare difference will apply
Passengers who are ticketed to/from Wellington and wish to bring their travel forward to a date on/prior to Thursday 25th July 2013 may do so in the same cabin (regardless of booking class) without penalty and fare difference. If a cabin upgrade is required the fare differential will apply.

Important note for all scenarios:

This is an uncontrollable situation so any incidental costs and penalties incurred by customers as a result of flight disruptions (e.g. accommodation etc) will be their own responsibility.
Normal refund policy/procedures apply, i.e. non-refundable tickets remain non-refundable.
Passengers should be referred to their travel insurance policy to see if they are covered for any incidental/incremental costs.