Does anyone on AFF use NZ/Airpoints as their primary program?

[greenfish]

The reason I abandoned Airpoints was the shift to Airpoint Dollars and the subsequent decline in reward seats. I collect points specifically for the spectacular value on J and F redemptions. Airpoint Dollars just don't appear to offer the same redemption value.

This doesn't mean I've given up flying on NZ; for me, Velocity is the answer (apart from domestic NZ flights, grrrrrr).

The availability of family pooling with Velocity is compelling when combined with the points earn and conversion to SQ, allowing redemption for F suites with relative ease.

Family pooling means that I get the benefit from all the seats I buy, not just the ones I sit in. This Xmas, taking the family to Dunedin for a cycle along the Otago Rail Trail will earn me between 200 and 400 SCs (because I'm booking late, it looks like the latter, with flexi rather than saver fares). So the one holiday would allow an SG to retain Gold (or in my case, to regain Gold using some other flights). My wife doesn't need PG as she doesn't fly by herself, but if she did, we'd just pool to her.

When compared to QF (which I believe is OT for this thread), you dismiss the A380s of EK - why? They're a fabulous product, particularly in J and F. With J often on sale for circa NZD600 and F for around NZD1000, not even desperately expensive, and the 80 and 120SCs respectively help make short work of requalifying. In all classes, you can book on the QF code and earn SCs for the same price as the 737s.

You also don't rate the QF lounges, despite mentioning you eat in the lounge. Having had one too many hotdogs in the Koru lounge in SYD, I can assure you, the food in the QF MEL and SYD F lounges is restaurant standard. The EK lounge food is also excellent, with both food and wine a step above the Koru lounges I've visited.

Nonetheless, if I was still NZ based, I'd have to look at Airpoints as my previous regular flights TRG<->AKL would be wasted in any other scheme, and credit card earn is so much easier for APD in NZ.

Of course, here in Oz, there's a current promotion with Amex with a 110000 points sign-on bonus for VFF - the joys of competition . My next F trip beckons....

 

[NZflygirl]

I think the family pooling is the equivalent to NZ shairpoints although I think its just APD rather than SP for us. The redemption on SQ sounds good. I have to admit I am rarely on SQ.

The QF was just for comparison. I had to choose an Australian carrier for AFF. The comment re EK A380 was really about acknowledging that if we excluded NZ's widebody and therefore LAN, EK then you're really left with the 737's and NZ's A320 (and JQ) and you can't upgrade to business on NZ although I do wonder if they'll change that in the future as they are ordering more Neo's.

The QF lounges are nicer I don't disagree. For me I'm just happy there is any lounge. I tend to compare the cooking to my own standards so the bar is low Although I'm looking forward to trying the new NZ Syd lounge and NZ Akl lounge later when it opens ?late August. ABT's review looked good.

AMEX have a special out for NZ residents until Sept but I've never used AMEX before. Seems they offer a lot but I'm not sure it all stacks up or if I'm going to use all the offers.

 

[serfty]

Up until about 3 years ago, a T-T in discount economy would earn 30 SP's irrespective of the fare paid, but generally no APD. (For comparison, QF discount econ. earns 20 SC's.)

If there is anything that I am pleased about, it is the VA/NZ JV came through at the right time for me. I had actually banked a year of *E before the rot set in.

FWIW, today I logged in to my Airpoints account - APD amount has not changed in three years, but my Status is down to *S - I get complimentary Koru lounge access for another month then there are two e-passes. As a VA WP, I am unlikely to use those passes.

 

[SydneySwan]

Shairpoints unfortunately only applies to NZ residents. Otherwise it is an excellent idea for booking a reward using all a families accounts. Anyone tried changing their address to NZ and using it?

 

[Nouflyer]

There is a definite sweet spot with the Airpoints program. Points redemptions are terrible value.

But if you can reach Elite status you can lock in upgrades from Premium Economy to Business 355 days out.

You get two freebies, then the rest are around 400 Airpoints dollars per sector.

But that $2800 Premium Economy return to LAX just turns into Business class.

It's the one and only reason to stay loyal.

 

[serfty]

...

It's the one and only reason to stay loyal.

I did stay loyal for that 355 day upgrade reason ... until they destroyed it, especially for non NZ residents ... see my posts #2, #13, #19 & #23. (Yes, I have a barrow to push :-| ...)

