Earn Airpoints™ status points every time you fly

Media Release
28 October 2008

Earn Air New Zealand Airpoints™ status points every time you fly

Air New Zealand is making it much easier and faster for customers to work their way up the tiers of its popular Airpoints frequent flyer programme.

Hundreds of thousands of Kiwis currently benefit from Air New Zealand’s Airpoints programme, which rewards customers with special privileges and allows them to accrue Airpoints Dollars™ that can used to redeem valuable travel rewards.

Under changes being made to the programme from 31 October, every fare purchased by Airpoints members on Air New Zealand operated flight will earn Status Points, including Smart Saver and grabaseat fares.

Status Points will be used to determine tier status, ranging from Jade to Silver, Gold and Gold Elite.

Previously, tier status within the programme was based on Airpoints Dollars earned (the currency used to buy flights and other rewards), but because these are not earned on some fares, some flights did not count towards this.

Group General Manager Short Haul Airlines Bruce Parton says the change is great news for customers who are regularly travelling throughout New Zealand and to Australia and the Pacific on lower-priced fares.

“These flights matter just as much to our customers as any other, and we felt it was important to recognise and reward those who are travelling regularly with the airline, regardless of the price they’ve paid for their fare,” he says.

“Now when you fly with Air New Zealand, every flight will count."

Mr Parton says Air New Zealand will continue to deliver the special advantages that make its loyalty programme special.

“For example, we’ll be providing all our Gold Elite, Gold and Silver Airpoints and Koru members with a new ePass to help them speed through the domestic airport when we introduce our new check in and boarding experience,” he says.

Mr Parton says Gold Elite, Gold and Koru members will also be able book the new Space+ seats in 767, A320 and 737 aircraft at no extra cost, The more spacious Space+ section in the front of these three aircraft types provides an additional 2-5 inches of seat pitch from those seats in standard economy.

Mr Parton said Air New Zealand continues to also invest in its Koru lounges, with 100 extra seats in both Auckland and Wellington, 40 in Christchurch and a brand new lounge in Tauranga.

Air New Zealand is also introducing www.myairnz.com for loyalty members, a secure home page on the Air New Zealand website that members can tailor with all their Air New Zealand, Airpoints and travel information.

As well as more user-friendly design for checking Airpoints Dollars and Status Points, users can see all their current and past flight information, save favourite flight routes for easy future bookings and even check out the weather at their next destination.

The portal has a flexible design similar to igoogle so that users can move, add or delete sections of the content to suit their needs. It enables loyalty members to individualise their interactions with Air New Zealand and make booking their regular travel a quick and simple experience.

ENDS

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