Air New Zealand Air Points - Does the airline that ticketed a fare affect airpoints earning?

I think I know the answer, but ...

... flying NZ metal in BP, crediting to NZ airpoints, would I have any problems earning given that the flight is ticketed as an LH codeshare?

The logic for the LH ticketing is that it is less expensive to fly to Europe on a mixed NZ/LH airfare than NZ via LAX or HKG, hence the AKL-YVR sector is NZ metal, then LH from YVR to FRA.

The logic for crediting to Airpoints are the (relatively) generous accrual rates in C from NZ to North America and vv.

Are there any rules where to earn the full amount of airpoints ($305) you must be on NZ metal and NZ Airpoints member (of course) and ticketed by NZ?

The NZ website is less than clear - the table is headed AIRPOINTS DOLLARS™ EARNED FOR TRAVEL ON AIR NEW ZEALAND TICKETED & OPERATED FLIGHTS (my bolding)

I take the LH and LX codeshares often and get full earning to my NZ account, on my LH/LX tickets, on the NZ flights.
So no worries.
Consider LX instead of LH as you get a proper flat seat compared to LH`s angled ones.

I take the LH and LX codeshares often and get full earning to my NZ account, on my LH/LX tickets, on the NZ flights.
So no worries.
Consider LX instead of LH as you get a proper flat seat compared to LH`s angled ones.

Great, as I thought; up until now I've credited NZ metal flights ticketed by LH to UA, and haven't had any problems - just I thought the stipulated 'NZ-ticketed' flights on NZ's website a little off-putting.

And yes, re considering LX. Our return from Europe on this trip will be LX from ZRH to LAX, then NZ from LAX to AKL. Looking forward to trying Swiss for the first time.

As a novice FT maximiser, the way to go in my situation is to credit NZ flights to NZ and LH/LX flights to UA. I am only focused on earning rather than status, because I lucked in to Million Miler status on UA when CO and UA merged this year.

Thanks again.

As a novice FT maximiser, the way to go in my situation is to credit NZ flights to NZ and LH/LX flights to UA. I am only focused on earning rather than status, because I lucked in to Million Miler status on UA when CO and UA merged this year.

If you're only interested in earning, then presumably you're interested in burning too?

While you may earn reasonable AirPoints flying NZ BP (as compared to flying other classes), you'll need to think about what you're going to spend them on. They may be reasonable value redeeming Y shorthaul tickets with NZ (as opposed to redeeming *A awards through UA), but not really anything else.

Of course if you have a use for those AirPoints for an award you can't get through UA, then I guess it makes some sense.

To be honest, my family of Gold Elites still finds that the best use of Airpoints is long-haul upgrades, even after all the changes.

You just have to plan much more carefully, and buy Premium Economy tickets 355 days out and upgrade them using Standby Upgrades on the day of purchase. And as a family of four, we have to split up, with one child with each parent.

As top-tier elite passengers, we're not that badly disadvantaged. Funnily enough, it is the airline which has suffered in terms of revenue: where previously we'd have paid many more Airpoints Dollars at a later purchase date for Confirmed Upgrades (and bought a higher subclass of ticket to allow the Confirmed Upgrade), now they sell us a cheaper fare and get around 35% of the Airpoints for the upgrade.

For us, the tipping point would be if ability to confirm our upgrades ended for Gold Elites. We've already passed significant business from NZ to QF and VA, and if confirmable Standby Upgrades ended we'd never buy another NZ ticket again - there'd be no point.

Ummh it would be well organised traveller to book 355 days in advance but its a great strategy
I too find the preferred upgrade hard to have confirmed on booking

If you're only interested in earning, then presumably you're interested in burning too?

While you may earn reasonable AirPoints flying NZ BP (as compared to flying other classes), you'll need to think about what you're going to spend them on. They may be reasonable value redeeming Y shorthaul tickets with NZ (as opposed to redeeming *A awards through UA), but not really anything else.

Of course if you have a use for those AirPoints for an award you can't get through UA, then I guess it makes some sense.

Yes - the use of Airpoints will be short-haul - to CNS. That destination is virtually never available through UA Mileage Plus due to starnet blocking etc, while on NZ if you have the airpoints required you can buy any seat on the plane, and at the lowest price going at the time of booking. And the UA miles are either burned on Trans-Tasman to BNE or MEL, plus unbelievable value sometimes on US routes - e.g. last week we spent 10,000 miles plus $2.50 tax for an internal flight that was selling for $510 US

Ummh it would be well organised traveller to book 355 days in advance but its a great strategy
I too find the preferred upgrade hard to have confirmed on bookingI tend to book longhaul 11+ month out (either booked awards in Business/First or upgrading into said cabins) ... recently finished booking travel for July next year.