2020-04-13 23:00
Kia ora Point Hacks readers,
It is with sadness that I must let you all know that we’ve made the difficult decision to wrap up Point Hacks New Zealand.
It’s been a passion… Read More
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Point Hacks Nz - The Best Frequent Flyer Deals & O Blog
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Tags:
lounge
business class
singapore
american airlines
changi airport
american airlines business
jewel
singapore airlines
qantas
jewel changi airport
Point Hacks covers the best frequent flyer, traveller and hotel deals, offers & points bonuses for New Zealand - helping you maximise your points balances and covering amazing experiences in Business Class air travel and high-end hotels.
2020-03-12 22:30
On a recent trip to Honolulu, I visited the Plumeria Lounge in the Hawaiian Airlines inter-island terminal. This lounge is officially reserved for Hawaiian Airlines passengers flying interna… Read More
2020-03-09 22:30
The American Airlines Flagship Lounge is AA’s highest-tier lounge at LAX and is accessible by Business and First Class passengers on most international flights. Qantas Gold, Platinum a… Read More
2020-03-05 01:30
I have been fortunate to experience both the new Singapore Airlines A380 Suites and Business Class products over the last year, so when the airline took delivery of its newest aircraft type… Read More
2020-03-04 01:00
During my extended layover at Singapore Changi Airport, I visited a few of the dozen lounges available for Priority Pass Holders. As a well-established brand, I made sure to check out the Pl… Read More
2020-03-01 22:00
The Airbus A350 is Singapore Airlines’ newest plane type and I think that it’s one of the most comfortable passenger jets out there.
With all flights from Brisbane to Singapor… Read More
2020-02-25 22:30
This flagship International Business Class lounge for Qantas at its main hub of Sydney Airport misses the mark in quality.
We thought it a perfect opportunity to combine our experiences a… Read More
2020-02-24 22:00
American Airlines operates on only one Australian route, which is Sydney – Los Angeles. Its joint venture partner Qantas takes care of other Transpacific routes like Brisbane – L… Read More
2020-02-17 01:15
Singapore Changi Airport has been awarded ‘World’s Best Airport’ by Skytrax from 2013 to 2019, meaning it has held the honour for at least seven consecutive years.
As so… Read More
2020-02-17 01:00
Our guide to Jewel at Changi Airport in Singapore focused on the sparkling retail complex which also happens to hold a rainforest, food court, two-storey Apple Store, an IMAX cinema, all-day… Read More
2020-02-13 22:30
A week ago, I had one of the more stressful travel days that I’ve ever experienced. I had my passport invalidated and was denied check-in on an international flight.
Let’s… Read More
2020-02-12 22:00
Accor Live Limitless Rewards points are a useful major points currency to consider if you have an affinity for staying in hotels that are a part of the ever-expanding Accor Live Limitless (A… Read More
2020-02-10 23:30
The Changi Lounge is an airport-operated space within the new Jewel shopping and retail complex at Singapore Changi Airport. As a landside lounge, i.e. before immigration and security, it is… Read More
2020-02-04 22:30
Fifth-freedom flights represent a novel opportunity to redeem your Airpoints Dollars. Basically, a fifth-freedom flight is one operated by an airline between two countries that it is no… Read More
2020-01-30 23:00
Qantas operates flagship International First Lounges at Los Angeles, Sydney, Melbourne, Singapore and Auckland. All of them except the Auckland one are fantastic. This is a review of the Fir… Read More
2020-01-28 21:30
On a recent flight through Canberra, I had the opportunity to stop by the Canberra Qantas Club for a quick refresher and to grab a morning coffee before my short flight to Sydney… Read More
2020-01-28 01:30
I very rarely stay in hotels in my hometown of Sydney. However, on this occasion, I booked myself a two-night stay at the InterContinental near Sydney’s Circular Quay. I then &hell…Read More
2020-01-26 18:00
A common critique of Air New Zealand’s Airpoints programme is that its points offer poor value on flight redemptions.
