New SP earn rates
Apr 11, 2014, 7:30 pm
#166
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: TRG, SBA
Programs: NZ*GE, A3*G, UA Prem, QF, AA
Posts: 157
Heads up on Domestic Add-ons to Intl. Fares!
A week ago, I booked a CHC domestic add-on to a SFO-AKL-SFO itinerary in S-Class, making it SFO-AKL-CHC-AKL-SFO. I never realised it at the time, but the rules for this particular S-Class fare allow booking in either S or H for the AKL-CHC-AKL add-on.
Since S<H, the fare routing rules on EF state that S must be used when available, so the default is S-Class. It turns out I'm in S down to CHC and H back up... and the difference in SP is shocking:
SFO-CHC 36APD-66SP
CHC-SFO 42APD-90SP(!)
Both base fares/taxes are EXACTLY the same.
So heads up for anyone booking domestic Add-ons on international fares that allow multiple fare buckets; make sure to pick add-on flights where only the highest allowed fare bucket is not sold out!
#simplicity
Since S<H, the fare routing rules on EF state that S must be used when available, so the default is S-Class. It turns out I'm in S down to CHC and H back up... and the difference in SP is shocking:
SFO-CHC 36APD-66SP
CHC-SFO 42APD-90SP(!)
Both base fares/taxes are EXACTLY the same.
So heads up for anyone booking domestic Add-ons on international fares that allow multiple fare buckets; make sure to pick add-on flights where only the highest allowed fare bucket is not sold out!
#simplicity
Apr 11, 2014, 9:17 pm
#167
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: SYD
Programs: QF LTG, VASG, NZ*S, OZD, IHG SpireAMB, HHD
Posts: 1,421
Apr 11, 2014, 9:51 pm
#168
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: New Zealand (most of the time)
Programs: Air NZ Elite *G, Honors Gold, IHG Platinum Elite
Posts: 6,119
A week ago, I booked a CHC domestic add-on to a SFO-AKL-SFO itinerary in S-Class, making it SFO-AKL-CHC-AKL-SFO. I never realised it at the time, but the rules for this particular S-Class fare allow booking in either S or H for the AKL-CHC-AKL add-on.
Since S<H, the fare routing rules on EF state that S must be used when available, so the default is S-Class. It turns out I'm in S down to CHC and H back up... and the difference in SP is shocking:
SFO-CHC 36APD-66SP
CHC-SFO 42APD-90SP(!)
Both base fares/taxes are EXACTLY the same.
So heads up for anyone booking domestic Add-ons on international fares that allow multiple fare buckets; make sure to pick add-on flights where only the highest allowed fare bucket is not sold out!
#simplicity
Since S<H, the fare routing rules on EF state that S must be used when available, so the default is S-Class. It turns out I'm in S down to CHC and H back up... and the difference in SP is shocking:
SFO-CHC 36APD-66SP
CHC-SFO 42APD-90SP(!)
Both base fares/taxes are EXACTLY the same.
So heads up for anyone booking domestic Add-ons on international fares that allow multiple fare buckets; make sure to pick add-on flights where only the highest allowed fare bucket is not sold out!
#simplicity
Apr 11, 2014, 10:24 pm
#169
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: SYD
Programs: QF LTG, VASG, NZ*S, OZD, IHG SpireAMB, HHD
Posts: 1,421
Apr 12, 2014, 6:11 pm
#170
Moderator, Hilton Honors
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: on a short leash
Programs: some
Posts: 71,422
A week ago, I booked a CHC domestic add-on to a SFO-AKL-SFO itinerary in S-Class, making it SFO-AKL-CHC-AKL-SFO. I never realised it at the time, but the rules for this particular S-Class fare allow booking in either S or H for the AKL-CHC-AKL add-on.
Since S<H, the fare routing rules on EF state that S must be used when available, so the default is S-Class. It turns out I'm in S down to CHC and H back up... and the difference in SP is shocking:
SFO-CHC 36APD-66SP
CHC-SFO 42APD-90SP(!)
Both base fares/taxes are EXACTLY the same.
