the biggest con is the fee of course, but do the pros outweigh it. those 200 apd will come in handy, the free domestic return flight could take me to QTN which would be lovely. my partner and I are in the process of planning a european trip in sept. If we book the flights on the card, those status points will push me into silver status before we leave so we'd then both be able to get a one sector upgrade, and of course i'd get a few extra apd :) The other major pro I see is the travel insurance.
does anyone have any thoughts. apart from the holiday I dont know if i would use it much.
ddowj
Feb 10, 12, 8:59 am
I have own my card for two years now as it is totally worth it. If you travel a lot on AA, US or DL, it is well worth it as you can use the lounges. The 450 covers a 200 credit on purchasing airline gift cards (as a known serect) for your prefered airline per year. It's also a bragging right as many people will give you extra perks when you shop. Double points via amexs travel site and the fine hotels and resorts has pretty good hotels. However, it's a charge card which you have to pay in full each month.
ajnz
Feb 10, 12, 11:06 am
I have own my card for two years now as it is totally worth it. If you travel a lot on AA, US or DL, it is well worth it as you can use the lounges. The 450 covers a 200 credit on purchasing airline gift cards (as a known serect) for your prefered airline per year. It's also a bragging right as many people will give you extra perks when you shop. Double points via amexs travel site and the fine hotels and resorts has pretty good hotels. However, it's a charge card which you have to pay in full each month.
It's worth noting that none of what is mentioned by ddowj is applicable to the card (https://www212.americanexpress.com/dsmlive/dsm/int/nz/en/personal/chooseacard/allcards/airnewzealandcard/allthedetails_pr.do?vgnextoid=ec2d3e7cc175b210VgnV CM100000defaad94RCRD) Susiew237 is referring to.
If I was still living in NZ I would probably have the card.
Thai-Kiwi
Feb 10, 12, 12:28 pm
I have the AMEX Plat Rewards card, mainly so I can put Reward Points on to TG, QF or whatever FFP accounts I want. The 20,000 reward points joining promo were an attraction, but I'll probably cancel the card prior to the annual sub coming up in Jun. Points mainly go to QF :rolleyes:
If I were focused on flying with NZ and gaining status with them, then I'd be like ajnz and probably have the AirNZ PLat AMEX.
I've just signed for the ANZ QANTAS Plat VISA for the joining promo of 10,000 QF miles and the same earn rate as AMEX.
I have had an AMEX in one form or another since 1985 - in 2009 they noted it was nice I'd been with them 25 years, b ut didn't even receive a cheap diary. That'll teach me for paying the card in full for all of those years........ ;)
rayonline
Feb 10, 12, 12:52 pm
I had a look at this card before, they keep sending me application forms, lol.
The card is only in NZ I think.
Yeah, like ajnz said you don't get those brownie points. I think it is the other card, the card htat cost $1,200 per year and with a min income of $120,000? The original Platinum "Charge" card.
I have a GlobalPlus Gold Amex.
I get 1.5 points per $100. Which is about $66 for 1 point. This card in question needs $75 for 1 point.
The $200 APD is bugger all.
The GlobalPlus Gold gets $100 APD in advance or $200 with the GlobalPlus Visa Platinum but the points (for the GP Platinum) being a VISA does get less - $100 for 1 point and the higher $200 annual fee. This card in question does not get an advance but is a gift once off - only this special limited time offer if you spend that XXX in XXX months.
The GlobalPlus has the same $250 spent to get status point but unless you are a big spender or thru work bugger all. The GlobalPlus gets Flybuys, the AMEX card in question does not. And yeah the annual fee is higher at about $300/year. I think if you spend $60k or something half or full amount of annual fee is waived.
Any Gold card has travel insurance but the conditions/exemptions/cover and the excess charge is generally higher than paid for insurance. And also take note, the Gold cards with GlobalPlus needs a certain amount for the travel costs to get free travel insurance. I think it might have been $150 domestic or to AU and least $250 for further abroad. If it's not you don't get cover. The GlobalPlus Platinum doesn't have this restriction. Maybe it was least $250 to AU and $500 to further abroad ...... confused.
And by the way the $200 APD is just airpoints, not status points. I think. So it won't get you to silver any easier. If you want status there are way easier programs to get like Aegean or Asiana. I have been with Airpoints since 1998 and GlobalPlus since maybe 1998 as well or 1999, now I just use the AirNZ programme for my domestic flights and just hope I can get a domestic reward once a year (together with CC spending points and if need be transfer some Flybuys over) - I don't use the card to earn direct Flybuys into the AirNZ programme.