While this is a myth in some scenarios, particularly where you… Read More
2020-01-20 23:30
Air New Zealand’s Airpoints Status Hold programme can help new parents with Gold or Elite staus keep their tier benefits for an extra 24 months.
Both parents get this benefit i… Read More
2020-01-20 02:00
Hot on the heels of our YouTube channel relaunch, Point Hacks is excited to launch Point of View, our new Point Hacks Podcast Series.
Make sure to join David Walsh, our Head o… Read More
2020-01-14 20:30
We talk a lot on Point Hacks about using your reward points for travel, particularly premium travel experiences. This is, in our opinion, the best value method of using your points.
Howev… Read More
2020-01-13 23:00
Of the world’s seven continents, South America is in the middle in terms of size but packs a punch with its dizzying variety of landscapes, cultures and travel opportunities.
Po… Read More
2020-01-12 23:30
The number of travellers from New Zealand visiting South America is on the up—and with good reason. It’s a continent rich in culture, landscapes and travel experiences.
In… Read More
2020-01-10 01:30
I get access to some amazing airline lounges thanks to my Platinum status with Qantas.
But for someone who enjoys sharing unique travel experiences with others, this gives rise to an inte… Read More
2020-01-09 23:00
I wasted three hours of my life—and I should have used fare alerts.
I’d been looking to jet off to Colombia to escape Austin, Texas and its all-encompassing hipster fest that… Read More
2020-01-07 22:30
Have you ever been frustrated when you can’t use your Qantas Points for the date, route and/or class of travel that you’re aiming for? You are not alone.
To help save you… Read More
2020-01-06 23:30
Best Western have announced a promotion through which members can earn up to $60 USD in gift cards for staying at participating properties.
Current offer
There is no minimum night… Read More
2020-01-02 23:30
I once had a family member tell me that they planned to transfer their American Express Membership Rewards Points (MRP) to Air New Zealand Airpoints to make a flight reward redemption on Ai… Read More
2019-12-19 19:30
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer programme has undergone radical changes in 2019, with significant increases to the Singapore Airlines and both the Star Alliance&n&helli…Read More
2019-12-17 01:30
After five-year hiatus and the cancellation of United’s flight, Singapore’s flag carrier once again flies to Los Angeles with up to ten times weekly.
In this guide, we loo… Read More
2019-12-13 01:30
Hilton Honors points are great for redemptions at high-value Hilton-chain properties. While you can earn points through stays and credit cards, it is often easier to buy a large number of po… Read More
2019-12-09 02:30
Velocity Frequent Flyer offers new parents an up to six-month pause on their elite status when welcoming a new addition to their family. It’s worth taking up if you have Velocity Silve… Read More
2019-12-03 01:30
We love Singapore Airline’s KrisFlyer frequent flyer programme here at Point Hacks. That’s thanks to its great-value redemptions on Singapore Airlines flights in Business and Fir… Read More
2019-12-02 03:30
Sign up to Spark’s Unlimited Mobile and Unplan Broadband Plans before 7 December, and you’ll earn 500 Airpoints Dollars.
I value 500 APD as being equal to 29,500 points with o… Read More
2019-12-01 22:30
A key principal to understand with award travel is that not all frequent flyer programmes are created equal.
I moved to New Zealand almost five years ago, and since that time I have almo… Read More
2019-11-21 23:30
Virgin Australia and Velocity Frequent Flyer have partnered with many major international carriers such as Singapore Airlines, Delta and Etihad, that allow you to earn and redeem V… Read More
2019-11-21 21:30
In this guide, I present the First and Business Class products flying to Singapore from three New Zealand cities.
You’ll also learn how to maximise the value of your frequent flyer… Read More
2019-11-19 22:30
One of the headline benefits of the American Express Platinum Edge card is the free domestic return flight on Air New Zealand that’s offered each cardholder year.
There ar… Read More
2019-11-18 02:30
Qantas’ subsidiary QantasLink operates around 2000 flights each week, normally doing one- to two-hour hops between regional towns and metropolitan cities in Australia. This guide revie… Read More
2019-11-15 00:30
A lot of travellers enjoy the treat of taking a flight on the Airbus A380 superjumbo. There are two carriers who operate this aircraft on flights to Auckland and Christchurch.