 

[johnsluk]

I just signed up because AirNZ has really cheap airfares to LA (~900 return May next year) and thought if I was going to fly with them, may as well earn some points. Thinking I might be better off to spend a little more and stick with QF or VA, get more points and get that extra luggage.

 

[Mattg]

I just signed up because AirNZ has really cheap airfares to LA (~900 return May next year) and thought if I was going to fly with them, may as well earn some points. Thinking I might be better off to spend a little more and stick with QF or VA, get more points and get that extra luggage.

Keep in mind that you don't have to credit the flights to Air New Zealand. You could earn Velocity or Singapore Airlines points for those flights instead (for example).

 

[johnsluk]

Keep in mind that you don't have to credit the flights to Air New Zealand. You could earn Velocity or Singapore Airlines points for those flights instead (for example).

Shows how much of a newbie I am, wasn't aware that I could...thanks, now this makes it a much more difficult decision!

 

[jackthomas]

Shows how much of a newbie I am, wasn't aware that I could...thanks, now this makes it a much more difficult decision!

Just be careful, some of the Velocity earn rates are horrendous and you won't know which fare bucket you are in until your e-ticket is generated.
Looks like discount economy gets you 0.75 points per mile ( for discount long haul economy) if crediting to Velocity.. But could still be better if you are likely to add to this rather than never fly Air NZ again.

 

[TomVexille]

Just be careful, some of the Velocity earn rates are horrendous and you won't know which fare bucket you are in until your e-ticket is generated.
Looks like discount economy gets you 0.75 points per mile ( for discount long haul economy) if crediting to Velocity.. But could still be better if you are likely to add to this rather than never fly Air NZ again.

Actually the fare buckets are available on a couple pages before you pay.

 

[greenfish]

Just be careful, some of the Velocity earn rates are horrendous and you won't know which fare bucket you are in until your e-ticket is generated.
Looks like discount economy gets you 0.75 points per mile ( for discount long haul economy) if crediting to Velocity.. But could still be better if you are likely to add to this rather than never fly Air NZ again.

You can see the fare bucket before the e-ticket is generated - click the "full itinerary" link before entering payment details.

 

[jackthomas]

You can see the fare bucket before the e-ticket is generated - click the "full itinerary" link before entering payment details.

Now they tell me (obviously I don't pay much attention before I hit seat select)... :shock:
Edit: Watch out for your fare bucket before payment

 

[greenfish]

Now they tell me (obviously I don't pay much attention before I hit seat select)... :shock:
Edit: Watch our for your fare bucket before payment

It isn't obvious at all. I had to ring AirNZ to ask There's some screenshots in a different thread in this section.

 

[SydneySwan]

Shairpoints unfortunately only applies to NZ residents. Otherwise it is an excellent idea for booking a reward using all a families accounts. Anyone tried changing their address to NZ and using it?

OK, partly answering my own question here. Yesterday my 12.42 of Air NZ air dollars were expiring so I decided to convert my account to a NZ based account by using a friends address to see what happened - exchange rate, etc. The good news is that apparently my air dollars no longer expire. The not so good news is that my new balance is -566.48 a net decline of 578.90! So I don't recommend it! I have never had a negative balance on a loyalty program before. Presumably Air NZ will send a letter of demand to my friends address in NZ asking me to bring the balance into credit immediately!

 

[mushez]

NZs wide body aircraft are better products to fly TT IMO. EK and LAN associated with QF have worse scheduling.

Only a JAFA (Aucklander) would say that. Not taking away from anything else you said, but flying wide body NZ TT is only an option ex AKL and doesn't have attractive scheduling for anyone wanting to fly TT on NZ wide body metal other than those who already live in AKL.

And yes I to prefer to fly wide-bodied TT and avoided VA ex Hamilton to depart ex AKL on wide bodies TT.

Just consider the plight of someone in TRG, who has to plan to get up 6 hours prior to and depart TRG 5 hours prior to NZ135's 9:25am departure time...... not mentioning they past bedtime arrivals back on NZ136.

Sure one could choose to pay the $400-500 extra to fly TRG-AKL return to only save around 30-60 mins time vrs take the $190 return shuttle, but most don't as the economics of it never stacks up to TRG.

