New Air New Zealand Airpoints card; anyone have one/used one yet?

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dontpanic42

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Topic # 93547 23-Nov-2011 20:08
Received an email from Air New Zealand today informing me that they will be sending me a new AirPoints card that will also be a MasterCard Debit Card, with foreign currency options. The email also said it would include the new PayPass NFC system, and the card would also act as an mPass too. Sounds pretty good to me. Has anyone received this new card? If so, when you load money onto the Debit card, how does it work exactly? The email makes mention of transferring funds via standard bank transfer. Is the funds transfer instant? Just curious if any one has had a chance to use one yet. Your thoughts. Cheers. :)

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Reply # 549054 23-Nov-2011 20:48
Read about it yesterday and also received the email from AirNZ today as well about my card that has also been shipped. It's pointless for me. Costs $1 everytime you want to load money on to your MasterCard debit card and you earn 1 airpoint for every $200 you spend. I earn 1 airpoint for every $80 I spend with my credit card. ePass is prob the only thing I like about this card. Microsoft\|Outlook\|Skydrive\|Windows Live Admin Center\|Skype\|Office Web Apps\|Office 365\| Windows Phone\|Windows 8\|Xbox\|Hyper-V\|Office2013\|Bing\|Security Essentials\|Server 2012

sbiddle

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Reply # 549058 23-Nov-2011 20:58
If you travel overseas it's a great - not only do you get the benefits of loading foreign currency, you don't pay ATM fees which is something that no other travel card (that I'm aware of) offers. *Need help configuring your Linksys ATA or IP Phones for New Zealand? Check my blog post

freitasm

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Reply # 549079 23-Nov-2011 21:43
You still have to pay the local ATM fee surely? When you get cash out in ATM in the US you pay a service fee, plus your bank fee... Mauricio Freitas (Geekzone Admin, Devil's Advocate, my blog, technology disclosure, my tweets, Web Performance Optimization) Geekzone Price comparison \| Amazon Kindle order page \| How to get the best out of Geekzone \| New Zealand IT Jobs \| Geekzone News \| Jinglebugs

dontpanic42

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Reply # 549085 23-Nov-2011 21:48
billgates: ePass is prob the only thing I like about this card. ePass, not mPass as I said in my OP. Opps. sbiddle: If you travel overseas it's a great - not only do you get the benefits of loading foreign currency, you don't pay ATM fees which is something that no other travel card (that I'm aware of) offers. The no overseas ATM fees are definitely the biggest draw card for me. Of course, I would still be carrying a normal credit card for potential emergency situations. Hopefully AirNZ integrate (if they can) the current Debit balance on their mPass Android and iOS app. It looks like they currently have a txt system (YAP) which also looks good, but within a smartphone app would be much easier and quicker.

old3eyes

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Reply # 549192 24-Nov-2011 08:30
When mine come I'll load it with about $200 and use it where I currently have my CC cards stored and for internet shopping. At least if someone breaks in and gets the card info there's not much on it.. Regards, Old3eyes

kiwitrc

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Reply # 549196 24-Nov-2011 08:44
billgates: Read about it yesterday and also received the email from AirNZ today as well about my card that has also been shipped. It's pointless for me. Costs $1 everytime you want to load money on to your MasterCard debit card and you earn 1 airpoint for every $200 you spend. I earn 1 airpoint for every $80 I spend with my credit card. ePass is prob the only thing I like about this card. I think its more designed for overseas use than local. Looks like it might be one of these in drag. We used the Kiwi Bank Loaded for travel when in France a few months ago. No exchange rate hassles, no foreign country fee's etc. You can pre load it when the exchange suits you. I think Old3eyes idea of using it buy overseas is excellent.

PenultimateHop

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Reply # 549200 24-Nov-2011 08:55
sbiddle: If you travel overseas it's a great - not only do you get the benefits of loading foreign currency, you don't pay ATM fees which is something that no other travel card (that I'm aware of) offers. Subject to all the small print. Such as, they're not charging a withdrawal fee themselves - but the ATM itself may (and more and more do), and if you withdraw in a currency that's not loaded on the card (or is not supported in the card), you still get charged 2.5% currency conversion. I'm quite unimpressed... and wish they'd focus on being a decent airline instead of more gimmicks.

