The Qantas–Air New Zealand partnership will end on April 7, 2027, according to both airlines’ current customer instructions. Existing bookings need different checks depending on which airline sold the flight and which operates it.
This guide was checked on November 1, 2026. The customer pages do not give a publication date for the change, so this is a booking explainer rather than a newly announced decision.
If your Qantas booking is operated by Air New Zealand
Qantas says travel before April 7 is unaffected. For an existing Qantas codeshare booking operated by Air New Zealand on or after that date, Qantas or the travel agent will change the itinerary to an Air New Zealand flight number.
Qantas Frequent Flyer members will retain the Qantas Points and Status Credits they would have earned on the original booking. Check the updated itinerary and retain the original booking details when comparing the change.
If your Air New Zealand booking is operated by Qantas
Air New Zealand’s instructions cover the reverse situation: an NZ flight number on a Qantas-operated service. For travel on or after April 7, Air New Zealand or the travel agent will change the booking to a Qantas flight number.
The airline says the flight itself will remain the same and customers do not need to make a new booking. Eligible customers will retain the Airpoints and Status Points they would have earned on their original reservation.
Lounge access has a separate cutoff
Both airlines say eligible customers can continue using the existing partnership’s frequent-flyer benefits before April 7. Reciprocal lounge access under the partnership ends from April 7. A protected points entitlement on an existing booking should not be taken as a promise that lounge access continues.
Qantas reward bookings: distinguish booking and travel dates
Qantas lists April 6, 2027 as the last day to book its Air New Zealand Classic Flight Reward seats. From April 7, customers needing to change those reward bookings should contact Qantas about select Jetstar alternatives, subject to availability, or a refund.
April 6 is a booking deadline; check the travel conditions for your own reservation.
Before accepting an updated itinerary
- Check both the flight number and the operating airline for each segment.
- Compare travel dates, connection times and the booking reference with your original confirmation.
- Confirm the applicable baggage, check-in and lounge rules with the airline handling the revised booking.
- For agent-issued tickets, follow up with the agent rather than making a replacement booking yourself.
Archive airline photograph: Air New Zealand Boeing 787-9 ZK-NZE at Los Angeles, April 30, 2026; not an affected domestic service. Photo: Charles from Port Chester, New York, via Wikimedia Commons and the original Flickr photograph. CC0 1.0, verified by Commons’ Flickr licence review. Resized and compressed to WebP.