I prefer my noon departure from Tauranga, to get to AKL at 3pm to be wheels up at 5pm on EK435 to be at home in BNE around 7:30-8pm and then on the return to get up at 5:50am in BNE, out door at 6am to be at the airport in BNE around 6:20am for 8:20am EK434 flight and 1am arrival in NZ and waking into my pad in Tauranga well before 6pm rolls around.

I just don't like people stating opinion as fact. like "LAN & EK scheduling don't suit my personal needs."

Everyone in NZ does not live in Auckland, but maybe it should be changed to Air Auckland.

 

[SydneySwan]

Everyone in NZ does not live in Auckland, but maybe it should be changed to Air Auckland.

Maybe in the same way that Qantas should be called Air Sydney!

 

[greenfish]

Maybe in the same way that Qantas should be called Air Sydney!

Yes, but the QF/EK alliance does help annul some of the disadvantage of the Sydney/Melbourne-centric nature of QF.

 

[mushez]

Maybe in the same way that Qantas should be called Air Sydney!

To a small degree, that could be said - however I would say it is substantively different between the NZ situation and QF situation.

With QF they fly ex MEL or SYD, but they extend their fares to be similar to, or just $50 extra if you wish to fly ex BNE and assume it is the same for most other airport points that can feed into SYD or MEL - but it is something I cannot say I have looked or tested.

In NZ, to fly ex any airport other than CHC or AKL, or WLG if TT - you have to pay for the domestic airfare at rack rates less GST on top of the rack rate to fly the international flight.

If there is a domestic flight sale on, it is cheaper to book as two flights, as that sale on the domestic flight is not interlinked through if you book an international flight.

My experience is ex Tauranga, the 6th largest city in NZ, that is 200km south of Auckland airport by road and is a nice 25 minute flight if and when you take one. To fly ex TRG to Brisbane with Air NZ always will add $400-600 extra on the TT flight fare than just booking Air NZ ex AKL and making ones way to Auckland to fly out.

But then I guess that is why the regional market is attractive to JetStar - as a lot of people who prefer to fly in NZ, drive, as they simply cannot justify $300 +++ Airfares to and from Auckland for whatever reason they want or need to get to Auckland.

 

[NZflygirl]

Only a JAFA (Aucklander) would say that. Not taking away from anything else you said, but flying wide body NZ TT is only an option ex AKL and doesn't have attractive scheduling for anyone wanting to fly TT on NZ wide body metal other than those who already live in AKL.

And yes I to prefer to fly wide-bodied TT and avoided VA ex Hamilton to depart ex AKL on wide bodies TT.

Just consider the plight of someone in TRG, who has to plan to get up 6 hours prior to and depart TRG 5 hours prior to NZ135's 9:25am departure time...... not mentioning they past bedtime arrivals back on NZ136.

Sure one could choose to pay the $400-500 extra to fly TRG-AKL return to only save around 30-60 mins time vrs take the $190 return shuttle, but most don't as the economics of it never stacks up to TRG.

I prefer my noon departure from Tauranga, to get to AKL at 3pm to be wheels up at 5pm on EK435 to be at home in BNE around 7:30-8pm and then on the return to get up at 5:50am in BNE, out door at 6am to be at the airport in BNE around 6:20am for 8:20am EK434 flight and 1am arrival in NZ and waking into my pad in Tauranga well before 6pm rolls around.

I just don't like people stating opinion as fact. like "LAN & EK scheduling don't suit my personal needs."

Everyone in NZ does not live in Auckland, but maybe it should be changed to Air Auckland.

We share the same home airport in NZ. It doesn't bother me to go to Akl to catch the widebody. I would do the same if living in ZQN. its not a long flight especially from TRG.

I've also never paid $500 return Trg-Akl to add on return legs to TT flights. I do frequently debate flying vs driving and I would agree that taking the shuttle seems the more economical option as you don't need to pay for parking either up there. I've yet to try this out though. Parking at TRG is only $35 long term but it's become more full recently.

If getting to an appt or connecting flight same day then the NZ flights leave NZ earlier for you to do this in oz. LAN used to leave much earlier but now has a 730ish flight departure. Coming back from oz LAN and EK arrive in earlier to NZ so they're better for same day appts in NZ or connections.

I've always had faith that people are capable of distinguishing fact from opinion. It would be over the top to type IMO after every sentence and I've yet to see anyone resort to this style of posting.