For me anyway, it's just a good looking card with maybe that compl. yearly domestic ticket but it earns points slower. I say bring on the GlobalPlus Platinum AMEX :D
You get the Koru Club discount yeah .. If you want that discount and maybe the 2nd fastest earning card this is your man. GlobalPlus Gold doesn't get Koru Club discount. GlobalPlus VISA Platinum does but a slower earning rate for APD.
everywhere
Feb 10, 12, 12:56 pm
The card is only in NZ I think.
Yeah, like ajnz said you don't get those brownie points. I think it is the other card, the card htat cost $1,200 per year and with a min income of $120,000? The original Platinum "Charge" card.From memory it is $1,250 annually in NZ, although some users do not seem to pay renewals. The NZ product is also vastly different to many of the product offered in other markets (in particular the US), but does get CX Gold now.
Susiew237
Feb 11, 12, 2:38 am
oh dear, yep, way more confused now! :)
thanks for all your thoughts though... yes I realise the 200 apd arent status, but if I book and pay for our euro flights those status points earned should just kick me over. I may not make it to silver before then if not and certainly that is the deciding factor at the mo as to who to fly with. my partner only has until the end of the year to use his silver upgrade and after the euro trip, I dont see him going anywhere for a bit.
rayonline
Feb 11, 12, 2:49 am
oh dear, yep, way more confused now! :)
thanks for all your thoughts though... yes I realise the 200 apd arent status, but if I book and pay for our euro flights those status points earned should just kick me over. I may not make it to silver before then if not and certainly that is the deciding factor at the mo as to who to fly with. my partner only has until the end of the year to use his silver upgrade and after the euro trip, I dont see him going anywhere for a bit.
Ok. This AMEX card does give you one status point per $250 spent on the CC. The GlobalPlus Gold AMEX or Mastercard or VISA does the same $250/status point. But the GP Gold is cheaper at $105 or something per year.
Also the GP Gold is faster at earning APD b/c you can use your OneSmart card or the original AirNZ Flybuys card (the green color card for Jade member - least mine is) to get direct Flybuys at Flybuy stores which is automatically converted to APD.
The fastest card to earn APD is GlobalPlus Gold AMEX - $66 will give you 1 APD. This AMEX AirNZ card needs $75.
If you save $200 on the annual fee, you could buy your own tickets to Q'town and not rely on AMEX to give you offpeak dates :)
While you don't get the $200 bonus APD at sign up if you spend those XXX bucks. You can take a loan out, Gold GP can take $100 APD in advance, Platinum VISA $200 APD. So you could do that for a one-way or a return ticket to Q'town. Nothing to sign, just find your air-ticket and say purchase with APD. If you don't have enough it would just debit your AirNZ account to minus 100 or 200 depending which card you have.
rayonline
Feb 11, 12, 3:13 am
If you might not get Silver but would like to use it now/then.
The Kiwibank CC is not bad. If you spend $15k per year you get 2 vouchers to enter the AirNZ lounge. You won't get the $250/status point though but you do get it if you have the Platinum card. Annual fees arn't bad either.
ANZ Visa Platinum not bad either. $250/status point. $125 annual fee. No vouchers to access the lounge though. You do get Koru Club discount if you want that (as too with the Kiwibank Platinum).
http://www.anz.co.nz/personal/credit-prepaid-cards/available/airpoints-visa-platinum/
Both Kiwibank and ANZ can take advances too.
Kiwi std - 50 APD. Kiwi Gold 100. Kiwi Plat and ANZ Plat 200.
Thai-Kiwi
Feb 11, 12, 12:52 pm
oh dear, yep, way more confused now! :)
I may not make it to silver before then if not and certainly that is the deciding factor at the mo as to who to fly with. my partner only has until the end of the year to use his silver upgrade and after the euro trip, I dont see him going anywhere for a bit.
Just note that there is no guarantee that his/your Silver Upgrade will come through when you request it! All depends on the 'award' fare classes being released, the route flown, how many others are also seeking upgrades and - importantly - what your status is (GE, G, S etc) Obviously silver is at the back of the queue.
Cheers, TK
Janec
Feb 11, 12, 1:08 pm
Just note that there is no guarantee that his/your Silver Upgrade will come through when you request it! All depends on the 'award' fare classes being released, the route flown, how many others are also seeking upgrades and - importantly - what your status is (GE, G, S etc) Obviously silver is at the back of the queue.
