Air NZ, Koru Club or Star Alliance
Feb 10, 2012, 8:44 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Programs: Air NZ Jade, Koru Club, Qantas Bronze
Posts: 8
Air NZ, Koru Club or Star Alliance
Will be flying AKL : Noumea in and out every two weeks for the next three years (FIFO).
Am already an AirNZ airpoints member (but wife and I only have around 200 points each) and only Air New Zealand and Air New Caledonia make these flights.
Also occasionally fly to Sydney, Melbourne & Wellington.
My requirements are:
a) lounge access (doesn't seem worth it in Noumea - but will be good to have a pre flight breakfast in Auckland)
b) earn enough points to fly my wife over to Noumea now and then - and for us both to go on local trips
Company I'm working for will pay for status - but am trying to work out whether it is best to stick with the airpoints programme, buy Koru Club membership or find another Star Alliance programme that earn me points on the routes I travel. Is it worth joining my wife's and my airpoints together with the Air NZ family option or just gift points when required?
Have never been in a position to earn a decent amount of airpoints before so would greatly appreciate any suggestions.
Am already an AirNZ airpoints member (but wife and I only have around 200 points each) and only Air New Zealand and Air New Caledonia make these flights.
Also occasionally fly to Sydney, Melbourne & Wellington.
My requirements are:
a) lounge access (doesn't seem worth it in Noumea - but will be good to have a pre flight breakfast in Auckland)
b) earn enough points to fly my wife over to Noumea now and then - and for us both to go on local trips
Company I'm working for will pay for status - but am trying to work out whether it is best to stick with the airpoints programme, buy Koru Club membership or find another Star Alliance programme that earn me points on the routes I travel. Is it worth joining my wife's and my airpoints together with the Air NZ family option or just gift points when required?
Have never been in a position to earn a decent amount of airpoints before so would greatly appreciate any suggestions.
Feb 10, 2012, 9:01 pm
#2
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: New Zealand
Programs: Asiana Silver (2012), AirNZ Jade
Posts: 316
Re: lounge access. Silver only gives you 2 vouchers/entries per the year I think. If you want more you will need Gold. AirNZ's programme uses status points unlike most other FFPs...
http://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/statu...ealand-flights
You need 900 status points per year.
http://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/status-points
If you might not get enough points, not sure but I would like to think that much travel to the islands you should get it. If you don't you could purchase a Koru Club membership or maybe if you have a compatible Platinum credit card a few of them give substantial discounts.
Re: another Star Alliance carrier to get points. Generally you need 50,000 miles per year to get Gold. Or maybe 80,000 over 2 years. But only after you have achieved it be it 1yr or 2yr (maybe sooner if you travel more freq) can you access those lounges .... One of the two carriers which might get Gold easier is Aegean or Asiana. Asiana might not allow economy fares to the Island to get points off AirNZ if you have Economy booking classes V, W, T. Aegean you might want to look up. I would think that if the company is paying you to travel, you should get 1.0 point per mile but some Economy fares only get 0.70 point per mile flown....... and of course some get none (as with the AirNZ programme itself). Not sure how your company works but ... having worked in admin and arranging corporate travel for people, we didn't take care about booking classes at all. If the date and time was suitable we just booked what was the cheapest even though the person may not earn air mileage.
Re: gifting points to your wife
http://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/airpoints-gifting
It looks like any members can gift points to people in the SAME household who are not AirNZ members but a $25 cash or APD "admin" fee. For those outside the household you need to be Gold or higher. But I guess if she is not a member she doesn't get the perks if she isn't a member, ie., collecting points herself or access lounge access without you and maybe if you fly together you both get points so that might be double points (together).
http://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/statu...ealand-flights
You need 900 status points per year.
http://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/status-points
If you might not get enough points, not sure but I would like to think that much travel to the islands you should get it. If you don't you could purchase a Koru Club membership or maybe if you have a compatible Platinum credit card a few of them give substantial discounts.
