Air New Zealand Air Points - Best RTW Routing for NZ Earning?

Has anyone found the best RTW routing (39,000 miles) for maximising NZ earning?

I am wondering if it is possible to get GE on one RTW starting from no status. I know that 900 of the 1500 AP$ required to get GE must be flown on NZ metal (or is it just NZ codeshares?) and that may make the routing options a bit more interesting. I have tried searching for past threads but couldn't seem to find any on this particular topic. RTW would ideally be purchased in J but could possibly be done in F as well.

Has anyone found the best RTW routing (39,000 miles) for maximising NZ earning?

I am wondering if it is possible to get GE on one RTW starting from no status. I know that 900 of the 1500 AP$ required to get GE must be flown on NZ metal (or is it just NZ codeshares?) and that may make the routing options a bit more interesting. I have tried searching for past threads but couldn't seem to find any on this particular topic. RTW would ideally be purchased in J but could possibly be done in F as well.

Interested to hear the replies to this question myself. I haven't been flying very much lately, and have promised myself a RTW and TransTasman travel to keep my status before the end of the year.

First time poster here, long-time lurker.

I can't help with the 39000 *A RTW sorry, but I did manage to squeeze in a 33990 mile (approx) trip a while back which got me under the 34000 level quite nicely.

The itinerary was AKL-SIN (SQ in F)
SIN-JNB (SQ in C)
JNB-CPT-JNB (SA in C)
JNB-FRA (LH in F)
FRA-JFK (LH in F)
LGA-ORD (UA in F)
ORD-NRT (NH in F)
NRT-AKL (NZ in C)

I figured even though some flights were in C, it was worth paying F level for 4 of the long flights, plus the First Class terminal at FRA.

Hi bsd! And welcome to Flyer Talk

By my calculations that would net 1400 AP$ of which 210 would be earned on NZ flights. So that would get Gold but not Gold Elite unless you did some other non-RTW travel during the year to rack up those 900 points needed for GE.

Thanks for that itinerary though! Will definitely look into it as we are planning a RTW trip (holiday rather than MR purpose) for either this year or next.

Of course another option is to credit to another *A FFP but seeing as we now live in a city serviced only by NZ and DJ I would rather stick to Air NZ.

For a max of 34000 miles I found:

AKL-SIN-JNB-CPT-FRA-JFK-SFO-ORD-LAX-AKL

This is 33889 miles and would earn 1450 AP$ of which 300 are on NZ metal.

To earn max. A$, a NZ-only itinerary would be best, as you keep earning according to the NZ chart and not the partner chart.

WLG-AKL-(Stop)-RAR-(Stop)-MEL-(Stop)-SFO // LAX-LHR-(Stop)-HKG-(Stop)-AKL-WLG (31,270 mi)

This should earn 19 + 85 + 100 + 305 + 315 + 330 + 210 + 10 = 1374 A$

The routing takes advantage of the direct flights RAR-MEL (NZ 841) and MEL-SFO (NZ 7), SFO-LAX has to bought separately and should NOT be credited to NZ in order to avoid the partner earn chart.

You can do better than that (hint don't buy the RTW in NZ)

Any hints, Kiwi? ;)

ACflyerDE, why not credit SFO-LAX to NZ?

If you credit SFO-LAX to NZ the whole itinerary will earn on the mixed airline earning chart rates, which are generally lower (in some cases much much much lower) than on the NZ only earning chart.

T
The routing takes advantage of the direct flights RAR-MEL (NZ 841) and MEL-SFO (NZ 7), SFO-LAX has to bought separately and should NOT be credited to NZ in order to avoid the partner earn chart.

Thanks for the update on MEL-RAR. I didn't realise there was a good connection thru to the Cook Islands. Only a 1 hour stop-over in CHC. Have to convince Mrs Buzz that we need a holiday in the sun in a couple of weeks time!:)
Pity its an A320, not the best seats in business or economy. Interesting that on the AirNZ seat map, it says "Business class seating may be sold as Premium Economy selected routes" need to check out.

I thought that NZ changed their partner airline earning rules so that if flying on a mixed itinerary (NZ plus *A partners) you now earned NZ earning rates for NZ flights and partner earning rates for partner flights rather than earning all flights at the partner rate?

