Air New Zealand FF program

[TefJLives]

Hi all,

A year ago I flew Air New Zealand roundtrip to LA on a "Smart Saver Economy" fare. This netted me a whopping $38 Airpoints. But I probably need to save up the amount required before I can purchase a ticket, no? I was looking at the same route in June, which is $941. So I'd have to take 25 of these trips to score one free one? Am I understanding this correctly? I presume I can't just get $38 off the price of a ticket.

Why are they so cheap with the points? Is it because of the smart saver thing? Compare with Qantas, where flying roundtrip Melb-LA gives you 18,000 points, and then the same route costs 90,000. So you just have to do the route 5 times in order to get a free one. What's up with Air NZ?

Greg

 

[Mattg]

You're not missing anything. Air NZ Airpoints is an extremely poor value program. I would steer well clear.

Those 38 Airpoints can be used to save $38 off a flight. At the very least, I think you can pay for part of a flight with Airpoints. So at least you don't need to earn 900 Airpoints before you can redeem them.

If I was flying on Air NZ, I would be looking to credit the flights to Velocity or to another Star Alliance program if possible.

 

[NZflygirl]

You need to be able to pay for the one flight with airpoint dollars. There is no part payment. So at the rate you're going it's really just going to be maybe a domestic NZ fare. There is grabaseat. I don't know for sure but presume you can pay for this with APD. Air NZ's APD earn is tied to cost very strongly so sale fares earn very little. If you lived in NZ then the airpoints credit card is the way to go to build up APD and you actually get to earn status points also if that way inclined. There is no equivalent cc in Australia as far as I know.

The fares I've seen advertised from Oz are very cheap on NZ to get to LA. I've only checked the QF website infrequently but the fares seemed expensive. More $$ out of my back pocket. And realistically in Australia you have bucket loads of ways to earn QF or VA points on the ground so I would keep the $$ in my back pocket and pay the cheaper fare if I lived in Australia. I also like Air NZ's premium economy and business class so I would take that into account when choosing a carrier to fly with (which I realise is not relevant to everyone's choices). I guess you need to weigh up the $$ from your bank account vs the QF points value. I suspect QF may come out on top (but I'm too lazy to do the math).

 

[TefJLives]

Thanks for the replies. Agreed that the Air NZ fares to LA are tough to beat, and the premium economy seats are wonderful. I really liked flying with them, actually, it's just too bad you don't get more on the FF side. Cheers.

Grge

 

[Mattg]

Thanks for the replies. Agreed that the Air NZ fares to LA are tough to beat, and the premium economy seats are wonderful. I really liked flying with them, actually, it's just too bad you don't get more on the FF side. Cheers.

Grge

You can always fly Air NZ but credit to a frequent flyer program other than Airpoints

 

[TefJLives]

So I can put it on Virgin Velocity? Anyone know whether you get a reasonable amount of points for doing that?

Greg

 

[NZflygirl]

So I can put it on Virgin Velocity? Anyone know whether you get a reasonable amount of points for doing that?

Greg

You can't transfer it AFTER you've flown but yes you can either book the flights through the VA website and just choose the NZ planes or you can book via the NZ website and at the airport ask them to change it to your velocity frequent flyer number to accrue velocity points. I would check both websites as I've noticed differences in prices. If you're VA red then it doesn't matter whether you book via NZ or VA but if you're silver and above and you're chasing the bonus points then you're better off booking via the VA website as you won't accrue bonus points if booked via the NZ website. However as stated, you do need to check the prices. Sometimes there is very little difference like $1 and other times there has been a few hundred dollars difference!!

 

[Mattg]

So I can put it on Virgin Velocity? Anyone know whether you get a reasonable amount of points for doing that?

Greg

Yes, you can credit to Virgin Australia Velocity. For the cheapest discount economy fares, you would earn 0.25 points per mile. It depends on the fare class though - some earn at a rate of 0.5, 0.75 or 1 in economy. (Note that NZ domestic & Pacific island flights are an exception, and some fare classes earn no points if credited to another program.)

For the lowest discount economy rate it's not that great, but for a MEL-AKL-LAX return you would get 4073 points with Velocity. You would also earn 120 status credits all up. That may or may not be more valuable to you than 38 Airpoints dollars.

With Premium Economy, you would earn 24,441 points and 360 status credits crediting to Velocity for the same route.

https://www.velocityfrequentflyer.com/content/Earn/Airlines/PointsEarn/

You could also credit to any other Star Alliance program, but you'd need to check that the fare class is eligible for earn with that airline. Some aren't with certain programs. (Yes, Air NZ like to make things difficult...)