An Emir… Read More
2019-11-14 22:30
Having a hot shower whilst flying 35,000 feet in the air surely has to be one of the most luxurious travel experiences possible. And arriving at your destination feeling more refreshed and … Read More
2019-11-14 01:30
One common approach amongst frequent flyers is to use points for premium cabin travel on flights over three hours in duration and fly Economy Class on shorter routes.
However, what ex… Read More
2019-11-12 22:30
Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles are perhaps one of the most versatile points ‘currency’ out there, and it just got better. You can now redeem those miles for Singapore Airline… Read More
2019-11-11 23:30
As part of a quick two-night trip to Shanghai before meeting the Point Hacks team in Hong Kong, I thought I would try out two of the city’s better priced American Express Fine Hotels … Read More
2019-11-10 23:30
American Airlines has a special relationship with Qantas, much like Emirates does.
They have a joint venture (or joint business), which means that they coordinate fares, scheduling an… Read More
2019-11-07 22:39
The termination of the Virgin Australia-Air New Zealand partnership on 28 October 2018 saw the introduction by Virgin Australia of direct Melbourne to Queenstown services. Virgin Australia… Read More
2019-11-06 23:30
For those looking at booking a luxury hotel stay, we look at why it is worth including Luxury Escapes in your search to open up the opportunity to earn either Qantas Points or KrisFlyer mile… Read More
2019-11-05 23:30
Cathay Pacific’s loyalty programme Asia Miles has quietly increased the price of some long-haul flights on partner airlines.
The background
In June 2018, Asia Miles devalued… Read More
2019-11-04 23:30
In January 2019, Velocity Frequent Flyer introduced a new ‘Carrier Charge’ on all Virgin Australia and some Delta Air Lines flights. This is in addition to the usual taxes and fe… Read More
2019-11-04 18:30
Velocity Frequent Flyer are offering a 15% bonus when you convert KrisFlyer miles or hotel points into points until 30 November, with no cap on the number of bonus points you can earn… Read More
2019-10-31 18:30
As part of a quick two-night trip to Shanghai before meeting the Point Hacks team in Hong Kong, I thought I would try out two of the city’s better priced American Express Fine Hotels … Read More
2019-10-30 18:30
As part of my Virgin Australia Business Class Melbourne to Queenstown review, I was able to enter the Manaia Lounge in Queenstown, which is included as a benefit for Business Class guests. T… Read More
2019-10-29 01:30
Most of us have at least some points sitting in our Air New Zealand Airpoints accounts, which can be increased quite easily through credit card spend, or new join offers like on the American… Read More
2019-10-28 00:30
The number of Nourish Group restaurants where you can earn Airpoints Dollars at on spend has grown again, with three new Auckland establishments on the list.
Restaurant Partners
Th… Read More
2019-10-24 22:30
American Express’ new and spacious Card Member lounge is now open at Sydney International Airport in a completely renovated space previously occupied by Malaysia Airlines.
The new… Read More
2019-10-24 18:30
This review takes a look at my recent flight with Tigerair from Hobart to Melbourne. Tigerair Australia is a low-cost carrier that is fully owned by Virgin Australia. They operate out of 12… Read More
2019-10-23 18:30
There are three hotels in the immediate vicinity of the Melbourne Airport, The PARKROYAL, Ibis Budget and the Holiday Inn.
The Holiday Inn Melbourne Airport offers 207 spacious, soundproof… Read More
2019-10-22 18:30
The Novotel Century Hong Kong is a 4-star mid-tier property centrally located on Hong Kong Island. It is especially popular with families during holiday periods but also caters for business… Read More
2019-10-20 18:30
The recent overhaul of the Qantas Frequent Flyer programme promised members an improvement in the availability of reward seats, especially in premium cabins on popular routes.
Point Hac… Read More
2019-10-13 22:30
The only way to earn elite status with most hotel loyalty programmes is through either spend or stays, holding a high-end credit card, or securing a status match.