I thought that NZ changed their partner airline earning rules so that if flying on a mixed itinerary (NZ plus *A partners) you now earned NZ earning rates for NZ flights and partner earning rates for partner flights rather than earning all flights at the partner rate?

Comparing the NZ-only chart to the partner earn chart (specifying different earning rates for NZ operated flights and partner flights), it looks like you will earn "maximum" points on NZ flights no matter if there are partner flights in the itinerary or not.
http://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/airpoints/earning_airpoints_dollars/star_earn_accrual.htm

I have recently finished an all NZ metal RTW using the now defunct great escapade RTW starting in HKG (which was the cheapest origin)

HKG-AKL-SYD-CHC-(AKL)-BNE-(AKL)-WLG-AKL-LAX-LHR-HKG (transits in brackets to avoid stopover rules)
thats: 210+85+85+10+85+85+10+10+300+315+330 = 1525 airpoints
total mileage = 30225miles.
If you can work in a return to Tahiti then that is 210airpoints each way....
I just bought some domestic tickets to get me back to my base in WLG each time i returned to NZ.
HTH
dj

Comparing the NZ-only chart to the partner earn chart (specifying different earning rates for NZ operated flights and partner flights), it looks like you will earn "maximum" points on NZ flights no matter if there are partner flights in the itinerary or not.
http://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/airpoints/earning_airpoints_dollars/star_earn_accrual.htm
:confused: Asia - London on NZ Only Metal $330 vs $160 On NZ Metal (Airline Partners Chart) for Business!
There are other examples.

Comparing the NZ-only chart to the partner earn chart (specifying different earning rates for NZ operated flights and partner flights), it looks like you will earn "maximum" points on NZ flights no matter if there are partner flights in the itinerary or not.
http://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/airpoints/earning_airpoints_dollars/star_earn_accrual.htm

Unfortunately not... LHR-HKG earns only 160 A$ compared to 330 A$ and LHR-LAX only earns 90 A$ compared to 315 A$ :td:

I stand corrected.
I apologize for the incorrect info.

I thought that NZ changed their partner airline earning rules so that if flying on a mixed itinerary (NZ plus *A partners) you now earned NZ earning rates for NZ flights and partner earning rates for partner flights rather than earning all flights at the partner rate?


I checked this out with AirNZ just before I left on my mixed itinerary RTW - On flights to the USA and Canada on AirNZ metal, you'll receive a "mixed accrual bonus" so that will boost you earning back up to the normal level of earning.
Note this ONLY applies to flights to/from the USA/Canada.

So on a Business class mixed itinerary you'd receive A$260 for the AKL-LAX sector (for example) and then an additional A$40 Bonus. Travelling from AKL-HKG would only attract A$260.

I checked this out with AirNZ just before I left on my mixed itinerary RTW - On flights to the USA and Canada on AirNZ metal, you'll receive a "mixed accrual bonus" so that will boost you earning back up to the normal level of earning.
Note this ONLY applies to flights to/from the USA/Canada.

So on a Business class mixed itinerary you'd receive A$260 for the AKL-LAX sector (for example) and then an additional A$40 Bonus. Travelling from AKL-HKG would only attract A$260.

Has anyone actually seen this bonus accrue after flying? Or is this a recent change? When I flew SFO-AKL in J earlier this year on a mixed RTW itinerary, only A$260 were credited. :confused:

If I remember correctly the "bonus" was introduced a while ago. There is more info in the Koru Review (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=572088&highlight=review+koru) thread.

From this thread it seems that changes to the NZ/Partner crediting happened in late 2006?

Earlier in 2008 I got the mixed airline accrual bonus.
In 2007 (& 2006) I did not.

There have been reports of this bonus being applied for the past few years.

How I understand the mixed carrier bonus is that if you call them and argue they will credit you, otherwise there is no bonus. I don't know how many people have been ripped off not knowing this hidden benefit.

My credit earlier this year was automatic. Having said that, I have had a lot of problems this year getting partner flights to credit (and also a few NZ flights that credited at too low a rate :( ).

Has anyone actually seen this bonus accrue after flying? Or is this a recent change? When I flew SFO-AKL in J earlier this year on a mixed RTW itinerary, only A$260 were credited. :confused:

They made this change quite some time ago – a couple of years if I remember correctly.

