Air New Zealand Air Points - Comparative NZD/APD costs

Yes, I'm probably insane and have too much free time today, but I was curious as to a current sampling of just how much one pays to earn Airbucks on various routings. I chose some of the major routes, but not all, as I started to get a headache looking these up!! This is from a sampling of searched return (round trip) fares in March 2008, and I have converted all fares back to NZD and put the cheapest in each cabin in bold:

LAX-LHR: (J) = $9.17/APD
(U) = $13.63/APD
(Y) = $9.15/APD

AKL-SYD: (J) = $12.24/APD
(U) = $13.32/APD
(Y) = $14.13/APD

AKL-MEL: (J) = $12.62/APD
(U) = $13.54/APD
(Y) = $14.13/APD

AKL-LAX: (J) = $12.81/APD
(U) = $9.79/APD
(Y) = $11.48/APD

Searches of the following did not yield any better:
AKL-LHR
AKL-SFO
SFO-AKL
LAX-AKL
AKL-NRT
AKL-KIX
AKL-PVG
AKL-PER

I did not explore the LHR-HKG or LHR-LAX options or NZ Domestic.

I've seen a lot of discussion about CPM in the Mileage Run forums and was just curious as to what's out there for Airpoints! Anywhoo, as a newbie I hope I haven't annoyed too many, but thought it might be of interest, and of course, fares fluctuate. Oh, and yes, I did only include the lowest Y fares that could accrue APD for the TT routes!

I've seen a lot of discussion about CPM in the Mileage Run forums and was just curious as to what's out there for Airpoints! Anywhoo, as a newbie I hope I haven't annoyed too many, but thought it might be of interest, and of course, fares fluctuate. Oh, and yes, I did only include the lowest Y fares that could accrue APD for the TT routes!I thought that all Y fares could accrue APD for TT travel.

Technically the Y booking code fare is eligible, however the Trans Tasman Saver fares in economy do not accrue APD:

"*Please note: Airpoints members cannot earn Airpoints Dollars in conjunction with Domestic, Tasman and Pacific Island Smart Saver fares booked in L,G,S, K & P booking classes, Airpoints™ reward classes (X,I), travel industry (incl. duty travel) classes (N,R) and any fares booked in A class."

Incidentally, the Northern Lights Sale reduces the cost of APD earned via flying a bit, with the 50% bonus.

Although this is not a hotel program forum, for those who are Starwood members, if you purchase SPG points at 3.5 cents USD/1point, it works out to about $2.27 USD per APD, and you can buy up to 100,000 SPG points per annum!

Crap, there goes another 80 apd.

It is only longhaul flights that the cheapest fares earn airbucks. Domestic, trans-tasman (excl PER) and south pacific (excl PPT) do not.

It is only longhaul flights that the cheapest fares earn airbucks. Domestic, trans-tasman (excl PER) and south pacific (excl PPT) do not.Are you sure about PER? I just booked T class (flexi saver) for PER-AKL for this reason. Perth is still considered Tasman so seems to have the Tasman fare structure with no airpoints accrual in LGSK.

I'm not 100% sure since I've only flown higher fare classes to/from Perth. However it is treated as longhaul in many respects. Still, if it is Tasman for earning on smart saver purposes then it won't be the first anomaly.

ajnz, you are correct:

"Auckland to Perth Tasman Smart Saver fare: Airpoints - No Airpoints Dollars accrual"

Only the Tasma Flexi Saver and Tasman Flexi fares earn APD, even all the way to Perth.

Seems like that darn Tasman Sea is the whole problem - can't fly over it unless you sprinkle a bit of extra $$ on your way over, hehe :p