I am booked on Air NZ direct to Chicago in December and want to know what changes would occur to my flight if the Dreamliner 787 is not available due to the known engine issues. If the plane does change to a 777, is it unlikely to still be a direct flight? This will make a big difference to my itinerary.
Lucy
I contacted Air New Zealand and am happy to inform you the Auckland to Chicago route will be a direct service — no need to worry about your itinerary.
Readers respond:
In response to Tyrone Rix's question on solo travel, Ian Matheson wrote in to say he'd found paying for single supplements on tours to be worth every dollar.
"On my last trip a man who was paired up with another traveller used to sit next to me on the bus as we travelled between destinations, and on three separate occasions he corrected me on something I said. I don't mind being corrected but I began to resent his attitude and avoided him as much as possible," he wrote.
"I suspect that, had we been allocated a room together, I would have lost my temper. Just one fellow traveller you cannot get away from could ruin an expensive holiday."
Bryan Wylie also wrote in on the subject and said despite never paying for a single supplement, he has never had to share a room — and has had tour guides tell him this is because most single travellers are women.
"Last year, I discovered another option — self-guided solo tours, where the problem of having to share does not arise," he wrote.
"I booked with Exodus and they arranged hotels, some meals and provided maps, timetables and route/guide books and although there was no human guide there were local contacts should any difficulties arise."
Email your questions to askaway@nzherald.co.nz
Eli cannot answer all questions and can't correspond with readers.
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