[marvel]

If you had 200,000 points to put into any airline which would it be?
And why? The forums always point to QF but I can's see why Air NZ
wouldn't be better?? Especially since you can pick when to fly.

WHat do the forum experts think??

[NM]

Depends on what you are wanting to use the points for, and which airline you are likely to fly most in the future.

For example, you could use the points for QF upgrades if you are likely to be flying on paid QF flights.

But if you are looking for QF awards, you may be better putting the points into AA since their award redemption rates QF generally require less points. But AA miles will not get you upgrades on QF, but they will get you upgardes on AA.

So there is no simple answer. For me, I would probably add them to my QF total and use them for trans-Pacific upgrades.

Sorry, can't comment on the new NZ program and their $$$ calculations.

[thadocta]

*IF* the 200,000 points translates into 200,000 NZ AirMiles, I would be going for NZ myself.

Under the new NZ program, 1 AirMile = $NZ1, and ALL seats are up for grabs. So if there is an F seat available the day before you wish to go, and you have enough AirMiles to get it at the fare that it would be going for for cash, then it is yours.

Best FF scheme around (for redemptions, that is - not sure yet about earnings).

Dave

[Kiwi Flyer]

NZ Airpoints get converted (in just over a week's time). For all except aussies it is 75 points = 1 airbuck (airpoint dollar). Rate is less for australians as they use australian currency equivalent.

So that 200,000 points becomes 2666 airbucks.

But good point about the any seat redemption. Earning is also substantially improved for premium fares (eg around 3-4 times base economy earning for biz and first).

[NM]

Originally Posted by thadocta

Best FF scheme around (for redemptions, that is - not sure yet about earnings).

Dave, it might look attractive for economy seats, but given the going price for an economy seat, say SYD-LAX, is likely to be about 20% of the going price for a J seat, and probably more like 10-15% of an F seat, we suddenly see a J award being five times the "cost" of WHY, and F being 7-10 times the cost of WHY.

Compare that to a pure points redemption program like QF and we see that for the same routing, where J is twice the points of WHY, and F is a 25% premium over J.

But, of course, seat availability in the premium cabins is a lot greater for the NZ new program.

[Kiwi Flyer]

Apart from short-haul, the new NZ scheme still has fixed rate redemptions (way less than equivalent $) - ratios broadly in line with existing schemes incl QF.

It is only shorthaul, or where the bucket for fixed rate is used up, that 1 airbuck = 1 $ is used.

[NM]

Originally Posted by Kiwi Flyer

Apart from short-haul, the new NZ scheme still has fixed rate redemptions (way less than equivalent $) - ratios broadly in line with existing schemes incl QF.

It is only shorthaul, or where the bucket for fixed rate is used up, that 1 airbuck = 1 $ is used.

That makes more sense then. Especially since there is only one class for NZ domestic flights anyway. Does trans-Tasman come under short haul as well? or just NZ domestic?

[Kiwi Flyer]

NZ domestic, trans tasman (Tasman express) and south pacific (Pacific express). However you can also get the fixed rate for flights in those areas that are connecting to long-haul.