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Kristo, I think this is a case where we will have to agree to disagree on the benefits v detriments of the new ANZ airpoint dollars system but lets not cloud the debate with misinformation and distortion of the facts. Your assertion that "that Air NZ airpoints is now at least 17% less value than QANTAS" is quite simply incorrect. As I mentioned in my earlier posting if you use your airpoint dollars against the cheaper fares offered by ANZ the reward levels are equivalent and in some case better than those presently available although of course this varies depending on route and what specials are offered by ANZ at any given time.
By way of your original example I have found on the ANZ website that you can presently purchase return flights SYD-CHC for AU$338 excluding taxes which even by your calculations is less than the 358 airpoint dollars you say correlates to 30,000 points presently required for such an award redemption. Of course you are going to pay more for peak time travel but these peak time flights are the very flights that it is very difficult (if not impossible) to obtain frequent flyer seats on under the present regime operated by most airline frequent flyer programmes.
As far as I can see there is no detriment to me posed by the new scheme but there are many advantages, for instance I will be able to use airpoint dollars on any ANZ flight, in any class so long as there are seats available to be purchased. Exactly how many points you will have to expend will depend on how flexible/organised you are when purchasing your ticket. An added bonus of the new system is that you can also use airpoint dollars to purchase one way tickets which will make your one way award redemption considerably cheaper than under the present system where the number of points required for one way travel is the same as for return flights.
I agree with you Kristo that we should be sceptical of promotional blurb put out by any organisation be it an airline, retailer or political party and we should have the impartiality and clarity of mind to critically analyse the facts for ourselves. However, lets not try and skew the debate by incorrectly stating the facts as that is a domain best left to politicians and their ilk and would defeat the purpose of this forum.
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