Cheers, TK
I have found that depending on the route, the chance of upgrades makes a huge difference, slightly off track but Thai Kiwi are you able to check on EF PE & BUS availabilty on NZ 81 2 March & NZ 80 on the 8th March Please ?
everywhere
Feb 11, 12, 1:18 pm
i have found that depending on the route, the chance of upgrades makes a huge difference, slightly off track but thai kiwi are you able to check on ef pe & bus availabilty on nz 81 2 march & nz 80 on the 8th march please ?nz 81 aklhkg
c4 d4 z4 j7 r7 i3 u7 e7 o7 a7 y7 b7 m7 h7 q7 v7 w7 t7 l7 s7 g7 x6 k7 p0
Thanks ntddevsys, looking good at this stage :) have requested PE going to HK as its a day flight and Bus coming back
rayonline
Feb 11, 12, 2:08 pm
Also the GP Gold is faster at earning APD b/c you can use your OneSmart card or the original AirNZ Flybuys card (the green color card for Jade member - least mine is) to get direct Flybuys at Flybuy stores which is automatically converted to APD.
Correcting myself. Even if you have this fancy AMEX card, you can still get Flybuys because you should have AirNZ's Flybuys card or the OneSmart card that earns it directly. So yo can earn Flybuys that way.
If you didn't use the AirNZ Flybuys but the original Flybuys card. The GlobalPlus is just the only card (and maybe the GlobalPlus Business) if you want to MANUALLY convert points from Flybuys.co.nz over.
But yeah .. in terms of points earning etc ... the GlobalPlus card might be faster and cheaper annual fee. Status points is the same.
rayonline
Feb 11, 12, 3:03 pm
What are you mainly interested in?
If it is more about getting to status and getting upgrades and free insurance:
The following gives you one status point per every $250 spent.
(1) AMEX AirNZ Platinum - $300 annual fee.
(2) BNZ GlobalPlus Gold - $105 annual fee.
(3) BNZ GlobalPlus Platinum VISA - $200 annual fee. Each half yearly fee may be waived if you spend 30k in that period.
(4) ANZ Platinum - $125 annual fee.
(5) Kiwibank Platinum but this gets 1 status point per $300. - $130 annual fee.
If you want to earn some APD too.
The fastest is GlobalPlus Gold AMEX - $105 annual fee. @$66.
Second just behind the AMEX AirNZ Platinum - $300 annual fee. @$75
The third - ANZ Platinum - $125 annual fee. @$80.
The fourth -GlobalPlus VISA Platinum. $200 annual fee. @$90.
After all this and you won't do much travelling.
Even the blue/green Kiwibank card - no travel insurance thou unless you get the Gold. If you spend $15k, you get 2 vouchers to enter the lounge.
Susiew237
Feb 11, 12, 3:58 pm
What are you mainly interested in?
If it is more about getting to status and getting upgrades and free insurance:
The following gives you one status point per every $250 spent.
(1) AMEX AirNZ Platinum - $300 annual fee.
(2) BNZ GlobalPlus Gold - $105 annual fee.
(3) BNZ GlobalPlus Platinum VISA - $200 annual fee. Each half yearly fee may be waived if you spend 30k in that period.
(4) ANZ Platinum - $125 annual fee.
(5) Kiwibank Platinum but this gets 1 status point per $300. - $130 annual fee.
If you want to earn some APD too.
The fastest is GlobalPlus Gold AMEX - $105 annual fee. @$66.
Second just behind the AMEX AirNZ Platinum - $300 annual fee. @$75
The third - ANZ Platinum - $125 annual fee. @$80.
The fourth -GlobalPlus VISA Platinum. $200 annual fee. @$90.
After all this and you won't do much travelling.
Even the blue/green Kiwibank card - no travel insurance thou unless you get the Gold. If you spend $15k, you get 2 vouchers to enter the lounge.
hmm ok, most interested in ensuring getting to silver status before we leave for europe in sept. I do realise of course that we may not get upgrade, but we will have several sectors that we can apply for if we miss out. I did think the travel insurance could be a boost, but my partner has just applied for the gold global plus (when i told him he could be earning status points on all the money he is spending :) ) after returning from europe in Oct the chance of him using his upgrade before it runs out in dec is slim... we will still be doing plenty of travelling though in future, just seems unlikely between oct - dec.
