Air NZ American Express Platinum Cards

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Forums › Finance and wealth management › Air NZ American Express Platinum Cards

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nakedmolerat

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#934828 16-Nov-2013 11:53

OP: Do you want AMEX 'charge' card or AMEX credit card?

rayonline

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#934868 16-Nov-2013 13:00

ruderger:
ScuL: I think this table is relevant
http://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/airpoints-direct-earn-credit-card-comparison-table

That table is ok, but other cards earn points that can be spent on travel too, like the AmEx Platinum Edge, I think it's about $45 spent (at a supermarket $1=3points) will earn $1 that can be spent at webjet.co.nz or AmEx travel, that's pretty good. $3333 spent at supermarkets will earn 10000 that is $75 at webjet, if I spent the same amount on GP AmEX I'd earn about $50 airpoints $. + the free flight is worth maybe 288 airpoints (Wel-Dun return, for most expensive GrabASeat fare).

With the Amex points can you get access to $99 fares to Australia or $599 return to Asia or are those only on the AirNZ website?

Kyanar

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#934872 16-Nov-2013 13:08

rayonline:
ruderger:
ScuL: I think this table is relevant
http://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/airpoints-direct-earn-credit-card-comparison-table

That table is ok, but other cards earn points that can be spent on travel too, like the AmEx Platinum Edge, I think it's about $45 spent (at a supermarket $1=3points) will earn $1 that can be spent at webjet.co.nz or AmEx travel, that's pretty good. $3333 spent at supermarkets will earn 10000 that is $75 at webjet, if I spent the same amount on GP AmEX I'd earn about $50 airpoints $. + the free flight is worth maybe 288 airpoints (Wel-Dun return, for most expensive GrabASeat fare).

With the Amex points can you get access to $99 fares to Australia or $599 return to Asia or are those only on the AirNZ website?

You can convert Amex MR points into APD, then you can use them there, otherwise it's only if the fare can be bought on like Webjet.

rayonline

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#934873 16-Nov-2013 13:09

Kyanar:
rayonline:
ruderger:
ScuL: I think this table is relevant
http://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/airpoints-direct-earn-credit-card-comparison-table

That table is ok, but other cards earn points that can be spent on travel too, like the AmEx Platinum Edge, I think it's about $45 spent (at a supermarket $1=3points) will earn $1 that can be spent at webjet.co.nz or AmEx travel, that's pretty good. $3333 spent at supermarkets will earn 10000 that is $75 at webjet, if I spent the same amount on GP AmEX I'd earn about $50 airpoints $. + the free flight is worth maybe 288 airpoints (Wel-Dun return, for most expensive GrabASeat fare).

With the Amex points can you get access to $99 fares to Australia or $599 return to Asia or are those only on the AirNZ website?

You can convert Amex MR points into APD, then you can use them there, otherwise it's only if the fare can be bought on like Webjet.

Would you know the conversion ratio off your head? It looks like for those who have flexibility to nail the cheapest fares AirNZ website might still be the best way (with a CC that gives you APD or cold cash whom has the better rate) .... Over time ... I've pretty much just went with the AirNZ website b/c the other airlines even when they have specials just aren't as cheap as A-NZ. Air Asia when they were here, were pretty good for most people when they cannot be restricted on the dates and the length of travel thou ..

ajobbins

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#934875 16-Nov-2013 13:16

Here in Oz, I have a Mastercard + AMEX on the same account with Commonwealth Bank.

One statement, but I get 3x the points for using the AMEX vs. the Mastercard. Use it wherever possible without surcharge.

Most places here in Oz do take AMEX, but a good number of them charge an additional fee for using it, which usually more than cancels out any points benefit. So I just use it where it's there is no additional charge. Most of my regular places (big companies) take it without fees. Pay all my bills automatically on CC, mostly on AMEX - so get a few points that way.

A couple of years ago we were renting an apartment and the property management company used a third party to collect rent payments, and you could pay for your rent with a credit card without fees (Inc. AMEX!). Was awesome. Was able to leave my rent in savings account for an extra few weeks, and put a $25k+ through the card for points.

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Kyanar

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#934876 16-Nov-2013 13:17

rayonline:
Kyanar:
rayonline:
ruderger:
ScuL: I think this table is relevant
http://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/airpoints-direct-earn-credit-card-comparison-table

That table is ok, but other cards earn points that can be spent on travel too, like the AmEx Platinum Edge, I think it's about $45 spent (at a supermarket $1=3points) will earn $1 that can be spent at webjet.co.nz or AmEx travel, that's pretty good. $3333 spent at supermarkets will earn 10000 that is $75 at webjet, if I spent the same amount on GP AmEX I'd earn about $50 airpoints $. + the free flight is worth maybe 288 airpoints (Wel-Dun return, for most expensive GrabASeat fare).

