Air New Zealand Air Points - Which countries for sign-up??

I am trying to join Air Points but am not sure how to go about it.

I'm sure Australian residents are allowed to join (and free of charge too!) so I might be able to give my uncle's address in Australia initially.

1. Will I be able to change my address to my real one, in UK? I believe you can't enroll with a UK address but not sure whether I can change to a UK address??

2. I believe membership is free in Australia... am I right?

3. (most importantly) Do SQ flights booked in **Y** booking class earn the 1.0 points per km or 0.7 points per km??? As far as I know, Y is SQ's highest booking class in economy so I can't see how they'll differentiate between the full normal fare and my USD 700 fare booked in Y from Seoul to London http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/rolleyes.gif

If all works out, I think Air NZ might be a great choice, because I am simply looking for Star Gold benefits and mileage redemption, I don't use hotel or partner benefits anyway... So your help is very much appreciated!

Thanks!

Hi stargold

UK residents are allowed to join Airpoints if you take a paid business or first class flight with AirNZ, and then send Airpoints your ticket and boarding pass(es) (and there is no processing fee). If you won't be flying first or business on AirNZ, then give your uncle's address in Australia when signing up, although you most likely won't be able to transfer your address to the UK one once you're a member (I tried to do this repeatedly even as AirNZ Gold but it wasn't possible). The flight on SQ in Y will probably earn 1.0 points per km (Y is the code for full fare economy), although I'm not 100% sure having never flown SQ. Airpoints is a great program if you plan on flying Air New Zealand, as they really do take care of their elite members (priority servicing, recognition from the in-flight crew, occasional bending of rules etc.), but if all you want is status/mileage redemption and you won't be flying NZ, then maybe Thai's program is better as you only need 50,000 miles/year to make Gold and status is valid for 2 years. If I were you, though, I'd go for Airpoints and choose routings that would put me on AirNZ http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Cheers, Zac

The reason I'm looking to go with ANZ is that:

1. I can qualify for top-tier
2. The award levels are very generous if I can get 1.0points per mile on SQ Y
3. Upgrades!!!

plus an FFP which actually cares, for a change. Would be a nice change from the likes of AC.

PS. Would Korea be possible? I think only the mentioned countries are blocked and the rest is open??

Thanks and looking for all the info I can get.

Rather curiously... I stumbled across an old (pre-SQ joining Star) Partners Folio which states that SQ economy class earns 0.7km per mile, regardless of booking class. I really hope this is not still the case http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

SQ is 0.7 points per km irrespective of booking class in economy.

Note - out of NZ anyway up until about 2 years ago almost anything sold by SQ was in "Y" booking class so hence the rule, and probably NZ have been slow to update.

Mark

I can confirm. Even when you pay thousands of dollars for Full Economy on SQ, you only get 0.7 points per km flown. It's a little annoying actually.

I emailed NZ with the exact same question about changing my Address from an Australian address - no reply.

I decided to move on and not open an NZ airpoints account.


Dave - London,UK