Making a Difference: Air New Zealand to Allow FFP Members to Donate Airpoints Dollars to Select Schools

Air New Zealand has launched a new annual initiative, with support from the Ministry of Education, which allows Airpoints members to donate Airpoints Dollars to participating schools.

Schools selected to take part in the new Airpoints for Schools programme will be eligible to receive public donations up to a total value of 10,000 Airpoints Dollars each, to redeem on flights for educational purposes such as school trips or up-skilling opportunities for teachers.

To apply for Airpoints for Schools, New Zealand schools will be invited to tell Air New Zealand how domestic or international flights would help them to achieve their goals. Air New Zealand will then choose a select number of schools from around New Zealand to take part in the Airpoints for Schools programme.

Air New Zealand Chief Executive Officer Christopher Luxon said that as New Zealand's national airline it's important to Air New Zealand to support the community in meaningful ways.

"Airpoints for Schools will benefit schools, students and the community by providing opportunities to gain experiences, knowledge or inspiration," he said. "At the same time we're offering our Airpoints customers another option for redeeming their Airpoints Dollars, by allowing them to pay forward the benefits they get from being a loyal Air New Zealand customer, or put their soon to expire Airpoints Dollars to a good cause. Air New Zealand regularly receives requests from our customers wanting to donate their Airpoints Dollars for various fundraising initiatives, so it's great that we now have the functionality to be able to offer a way they can gift Airpoints Dollars to assist schools."

All New Zealand Primary, Intermediate and Secondary Schools are invited to submit applications in late January 2016.

During April and May of 2016 the successful schools and their proposed travel will be published on the Air New Zealand website. Airpoints members will then be able to donate to the featured school or schools of their choice through the Airpoints Store.

Schools will then have a year to put their Airpoints Dollars to good use, as outlined in their initial application.

Any government and airport taxes associated with international airfares will be paid for by Air New Zealand as a donation to the schools participating in the programme.