With the Amex points can you get access to $99 fares to Australia or $599 return to Asia or are those only on the AirNZ website?

You can convert Amex MR points into APD, then you can use them there, otherwise it's only if the fare can be bought on like Webjet.

Would you know the conversion ratio off your head? It looks like for those who have flexibility to nail the cheapest fares AirNZ website might still be the best way (with a CC that gives you APD or cold cash whom has the better rate) .... Over time ... I've pretty much just went with the AirNZ website b/c the other airlines even when they have specials just aren't as cheap as A-NZ. Air Asia when they were here, were pretty good for most people when they cannot be restricted on the dates and the length of travel thou ..

Can do you one better - https://www.americanexpress.com/newzealand/personal/cards/rewards/transferpartners.shtml

That'll show you all the partner programs you can transfer MR points to, and the rates.

rayonline

1734 posts

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#934878 16-Nov-2013 13:23

cheers 175 conversion to apd. so 3333 pts gets 3x for supermarket (?) is under 60 dollars. ...prety similar to APD directly. but other stuff may only attract 6666 (petrol) or 3333 points (other purchaes) for the same amount spent or under $40 or $20 APD.

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ruderger

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#934916 16-Nov-2013 14:47

With the Amex points can you get access to $99 fares to Australia or $599 return to Asia or are those only on the AirNZ website?

How do you access those? On the Grab A Seat page? They don't seem to be available on Webjet or AmEx travel. I've just tested with Christchurch to Invercargill, $110 rtn on Grab A Seat, $287 on AmEx NZ, $288 on Webjet (inc $20 of Webjet fees), interesting.

Specials seem to be available though, if you look in the right place. Air NZ has a special to Hong Kong for $699 each way, came to $1408 (inc taxes) + $35 if you pay by any CC. That flight won't show on the AmEx Travel site for NZ, just Qantas for $1199 NZ, but the Air NZ flights show on USA AmEx travel site for $1173 assuming this is $US = $1406 NZ. $1742 on Webjet (inc $57 Webjet fees)

rayonline

1734 posts

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#934932 16-Nov-2013 15:35

ruderger:
With the Amex points can you get access to $99 fares to Australia or $599 return to Asia or are those only on the AirNZ website?

How do you access those? On the Grab A Seat page? They don't seem to be available on Webjet or AmEx travel. I've just tested with Christchurch to Invercargill, $110 rtn on Grab A Seat, $287 on AmEx NZ, $288 on Webjet (inc $20 of Webjet fees), interesting. Specials seem to be available though, if you look in the right place. Air NZ has a special to Hong Kong for $699 each way, came to $1408 (inc taxes) + $35 if you pay by any CC. That flight won't show on the AmEx Travel site for NZ, just Qantas for $1199 NZ, but the Air NZ flights show on USA AmEx travel site for $1173 assuming this is $US = $1406 NZ. $1742 on Webjet (inc $57 Webjet fees)

Those fares are on the the Grabaseat webpage - they only pop up on on the (odd) day in the morning and are generally sold out in an hour or two. Japan fares are generally in masses and don't get sold out that quick thou maybe into the late afternoon or even until 10pm.

Just a few days ago Christchurch to Gold Coast was $99 one way. Within a week 11 November ago Auckland to Tokyo $999 to travel in May 2014 for a week away. I recall when Japan had the Fukushima incident they dumped fares out at $499 return or was that $399. Apart from the Islands and Australia, the 2nd international fare was to Hong Kong that popped up on 7 November for $998 return. I collate them into a spreadsheet. I have the Grabaseat app loaded on my phone which gives me alerts for international fares. You can also get the AirNZ reverse auctions which tends to reduce in price up to the Grabaseat fares then it gives up if no one puts in a bid.

I went to Japan again in May this year for $748. This can fluctuate up to $998 though, mostly however are $799 or $899. Hong Kong is more expensive. You can also you get these cheap fares to Taipei and Seoul for like $100 more than just to HKG b/c they slap on an extra fligh tfor you. Vancouver this year only one or so fare seen.

But yeah those fares you see like $1200 or $1400 return, they generally are on other websites I would think or at the travel agent. Not as low as AirNZ however.

shk292

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#935000 16-Nov-2013 20:25

We have Westpac Amex and MC, on the same account. I hate trying to use Amex because so few places take it, except supermarkets and petrol stations. They're about to change to Visa, so that will be better I hope

khull

1245 posts

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#935101 17-Nov-2013 08:28

nakedmolerat: OP: Do you want AMEX 'charge' card or AMEX credit card?

Just the credit card because of the Airpoints

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