Some changes to Airpoints earning on long-haul flights

[anat0l]

From 1 June 2011, we'll be making some changes to the number of Airpoints Dollars™ you can earn on long-haul flights.

We are keen to ensure all Air New Zealand operated long haul flights, with the exception of grabaseat™ fares and other special fares*, continue to earn Airpoints Dollars. The changes we are making to the earning rates will bring them more in line with the price of the fare paid. We will be offering a more dynamic approach that will see an increase in the Airpoints Dollars offered on higher priced economy, premium economy and business class fares on Air New Zealand operated flights and a reduction in Airpoints Dollars offered on lower priced economy fares.

...

* Please note: Airpoints members cannot earn Airpoints Dollars in conjunction with Airpoints Reward Travel, travel industry (incl. duty travel) classes (N,R), infant fares, any fares booked in F class, and any grabaseat fare, including grabaseat Green Light fares or with Domestic Smart Saver (W,T,L,S) or Tasman and Pacific Island Smart Saver (V,W,T,L,G,K,P).

Status earning is not affected (i.e. you'll still get the same number of status points as before), but now your status points might not necessarily match your Airpoints Dollars earn when you fly on Economy fares.

New tables can be found on the NZ website: Earning Airpoints*Dollars - Airpoints - Air*New*Zealand - New Zealand Site


Checking on the how the news was received at FlyerTalk, on the whole it isn't looking positive.......

 

[futaris]

Some changes to Airpoints earning on long-haul flights - FlyerTalk Forums

 

[serfty]

It affects me quite significantly; most of my

's earnings are for T-P travel.

It's nothing more than a complete reduction in Airpoints earned for discounted travel and a devaluation of the program.

Here are the Oz tables.

• Air*New*Zealand Earn Accrual - Earning Airpoints*Dollars - Airpoints - Air*New*Zealand - Australia Site
• Airline Partner Earn Chart - Earning Airpoints*Dollars - Airpoints - Air*New*Zealand - Australia Site

Where I would earn

75 for Oz to USA on a K class fare, I'lll now earn

30.

As a rule of thumb, I value an

at ~$2.50 or 100 QFF points.

So that's a huge reduction (~$127 in the above example).

I wonder if this has anything to do with a possible further change with the DJ alliance?

 

[Willie]

Sigh... enhancements.. Looks like NZ are jumping on the devalue bandwagon. Think I'll head off to UA. NZ 773s are little more than Flying Sardine Cans and their new whY and whY+ product decidedly low cost... RIP 774s

There are real tangible FF benefits crossing over to using UA on the trans pac routes. With an iPad and Kindle who cares about personal video???

Is it only me that thinks that NZ are getting some really bad advice these days??? A NZ Heritage brand is really starting to scrape the bottom of the barrell.

 

[dajop]

Is it only me that thinks that NZ are getting some really bad advice these days???

Internationally, they are following the SQ model, domestically the JQ model. Basically amounts to the same thing - loyalty is valued only from premium cabin travellers and/or high fare paying economy passengers.

 

[clifford]

Makes Qantas look pretty good then.

Why would anyone in their right mind (and who is paying for the tix out of their own pocket) fly NZ?

 

[dajop]

Makes Qantas look pretty good then.

Why would anyone in their right mind (and who is paying for the tix out of their own pocket) fly NZ?

Several reasons:
1) Not care about points
2) Price is cheaper (even after accounting for value FF points on competition).
3) Because on a lot of routes (eg dom NZ, a lot of TT) the competition is with Jetstar who have the same model
4) Perceptions that the product is better than the competition. Last week I happily flew the NZ 77W from AKL-MEL over JQ and QF's 734 at around the same time, despite no points on NZ.

 

[trooper]

Why? Because certain travel patterns/earning patterns.. such as my self funded trips... have worked well with NZ's program.. and still will even with these reductions.. not as well of course but what can ya do?

Over the last few years as a GE or G on NZ I have missed ONE Transpac upgrade...from Y (always a discount fare) to Business Premier. Just one.

And that flight had me pre-booked in the exit row aisle.. and with regular visits/treats from the inflight concierge it actually wasn't bad at all!

Yes, I am disapointed by these cuts... but I'll "stick around" and see how it goes....

Compare that to my experiences with QF.. mad and it isn't that hard a choice...

YMMV as always! :mrgreen:

 

[gumpy]

This makes me sad, I love flying AirNZ =/