Using complimentary Koru passes for a friend?

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kryptonjohn

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#1860703 8-Sep-2017 09:44

I don't think anyone's spending $20k to get vouchers. They're spending $20k because they want to buy stuff regardless. Given that, the trade-off simply becomes the increased fees on the airpoints cards vs the payback. Once I get past the fees, which takes about one month, the other 11 month's air dollars and vouchers are just a free bonus.

jonathan18

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#1860732 8-Sep-2017 10:51

afe66: Maybe you should change to kiwibank platinum card..

Just be aware that Kiwibank are pretty backwards with credit card technology - no instant transaction information and no Android or Apple Pay. Personally, this stuff is more valuable to me than Airpoints (compared to other rewards) or lounge passes. We just don't fly enough (to be honest, at all - only use Airpoints to send the kids to stay with family) to use the lounge passes we earn; got two more this week, but I'm sure they'll drop off unused at some point.

kryptonjohn

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#1860768 8-Sep-2017 11:37

jonathan18:

afe66: Maybe you should change to kiwibank platinum card..

Just be aware that Kiwibank are pretty backwards with credit card technology - no instant transaction information and no Android or Apple Pay. Personally, this stuff is more valuable to me than Airpoints (compared to other rewards) or lounge passes. We just don't fly enough (to be honest, at all - only use Airpoints to send the kids to stay with family) to use the lounge passes we earn; got two more this week, but I'm sure they'll drop off unused at some point.

Agreed! Kiwibank's online banking takes days for credit card sale details to arrive, and in the mean time, the available balance is always less out by the unallocated sales When I was with BNZ it seemed to be real-time updated.

They also need to catch up with Android/Apple Pay. However as my paywave card is tucked into the back of my phone I don't notice and wave my phone anyway.

afe66

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#1860913 8-Sep-2017 13:46

Apple pay / Android pay..... meh.

Why share my details with another company with dubious privacy rules.

Geektastic

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#1860927 8-Sep-2017 14:04

We have a Westpac World Mastercard that gets the Koru joining fee waived and 'free' top level Priority Pass membership (worth USD$500 or so a year alone) as well as status points and Airpoints dollars.

The PP membership is handy (when you do not have Gold+ status) for other lounge access outside NZ - I used it 3 times in Vietnam and once in Cambodia over the last month or so to get lounge access at no cost.

kryptonjohn

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#1860985 8-Sep-2017 15:35

Thanks for the heads up @Geektastic. I wonder if this offering has changed as it wasn't really on my radar last time I flipped credit cards around to get the best deal.

The WWMC has a slightly better earn date for air dollars 1/$65 vs 1/$75, slightly worse rate for status points 1/225 vs 1/200. Hard to know for me personally how the PP lounges stack up against AirNZ lounges but certainly helps where there is no AirNZ lounge.

Geektastic

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#1861106 8-Sep-2017 22:48

kryptonjohn:

Thanks for the heads up @Geektastic. I wonder if this offering has changed as it wasn't really on my radar last time I flipped credit cards around to get the best deal.

The WWMC has a slightly better earn date for air dollars 1/$65 vs 1/$75, slightly worse rate for status points 1/225 vs 1/200. Hard to know for me personally how the PP lounges stack up against AirNZ lounges but certainly helps where there is no AirNZ lounge.

There are lounges all over the world in the PP network, whereas Air NZ has most of NZ plus LAX, Heathrow and a couple of others overseas (Sydney?) so it really depends where/how often.

Koru has other benefits - free seat selection, extra checked bag etc - as well.

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tukapa1

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#1861125 9-Sep-2017 06:56

kryptonjohn:

We're on Kiwibank platinum mastercard airpoints - last time I looked they seemed to have the best package. With our household spending seem to easily accumulate more lounge passes than I can ever use and about $2-3k of air dollars a year - enough for a family gold coast holiday.

