• Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
  • Advertising Disclosure
Live and Let's Fly
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
  • Advertising Disclosure
Home  >  Air New Zealand  >  Air New Zealand Is Asking The Right Questions
Air New Zealand

Air New Zealand Is Asking The Right Questions

Matthew Klint Posted onFebruary 12, 2020February 12, 2020 5 Comments

Air New Zealand wants to deliver its a more “uniquely Kiwi” experience and is asking its most frequent flyers for feedback. To its credit, it is asking the right questions.

Airpoints Gold and Elite members received an email from incoming Air New Zealand CEO Greg Foran asking three questions:

  1. Looking to the future what do you think is the next big thing Air NZ should focus on?
  2. What do you think Air NZ is doing well and should continue to do?
  3. What could we do to improve your experience as a valued customer?

Foran, whom Air New Zealand poached from WalMart, began his new role last week. Already he has asked staff for their answers to the same questions. His email contained a video promising new business class seats plus the promise:

“Customers like you are at the core of everything we do, and I am pleased to share that we will be stepping up our efforts to deliver an even more uniquely Kiwi experience.

“As an Airpoints Elite member you are one of our most important customers. Very few people know us better, fly as often, or would have more informed opinions about our business and our customer experience.”

My Answers

The email did not go to me, as I do not credit my Star Alliance flights to Airpoints.

Neither should you–in its current form. It’s simply not a valuable program, even if you fly Air New Zealand.

Nevertheless, here’s how I would answer the questions.

  1. Air New Zealand abandoned London because the economics didn’t work. I miss the round-the-world Auckland-Hong Kong-London-Los Angeles service, but get that it just doesn’t make sense in the 787 and A350 era. Is it possible a nonstop Auckland to London might be feasible with next-generation aircraft? That would position Air New Zealand to offer world’s longest flight and give Air New Zealand a chance to innovate the onboard product for such an ultra-longhaul flight.
  2. Despite the overcrowding, Air New Zealand offers superb lounges and should not abandon that investment. On the contrary, it could take it to the next level by offering a special a la carte dining section for full-fare business class travelers on longhaul flights.
  3. I’m not asking for the best loyalty program in the world in a market that has only limited competition–that would be wasting my breath. But a pure revenue model offers no incentive for the discretionary travel to be loyal. Why not offer fixed price awards more in-line with the competition and still offer revenue-based award redemption options?

CONCLUSION

I always enjoy traveling on Air New Zealand and appreciate that the incoming CEO is asking the right questions. There is always room for improvement and especially with it comes to its loyalty program, Air New Zealand could actually offer a competitive product if it wanted to.

> Read More: Walmart Boss Is New CEO Of Air New Zealand

Previous Article My Beloved Air Italy Bites The Dust
Next Article Delta Should Think Twice Before Dancing On Air Italy’s Grave

About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

Related Posts

  • Economy Skynest

    Air New Zealand Economy Skynest: Innovative, But Practical?

    February 26, 2020
  • Edible Coffee Cup Air New Zealand

    Edible Coffee Cups On Air New Zealand Are Cool, But Unacceptable (To Me)

    December 5, 2019
  • United Doubles LAX LHR

    With Air New Zealand Gone, Will United Double Up On LAX-LHR?

    October 23, 2019

5 Comments

  1. Aaron Reply
    February 12, 2020 at 8:13 am

    They need to upgrade their business class seats, whether ultra-long haul or just regular long haul. They have a good soft product, they just now need the hard product to match.

  2. Jerry Reply
    February 12, 2020 at 12:08 pm

    @Matthew Since 2007 the name of the company has been Walmart. It’s one word and there is no dash. This is something the public continually gets wrong, but as an associate of Walmart’s Home Office, it’s a pet peeve of mine to still see the name of the company written Wal-Mart or in this case WalMart.

    Foran was a great guy, I wish him the best at NZ. Looks like he’s already off to a great start.

  3. Abbey Yeung Reply
    February 12, 2020 at 4:01 pm

    I really hope that air new Zealand would come back to london they are a great airline and fly the Dreamliner from London after 24th October this year I am really hoping that I can see a plane from them again in the london skies

  4. Ricardo Reply
    February 13, 2020 at 10:12 am

    One thing first… Look after all those great cabin crew who operate the London – LA route! They’re all about to lose their jobs and see little help coming from Air NZ. I’ve flown this route many times, most recently in January and December and these folk are amongst the very best in the business. If anyone in the AV-Geek world has any means to help them, I know they’d appreciate it.

    • Matthew Reply
      February 13, 2020 at 10:34 am

      Great thought, Ricardo.

