AA Miles for NZ residents

[cambriamarsh]

Hi, I'm looking at organising a trip using AA miles but I can't find a way of earning in NZ except either BIS on QF at v. discounted rates compared to QF or washing AmEx Membership Rewards points via Starwood. Does anyone have any other good ideas?

cheers

 

[drron]

Basically no different to Australia except far less QF services.You can earn on JQ if you pay the extra.As well as the OW partners out of NZ you can also earn and redeem on FJ and HA.On TN you can redeem awards but not earn.
The other ways of earning are rental cars,hotels and don't forget the aadvantage shopping.A lot of the stores do now ship to Aust and NZ and you only earn basically for the online stores anyway.As part of the shopping portal you can earn AA miles at many restaurants in the USA when you travel there.
Then you can always buy miles-a bonus on offer at the moment.
Certainly harder for us in the South Pacific.But by doing all of the above I was able to get a million AA miles in 18 months to lock in Life Time Platinum before they changed the system to make it near impossible for us now.

 

[cambriamarsh]

Thanks drron, I appreciate the quick reply. Do you know of any NZ (or AU) based credit cards that can credit directly to AA? cheers

 

[drron]

No real option.Diners can credit direct but still better to go via SPG because of the bonus 5000 miles when you transfer 20000 SPG points.

 

[Mwenenzi]

earning in NZ except either BIS on QF at v. discounted rates compared to QF ....

But AA miles are worth a lot more than QF points, and no cash surcharges on awards (except on BA/IB flights)
I have not credited a QF flight to the QF ffp for 5 years, except for some QF flights that, at the time, were non AA miles earning

 

[kempvet]

You will find it difficult to earn points the traditional way, flights and CCs. It depends on what your flying agenda going forward needs. If you are after the J/F experience on long haul to the northern hemisphere, I would simply buy the points when they have offers going with AA and perhaps buy them under another account of relatives as well as there are limits. Perhaps $2200 NZD per 90,000 AA miles when they had the 50% bonus, in reality $1500 NZD for a J flight (60,000 AA miles) on QF to Europe. If flying in Y anywhere in Australia or NZ then maybe $2200 NZD could have bought the 90,000 AA miles, that gets you 9 flights anywhere in NZ/AUS to anywhere in NZ/AUS. I guess what I am saying is don't go out of your way to try to buy/use things you don't really want/need, I would just save and buy points when the promotions are on with AA you will save $$$$$ rather than buying Y fares even if they are on special.

 

[kempvet]

And another important issue, if you are going from NZ to the northern hemisphere return in the future, consider the AA platinum challenge, you should qualify with the 10k points (not miles) on your return even on the cheapest OW fares using an AA ff number, if flying BA AKL-SYD-SIN-LHR rtt you will earn just under 30k AA miles as the platinum bonus kicks in SIN-SYD on the way back even on the cheapest BA fare (but check the rules as often they change)

 

[cambriamarsh]

And another important issue, if you are going from NZ to the northern hemisphere return in the future, consider the AA platinum challenge, you should qualify with the 10k points (not miles) on your return even on the cheapest OW fares using an AA ff number, if flying BA AKL-SYD-SIN-LHR rtt you will earn just under 30k AA miles as the platinum bonus kicks in SIN-SYD on the way back even on the cheapest BA fare (but check the rules as often they change)

this is very helpful, thanks kempvet, I appreciate you taking the time to respond, and to you also drron.

cheers

 

[Mwenenzi]

And another important issue, if you are going from NZ to the northern hemisphere return in the future, consider the AA platinum challenge......

Challenge (AA) - FlyerGuide Wiki