Gotta Requalify
Aug 2, 04, 8:01 am
Before I start - I have to make it clear that I really don't understand the new scheme - so I may be a bit over dramatic - but from what I have read - it looks like I am not the sort of customer that Air New Zealand wants as a frequent flyer. :-(
I am based in Melbourne and fly to Singapore on SQ over 5 times a year in business(enough for PPS) + onto Japan, Hong Kong etc. I have been Gold level since Ansett went bang and Gold Elite for the past couple of years.
I have flown more than usual this year and by November I should be on over 600 status credits for the year.
But one thing I don't do a lot of is fly Air NZ metal - I fly in the opposite direction through Asia and as I can't get on an Air NZ plane, I don't spend a lot of money with them.
As I will never get to 800 Air bucks on Air NZ metal - I will never get to Gold Elite again, once my renewal finishes. Even though I should be able to get to 1350 AD in a year (4.5 return flights to Singapore - compared to 7.5 currently) - I will never get the Air NZ component of it.
So if I can only get to Gold - will I be charged the extra $20 a year to stay a member? Also as per below, if I can't give upgrades to family what benefits are their in Gold, when I can be *G in two other airlines anyway and get access to the lounge. I loose more complimentary upgrades on Air NZ than I use.
So when flying Singapore and double dipping - where should my points go now - United to get to 1K status and get system wide upgrades, or Singapore and get 25% bonus on the miles earned? Yes the spreadsheet is going to come out to compare.
I know - the wolves are howling - why would Air NZ want me as all I do is cost them to redeem my points - but do I?
When going around the world, going across the Pacific, I have the choice of United or Air New Zealand - I choose Air NZ as I get the possibility of getting an upgrade. If my points go to United - I would get double miles and the possibility of getting an upgrade. So where ever my points go, even though I might only fly them once every two years, they get first choice of my long haul sectors and some money rather than nothing. This year, they are getting 2 transpacific and 1 AKL - NRT flight, whereas I could have been flying SQ or UA.
Also, when my parents travel, they fly Air NZ, I try and upgrade them. They know this and fly Air NZ and not Qantas. If my points are going to SQ or UA - they will be less inclined to travel Air NZ.
I am going to burn as many points as possible before Nov 16 as travelling to Asia (in Business or First) is a lot cheaper currently than it will be on the new tables.
Here is what may make me remain a Air NZ FF.
1. My household can pool all our points into a single account. The Newsletter said it could do something like that but didn't explain.
2. The $20 a year is not charged to Gold FF
3. The benefits of Gold level are more than I could get on other schemes (really 5 days car parking in NZ is useless when my car is in Australia)
4. Send out more details now, to point my mind at ease - don't wait
So the question still remains - Does Air NZ want me as a FF? They might not, but have they really looked at the big picture?
I am based in Melbourne and fly to Singapore on SQ over 5 times a year in business(enough for PPS) + onto Japan, Hong Kong etc. I have been Gold level since Ansett went bang and Gold Elite for the past couple of years.
I have flown more than usual this year and by November I should be on over 600 status credits for the year.
But one thing I don't do a lot of is fly Air NZ metal - I fly in the opposite direction through Asia and as I can't get on an Air NZ plane, I don't spend a lot of money with them.
As I will never get to 800 Air bucks on Air NZ metal - I will never get to Gold Elite again, once my renewal finishes. Even though I should be able to get to 1350 AD in a year (4.5 return flights to Singapore - compared to 7.5 currently) - I will never get the Air NZ component of it.
So if I can only get to Gold - will I be charged the extra $20 a year to stay a member? Also as per below, if I can't give upgrades to family what benefits are their in Gold, when I can be *G in two other airlines anyway and get access to the lounge. I loose more complimentary upgrades on Air NZ than I use.
So when flying Singapore and double dipping - where should my points go now - United to get to 1K status and get system wide upgrades, or Singapore and get 25% bonus on the miles earned? Yes the spreadsheet is going to come out to compare.
I know - the wolves are howling - why would Air NZ want me as all I do is cost them to redeem my points - but do I?
When going around the world, going across the Pacific, I have the choice of United or Air New Zealand - I choose Air NZ as I get the possibility of getting an upgrade. If my points go to United - I would get double miles and the possibility of getting an upgrade. So where ever my points go, even though I might only fly them once every two years, they get first choice of my long haul sectors and some money rather than nothing. This year, they are getting 2 transpacific and 1 AKL - NRT flight, whereas I could have been flying SQ or UA.
Also, when my parents travel, they fly Air NZ, I try and upgrade them. They know this and fly Air NZ and not Qantas. If my points are going to SQ or UA - they will be less inclined to travel Air NZ.
I am going to burn as many points as possible before Nov 16 as travelling to Asia (in Business or First) is a lot cheaper currently than it will be on the new tables.
Here is what may make me remain a Air NZ FF.
1. My household can pool all our points into a single account. The Newsletter said it could do something like that but didn't explain.
2. The $20 a year is not charged to Gold FF
3. The benefits of Gold level are more than I could get on other schemes (really 5 days car parking in NZ is useless when my car is in Australia)
4. Send out more details now, to point my mind at ease - don't wait
So the question still remains - Does Air NZ want me as a FF? They might not, but have they really looked at the big picture?