chiefie

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Reply # 549225 24-Nov-2011 09:40
PenultimateHop: and wish they'd focus on being a decent airline instead of more gimmicks. Air NZ is certainly more decent than JetStar or Qantas. Internet is my backyard... «Geekzone blog: Tech 'n Chips Takeaway» «Personal blog: And then...» «Photo blog: I see...» Please read the Geekzone's FUG

freitasm

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Reply # 549230 24-Nov-2011 09:47
At least QANTAS serves food (and not bad) in all trans-Tasman flights, without the whole "what ticket are you on" complication thing. Actually, the whole food thing on Air New Zealand is a bit strange. I think they could improve the taste of food served on board wherever it is available. Even in Business Premier the breads are not quite right, the muesli tastes terrible. Also I think they made it too difficult to keep status. I have been Gold for a year, then Gold Elite, then Gold again for a few more years, and in the last two years, even with flying overseas at least ten times a year, and half of those being on long haul flights I didn't seen to move out of Silver. At least they made the change to use point in domestic saver fares. The not counting those flights probably cause my drop a couple of years ago. The rows in the 777 Premium Economy are too close together. Actually the whole economy seats could be arranged to give another extra five cm please... They could also work on getting the flights departed on time. I can't remember any flight I took in the last couple of years with on time departure. Air New Zealand is a great airline. Koru Lounges are a great service. Their people are most helpful. Mauricio Freitas (Geekzone Admin, Devil's Advocate, my blog, technology disclosure, my tweets, Web Performance Optimization) Geekzone Price comparison \| Amazon Kindle order page \| How to get the best out of Geekzone \| New Zealand IT Jobs \| Geekzone News \| Jinglebugs

talisker

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Reply # 549232 24-Nov-2011 09:53
It's actually by far the most sophisticated card available, well in advance of what the banks are offering. It's multi currency, can be used as a prepaid debit card in NZ and online, and allows contactless payments. What's more it's being sent to all NZ airpoints members - no application process involved. What more do you want it to do?

freitasm

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Reply # 549233 24-Nov-2011 09:54
What he said... Mauricio Freitas (Geekzone Admin, Devil's Advocate, my blog, technology disclosure, my tweets, Web Performance Optimization) Geekzone Price comparison \| Amazon Kindle order page \| How to get the best out of Geekzone \| New Zealand IT Jobs \| Geekzone News \| Jinglebugs

PenultimateHop

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Reply # 549245 24-Nov-2011 10:13
chiefie: PenultimateHop: and wish they'd focus on being a decent airline instead of more gimmicks. Air NZ is certainly more decent than JetStar or Qantas. NZ is busy lowering themselves to the Jetstar level and encouraging frequent traveling passengers away from them. Airpoints has ceased being a loyalty program and is now a comedy program. I used to channel spend towards NZ but it's no longer worth it for me to do so.

graemeh

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Reply # 549264 24-Nov-2011 10:40
kiwitrc: I think its more designed for overseas use than local. Looks like it might be one of these in drag. We used the Kiwi Bank Loaded for travel when in France a few months ago. No exchange rate hassles, no foreign country fee's etc. You can pre load it when the exchange suits you. I think Old3eyes idea of using it buy overseas is excellent. It's a BNZ card in drag but yes, same concept as the Kiwi Bank loaded card.

sleemanj

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Reply # 549341 24-Nov-2011 12:24
I got the email a couple of days ago. They didn't exactly make it obvious to find the schedule of fees... which is here http://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/onesmart-fees Frankly I think charging $2/month if you don't load $500 on each and every month is pretty rude, especially since they charge you a buck to load the money anyway, and a buck fifty if you want to withdraw at an NZ ATM. "Here, let us hold onto your money, we'll charge you to give it to us, if you don't give it to us, when you want it back, and naturally we'll be keeping all the interest too." Hmm. Good for overseas trips I suppose (what are the comparable fees on other similar travel debit cards?), but you'd want to cancel it as soon as you got back, certainly don't think it would be good for just casual usage domestically. --- James Sleeman My hobby - listing small amounts of interesting/useful hobby electronic components hardware and stuff on Trademe for cheap, all good geek stuff for the "maker" revolution ;-) Tip for Trademe addicts: install an addon for your browser to get thumbs for all listings.

freitasm

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Reply # 549353 24-Nov-2011 12:32
Wow... Those fees are looking bad. I guess it only charges you if you activate the card. The bad thing is, if you activate the card for one trip now then you have to keep paying forever if you don't use it? Not for me then. Mauricio Freitas (Geekzone Admin, Devil's Advocate, my blog, technology disclosure, my tweets, Web Performance Optimization) Geekzone Price comparison \| Amazon Kindle order page \| How to get the best out of Geekzone \| New Zealand IT Jobs \| Geekzone News \| Jinglebugs

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