I think they are slim to none to be honest. The union brought it up at the last meeting I went to, as in if there should be consideration for it in the contract, but I'm not holding my breath. Some in management have been using it as a card lately, which I think is pretty week and juvenile frankly. I don't commute so it really doesn't affect me, but it is getting a bit ridiculous as it is turned into a real carrot; not cool. But, hey, it's still a great company to work for, and if I want real travel deals I can move to a commuting job, so there are choices; just a little venting on my part really.

Completely understand...no place is perfect.

My brother lives in AKL and works for AZ. He and his wife came up to visit for the holidays. Cost somewhere around $1000 US per "staff travel" ticket. Mind you, that was first class.

I thought the crappy thing was, he had to buy the tickets before hand. Also, if you only bought a coach "staff travel" seat, and it filled up but there were seats up front, you would not be upgraded and then have to pay the difference, you wouldn't get on at all. The only "up side" if you will, is that if he bought first class and it was full, he and his wife could get coach put in coach if open and then be refunded the difference.

I have heard that many European airline "staff travel" benefits pale in comparison to US airlines as well.

What about living on the South Island and commuting to work in AKL? I hope that is possible.

That is my hope as well...

Yeah, if the answer is no, my whole dream is shot.

I just can't imagine, at least with the Jumpseat agreements in the States as my only reference, that you couldn't get on any of the other ANZ subsidiaries and hitch a ride, or any other airline flying that way.