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Search

Recent Posts

  • United Airlines Cuts Los Angeles – Tokyo Narita Route Ahead Of Haneda Launch February 6, 2023
  • Navigating The Touts Of Petra, Jordan February 6, 2023
  • What Annoys Flight Attendants Most… February 6, 2023
  • Mövenpick Resort Petra Review
    Review: Mövenpick Resort Petra, Jordan February 6, 2023

Categories

Popular Posts

  • Spirit Airlines Captain Runs Out Of Cockpit After Woman Yells “I Hope Y’All Crash And Die!” January 17, 2023
  • Hotel Worker entered room
    Woman Demands $3,000 In Compensation After Hotel Worker Walked Into Her Room At Midnight January 24, 2023
  • United Airlines 2023 Status Extension
    United Airlines Quietly Extends MileagePlus Premier Status…Again January 14, 2023
  • United Airlines Polaris Meal Service: The Sad State Of Affairs January 27, 2023

Archives

February 2023
M T W T F S S
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728  
« Jan    

As seen on:

live_and_lets_fly

The new United Polaris Lounge at Washington Dulles The new United Polaris Lounge at Washington Dulles is the most beautiful of all Polaris Lounges. Stay tuned for a detailed look and many more photos on the blog tomorrow. Well done @united.
@malaysiaairlines just announced it would retire i @malaysiaairlines just announced it would retire its A380 fleet. While not surprising, it is sad to see the growing list of carriers retiring this superjumbo jet. On Malaysia Airlines, I flew the #A380 once from Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to London (LHR) and had the entire first class cabin to myself (full review on the blog). It was a beautiful flight that I will always remember.
Welcome to @fly_bur @aveloair! I am so excited tha Welcome to @fly_bur @aveloair! I am so excited that a new carrier, Avelo, has launched, especially from an airport just 12 minutes from my home!
I greatly miss the @lufthansa #747-8 at @flylaxair I greatly miss the @lufthansa #747-8 at @flylaxairport. Hopefully this summer it will return.

.
.
.
.
#Lufthansa #FirstClass #747 #747-8 #StarAlliance #Miles #Points
I recently spent a weekend at the @ventanabigsur. I recently spent a weekend at the @ventanabigsur. This is not only a lovely, all-inclusive resort, but one of the best properties to use your @hyatt World of Hyatt points.
.
.
.
.
#Hyatt #BigSur #California #WorldofHyatt #CA-1 #Points #Hotels
In terms of a spacious first class product, the @E In terms of a spacious first class product, the @Emirates suite on a 777-300ER is hard to beat. My preference is Suite 2K.

.
.
.
.
#Emirates #777 #firstclass
Nearly five years ago, I took a “break” from I Nearly five years ago, I took a “break” from Instagram ahead of the birth of my first child. Goodness, how time flies. While I’ve enjoyed catching up on others over the years, now it is time for me to return to Instagram. In this first post, I highlight two joys in my life, my two children, whom I trust will grow up to be prolific travelers that circumnavigate the globe as ambassadors of love and respect.

.
.
.
.
.

#travel #airplanes #airlines #miles #points #familytravel #human #integrity #honor
United Airlines' new Polaris seat is a huge improv United Airlines' new Polaris seat is a huge improvement over UA's current business class seat. Check out my blog at liveandletsfly.com for 70+ photos of how @united is transforming its entire business class experience starting this December!
The perfect @flysas name tag for #Longyearben! The perfect @flysas name tag for #Longyearben!
Spotted four #polarbear outside of #longyearbyen - Spotted four #polarbear outside of #longyearbyen -- oh, and I love 40°F summer weather!
One of the best crews I have ever had the pleasure One of the best crews I have ever had the pleasure of flying with in all my years of flying. Thank you @flysas SK940 on 11 Aug 2016
Next stop ARN! But dear @flysas , next time if I a Next stop ARN! But dear @flysas , next time if I assign a window seat months in advance, don't move me to a center seat "for my convenience" with no way to get my original seat back... 😞
Ready for #PIA from #MAN to #JFK -- we will be rac Ready for #PIA from #MAN to #JFK -- we will be racing the #Delta flight to JFK at the gate next to us, which also departs at 12:45p. With @onemileatatime
Another room with a beautiful view... #hyattregenc Another room with a beautiful view... #hyattregencycasablanca #cassablanca #hyatt
Enjoying #shanghai with @onemileatatime from the i Enjoying #shanghai with @onemileatatime from the inside of the @grandhyatt_shanghai ... It is 40°C outside! 😓
From my front gate to my boarding gate in 15 minut From my front gate to my boarding gate in 15 minutes flat. I ❤️ #bur #burbankairport
@malaysiaairlines #747 out of retirement and in se @malaysiaairlines #747 out of retirement and in service at #kul -- beautiful livery!
View from my 61st floor room at the beautiful bran View from my 61st floor room at the beautiful brand new @parkhyattguangzhou -- look for a full review coming soon on the blog #hyatt #parkhyatt #guangzhou #parkhyattguangzhou
Will miss the @united #globalfirstlounge at #ord, Will miss the @united #globalfirstlounge at #ord, which closes tomorrow and the Queen of the Skies #747 which will be retired in 2018.
The colonial #architecture of #mumbai is stunning. The colonial #architecture of #mumbai is stunning. If you're ever here, get up at 5am and have a walk around the city before it gets busy. You can hear the birds instead of honking horns.
Load More... Follow on Instagram
facebook twitter instagram rss

This site is for entertainment purposes only. The owner of this site is not an investment advisor, financial planner, nor legal or tax professional and articles here are of an opinion and general nature and should not be relied upon for individual circumstances.

 

Advertiser Disclosure: Some links to credit cards and other products on this website will earn an affiliate commission. Outside of banner ads published through the Boarding Area network, this compensation does not impact how and where products appear on this site. While we do try to list all the best miles and points deals, the site does not include all card companies or credit card offers available in the marketplace. Please view our advertising policy page for additional details about our partners.

 

Editorial Disclosure: The editorial content on this page is not provided by any entity mentioned herein. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.