Though with Le Club… Read More
2019-10-10 22:50
As part of my December holidays last year, my wife and I were lucky to be meeting up with my brother-in-law and partner in the Maldives for 5 nights, and given they neither of us had ever be… Read More
2019-10-10 22:40
This guide continues from Part 1 of the series that introduced the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island and takes a closer look at the Water Villas and Beach Suites.
Conrad Maldives Rangali Is… Read More
2019-10-10 22:30
This guide is the third part in the Conrad Maldives Rangakli series and takes a closer look at the Sunset Villa.
Conrad Maldives Rangali Island review series
Part 1: Introduction to the res… Read More
2019-10-09 22:30
Your hard-earned Velocity Points and Status Credits will not stick around forever. Fortunately, it is very easy to stop your Velocity Points from expiring indefinitely by following a few sim… Read More
2019-10-07 22:30
Economy X was introduced by Virgin Australia in March 2017 to provide travellers with an enhanced travelling experience both in the air and on the ground. This review looks at the Econo… Read More
2019-10-07 01:45
Velocity Frequent Flyer is offering a 20% discount when buying Velocity Points during the month of October. This equates to around 1.87c per point at the top tier if purchasing the maximum 2… Read More
2019-10-07 01:30
Buying Velocity Points is a great way to top-up your balance if you are just short of a major flight redemption, although it might not be worth it if you are trying to get hundreds of thous… Read More
2019-10-04 00:30
If you are planning a trip to the US, finding Business or First Class seats can be a difficult task, so Premium Economy could be a good compromise between comfort and value.
Here is what… Read More
2019-10-03 22:30
Point Hacks reader Karen sent us this question:
My mother has Emirates Skywards miles due to expire at the end of this month. Can these be transferred to the Qantas Frequent Flyer pro… Read More
2019-10-03 00:40
While travelling in New Zealand with an infant is a relatively painless process, the same cannot be said for international journeys, particularly those which can span 12 hours or more.
Al… Read More
2019-10-03 00:30
Every parent who has travelled with an infant is well aware of the challenges. Solid planning and preparation are essential to a parent’s ability to not only retain their sanity during… Read More
2019-10-01 08:38
According to Routesonline, from 24 June 2020, Qantas’ four-times-weekly service from Sydney to Santiago will increase to daily flights on the Dreamliner.
That means an upgrade f… Read More
2019-09-29 20:00
I landed in Singapore quite early before a connecting Qantas evening flight back to Australia. After clearing immigration and spending some time in Jewel, I checked in early for my Qantas fl… Read More
2019-09-26 23:40
Marriott Hotels is the biggest hotel chain in the world, with over 7,000 properties, including The Ritz-Carlton.
They offer a solid loyalty programme called Marriott Bonvoy that… Read More
2019-09-24 22:30
In New Zealand there is one Qantas Insurance product, and that is Travel Insurance.
This guide is here to give you a quick overview of the policy options that allow you to earn Qantas… Read More
2019-09-23 19:30
Hilton Honors is offering an up to 100% bonus on purchased points until 22 October, which can be leveraged into cheaper Hilton Hotels stays.
This can represent good value for topping up p… Read More
2019-09-22 23:30
AAdvantage are offering a 25% bonus when you convert hotel points into miles until 30 October, with no cap on the number of bonus miles you can earn.
This offer is run on average once… Read More
2019-09-19 23:30
During a recent trip to Europe, my partner and I were scheduled to fly home out of Frankfurt in Business Class but 24-hours before departure, Singapore Airlines’ New First Suite waitli… Read More
![What Is The Quickest Way To Fly From New Zealand To Europe And The US? [2019]](https://cdn.blogarama.com/images/posts_thumbs_site_id/3329/332912-1314458580.w320.jpg "What Is The Quickest Way To Fly From New Zealand To Europe And The US? [2019]")
2019-09-18 21:00
Sure, life is a journey, not a destination. However, living on an island on the other side of the world means that we often just want to get to where we are going the quickest that we can. A… Read More
2019-09-17 21:00
Regardless of whether you have a large stash of Velocity points or some savings in the bank, Virgin Australia offers a few ways to upgrade to Business Class at a reasonable cost.
