Air New Zealand Air Points - New Airpoints members due to the Qantas devaluation 25 May 05?

Wonder how many people will/have switch from QF to NZ?

Wonder how many people will/have switch from QF to NZ?Minimal I would say. Some may use NZ more often but not be opening accounts with NZ.

If NZ had it in them they would announce a new route SYD or MEL - LAX nonstop and perhaps look at expanding out of Australia. Not sure that the fleet is ready however.

My friend told me a way to join QF program for free. It's very interesting. Currently it charges a one-off joining fee for $80 something for Australian residents and $50 for NZ residents. Elsewhere is free. Just make up an address in another country other than AU or NZ for free and change your address back when you become a member.

Don't mean to sound rude but as a disgruntled QF Plat I think the NZ program absolutely s#cks, it's still worse than the post 25 may changes on QF. I don't know another airline in the world where you pay every year for the privilege of staying a FF member (I'm sure there are some) if you don't travel every year with the airline. Whilst I might have only flown AirNZ once or twice a year on a J PER to NZ flight I will definitely avoid it altogether now

I would suggest any QF members who were looking seriously at QF vs NZ would have bailed as soon as the NZ program went over to AirNZ$'s. I've just burned the remainder of my airnz points that I had on a Queenstown to CHC for the wife and kids. Had to pay $25 each for the privilege of "gifting" to my own children, plus I discover that on the .com.au site there were no smart saver seats available and yet on exactly the same flights on the .co.nz site there were. Needless to say my address changed to NZ and after about 90 mins of stuffing around I had my $350 spent. But seriously...who wants that hassle on an ongoing basis.

Just my two bob's worth but my money is on QF members/fliers defecting in droves to AA program and continuing to fly QF not NZ.

paul4471, I don't think that the air dollar is such a good idea either. I thought I was the only few people who thought that. NZ letting you spend the air dollar on every available seat is to make you burn the air dollars as soon as possible. Obviously they have done some accounting and they think loyalty is liability rather than assets. I won't deny that NZ is doing a pretty good job at returning to profits and buying new aircrafts etc. but in terms of FFP they really aren't treating the members well. A whole lot fees and very limited promotion. The dollar idea also creates many confusion and inconvenience and not to mention the earning rate in long haul. If you think about, redemption on every seat is just to raise the redemption rate. Now redemption rate up, earning rate down, plus all sorts of fees, how do you want me to keep loyal? Remember there are dozens of *A member programs out there, NZ is not the only choice. A logic idea would be if still keep flying NZ, join another *A program.

Again, just my personal opinion. Anyone who has different thoughts is welcomed to correct me.

Just wanted to add one point. Recently I read an article about relationship marketing in that it describes the relationships between the business and its customers. It's competition vs cooperation. In NZ's case i think the relationship is competition rather than cooperation. NZ and customers are competing to see who is smarter. Now most people only see the convience of redemption but they did not see the value is actually decreased.

Don't mean to sound rude but as a disgruntled QF Plat I think the NZ program absolutely s#cks, it's still worse than the post 25 may changes on QF. I don't know another airline in the world where you pay every year for the privilege of staying a FF member (I'm sure there are some) if you don't travel every year with the airline. Whilst I might have only flown AirNZ once or twice a year on a J PER to NZ flight I will definitely avoid it altogether nowI also don't like the airbucks scheme but why is that a reason to avoid air NZ altogether, instead using QF's c*ap A332 J PER - SYD and onwards to AKL on a 767 ?

I also don't like the airbucks scheme but why is that a reason to avoid air NZ altogether, instead using QF's c*ap A332 J PER - SYD and onwards to AKL on a 767 ?

Exactly, why would you take a 332 flight when QF offers a 333 (new Plane) with SkyBed, AVOD and slimline seats in Y on the PER-SYD route? That's a big offering for a domestic flight! ;)

We all have our opinions...

David

Exactly, why would you take a 332 flight when QF offers a 333 (new Plane) with SkyBed, AVOD and slimline seats in Y on the PER-SYD route? That's a big offering for a domestic flight! ;)

We all have our opinions...

DavidSorry but you are being misleading. The 333 operates the PER - SYD sector once a week on Sunday [and a few more times via MEL] leaving at 10am and arriving in SYD at 4:05pm with the only sensible connection to AKL leaving at 6:30pm arriving into AKL at 11:25pm on a 767. Compared to a 8:10pm departure [full Sunday] from PER arriving 06:30am the next day in AKL.

Hey no hard feelings. I was just trying to say that yes, why would you choose the 332 when 333 services are available. My post had nothing really to do with how many services a week there are but moreso there is a 333 option available with SkyBed etc. I apologise as I jumped the gun and thought that you were talking about 332 PER-SYD services and not actually PER-AKL options on NZ and QF.

I would really like to know why in your opinion the 332 is crap? I have my first 332 flight this FRI and am really interested in knowing why it's bad. I would appreciate your comments.

No hard feelings ^ :)

David

[QUOTE=Xiaotung] how do you want me to keep loyal? Remember there are dozens of *A member programs out there, NZ is not the only choice.

Xiaotung....for one reason only that I can see, a captive market.

The main reason I stick with NZ is the ability to upgrade to Business on the cheap flights home to NZ. As a UK based Kiwi the only option I can see (if you are *A) for a flight to NZ which can be upgraded is AirNZ (unless I have missed something and you can buy upgrades using another airlines points?)......Of course if I wanted to try and get status on QF/BA I guess thats would be an option but then I have an extended period without Lounge Access everywhere else in the world. Once they've got you there is just enough to keep you and unfortunately I haven't seen or heard about OW chasing *A members with status matching programs. :(