I think I've almost talked myself out of the amex card now... probably i should go gold global plus if I change at all. I dont spend a lot on my cc if I can help it though - ha although I imagine euro trip will see a dent.:D
Susiew237
Feb 11, 12, 4:02 pm
Just note that there is no guarantee that his/your Silver Upgrade will come through when you request it! All depends on the 'award' fare classes being released, the route flown, how many others are also seeking upgrades and - importantly - what your status is (GE, G, S etc) Obviously silver is at the back of the queue.
Cheers, TK
can you explain this in more depth to me. I guess that a silver recognition upgrade will take precedence over a paid with points upgrade??? we would be most likely to try and upgrade on journey out ie, auck to hong kong, and if miss that, hong kong to london, and if we miss that, then london to vancouver (or san fran, not sure which route home yet) and then last but not least if we still have missed out, vancouver or sanfran to home.
following on from above... hellllp... explain this above if you could or direct me where to go for an explanation.
really appreciate all the help/advice given on here by the way. you are all such a great wealth of knowledge.
rayonline
Feb 11, 12, 4:15 pm
If his Gold GlobalPlus is not AMEX. Like if it is a Mastercard or VISA. You can just send them a online banking msg or call them ... and they would swap it over to an AMEX if you like. At least the APD earning is a bit better. Some places don't take AMEX so a backup is useful - I have a Kiwibank Zero Mastercard that has no annual fees, provided you use it once every 3 months.
Thai-Kiwi
Feb 11, 12, 10:52 pm
following on from above... hellllp... explain this above if you could or direct me where to go for an explanation.
really appreciate all the help/advice given on here by the way. you are all such a great wealth of knowledge.
A challenge to make this simple....but here goes.
For fares sold in each 'cabin service' (economy, prem econ, biz, and first) there are a range of different 'fare classes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IATA_class_codeshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IATA_class_codes)'. Additionally, there are further fare classes for award tickets and industry tickets etc. These are generally standardised, but do vary between airlines. The different fare classes have differing prices and conditions (flexibility, change fees etc)
For business class, on Air NZ, the following fare classes exist
C paid full fare biz
D paid discounted biz
Z paid discounted biz
J paid discounted biz
I Airpoints redemption and Gold recognition upgrades
R Gold Elite recognition upgrade
In your case, paid economy wishing to upgrade to premium economy, read on....
For paid economy tix to upgrade to Premium Economy (either by Airpoints or recognition upgrade), there needs to be fare class A available. Note, that there may be still be empty premium Economy seats for sale BUT that it is up to Air NZ whether it will release any of these into A class. It is all about revenue management, and they may hold them back hoping to sell them rather than make them available for those wishing to upgrade.
Whilst the fare classes for paid tickets are readily available, finding out if there is any award availability is bit more tricky - many FTers simply choose to subscribe to a paid service (expertflyer, KVS etc).
In the post by ntddevsys, the figure next to the fare class show how many seats are available. Y7 would mean at least 7 Y fare class seats were available for purchase.
You would be looking for A2 to A7 when wanting to upgrade from economy (the 'from' fare class doesn't usually matter) to premium economy. Above, for NZ80 HKG-AKL, you can see I0, so no availability at the moment for Airpoints award booking into biz or recognition upgrades for Gold members, but if you are Gold Elite member there are two seats because of the R2.
You can ask about your chances once you have booked and are nearer the day of travel.
Phew, other can chime in. Cheers, TK
QTFLYER
Feb 11, 12, 11:15 pm
I Airpoints redemption and Gold recognition upgrades
R Gold Elite recognition upgrade
Phew, other can chime in. Cheers, TK
Just one thing. All J recognition U/G clear into R class regardless of S/G/GE
Susiew237
Feb 12, 12, 12:59 am
great info, thanks very much. I'm still a bit perplexed about all these classes, but I wil do a bit of research on line here and find out more.
It is sooo interesting... have realised you just dont know what you dont know. thank god some kind soul pointed me in the direction of flyer talk.
Thai-Kiwi
Feb 12, 12, 1:35 am
Just one thing. All J recognition U/G clear into R class regardless of S/G/GE
Don't you mean "all business recognition U/G clear in to R class..."
There was some debate on this a while back, mainly about R class opening up and if Gold members were cleared into R or I.
Susiew237. No probs, we were all there once (and sometimes go back there).
paintini
Feb 12, 12, 1:54 pm
What are you mainly interested in?
If it is more about getting to status and getting upgrades and free insurance:
The following gives you one status point per every $250 spent.
(1) AMEX AirNZ Platinum - $300 annual fee.
(2) BNZ GlobalPlus Gold - $105 annual fee.
