DCF
Aug 9, 04, 7:07 am
I have had time to digest the changes now, and to work out how best to profit from the new system. Please note that this post will mainly address how to achieve / retain Gold status or above, and ignores the needs of occassional long-haul discount economy flyers.
My family and I generally take one business trip in Business Class each year from Australia to Europe, either on Air NZ alone or as a Star Alliance Round the World itinerary. We also take one holiday to the Pacific each year, either economy class to Honolulu or business class to Rarotonga, Papeete, Apia or Nadi.
1. Longhaul: Air NZ or Star Alliance?
This equation is less clearcut than it first appears. On superficial examination, Air New Zealand seems a much more lucrative way to go. But Australia-London scores the same number of Airpoints dollars whether you fly straight through or take multiple stopovers (e.g. one at LAX and one at PPT).
In other words, NZ only from Australia to LHR return scores #220 in discount economy and #720 in Business, no matter where you stop.
In comparison, a Star Alliance RTW fare costs exactly the same - or considerably less - but you earn Airpoints dollars according to the sectors you fly.
For example, with stopovers at SIN, FRA, LHR, LAX and PPT it actually scores #230 in discount economy or #640 in Business. If you fly even one North American First Class sector on a Star Business fare you also exceed the earnings you would have got on Air NZ alone.
2. Holidays in the Pacific
Even though Rarotonga and Tahiti are both Maohi Polynesia separated only by a minute distance and very little in airfares, the difference in Airpoints dollars earning and redemption is immense.
Australia-Rarotonga rtn: #60 discount economy, #180 Business.
Australia-Tahiti rtn: #90 discount economy, #530 Business.
Obviously this reflects the Cook Islands targeting and attracting much lower spending tourists than French Polynesia, but the differential is still startling.
(Incidentally, this is probably all that has saved my Airpoints loyalty. If Papeete didn't earn good Airpoints dollars, I would be strongly inclined to move to Air Tahiti Nui's new Sydney - Papeete - Newark - Paris flights, which are otherwise much better value than Air NZ. But NZ can't operate an A320 from PPT to LAX, so a move to Pacific Express for Tahiti is out because NZ want to keep flying in Americans in Business Class from LAX to PPT en route to their $1000/night Bora Bora bungalow. And if they can't fill those Business Class seats with Aussies and Kiwis from AKL to PPT the sums don't add up. Hence the high earning rate for Airpoints dollars from AKL-PPT.)
3. The Honolulu trap
As we all know, the American cabotage regulations prohibiting Air NZ from flying passengers between Los Angeles and Honolulu (apart from ones coming from London or Auckland) led to the Honolulu to Los Angeles sector being closed a couple of years ago. Air NZ now codeshares that sector by selling United flights as the NZ9000 series, and Honolulu can be taken as a stopover en route for Los Angeles or London just as easily and affordably as Nadi, Rarotonga or Papeete.
But what will now change will be your Airpoints dollars earning. Even if you buy the ticket direct from Air New Zealand, with every sector carrying an NZ flight number, and every sector apart from HNL-LAX being flown on Air New Zealand planes, the entire itinerary will be downgraded to the Star Alliance earning rate. For Australia-London this takes effect as follows:
NZ ticketed and operated, no HNL stopover: #220 Discount Economy, #720 Business.
As above, with HNL stopover: #230 Discount Economy, #615 Business.
4. The trip to avoid
Don't fly Thai Airways business class from Australia to Auckland: you earn barely more points than in economy on Air NZ.
5. The fare that goes furthest
No offence, but I'm keeping this to myself, in case someone at the airline picks it up and closes it off!
My family and I generally take one business trip in Business Class each year from Australia to Europe, either on Air NZ alone or as a Star Alliance Round the World itinerary. We also take one holiday to the Pacific each year, either economy class to Honolulu or business class to Rarotonga, Papeete, Apia or Nadi.
1. Longhaul: Air NZ or Star Alliance?
This equation is less clearcut than it first appears. On superficial examination, Air New Zealand seems a much more lucrative way to go. But Australia-London scores the same number of Airpoints dollars whether you fly straight through or take multiple stopovers (e.g. one at LAX and one at PPT).
In other words, NZ only from Australia to LHR return scores #220 in discount economy and #720 in Business, no matter where you stop.
In comparison, a Star Alliance RTW fare costs exactly the same - or considerably less - but you earn Airpoints dollars according to the sectors you fly.
For example, with stopovers at SIN, FRA, LHR, LAX and PPT it actually scores #230 in discount economy or #640 in Business. If you fly even one North American First Class sector on a Star Business fare you also exceed the earnings you would have got on Air NZ alone.
2. Holidays in the Pacific
Even though Rarotonga and Tahiti are both Maohi Polynesia separated only by a minute distance and very little in airfares, the difference in Airpoints dollars earning and redemption is immense.
Australia-Rarotonga rtn: #60 discount economy, #180 Business.
Australia-Tahiti rtn: #90 discount economy, #530 Business.
Obviously this reflects the Cook Islands targeting and attracting much lower spending tourists than French Polynesia, but the differential is still startling.
(Incidentally, this is probably all that has saved my Airpoints loyalty. If Papeete didn't earn good Airpoints dollars, I would be strongly inclined to move to Air Tahiti Nui's new Sydney - Papeete - Newark - Paris flights, which are otherwise much better value than Air NZ. But NZ can't operate an A320 from PPT to LAX, so a move to Pacific Express for Tahiti is out because NZ want to keep flying in Americans in Business Class from LAX to PPT en route to their $1000/night Bora Bora bungalow. And if they can't fill those Business Class seats with Aussies and Kiwis from AKL to PPT the sums don't add up. Hence the high earning rate for Airpoints dollars from AKL-PPT.)
3. The Honolulu trap
As we all know, the American cabotage regulations prohibiting Air NZ from flying passengers between Los Angeles and Honolulu (apart from ones coming from London or Auckland) led to the Honolulu to Los Angeles sector being closed a couple of years ago. Air NZ now codeshares that sector by selling United flights as the NZ9000 series, and Honolulu can be taken as a stopover en route for Los Angeles or London just as easily and affordably as Nadi, Rarotonga or Papeete.
But what will now change will be your Airpoints dollars earning. Even if you buy the ticket direct from Air New Zealand, with every sector carrying an NZ flight number, and every sector apart from HNL-LAX being flown on Air New Zealand planes, the entire itinerary will be downgraded to the Star Alliance earning rate. For Australia-London this takes effect as follows:
NZ ticketed and operated, no HNL stopover: #220 Discount Economy, #720 Business.
As above, with HNL stopover: #230 Discount Economy, #615 Business.
4. The trip to avoid
Don't fly Thai Airways business class from Australia to Auckland: you earn barely more points than in economy on Air NZ.
5. The fare that goes furthest
No offence, but I'm keeping this to myself, in case someone at the airline picks it up and closes it off!