So heads up for anyone booking domestic Add-ons on international fares that allow multiple fare buckets; make sure to pick add-on flights where only the highest allowed fare bucket is not sold out!
#simplicity
Since S<H, the fare routing rules on EF state that S must be used when available, so the default is S-Class. It turns out I'm in S down to CHC and H back up... and the difference in SP is shocking:
SFO-CHC 36APD-66SP
CHC-SFO 42APD-90SP(!)
Both base fares/taxes are EXACTLY the same.
So heads up for anyone booking domestic Add-ons on international fares that allow multiple fare buckets; make sure to pick add-on flights where only the highest allowed fare bucket is not sold out!
#simplicity
Apr 12, 2014, 8:48 pm
#171
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: New Zealand (most of the time)
Programs: Air NZ Elite *G, Honors Gold, IHG Platinum Elite
Posts: 6,119
What's very interesting is the fare rules for domestic add-ons, S isn't mentioned
3. Book domestic flights sectors in H class when domestic add-on is sold in combination with International
Economy Global Saver fares. (i.e. P/K/G/S/L/T/W/V/Q)
4. Book domestic flight sectors in Y class when domestic add-on is sold in combination with Economy Global Flexi
(i.e. H/M/B/Y), Premium Economy (i.e. A/O/E/U) or Business Class/Business Premier fares. (i.e. J/Z/D/C)
3. Book domestic flights sectors in H class when domestic add-on is sold in combination with International
Economy Global Saver fares. (i.e. P/K/G/S/L/T/W/V/Q)
4. Book domestic flight sectors in Y class when domestic add-on is sold in combination with Economy Global Flexi
(i.e. H/M/B/Y), Premium Economy (i.e. A/O/E/U) or Business Class/Business Premier fares. (i.e. J/Z/D/C)
Apr 12, 2014, 9:04 pm
#172
Moderator, Hilton Honors
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: on a short leash
Programs: some
Posts: 71,422
What's very interesting is the fare rules for domestic add-ons, S isn't mentioned
3. Book domestic flights sectors in H class when domestic add-on is sold in combination with International
Economy Global Saver fares. (i.e. P/K/G/S/L/T/W/V/Q)
4. Book domestic flight sectors in Y class when domestic add-on is sold in combination with Economy Global Flexi
(i.e. H/M/B/Y), Premium Economy (i.e. A/O/E/U) or Business Class/Business Premier fares. (i.e. J/Z/D/C)
3. Book domestic flights sectors in H class when domestic add-on is sold in combination with International
Economy Global Saver fares. (i.e. P/K/G/S/L/T/W/V/Q)
4. Book domestic flight sectors in Y class when domestic add-on is sold in combination with Economy Global Flexi
(i.e. H/M/B/Y), Premium Economy (i.e. A/O/E/U) or Business Class/Business Premier fares. (i.e. J/Z/D/C)
Apr 13, 2014, 4:29 pm
#173
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: TRG, SBA
Programs: NZ*GE, A3*G, UA Prem, QF, AA
Posts: 157
Apr 14, 2014, 2:43 am
#174
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: New Zealand (most of the time)
Programs: Air NZ Elite *G, Honors Gold, IHG Platinum Elite
Posts: 6,119
I just had a look at my flights to Hawaii next month.
Earn table in myairnz shows 46 SP WLG->HNL (S class) and 52 SP HNL -> WLG (L class)
The airnzpoints website shows 31 SP for the S class fare + 8 SP for the domestic connection and 40 SP for the L class and 8 for the domestic connection.
Who am I supposed to believe? myairnz or the airnzpoints site?
If you don't do an advanced search it shows a range of 40-56 for economy smart saver + 8 SP for the domestic connection. If you actually click on advanced and select the seat only S you'll get a measly 29 SP + 8 SP for the connection.
Clearly you can't rely on the basic search, or what myairnz shows!
Earn table in myairnz shows 46 SP WLG->HNL (S class) and 52 SP HNL -> WLG (L class)
The airnzpoints website shows 31 SP for the S class fare + 8 SP for the domestic connection and 40 SP for the L class and 8 for the domestic connection.
Who am I supposed to believe? myairnz or the airnzpoints site?