(3) BNZ GlobalPlus Platinum VISA - $200 annual fee. Each half yearly fee may be waived if you spend 30k in that period.
(4) ANZ Platinum - $125 annual fee.
(5) Kiwibank Platinum but this gets 1 status point per $300. - $130 annual fee.
If you want to earn some APD too.
The fastest is GlobalPlus Gold AMEX - $105 annual fee. @$66.
Second just behind the AMEX AirNZ Platinum - $300 annual fee. @$75
The third - ANZ Platinum - $125 annual fee. @$80.
The fourth -GlobalPlus VISA Platinum. $200 annual fee. @$90.
After all this and you won't do much travelling.
Even the blue/green Kiwibank card - no travel insurance thou unless you get the Gold. If you spend $15k, you get 2 vouchers to enter the lounge.
I have 1 and 3. Put enough through [3] to waive the fee.
I specifically chose [1] as it gives me the excess reduction on NZ rental cars when travelling [more than 150 km from home base, using Air New Zealand for at least one of the sectors]. This represents a massive saving in terms of the near $30 per day to "enjoy" the excess reduction on the likes of Avis, Budget and Thrifty. It means my effective excess is around $450 [Amex tops out at $3000 and the rental car excess is 3000+GST].
I'm also seeing a better commission rate on my Amex Pt for US purchases compared to my BNZ Globalplus Pt. Amex not "liked' enough by merchants to give up on my Visa.
Leumas
Feb 12, 12, 2:38 pm
From memory it is $1,250 annually in NZ, although some users do not seem to pay renewals. The NZ product is also vastly different to many of the product offered in other markets (in particular the US), but does get CX Gold now.
I believe CX Gold is only good for one year, then you will have to re-qualify as per the CX programme.
pbl22
Feb 12, 12, 8:46 pm
Amex not "liked' enough by merchants to give up on my Visa.
That was the reason when I ditched my old green Amex charge card, I went with an ANZ Plat Visa, rather than an Amex. I can't see the point of having a $300 Amex AirNZ as well, even if it does have a marginally better APD earn.
But I get annoyed with shops that refuse to take any credit cards.
ajnz
Feb 12, 12, 9:43 pm
That was the reason when I ditched my old green Amex charge card, I went with an ANZ Plat Visa, rather than an Amex. I can't see the point of having a $300 Amex AirNZ as well, even if it does have a marginally better APD earn.
I'm still slightly puzzled by this (and I know I say that every time this comes up here). I was in AKL for two weeks over Christmas, and found virtually everywhere that accepted credit card accepted Amex. My Amex:MasterCard spending is about 10:1 every month throughout the year, if not higher.
Looking at my MasterCard bill for January, the only places I can see that didn't take Amex were:
Ascent Technology
A law firm (ironic, I suppose)
Waitakere Refuse Station
Palomino Supervalue dairy
Nando's West City (and they used to take Amex and still had all the stickers up suggesting it was supposed to be accepted)
Look Smart Alterations
Subway Kumeu
vs. pages and pages of places that took Amex. The few places that don't are hardly a big deal to not have the card.
The same ratio holds pretty true in other cities as well (NZ and worldwide).
But I get annoyed with shops that refuse to take any credit cards.
Indeed. While I do have NZ EFTPOS cards, I don't carry them on my person, so if the store doesn't take credit card then they're probably not getting my custom.
pbl22
Feb 12, 12, 9:54 pm
ajnz, you may be right. The old AMEX exception may not be as prevalent as it once was, but it was still occurring quite a few times last year. I used to have a ASB Plat Visa and only used that whenever AMEX wasn't accepted and it got used a quite a few times. It seems it's mainly the smaller merchants that have the exception, as I understand Amex charges a higher merchant fee than Visa/MC. Which leads to an even more egregious problem: merchants who charges fees for using CCs (and, worse, higher fees for using AMEX).
Kiwi Flyer
Feb 13, 12, 11:58 pm
can you explain this in more depth to me. I guess that a silver recognition upgrade will take precedence over a paid with points upgrade??? we would be most likely to try and upgrade on journey out ie, auck to hong kong, and if miss that, hong kong to london, and if we miss that, then london to vancouver (or san fran, not sure which route home yet) and then last but not least if we still have missed out, vancouver or sanfran to home.
To add to Thai-Kiwi's excellent explanation, even high status and a flight with "spare" seats is no guarantee of an upgrade clearing. I've had cases with several GE u/g requests and only 1 or 2 seats available.