I just flew AKL-LAX in J on a mixed itinerary and received the bonus automatically.

Probably best if you give them a call.

Note: I also received the bonus for flights during 2007.

I flew AKL-LAX-AKL on NZ last week (on a PE ticket) and LAX-DEN-LAX on UA (cattle class). These were booked totally independently.

If I had only done AKL-LAX-AKL I would have received $A130 each way. Instead I received 105 for the NZ sector and 15 for the UA sector because of the stupid mixed metal rule.

Now I see they have reduced my A$ for a flight I made the previous week from WLG-AKL (which was actually the return sector of AKL-WLG-AKL)because the system has linked it to the other flights. :mad:

Time for a phone call to NZ. It's not the A$2 that they deducted on the WLG-AKL flight, it's the principle (especially if I find at the end of the year I'm two bucks short of gold)!! :p

And get the extra AP$ credited that you should have received by booking the NZ and UA flights separately.

I flew AKL-LAX-AKL on NZ last week (on a PE ticket) and LAX-DEN-LAX on UA (cattle class). These were booked totally independently.

If I had only done AKL-LAX-AKL I would have received $A130 each way. Instead I received 105 for the NZ sector and 15 for the UA sector because of the stupid mixed metal rule.

Now I see they have reduced my A$ for a flight I made the previous week from WLG-AKL (which was actually the return sector of AKL-WLG-AKL)because the system has linked it to the other flights. :mad:

Time for a phone call to NZ. It's not the A$2 that they deducted on the WLG-AKL flight, it's the principle (especially if I find at the end of the year I'm two bucks short of gold)!! :p

If i was booking a ticket like that i just wouldn't bother giving my NZ FF account details to UA. Then they have no right to reduce your earning .

I nearly did the Denver sectors on Southwest for that very reason but the flight times didn't suit.

At least with UA if you have *S or *G you can use the premier checkin at LAX, beat the queues, and use the dedicated lanes through security. If you don't give them your FF number it doesn't work like that.

First time poster here, long-time lurker.

I can't help with the 39000 *A RTW sorry, but I did manage to squeeze in a 33990 mile (approx) trip a while back which got me under the 34000 level quite nicely.

The itinerary was AKL-SIN (SQ in F)
SIN-JNB (SQ in C)
JNB-CPT-JNB (SA in C)
JNB-FRA (LH in F)
FRA-JFK (LH in F)
LGA-ORD (UA in F)
ORD-NRT (NH in F)
NRT-AKL (NZ in C)

I figured even though some flights were in C, it was worth paying F level for 4 of the long flights, plus the First Class terminal at FRA.

How much did this cost in real $'sss? I just booked a Air NZ only metal flight LHR-LAX-AKL-LAX-LHR for December 20th departure its in Y, and was GBP1,686, its fully refundable, so I am looking for a better option, and in C/F... will have 2/3 weeks so as long as the outbound has me in NZ for xmas happy to take along way home.... Miles will be going to BMI DC, so need to pick airlines with 2 and 3x earning rates for C/F.

Where do others book TRW's, I never use TA's, I am guessing I need one for a RTW...

tht

p.s. Kiwi Flyer, I know I owe you a coffee, sorry I missed you in May in NZ, let me know if you will be near LHR, DUB or NYC anytime...

Time for a phone call to NZ. It's not the A$2 that they deducted on the WLG-AKL flight, it's the principle (especially if I find at the end of the year I'm two bucks short of gold)!!

And get the extra AP$ credited that you should have received by booking the NZ and UA flights separately.

That worked!! I now have the A$52 back that they stole off me. ^

Apparently the small print somewhere says that if the partner flight is within 24 hours of the NZ flight, then the partner rates apply regardless of how they are booked. However the guy was quite happy to credit the A$ on the basis that the flights were on unrelated bookings.

That worked!! I now have the A$52 back that they stole off me. ^

Apparently the small print somewhere says that if the partner flight is within 24 hours of the NZ flight, then the partner rates apply regardless of how they are booked. However the guy was quite happy to credit the A$ on the basis that the flights were on unrelated bookings.
Really? I thought it was 31 days in the T&C.
Should check that but they are specific that they can make retrospective adjustments.:td:

I'm just quoting what the guy at NZ's airpoints centre told me.