If you don't do an advanced search it shows a range of 40-56 for economy smart saver + 8 SP for the domestic connection. If you actually click on advanced and select the seat only S you'll get a measly 29 SP + 8 SP for the connection.
Clearly you can't rely on the basic search, or what myairnz shows!
Apr 14, 2014, 3:28 am
#175
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: AKL
Programs: NZ*S & Koru, QF, VA, Accor, Marriot
Posts: 314
No, you can't. I have an AKL-HNL return booked in June. Both legs are in L class, Works outbound and Seat + Bag on the return. MyAirNZ and mPass are showing 44 SPs in both directions, which is correct for the Works sector, but the Seat + Bag leg should be 40.
The basic search appears correct for non-sale fares only. I regularly fly TT on S class sale fares. Had I booked any before the advanced search was added, I would be spitting.
The basic search appears correct for non-sale fares only. I regularly fly TT on S class sale fares. Had I booked any before the advanced search was added, I would be spitting.
Apr 14, 2014, 1:54 pm
#176
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: New Zealand (most of the time)
Programs: Air NZ Elite *G, Honors Gold, IHG Platinum Elite
Posts: 6,119
It doesn't worry me for Hawaii as the flights were booked before the change and I've got an email from Air NZ saying to contact them to get the previous earning rate but the whole system is just a joke. IMHO the fact points junkies can't work out a system should have alarm bells ringing.
I booked flights to the US last night and spent a lot of time last night trying to work out my exact routing, in part so I could get one final 744 flight. There were a few interesting observations which throw the "SP are related to earning spend" out the door including getting more points for flying via SFO or LAX to YVR (logical since there is a AC codeshare) but the cost is cheaper than flying direct, and seemingly different booking class and earn rates for booking a flight via the multi stop tool but paying the same price. As the multi stop tool does show earn during the booking process it made things even harder. I wanted to get enough points for my *G without going too far over and didn't want to book PE home on the 744 as I'd prefer to throw some A$ and take my chances with a OneUp or have an RU to use if it's not accepted to BP on the way over. At least economy in the 744 is relatively enjoyable, unlike economy on the 773 which I would avoid at all costs!
Another thing I found interesting is the high cost of UA connections within the US. There were ~$400 differences between the cost of the VX vs UA flights between LAS and LAX/SFO.
I booked flights to the US last night and spent a lot of time last night trying to work out my exact routing, in part so I could get one final 744 flight. There were a few interesting observations which throw the "SP are related to earning spend" out the door including getting more points for flying via SFO or LAX to YVR (logical since there is a AC codeshare) but the cost is cheaper than flying direct, and seemingly different booking class and earn rates for booking a flight via the multi stop tool but paying the same price. As the multi stop tool does show earn during the booking process it made things even harder. I wanted to get enough points for my *G without going too far over and didn't want to book PE home on the 744 as I'd prefer to throw some A$ and take my chances with a OneUp or have an RU to use if it's not accepted to BP on the way over. At least economy in the 744 is relatively enjoyable, unlike economy on the 773 which I would avoid at all costs!
Another thing I found interesting is the high cost of UA connections within the US. There were ~$400 differences between the cost of the VX vs UA flights between LAS and LAX/SFO.
Apr 15, 2014, 3:25 pm
#177
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: NZ
Posts: 731
Just looked at my upcoming RAR flight and SP earning "estimate" has changed from 83 to 116 - maybe they going back to old system or have relooked at the PI earning and made it the same as all other flights!!
Could this be a bouquet rather than a brickbat??
Could this be a bouquet rather than a brickbat??
Apr 15, 2014, 3:51 pm
#178
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: NZ GE, QF
Posts: 390
So have ours in J, just increased to 189 (including domestic flights) from around 110. That's great.
Apr 19, 2014, 4:14 pm
#180
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: AKL
Programs: NZ*S & Koru, QF, VA, Accor, Marriot
Posts: 314
The problem is it is very difficult to get an AKL-HLZ same day return due to both the timing of the flights, and the specific flights which tend to have GAS availability. I have never seen it workable in the weekends, but have not looked extensively at weekdays.