Qantas FF or Air New Zealand Dollars? Which is better?

[Dano]

Can you help? Would like to hear from frequent flyers of both programs to see which they think is best overall and why?

 

[Evan]

QF because i am Australian (and i am a lifetime QF club member)
Really it is better for me on the routes i fly and easy to obtain a status that allows me access to all oneworld lounges (and for none OW flights i have Amex and Priority Pass)

If i was in NZ or flew a lot to NZ or for example always flew to USA (potentialy via NZ) then i may think differently, i am not sure since i have not looked at NZ in any detail.

Just for info i am also an AA and SQ FF program member. Majority of my miles end up in QF or SQ.

E

 

[trooper]

I'm an Aussie too... but went to NZ after a bad experience with QF long haul (still fly them domestic of course... !)

That was initially out of spite rolleyes: I know.. I know...)... then for the better seat pitch in Y... then for the availability of Y+.... and now for the apparent relative ease of upgrades to Biz as an NZ *Gold. (and all the little factors like a preference for the NZ style of service... and the ICE CREAM of course!) Access to the rather nice SYD/AKL/LAX lounges is a definite plus too of course....

I say relative as I hear a lot of complaints from QFF's about upgrades not clearing.. and with NZ I'm 100% this year (11 from 11)... Sample size of ONE is of course meaningless.. but hardly surprising that I'm a happy camper eh? .. and yes I do choose my flights carefully to maximise my chances...

Airpoints is NOT a good program - IMO - if you want to redeem for flights... My plan is to use Airpoint $ only for upgrades.. and it is working for me... YMMV....

As the previous poster pointed out NZ is good for US visits.. and that's what I do... I tend to fly TO North America via Asia (back via AKL) and the *A is strong there... with SQ, TG, OZ, NH, and the two new Chinese members.... Just adds to the attraction...

There is however no "best"... other than in a very subjective/personal way.

Airpoints works for ME... that's all I can say...

 

[Dano]

Hey Trooper,

Thanks for that info but am very curious...

Airpoints is NOT a good program - IMO - if you want to redeem for flights... My plan is to use Airpoint $ only for upgrades.. and it is working for me... YMMV....

Why is it not a good program if you want to redeem for flights.

Thanks!

 

[trooper]

Why not for redeeming flgihts?

..because Airpoint $ (airbucks) are used as real dollars for purchasing ANY fare from the NZ website.... so.. it's very flexible.. but (given earning rates) very expensive if you ask me!

(Earning rates range from about 1 airbuck/$10-13 spent on fares down to about 1 for $3 if you find the real sneaky ways...... bit like the AA First class SC "runs" in the US... but a little better...:mrgreen

Looking at it from the viewpoint of "value"...I prefer to use 595 Airbucks to try for an upgrade from Y> Business Premier AKL-LAX ("Value" of what...$3-4K based on fare difference? Or 200 A$ from Y+>BP)rather than use 2000 of them for a Y SYD-LAX rtn.... I realise others would not calculate that way.. but we all see these things differently..:mrgreen:

"Try"? Yup.. with NZ all the normal upgrades are on a Standby basis... so status really helps there methinks! Nice little frisson of anticipation at check-in/in the Lounge!!!

 

[ataru1]

air new zealand airpoint dollars

 

[dajop]

There is no simple answer to a question like this, there are many variables. My opinion is that it largely depends on what part of the plane you will be doing most of your travelling (economy, business or first).

For earning points - due to travel on Star Alliance and NZ in business class (or even better for first class domestic travel on UA in the USA), the NZ program is good. The earn/burn rates are reasonable.

For travel solely in economy, unless it is very short distance travel on a partner airlines, QFF is far superior to NZ Airpoints. NZ's earn/burn using economy travel are really quite bad.