He could well be wrong!

He did make a retrospective adjustment for me even though one of the flights was within 24 hours (I had to run between terminal 7 and terminal 2 at LAX because we got in late and then checked in less than an hour before the LAX-AKL flight).

Really? I thought it was 31 days in the T&C.

I've found that in the TC.

However NZ's whole award philosophy is based a journey from "Origin to Destination".

From the TC ..

"Origin to Destination" means the point of departure to the final destination (the furthest point in your travels from the point of origin), no matter how many Sectors and Stopovers make up that Journey provided it is all on the same Itinerary. (The highlighting is mine)

The sectors I did in the US were booked direct with UA several days after I arrived in the US and were definitely not part of the same itinerary as the NZ sectors.

.... which raises another interesting issue. Totally o/t from this thread, but have you ever tried to book a flight on UA using an overseas (non US) credit card? Long story but after over an hour of frustration with their web site and their 1-800-UNITED number, I got in my car and drove from my hotel to the airport .. just so I could pay for a bloody flight!! :mad:

Once upon a time, you could use an overseas cc on their web site .. but not any longer. :(

I've found that in the TC.

However NZ's whole award philosophy is based a journey from "Origin to Destination".

From the TC ..

"Origin to Destination" means the point of departure to the final destination (the furthest point in your travels from the point of origin), no matter how many Sectors and Stopovers make up that Journey provided it is all on the same Itinerary. (The highlighting is mine)

The sectors I did in the US were booked direct with UA several days after I arrived in the US and were definitely not part of the same itinerary as the NZ sectors.


But note how NZ defines "Itinerary" in their T&C's:

"Itinerary" means continuous travel where the Stopover time at any port is no longer than 30 days, no matter where or how the travel was booked.

If it does not matter to them how the travel was booked, could they argue that this also includes travelling on separate tickets?

Good point. I missed that.

In reality, the system sucks. If NZ hadn't relented, I would have lost A$ for taking two extra flights. Figure that one out, it's contrary to the laws of natural justice!!! :rolleyes:

OT. Yes lots of trouble trying to book a ticket on a US airline website using my overseas CC.:mad:

Regarding the NZ system and their rules...I agree it can really s:eek:ck!

I just found this whole NZ routing which should earn (by my rough calculations) AP$1875. Which gets *GE plus some for requalification in the next year:

NAN-AKL-SYD-CHC-MEL-AKL-LAX-LHR-HKG-AKL-SYD-WLG-AKL-NAN

The only problem is that the last AKL-NAN segment comes up with a warning saying that AKL has been visited too many times. Apart from that warning, the itinerary seems fine on the *A RTW Mileage Calculator.

What's more is that this journey only uses 35,159 miles and 13 coupons and sectors, so there is even more room for expanding the routing. Not sure what the advantages are in terms of fare and taxes by starting in NAN but I thought I just picked a random place to start.

I checked this out with AirNZ just before I left on my mixed itinerary RTW - On flights to the USA and Canada on AirNZ metal, you'll receive a "mixed accrual bonus" so that will boost you earning back up to the normal level of earning.
Note this ONLY applies to flights to/from the USA/Canada.

So on a Business class mixed itinerary you'd receive A$260 for the AKL-LAX sector (for example) and then an additional A$40 Bonus. Travelling from AKL-HKG would only attract A$260.

Very interesting thread, i am making sure i rqlfy but now reading this i have a few doubts , this "bonus" is this written anywhere, i got one in march when i had to use UA in C on a disrupt through sydney but do i need to ask for the bonus. If the members here could indulge me i am on a ticket with seems to be split as it goes like this
akl-sfo-fra-yvr -c class on LH no's and returning from yvr to akl on NZ flight no so i have two PNR but i presume my fare is a winderbar , cant tell right now. so if i am corrrect this how the earning would go.

akl-sfo 260 ( plus bonus)
Sfo-fra 90
fra-yvr90
yvr-akl either 260 (plus bonus) or normal NZ earn, although from what i read because i have a mixed ticket it will accrue at mixed rates.

i also presume i will get the 20 wlg-akl-wlg as well.

as well i may be a bit thick :( but only the flights on NZ( with nz flt no) go toward GE status and yes i have read the t &C but even now i am a bit confused. and looking above at KT comment i notice he was talking a RTW does the bouns apply on the above routing.
Cheers to all who comment.

akl-sfo 260 ( plus bonus)
Sfo-fra 90
fra-yvr90
yvr-akl either 260 (plus bonus) or normal NZ earn, although from what i read because i have a mixed ticket it will accrue at mixed rates.

