In previous years, Air New Zealand has sent elite flyers Christmas gifts as a gesture of goodwill and thanks for their loyalty. Starting in 2018, the practice of giving gifts will come to an end, with the budget redirected into the airline’s Airpoints for Schools program.
Air New Zealand will no longer offer Christmas gifts to elite flyers, but instead, use that budget to invest in their Airpoints for Schools charity program. The announcement was made in an e-mail to elite flyers and posted to the FlyerTalk Forums.
“In past years, we have sent gifts to our Elite members at Christmas, but because it is difficult to cater to differing tastes and preferences, each year we receive mixed feedback,” the e-mail reads. “This year we will use those funds to give even more Kiwi kids the means to realize their dreams through a greater Air New Zealand contribution to the Airpoints for Schools program.”
The charitable arm of the New Zealand flag carrier is described on their website as a program that allows schools to “campaign for Airpoints Dollar donations to help with their travel costs” for flights that support “outstanding environmental, cultural, social or educational goals.” Previous travel projects funded by Airpoints include school trips to museums, leadership camps and the Special Olympics.
Although the airline claims the shift is due to “mixed feedback” about previous gifts, flyers are sending negative feedback about the change directly on FlyerTalk forums. Many are calling the decision a devaluation of their elite benefits, leaving some to question if they will even continue to seek out status in future years.
“Offering a gift isn’t about offering the most expensive or the flashiest,” sbiddle writes in the forums. “It’s simply about receiving something to thank me for the $20,000 or so that they have got from me this year.”
FlyerTalk has reached out to Air New Zealand about the changes in the program. As of this time, our requests for more information have yet to be returned.