I thought this looked like a good benefit so I checked the card out and it appears I would have to spend $150k-$225k a year on my credit card to get $2-3k of airpoints dollars.

I don't have that kind of family spending a year unfortunately.....

surfisup1000

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#1861151 9-Sep-2017 08:28

gedc:

There are some subtle differences between the airpoints credit card issuers and their 'benefits'. For the bulk of card issuers, the vouchers are for YOU and someone travelling with you at the same time. You are the primary card holder so the vouchers are only allocated to you. You both must be travelling on Air NZ flights ( not sure if needs to be the same flight) and you present your airpoints card or printed voucher and they remove from the system.

It seems to me they are taking what is supposed to be free gift to make you happy and turning it into a restriction nightmare which ultimately ends up with some people resenting the bank scheme.

The best credit card points schemes are the ones that let you buy petrol vouchers!! Effectively money.

sbiddle

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#1861204 9-Sep-2017 10:18

surfisup1000:

gedc:

There are some subtle differences between the airpoints credit card issuers and their 'benefits'. For the bulk of card issuers, the vouchers are for YOU and someone travelling with you at the same time. You are the primary card holder so the vouchers are only allocated to you. You both must be travelling on Air NZ flights ( not sure if needs to be the same flight) and you present your airpoints card or printed voucher and they remove from the system.

It seems to me they are taking what is supposed to be free gift to make you happy and turning it into a restriction nightmare which ultimately ends up with some people resenting the bank scheme.

The best credit card points schemes are the ones that let you buy petrol vouchers!! Effectively money.

I'm not sure why you think it's a restriction nightmare. It's very clear the vouchers are e-vouchers loaded against the cardholders Airpoints account so can be used by the cardholder, or used to give additional people in the presence of the cardholder. This is totally logical and has no restrictions that I can think of.

Each credit card scheme has it's pros and cons but those who sign up for an Airpoints card obviously want it for the Airpoints. If they wanted a cashback card they'd presumably opt for one. As you can't buy lounge access without paying a yearly fee for Koru many people see benefit in the vouchers.

The irony of the vouchers is that they are useless for many people including myself who am Airpoints Elite. ANZ are paying Air NZ for something that will never be used and goes to waste - there aren't many companies who are effectively ripping off the banks!

afe66

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#1861231 9-Sep-2017 11:32

I like how my partner can use the lounge passes we earn on our card when she is travelling by herself but when she travels with me, she's a guest on my Koru. (Kiwibank Plat)

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#1861232 9-Sep-2017 11:44

sbiddle:

The irony of the vouchers is that they are useless for many people including myself who am Airpoints Elite. ANZ are paying Air NZ for something that will never be used and goes to waste - there aren't many companies who are effectively ripping off the banks!

Depends on the arrangement ANZ has with Air NZ. It could be that ANZ only pays Air NZ for passes actually used.

danepak

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#1861233 9-Sep-2017 11:50

I emailed Air NZ to hear if they could extend the expiry date of two of our vouchers.

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Thank you for your query regarding an associated credit card lounge eVoucher.

These eVouchers are a credit card reward benefit aimed to recognise the primary card holder. They are covered by the bank Terms and Conditions and cannot be modified by Air New Zealand.

The benefits of these eVouchers are independent of those held by an Air New Zealand Airpoints member in respect of their Tier Status.

Please contact the bank direct for further clarification or visit their website for more information.

Kind regards

Regina
Service and Support - Email
Air New Zealand

sbiddle

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#1861277 9-Sep-2017 13:39

logo:

sbiddle:

The irony of the vouchers is that they are useless for many people including myself who am Airpoints Elite. ANZ are paying Air NZ for something that will never be used and goes to waste - there aren't many companies who are effectively ripping off the banks!

Depends on the arrangement ANZ has with Air NZ. It could be that ANZ only pays Air NZ for passes actually used.

My understanding is the bank pays for them when they're issued.

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