Location: The southernmost national capital in the world
Posts: 4,702
Quote:
Originally Posted by WLGNZ
Back to the topic, while talking with Airpoints on the phone last night they confirmed that another change to the programme is the removal (somehow) or changes to the mixed carrier earning. For example flying AKL-LAX-ORD in biz will now earn the full NZ airpoints for AKL-LAX even though the connection is on to UA.
Very good change
Yup -
Quote:
We've changed the way you earn Airpoints Dollars on journeys that include flights on partner airlines. Now any Air New Zealand flights included in these journeys will earn based on the rates in the Air New Zealand Earn Chart. Partner airline flights will still earn based on rates in the Partner Airline Earn Chart. This means you can earn more Airpoints Dollars than before on these types of journeys.
But:
Quote:
Pricing Changes Coming
The price of Airpoints Reward upgrades, companion tickets, and flights with our partner airlines will be increasing on 1 December 2008. You can use your Airpoints Dollars to purchase Rewards at the current rates until then.
We've introduced Gold Elite Gifts to thank our Gold Elite members for choosing to fly with us so frequently. When a member reaches 2500 Status Points from their last requalification date, we'll get in touch with them to ask what gift they would like. An example of a Gold Elite Gift could include:
* A degustation and wine match dinner for two at one of the award winning restaurants of our consultant chefs.
* A case of medal winning wines from the Air New Zealand Wine Awards.
* An extra year at Gold Elite status.
So is the above another way of saying they are going to scrap the christmas gift for gold elites?
So not only is the earning not matching increased fares (and hence increased burn rates on NZ) but they want to increase burn rates on upgrades and mixed itin awards?
Programs: QF (WP), NZ AP (Brevet GE), TG ROP (Forgotten), OZ (Silver), AA (Cardboard)
Posts: 1,580
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kiwi Flyer
So not only is the earning not matching increased fares (and hence increased burn rates on NZ) but they want to increase burn rates on upgrades and mixed itin awards?
Yep reminds me of a CC project I worked on.
We were devaluing the CC point to FF points (negative customer expereince) and decided to give the customer a good experience by offering them a "campanion card" of a different brand that offered 2 points for $1. Of course there were additional annual charges but the biggest factor the other brand gave a lots more of the value transaction. Anyway the project was a roaring success.
2) Mixed itinerary earning will now be partner airline flights on the partner chart and Air NZ flights on the Air NZ chart.
About time. Removes one of the biggest annoyances. However I do question whether this will be positive in every situation, because the Air NZ chart is per journey and the partner chart is per flight. Will have to see how they've applied it first.
3) Gift at 2500 status points.
Positive, assuming the gift is significantly better than the Christmas gifts. At last some benefit in continuing to credit to airpoints once (re)qualified GE. It would be even better if they publish what the gifts to select from are, and one or more option(s) for additional upgrade vouchers/bonus airpoints dollars.
4) Increased cost of upgrades from 1 December.
Not surprising given how difficult it is to clear upgrades, and a way for NZ to increase the value of the complimentary upgrade voucher. However, it rankles that airpoints earning rates have not kept up with higher fares and higher burning rates. Since the change to airpoints dollars it has been almost one-way traffic in that all changes are in favour of Air NZ (obvious exception being trans-tasman redemptions).
5) Increased cost of partner awards from 1 December.
Again not surprising. The cost of redemptions on Air NZ has been steadily increasing as fares have increased, so an increase in partner redemptions is needed to maintain relativities. However, given earning rates have not been increased it is unfair IMO.
1) Nil practically - while I have lots of grab-a-seat and smart saver fares I don't need more status points.
2) Very good and will result in more Air NZ bookings from me. Sometimes I fly other alliances in part because the earning rates are decimated due to the need for mixed airline itineraries. I'm a bit cautious about implementation though (see above for a question).
3) Will it be a yawn or will it be good? Who knows. I've finally managed to log in on a different computer and notice I have 1,048 status credits missing.
Discounted business class awards on NZ are also going up 1 December.
Code:
One-way cost (+ taxes)
AKL to Current New
Honolulu 1,060 1,830 +73%
Noumea 1,020 710 -30%
Tahiti 1,020 710 -30%
Asia 1,420 1,980 +39%
USA 1,750 2,790 +59%
Canada 1,750 2,790 +59%
London 2,270 3,190 +41%
NOU/PPT are the exception, but their existing award cost was over-priced (being higher than some fares).
On the new scale, HNL and Asia look overpriced relative to fares.
There are some rule changes too.
S, J & Z on SQ are no longer eligible for upgrade.
J on LH is no longer eligible for upgrade.
Upgrades on OZ/OS/LO/LX/TP/TG/SQ/UA must be requested at least 7 days before departure, previously no requirement. NH/LH remain unchanged at 28 days before departure.
Programs: NZ Silver & Koru, QF Bronze, UA Member, Velocity Red. (Just a smidgeon of status!)
Posts: 279
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kiwi Flyer
So not only is the earning not matching increased fares (and hence increased burn rates on NZ) but they want to increase burn rates on upgrades and mixed itin awards?
Posted from the point of view of someone with no status ...
I am glad that all flights will now at least get status points - I will at least get some status (most of flights I take in the past have earned nothing, so I tended to us QF when I can). So a good move by AirNZ to make me loyal to them.
However as KF points out my AirBucks dont go as far as they used to - every $100 rise in the price of an airfare I wish to purchase means an extra 8.3 domestic flights at 12 status points.
2) Mixed itinerary earning will now be partner airline flights on the partner chart and Air NZ flights on the Air NZ chart.
About time. Removes one of the biggest annoyances. However I do question whether this will be positive in every situation, because the Air NZ chart is per journey and the partner chart is per flight. Will have to see how they've applied it first.
This should eliminate the confusion surrounding the "mixed accrual bonus" award that all FF's are supposed to receive on flights to/from the USA.
