Maximising status points
Jul 21, 2019, 6:16 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2019
Programs: NZ*G
Posts: 42
Maximising status points
just wanting a bit of an inside line on maximising status points while I’m working in Canada to try to retain gold.
my plans are return to NZ Feb-March in econom (ex-YUL), then Europe in May and One way back to NZ (PE or possibly BP) June. Poosibly a few domestic Canada or Transborder flights also.
I know AC will be doing YVR-AKL during the first trip but assume earn rate will be poor and haven’t been that impressed with them domestically. What is best time to book to maximise status point yield without getting completely destroyed on price?
Sorry about the novel
my plans are return to NZ Feb-March in econom (ex-YUL), then Europe in May and One way back to NZ (PE or possibly BP) June. Poosibly a few domestic Canada or Transborder flights also.
I know AC will be doing YVR-AKL during the first trip but assume earn rate will be poor and haven’t been that impressed with them domestically. What is best time to book to maximise status point yield without getting completely destroyed on price?
Sorry about the novel
Jul 23, 2019, 1:02 am
#2
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: New Zealand (when I'm home!)
Programs: Air NZ Elite
Posts: 1,218
Air Canada have good earn rates. The issue is those points don't count towards your required status point allowance with Air NZ for elite. You need I think around 900 (810 if existing elite) to be accrued on their metal to be eligible for Elite.
Jul 23, 2019, 1:13 pm
#3
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: YYZ/SFO/AKL
Programs: NZ*G, back of the bus UA, corner of the MLL AC.
Posts: 373
AC have garbage earn to NZ on most domestic/TB routes - most economy fare buckets earn 0 SP.
Jul 24, 2019, 4:51 am
#4
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: New Zealand (when I'm home!)
Programs: Air NZ Elite
Posts: 1,218
Oh wow, interesting. I flied with them between USA and Canada and I had good earn rates. But there could be many factors at play there. Can't remember if I bought them on sale or not.
Jul 24, 2019, 5:07 am
#5
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: NZ*G ELT, VA-G
Posts: 3,598
Unfortunately only the most expensive Economy fares on AC qualify for Airpoints earn. Even those that do qualify only accrue at discount economy level. Completely disgusting!
To maximise status earn, you will need to fly on NZ metal whenever possible or short haul partner flights in premium cabin, preferably with a connection.
To maximise status earn, you will need to fly on NZ metal whenever possible or short haul partner flights in premium cabin, preferably with a connection.
Jul 24, 2019, 11:24 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2019
Programs: NZ*G
Posts: 42
Unfortunately only the most expensive Economy fares on AC qualify for Airpoints earn. Even those that do qualify only accrue at discount economy level. Completely disgusting!
To maximise status earn, you will need to fly on NZ metal whenever possible or short haul partner flights in premium cabin, preferably with a connection.
To maximise status earn, you will need to fly on NZ metal whenever possible or short haul partner flights in premium cabin, preferably with a connection.
Good info - thanks! Is UA any better in this regard?
Also I assume the status point earn tends to improve closer to time of booking due to increase in price (e.g. fully flexi fare one way ~150 status points WLG-YUL) whereas at the moment in economy the fares are ~60 status points one way
Jul 24, 2019, 12:19 pm
#7
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: YYZ/SFO/AKL
Programs: NZ*G, back of the bus UA, corner of the MLL AC.
Posts: 373
Good info - thanks! Is UA any better in this regard?
Also I assume the status point earn tends to improve closer to time of booking due to increase in price (e.g. fully flexi fare one way ~150 status points WLG-YUL) whereas at the moment in economy the fares are ~60 status points one way
Also I assume the status point earn tends to improve closer to time of booking due to increase in price (e.g. fully flexi fare one way ~150 status points WLG-YUL) whereas at the moment in economy the fares are ~60 status points one way
Jul 24, 2019, 9:30 pm
#8
Join Date: Mar 2019
Programs: NZ Elite
Posts: 196
[QUOTE=Balancerider;31337857]Good info - thanks! Is UA any better in this regard?
I can't comment on the comparison between AC vs UA earn rate but on UA a paid first class ticket on a non Polaris coast to coast service, I find the SP earn rate is not that much.
I do IAD - LAX or RDU - LAX twice a year (usually book 6 - 8 months in advance, fare class P which is their discounted business class fare) and only earn about 35 SPs which is the full economy earning rate & not the first class or business class earn rate.
This is similar to what you'd earn on a NZ Premium Economy TT fare.
United's website gives you the ability to search for flights by fare class which you can play with for the desired SPs you want to earn & $ you are willing to pay.
I can't comment on the comparison between AC vs UA earn rate but on UA a paid first class ticket on a non Polaris coast to coast service, I find the SP earn rate is not that much.
I do IAD - LAX or RDU - LAX twice a year (usually book 6 - 8 months in advance, fare class P which is their discounted business class fare) and only earn about 35 SPs which is the full economy earning rate & not the first class or business class earn rate.
This is similar to what you'd earn on a NZ Premium Economy TT fare.
United's website gives you the ability to search for flights by fare class which you can play with for the desired SPs you want to earn & $ you are willing to pay.
Jul 25, 2019, 10:49 am
#9
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: YYZ/SFO/AKL
Programs: NZ*G, back of the bus UA, corner of the MLL AC.
Posts: 373
Back in the day (2015, maybe?) you could book a coast to coast A fare and SDC it (for free, unpublished benefit as *G) to your heart's desire - it credited as first class for whatever reason.
I netted circa 200 SP by going BOS-EWR-ORD-DEN-SFO instead of BOS-SFO. Good times.
I netted circa 200 SP by going BOS-EWR-ORD-DEN-SFO instead of BOS-SFO. Good times.
Jul 26, 2019, 4:18 am
#10
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: bne
Programs: Velocity Gold, AIRNZ Elite, Qantas Silver ,Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,320
Good old days of earning SP
Back in the day (2015, maybe?) you could book a coast to coast A fare and SDC it (for free, unpublished benefit as *G) to your heart's desire - it credited as first class for whatever reason.
I netted circa 200 SP by going BOS-EWR-ORD-DEN-SFO instead of BOS-SFO. Good times.
I netted circa 200 SP by going BOS-EWR-ORD-DEN-SFO instead of BOS-SFO. Good times.