Re: another Star Alliance carrier to get points. Generally you need 50,000 miles per year to get Gold. Or maybe 80,000 over 2 years. But only after you have achieved it be it 1yr or 2yr (maybe sooner if you travel more freq) can you access those lounges .... One of the two carriers which might get Gold easier is Aegean or Asiana. Asiana might not allow economy fares to the Island to get points off AirNZ if you have Economy booking classes V, W, T. Aegean you might want to look up. I would think that if the company is paying you to travel, you should get 1.0 point per mile but some Economy fares only get 0.70 point per mile flown....... and of course some get none (as with the AirNZ programme itself). Not sure how your company works but ... having worked in admin and arranging corporate travel for people, we didn't take care about booking classes at all. If the date and time was suitable we just booked what was the cheapest even though the person may not earn air mileage.
Re: gifting points to your wife
http://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/airpoints-gifting
It looks like any members can gift points to people in the SAME household who are not AirNZ members but a $25 cash or APD "admin" fee. For those outside the household you need to be Gold or higher. But I guess if she is not a member she doesn't get the perks if she isn't a member, ie., collecting points herself or access lounge access without you and maybe if you fly together you both get points so that might be double points (together).
Last edited by rayonline; Feb 10, 2012 at 9:25 pm
Feb 10, 2012, 9:36 pm
#3
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP, Hilton GLD, Marriott Plat, NEXUS/GE
Posts: 2,872
What fare classes do you expect to book into on NZ? Most of NZ's fares do not near frequent flier miles with their partner programs.
I'm personally biased to think that UA MP is quite strong for redemptions, although they're adding a 4 UA metal segment requirement this year that will make it difficult to qualify (potentially) for Gold (as to have *G benefits). If you can get fares that earn at decent rates to A3, it can be a good route for easy *G access to you''ll have lounge access, etc.
I'm personally biased to think that UA MP is quite strong for redemptions, although they're adding a 4 UA metal segment requirement this year that will make it difficult to qualify (potentially) for Gold (as to have *G benefits). If you can get fares that earn at decent rates to A3, it can be a good route for easy *G access to you''ll have lounge access, etc.
Feb 10, 2012, 9:39 pm
#4
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: New Zealand
Programs: Asiana Silver (2012), AirNZ Jade
Posts: 316
If you want freebies forget it with AirNZ. Not sure about the islands. You can always do a search.
For Asia anyway for me, I think I get 80 APD per return trip, like those $1900 fares. I need to fly 12x to get a $899 grab a seat special or 25x to get a $1900 freebie.
I think I might be nice and do some maths and have a chuckle. For the Islands.
If work pays you on economy I guess you might get 15 or 10 APD per one way that you EARN. Business class gets 50 APD per one way.
Not sure how much the avg market price to the Islands are, maybe $500 one way - non specials. You need 33 one way economy fares flown to get one one-way ticket back. Or fly 10x one way business class to get back one one-way economy fare to the islands. But of course you may have rental car, hotel, credit card spending that can assist it.
For Asia anyway for me, I think I get 80 APD per return trip, like those $1900 fares. I need to fly 12x to get a $899 grab a seat special or 25x to get a $1900 freebie.
I think I might be nice and do some maths and have a chuckle. For the Islands.
If work pays you on economy I guess you might get 15 or 10 APD per one way that you EARN. Business class gets 50 APD per one way.
Not sure how much the avg market price to the Islands are, maybe $500 one way - non specials. You need 33 one way economy fares flown to get one one-way ticket back. Or fly 10x one way business class to get back one one-way economy fare to the islands. But of course you may have rental car, hotel, credit card spending that can assist it.
Feb 10, 2012, 9:40 pm
#5
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: New Zealand
Programs: Asiana Silver (2012), AirNZ Jade
Posts: 316
What fare classes do you expect to book into on NZ? Most of NZ's fares do not near frequent flier miles with their partner programs.
I'm personally biased to think that UA MP is quite strong for redemptions, although they're adding a 4 UA metal segment requirement this year that will make it difficult to qualify (potentially) for Gold (as to have *G benefits). If you can get fares that earn at decent rates to A3, it can be a good route for easy *G access to you''ll have lounge access, etc.
I'm personally biased to think that UA MP is quite strong for redemptions, although they're adding a 4 UA metal segment requirement this year that will make it difficult to qualify (potentially) for Gold (as to have *G benefits). If you can get fares that earn at decent rates to A3, it can be a good route for easy *G access to you''ll have lounge access, etc.
