Originally Posted by Kiwi Flyer

So they have decided mixed rate applies, but because you already have the higher airbucks credited for the outbound flight you get to keep the extra airbucks.

That does not seem a sensible policy to me, as not only getting the illwill from lower rate on return, but creating confusion. By being inconsistent they are implicitly inviting airpoints members to call them about the discrepancy, creating another opportunity for illwill.

Blackcloud - the rationale on the lower airbucks on mixed itineraries is to encourage higher fare NZ only tickets, ie it is tied with NZ's revenue. However by proactively joining up separate tickets it creates illwill - if you are flying somewhere NZ doesn't fly you have no choice by to have a mixed itinerary and NZ is penalising you for this.