Yes that is correct. You should get 260 for both your NZ-USA flights and you should also get a 40 bonus for each of those flights going by current perception of NZ earning. If you don't get the bonus automatically then you should call Air NZ contact centre.

i also presume i will get the 20 wlg-akl-wlg as well.

Yep. If those domestic legs are on the same PNR then 10 each way for domestic add-on to international itinerary.

as well i may be a bit thick :( but only the flights on NZ( with nz flt no) go toward GE status and yes i have read the t &C but even now i am a bit confused. and looking above at KT comment i notice he was talking a RTW does the bouns apply on the above routing.
Cheers to all who comment.

The points from all flights go towards GE status. You need 1350 to requalify and 810 of those 1350 need to be on NZ ticketed and operated flights as I understand it.

Yes that is correct. You should get 260 for both your NZ-USA flights and you should also get a 40 bonus for each of those flights going by current perception of NZ earning. If you don't get the bonus automatically then you should call Air NZ contact centre.



Yep. If those domestic legs are on the same PNR then 10 each way for domestic add-on to international itinerary.



The points from all flights go towards GE status. You need 1350 to requalify and 810 of those 1350 need to be on NZ ticketed and operated flights as I understand it.

Thanks for that ....so if i am flying on NZ metal for 50% but on a LH ticket the akl-sfo and yvr-akl dont actaully qualify for the 810 part , as it happens i only have to get 300 anyway but wanted to suss this out hmmm , because i have a separate PNR for the yvr -akl which comes up in NZ system ( as i changed the seats) will it pick this up as NZ metal and there earn or as part of the LH ticket , perhaps i wait and see.

heres there wording which omits "ticketed" do i have that right then that as long as its there plane its a qualify for the 800?

Only Airpoints Dollars earned on Air New Zealand and Star Alliance flights count towards Airpoints Tier Status. The qualifying Airpoints Dollars must be earned in any 12 month period to achieve Tier Status. However, once you achieve a Tier Status, you only require 90% of those Airpoints Dollars to retain that status the following year.
**At least 800 Airpoints Dollars have to be earned through travel on Air New Zealand operated flights.

**At least 800 Airpoints Dollars have to be earned through travel on Air New Zealand operated flights.

I was under the impression it was operated and ticketed but that doesn't seem the case from NZ website (which can only be a good thing ;)).

On your itinerary then any NZ operated flights (AKL-SFO, YVR-AKL, WLG-AKL-WLG) will count towards GE requalification. The others will count towards GE as well, but only a maximum of 540 AP$ a year from partner airlines can count towards GE in your case.

I just found this whole NZ routing which should earn (by my rough calculations) AP$1875. Which gets *GE plus some for requalification in the next year:

NAN-AKL-SYD-CHC-MEL-AKL-LAX-LHR-HKG-AKL-SYD-WLG-AKL-NAN

The only problem is that the last AKL-NAN segment comes up with a warning saying that AKL has been visited too many times. Apart from that warning, the itinerary seems fine on the *A RTW Mileage Calculator.

What's more is that this journey only uses 35,159 miles and 13 coupons and sectors, so there is even more room for expanding the routing. Not sure what the advantages are in terms of fare and taxes by starting in NAN but I thought I just picked a random place to start.

xRWSTARx fares allow a maximum of 3 transfers at a city, of which only 1 can be a stopover. Thus your route is not allowed.

xRWSTARx fares allow a maximum of 3 transfers at a city, of which only 1 can be a stopover. Thus your route is not allowed.

That's what I thought. I will go back to the drawing board.

That's what I thought. I will go back to the drawing board.

Instead of SYD-WLG-AKL-NAN, how about doing SYD-WLG-NAN or SYD-CHC-NAN to avoid going through AKL?