Feb 10, 2012, 9:54 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Programs: Air NZ Jade, Koru Club, Qantas Bronze
Posts: 8
Will fly economy unfortunately. Noumea is more expensive than the other islands - probably due to the low level of traffic.
So UA MP will get me air points on Air NZ & Air NC? Can you buy status on UA?
So UA MP will get me air points on Air NZ & Air NC? Can you buy status on UA?
Feb 10, 2012, 9:55 pm
#7
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Wellington
Programs: QFWP (LTSG), NZ (Jade), TG ROP (Forgotten), OZ (Silver), AA (Cardboard), EK (Lowest of the Low)
Posts: 4,669
If you fly on the Air Calin flight, even on the NZ code you will not earn anything on any other *A programme.
Unless your work is willing to pay for the higher fare classes on the NZ flights you should keep crediting, at a really pathetic rate, to Airpoints. If willing to pay higher fare than Asiana, US Air or United are good programmes.
Oh until you have status get the Koru Club membership see if your work will pay for it. If not ANZ Platinum Airpoints Visa card as that has a generous discount to Koru Club membership fees.
Unless your work is willing to pay for the higher fare classes on the NZ flights you should keep crediting, at a really pathetic rate, to Airpoints. If willing to pay higher fare than Asiana, US Air or United are good programmes.
Oh until you have status get the Koru Club membership see if your work will pay for it. If not ANZ Platinum Airpoints Visa card as that has a generous discount to Koru Club membership fees.
Feb 10, 2012, 10:20 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Programs: Air NZ Jade, Koru Club, Qantas Bronze
Posts: 8
I guess I'm not going to the international mystery man I thought I would be ... will probably have to go Koru Club just so I can go to the lounge.
Feb 10, 2012, 10:39 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: WLG/BKK
Programs: TG*G, NZ*GE, QF G, Accor Gold
Posts: 10,194
R
Re: gifting points to your wife
http://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/airpoints-gifting
It looks like any members can gift points to people in the SAME household who are not AirNZ members but a $25 cash or APD "admin" fee.
Re: gifting points to your wife
http://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/airpoints-gifting
It looks like any members can gift points to people in the SAME household who are not AirNZ members but a $25 cash or APD "admin" fee.
Feb 11, 2012, 3:03 am
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Programs: Air NZ Jade, Koru Club, Qantas Bronze
Posts: 8
Thanks all. Appreciate the prompt feedback. Will go with Koru club and hope to get to Silver or Gold status that will pretty much give me the lounge benefits at least.
Feb 11, 2012, 5:30 am
#11
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: QF Gold
Posts: 1,242
Feb 11, 2012, 1:45 pm
#12
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: New Zealand
Programs: Asiana Silver (2012), AirNZ Jade
Posts: 316
http://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/airpo...-february-2012
A $1900 fare my mother booked for tomorrow is a class W fare to HKG. Accordingly to that page it is a Category 3 Economy tier. Which earns 40 APD per one way or 80 APD for the round trip. For me to SPEND my $899 grab a seat special fare (provided I get it and the dates are ok), I need $899/80 = 11.2375 return trips of these $1900 or so fares.
Last edited by rayonline; Feb 11, 2012 at 1:56 pm
Feb 11, 2012, 7:34 pm
#13
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Ubiquitous
Programs: NZ - Elite, QF - Gold, Flying Blue - Petroleum Club, SIA - Solitaire PPS, EY- Gold Elite, EK- Gold
Posts: 164
Which project? Goro, Koniambo or another?
Feb 12, 2012, 2:23 am
#15
Join Date: May 2011
Location: South Island, NZ
Programs: IHG Ambassador, Air NZ lowly Jade now, Emirates
Posts: 559
my partner bought koru club access last year?? and seriously we have never looked back. it is lovely to just check in at the priority area, and get the priority tags so your luggage comes off early, the nz lounges are comfy, means we can have a wine or breakfast or a nibble whenever we go somewhere and of course he can take me in with him!!! Yay. also you can use partner lounges overseas (eg, we used san fran - not an outstanding lounge but nice and quiet) we both agree it was money well spent and we are not frequent flyers by any means. will keep.