By 
In the paper this morning .... Air New Zealand plans fare changes
It is understood that central to the plan is an annual discount card which would be sold for between $1000 and $1500 in return for a discount of between 20 per cent and 35 per cent on any regional fare.
The discount card would also include Koru lounge membership, worth about $600, and all fares would continue to earn airpoints.
The changes were aimed at businesspeople and staff of large organisations who regularly travelled to one of the main centres either for business or weekly commutes to work.
This is encouraging. Air New Zealand acknowledge they have an issue in the regions.
Was anyone local involved in the consultation?
Without seeing any detail I still have some reservations on the approach as presented so far.
- Most serious travelers will already have a Koru membership. That has to come off the price
- What is the price the 35% discount is based off? I think the price needs to be sub $100 per leg. Discounts are a nice marketing trick. I need to see the dollars.
If anyone at Air New Zealand reads this. We do like you. We like the service. We want to keep supporting you because you are the best airline. Just make it affordable and you will get that loyalty back in spades. I did 4 legs yesterday and have 4 flights next week. We're doing our part in this relationship.
14:57, 25.06.2010
Given the lack of competition I’d be interested to know what’s driving this other than the punters moaning. It’s not like were offered an alternative carrier so what’s the catch? With the airport runway extension this may open an opportunity for another carrier (drop you off in Auck on the way to Sydney so to speak). Until we have regional competition we just have to suck it up….but any small savings based on current pricing has to be good.
16:23, 25.06.2010
i have just read the article and there is a line from the house of travel rep saying that “the airline could be taking pre-emtive actions in anticipation of new competition”.
Are we be being softened up with a marketing ploy, to tie in a % of buisiness travellers before a competitor comes galloping over the horizon shortly ? lets see the numbers air nz, and its still a far cry from the prepaid units idea from fruitbowl.
16:46, 25.06.2010
As a fellow Gold Elite, I agree entirely Rod. Love Air NZ but feel screwed over at times, ie. This week: paid 119 airpoint dollars for NPE-AKL flight for tonight, changed plans, had to travel last night, so had to pay an EXTRA $239 cash, and won’t even get airpoints because the original purchase was with APDs. Crazy.
16:55, 27.06.2010
Hmm my money’s on a competitor we need to see the numbers on the Discount Card. Like the theory as long as it’s not another ‘penalise’ the business owners type product i.e Koru does not need to be in there frequent flyers are already members. Speaking of being screwed over…..One month ago $700 each x 2 to Nelson for a funeral. We looked at a number of alternatives such as driving to Wellington yada yada then flying to Nelson but the price was laughable for 20ish monutes in the air. At the same time deals by another Airline to Samoa including flights, accomm and meals for 5 nights was about the same price – how does that work? Everyone wants to be patriot and we all want to love Air New Zealand more but they don’t make it easy!!