EK increase Tier Miles for Bookings initiating in NZ, to match Tier Miles for AU

[mushez]

I got this email today - which thought some of you may be interested

Dear Mr Russ,

As a refinement to our programme and as part of our partnership with Qantas, we are making changes to the Emirates Skywards programme which includes a more closely aligned reward offering in New Zealand.
• From today, for new bookings we will increase the number of Skywards Miles and tier Miles you will earn for itineraries commencing in New Zealand.
• Effective 1st September, the number of Skywards Miles required for Emirates flight reward itineraries originating in New Zealand will also increase. You can book reward travel at the existing levels until this date.
These above changes ensure that the number of revenue trips required to obtain a reward ticket will remain the same as they do today.

Historically, Tier miles with EK ex NZ have been lower than tier miles booked with flights originating from AU. For example flights AKL-BNE return historically have attracted 700 tier miles per sector for saver, as if you booked the same class but as BNE-AKL return, you have earned 1,000 tier miles per sector. A difference of 25 sectors vrs 36 sectors if one was wanting to hit silver on Y saver fares alone.

Also it has been significantly cheaper to book AKL-BNE return - and if you were wanting to do BNE-AKL return, to book as two one way fares.

So while from today I will start to earn an extra 300 tier miles per Tasman sector I fly on EK, (which is 12-16 a year) my attention will be drawn to how this may influence price as I always thought the two were linked.

I am not concerned, as I was giving serious thoughts to paying the extra and changing my flight bookings to do BNE-AKL return in the aim of earning more tier miles per flight.

 

[Mal]

Interesting... I see advantages and disadvantages with the Qantas tie up but I still think overall it is a positive relationship.