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Travel
5 best ways to score Status Points with Air New Zealand
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Want to rack up your Air New Zealand Airpoints? This is how to supercharge the system to score more points.
By Maddie Southall
Air New Zealand’s Airpoints program offers plenty of rewards, but navigating how to earn the most Status Points can be confusing. First of all, Airpoint Dollars and Status Points are different, even though both are earned with Air New Zealand. Airpoint Dollars are earned based on how many real dollars you spend with the airline and they can be used to pay for future flights.
Status Points on the other hand, are a little easier to rack up without being fully reliant on spending more money. Status Points go towards improving your membership tier and unlocking access to lounges and other perks depending on your Silver, gold or Elite status. Making the most of Status Points requires a bit more strategy, so here are 5 top ways to score more points and enjoy the perks that come with it.
1. Take advantage of connecting flights
If sacrificing convenience doesn’t scare you off, this can be a great strategy to maximise your Status Points. While flying direct routes is, ahem, a much better experience, taking connecting flights can help you earn more.
That’s because Air New Zealand rewards passengers with more points when they take connecting flights, particularly when there’s a change of aircraft. So, instead of booking a direct flight, consider connecting through major hubs like Wellington or Christchurch to boost your point accumulation. Generally, more legs to your journey, generally translates to gaining more points.
However, it’s essential to weigh the added hassle of connecting flights with the potential point boost. While this strategy can work well for domestic flights, always consider the time and inconvenience of extra travel.
2. Use an Air New Zealand Status Points-earning credit card
One of the most effective ways to quickly accumulate Status Points is by using a credit card that’s approved by Air New Zealand. These cards allow you to earn Status Points on your everyday purchases, helping you boost your points without even flying.
For example, some credit cards offer a significant bonus, such as a 50% increase in Status Points for every flight operated by Air New Zealand. This means that if a flight earns 100 Status Points, you can earn an additional 50 points just by using your credit card.
Other cards offer a rate like 1 Status Point per a certain amount spent. While this might seem modest at first, the points can add up quickly when you use the card for everyday expenses like groceries, fuel, or travel-related purchases. If you’re serious about keeping your Airpoints balance topped up, having an Air New Zealand-approved credit card could be a great option.
However, this always comes with the caveat that this is only a good option if you are sure you will diligently pay off your card on time. Same goes for being responsible with your spending. If you’re tempted to spend more than you earn, this option is a big no-no and just not worth it.
3. Higher fare classes = higher number of points
The first thing you should note is that not all Air New Zealand flights score you Status Points. The key to earning more points lies in the type of ticket you purchase and its corresponding fare class. So one of the most effective ways to earn more Status Points is to book flights in higher fare classes.
For example, when flying domestically or internationally, Air New Zealand rewards you more generously for booking premium classes such as flexichange, flexirefund, Premium Economy, and Business. Economy class fares, such as seat and seat+bag, offer fewer Status Points. The more you spend, the higher the fare class and the greater the rewards.
In fact, a flight booked in a lower fare class may earn you only a fraction of the Status Points compared to the same flight booked in a higher fare class. If you can afford to, prioritise purchasing premium fare classes to maximise your points. Business class, especially, will help you rack up Status Points much faster. For instance, a flight from Auckland to Los Angeles in business class could earn you as many as 160 Status Points, compared to between 40 points for an Economy Saver ticket.
So, to maintain Gold status you need to accumulate 810 Status Points in a 12-month period, which translates to roughly 5 business class flights versus 20 Economy Saver flights to the same destination.
4. Be strategic with partner airlines
While flying Air New Zealand itself will earn you the most Status Points, they do have certain partner airline arrangements where you can still earn Airpoints. These include Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa and United.
That said, Air New Zealand encourages its frequent flyers to choose Air New Zealand-operated flights over its partners. Although you may still earn some points with partner airlines, they rarely compare with the points you would earn by booking a similar flight directly with Air New Zealand.
So if you’re booking with a partner airline make sure you check the fare class using the Airpoints Calculator before you book. Many cheap economy fares on these partners may not earn Status Points, or they may only earn a fraction of what you would get with Air New Zealand.
5. Travelling for business can boost your Status Points
For many people, work-related travel remains one of the primary ways to rack up Status Points. If you're frequently flying for business, domestic and international trips can quickly contribute to your points balance. Just make sure whoever is booking your airfares has your Airpoints Membership Number ready to go so you can keep those points heading in the right direction.
While business class fares can be expensive, they offer the greatest rewards in terms of Status Points. And even if you aren’t flying business, taking several domestic or international flights for work can still help you earn enough points to qualify for Gold status.
Additionally, if you're working for a company that pays for your travel, you can often take advantage of this opportunity to earn Status Points without personally bearing the cost. Many frequent flyers find that combining business trips with personal ones can accelerate their Status Points accumulation. However, if you're not flying frequently for work, using an Air New Zealand credit card can still help bridge the gap and boost your points.
Feature image: iStock/urbazon
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