 

[AviationNZ]

You can't transfer it AFTER you've flown but yes you can either book the flights through the VA website and just choose the NZ planes or you can book via the NZ website and at the airport ask them to change it to your velocity frequent flyer number to accrue velocity points. I would check both websites as I've noticed differences in prices. If you're VA red then it doesn't matter whether you book via NZ or VA but if you're silver and above and you're chasing the bonus points then you're better off booking via the VA website as you won't accrue bonus points if booked via the NZ website. However as stated, you do need to check the prices. Sometimes there is very little difference like $1 and other times there has been a few hundred dollars difference!!

Remember the OP is referring to Air NZ long haul flights, so they can't book these on the VA website.

 

[NZflygirl]

Remember the OP is referring to Air NZ long haul flights, so they can't book these on the VA website.

So I see! No bonus points then...

 

[cjd600]

Hi all,

A year ago I flew Air New Zealand roundtrip to LA on a "Smart Saver Economy" fare. This netted me a whopping $38 Airpoints. But I probably need to save up the amount required before I can purchase a ticket, no? I was looking at the same route in June, which is $941. So I'd have to take 25 of these trips to score one free one? Am I understanding this correctly? I presume I can't just get $38 off the price of a ticket.

Why are they so cheap with the points? Is it because of the smart saver thing? Compare with Qantas, where flying roundtrip Melb-LA gives you 18,000 points, and then the same route costs 90,000. So you just have to do the route 5 times in order to get a free one. What's up with Air NZ?

Greg

I'm not fully familiar with the Air NZ booking classes, but you seem to be comparing the cheapest economy discount fare on Air NZ, but for QF you are quoting the fully flex economy points return?
FWIW, I just flew SYD-LAX-SYD on QF discount economy, and received 2 x 4500 = 9000 points, not the 18000 stated - which is earnt on the fully flexible economy fare, a lot more costly than discount economy, or economy.

So at cheapest economy rates, you'd have to do 10 return flights to get a 'free one' (+ QF large surcharges).

 

[TefJLives]

I'm not fully familiar with the Air NZ booking classes, but you seem to be comparing the cheapest economy discount fare on Air NZ, but for QF you are quoting the fully flex economy points return?
FWIW, I just flew SYD-LAX-SYD on QF discount economy, and received 2 x 4500 = 9000 points, not the 18000 stated - which is earnt on the fully flexible economy fare, a lot more costly than discount economy, or economy.

So at cheapest economy rates, you'd have to do 10 return flights to get a 'free one' (+ QF large surcharges).

Oops! You're right. I guess what you get with Qantas is not as good as I thought. Guess I'll just buy the cheap tickets on Air NZ and forget about the mileage on this one. Thanks to all for your help.

Greg

 

[cjd600]

Oops! You're right. I guess what you get with Qantas is not as good as I thought. Guess I'll just buy the cheap tickets on Air NZ and forget about the mileage on this one. Thanks to all for your help.

Greg

No worries....at those prices, I wouldn't worry too much about the miles either!

 

[NZflygirl]

I'm not fully familiar with the Air NZ booking classes, but you seem to be comparing the cheapest economy discount fare on Air NZ, but for QF you are quoting the fully flex economy points return?
FWIW, I just flew SYD-LAX-SYD on QF discount economy, and received 2 x 4500 = 9000 points, not the 18000 stated - which is earnt on the fully flexible economy fare, a lot more costly than discount economy, or economy.

So at cheapest economy rates, you'd have to do 10 return flights to get a 'free one' (+ QF large surcharges).

Great pick up

 

[Longtoo]

I have over 100 Airpoint dollars that will expire early next month. No plan to fly with ANZ until mid next year when I have to travel to America. is there a way to utilise this 100 Airpoint dollar? Thanks in advance.

 

[serfty]

Can you use them to book rewards on VA domestic?

 

[serfty]

Seems 100 is not enough ...

http://www.airnewzealand.com/airline-partner-reward-chart-from-1-november

 

[trooper]

The Airpoints program is good in SOME ways. I suppose most FF programs work for some people.

Maintaining Gold on NZ is a LOT easier than on QF.... and it is the Lounge Access/baggage that I mainly seek...

The Gold Upgrades are nice too...and Ive rarely missed when using one...just got to be sensible...(midweek long haul..Y+ to Biz)...

Everyones mileage varies...

 

[jch]

Emails are going out for Triple Status points for those who are NZ Frequent flyers, including those who status matched through a touch of gold promotion last year.

Air New Zealand launches Triple Status Points offer (likely targeted)

 

[NZflygirl]

Emails are going out for Triple Status points for those who are NZ Frequent flyers, including those who status matched through a touch of gold promotion last year.

Air New Zealand launches Triple Status Points offer (likely targeted)

Very nice!

Anyone booked this? Just wondering if the tripleSP show up during the booking or if it's only after you've booked them they show up. There is a section in the Air NZ account that shows potential and bonus earnings. Wondering if it shows up there after the booking?

Think it's for Aussies. Fair enough I guess, you don't have the credit card options. Never seen this response to the Qantas and VA DSC offers before but it makes sense. They're taking all the forward bookings!