I just found this whole NZ routing which should earn (by my rough calculations) AP$1875. Which gets *GE plus some for requalification in the next year:

NAN-AKL-SYD-CHC-MEL-AKL-LAX-LHR-HKG-AKL-SYD-WLG-AKL-NAN



Just curious, but what exactly are the rules on the apparent back-tracking? i.e. Fiji to New Zealand, four trans-Tasman sectors, then the RTW out via LAX, then another pair of trans-Tasmans.

If there is lots of flexibility there Vunder31 potentially makes a good point. i.e. Between the various New Zealand (AKL, WLG, CHC) and Australian (SYD, MEL, ADE, OOL, BNE, PER?) trans-Tasman international hubs you could presumably make multiple journeys backwards and forwards without breaching the 3 per city rule before / after the real "around the world"?

kiwibigdave makes a very good point. If you changed your original routing to NAN-WLG/CHC-SYD-CHC-MEL-AKL-LAX-LHR-HKG-AKL-SYD-WLG-AKL-NAN
you can keep the original number of segment without going through AKL more than three times, which could make it more attractive than my previous suggestion where you'd lose one segment.
(another option would be to do NAN-AKL-SYD-CHC-MEL-AKL-LAX-LHR-HKG-AKL-SYD-WLG-CHC-NAN. There are many ways of keeping the original number of segments without going through a specific city more than three times)

I can't avoid going through AKL as I was looking at flights in early Feb 2009 and there were no direct WLG/CHC-NAN flights on the Star Alliance timetable online. All went via AKL.

I'm not sure of the backtracking rules. The *A tool didn't come up with any further warnings apart from the AKL too many times warning.

There are lots of other options I could do. Just posted that itinerary as it was the best NZ only earning RTW on this thread so far and I suppose if it is done during the seasonal WLG/CHC-NAN flights operating then it could be done without going through AKL.

don't forget HLZ and ZQN (and DUD?) for trans-tasman routes too.
Not sure if it is allowed but what about AKL-PPT-AKL? that is a nice 210airpoints each way on a NZ only itin....with not too many miles, but is that back tracking?
dj

I thought that you could backtrack within regions, ie the only key exclusions as far as routings are concerned are that you can only cross the Pacific once and the Atlantic once, and that you can't transit a city more than 3x. Given that AKL-PPT is not considered trans-Pacific (though I assume that AKL-HNL would, since I think HNL is counted as part of the Americas) so you should be able to fly AKL-PPT-AKL-LAX as part of a RTW provided you don't break any other rules?

Yes. PPT is in the same IATA zone as NZ thus not considered backtracking.

Something like hkg-akl-ppt-akl-syd-wlg-hlz-wlg-syd-chc-hlz-chc-syd-akl-lax-lhr-hkg earns more airbucks.


hkg-akl 210 210
akl-ppt 210 420
ppt-akl 210 630
akl-syd 85 715
syd-wlg 85 800
wlg-hlz 10 810
hlz-wlg 10 820
wlg-syd 85 905
syd-chc 85 990
chc-hlz 10 1000
hlz-chc 10 1010
chc-syd 85 1095
syd-akl 85 1180
akl-sfo 300 1480
lax-lhr 315 1795
lhr-hkg 330 2125

Something like hkg-akl-ppt-akl-syd-wlg-hlz-wlg-syd-chc-hlz-chc-syd-akl-lax-lhr-hkg earns more airbucks.


hkg-akl 210 210
akl-ppt 210 420
ppt-akl 210 630
akl-syd 85 715
syd-wlg 85 800
wlg-hlz 10 810
hlz-wlg 10 820
wlg-syd 85 905
syd-chc 85 990
chc-hlz 10 1000
hlz-chc 10 1010
chc-syd 85 1095
syd-akl 85 1180
akl-sfo 300 1480
lax-lhr 315 1795
lhr-hkg 330 2125


Could you substitute some of the domestic legs for trans-tasman legs? Or would that put you over the mileage limit?

One more round-trip trans-tasman puts it over the mileage limit

I thought if you put the domestics on different days to the international, then you get full econom credits not the A$10.

I've had mixed experience - sometimes they get linked, sometimes not, and sometimes initially get the higher credit only to have it reversed and lesser amount applied. It is annoying to, or alternatively put the domestic flights onto another FFP.