Originally Posted by
sbiddle
If you're not based in NZ there are very few benefits of joining Airpoints unless you're going to be flying with them maybe 25+ times in the next year or fly lots of long haul.
You're not going to get any benefits from any airline for just booking a few flights.
I'd qualify this. It depends on which class you fly in. 1 trip a year on NZ in Business between LAX and either LHR or AKL, plus a few domestic flights on United (as few as 2 trips if flying business with a connection), is enough to give you *G. In the USA *G with NZ means access to United Club lounges on United domestic flights, which *G with UA does not provide.
I think the important questions are:
1. Where is the person based
2. Where does the person normally fly
3. What class does the person normally fly in
4. What does the person hope to get out of having status, regardless of airline