While ha… Read More
2019-09-13 23:26
If you are looking to boost your Airpoints balance and you were planning some travel, now is a good time to book.
Current offer: triple Airpoints for select Air New Zealand bookings
Yo… Read More
2019-09-13 01:30
After booking a trip to Melbourne, my next step was to pick a hotel that would be near the theatre district, as we were planning to watch Harry Potter and the Cursed Child during that stay (… Read More
2019-09-12 23:30
During one of Hilton’s Asia Pacific ‘Flash Sales’, I snagged a City View King Room including full breakfast for two people for ~AU$172 a night, which is a relative bargain… Read More
2019-09-11 22:30
Qantas Regional Lounges offer all of the essentials, but compared to Qantas Club Lounges, the services and amenities are quite limited.
Most regional lounges are self-contained, and o… Read More
2019-09-10 02:30
Following a phenomenal stay at the Blue Palace in Crete for a wedding, there was, conveniently, a photographic exhibition in Cologne running the following three days which I needed to attend… Read More
2019-09-05 19:30
The Air New Zealand Queenstown Regional Lounge was refurbished in 2017. The new and modern design of the lounge provides eligible Air New Zealand and Star Alliance status members a nice plac… Read More
2019-09-04 22:30
The Qantas Club in Mackay is a comfortable space for both leisure and business travellers, and provides most amenities needed for passengers to work or relax prior their flight. The lounge i… Read More
2019-09-04 03:30
Since December 2016, United Airlines has been significantly upgrading its lounge offerings for passengers departing on long-haul international flights in Business and First Class.
Uni… Read More
2019-09-03 21:30
After three nights in Kyoto at the Westin, my partner and I boarded a Shinkansen to Tokyo for a friend’s 40th birthday party.
The
previous year we had stayed at the Sheraton, so we w… Read More
2019-09-03 01:00
Novotel Melbourne Central officially opened up last December on 399 Little Lonsdale Street, just a few minutes walk from the eponymous Melbourne Central train station, providing another opti… Read More
2019-09-02 19:30
Selecting the most comfortable seat can make a huge difference on a flight, especially for long-haul Economy Class flights to and from New Zealand.
This guide provides a basic overview of… Read More
2019-09-01 22:30
Visiting
Japan during cherry blossom season has always been high on my wish list. When
my best friend suggested celebrating his 40th birthday (which is in
April) in Japan, I knew we might ha… Read More
2019-08-29 23:30
It is always handy to have a stash of Velocity Points at your disposal when you start planning your next flight redemption.
Apart from flying, there are plenty of other ways to… Read More
2019-08-29 19:30
At the beginning of 2019, my best friend from high school and I decided to plan a trip to the United States. She had never visited New York and San Francisco so we chose these as our two de… Read More
2019-08-28 23:30
Most loyalty programmes allow you to earn miles or points not just with the airline itself but also with partner airlines within the alliance to which the airline belongs.
Many progra… Read More
2019-08-28 19:30
After an amazing flight from Sydney in Singapore Airlines new A380, my partner and I decided on a three-night stopover in Singapore before jetting off to Crete for a wedding.
Having visite… Read More
2019-08-27 00:30
This property located in Hokkaido, Japan is part of the Marriott chain of hotels, meaning that you can redeem Marriott Bonvoy points for award stays. This is a great opportunity as staying o… Read More
2019-08-26 19:30
Air travel in the US is not necessarily expensive, but sometimes using points to offset the cost of cash tickets makes sense.
Velocity Frequent Flyer members redeem their Velocity Poi… Read More
2019-08-19 22:30
Looking for a Father’s Day gift? Fly Buys and three of their partners are currently offering the chance to earn bonus points on purchases made until September.
Current offer: 4x poi… Read More
2019-08-18 19:30
You can now earn Airpoints Dollars as you ski or snowboard at Cardrona near Queenstown on South Island.
For every $100 you spend at Cardrona, you earn 1 Airpoints Dollar that can… Read More
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