Just before Christmas Air New Zealand sent me my new Airpoints Card – The OneSmart Card. They couldn’t have done better with the name as it truely is one smart (and useful) card.
Having spent the last week in Melbourne for the Boxing Day Test I was able to test all the functions on the card.
Aside from being my Airpoints Card the OneSmart Card allowed me to:
- Add money to the card as a MasterCard Debit Card
- Once the money was added I created an AUD ‘wallet’ and converted some of my NZD to AUD.
- Once in Australia I withdrew money (though note this was taken from my NZD balance – not sure why but I think this is still better than a standard international ATM withdrawal)
- The MasterCard is also a PayPass card so once at the MCG I was able to ‘tap and go’ at the bars and food outlets. This is similar to what was available at the Rugby World Cup but I didn’t get a card for that as there were a few funny rules around it.
- The card is also a chip based card so when PayPass wasn’t available I could still use it like a standard credit/debit card.
All the transactions (except the cash withdrawal) used my AUD balance so no conversion fees.
The card also can be managed via your mobile phone using YAP but I haven’t had the need to try that yet.
Air New Zealand have done extensive work before launching the card and I am most impressed it the simplicity and cleanliness of the website. I am easily able to convert money to multiple currencies and clearly see all the transactions. I was also able to set it up to email me every time a transaction takes place, and many times the email arrived before I’d even had time to pick up my food and leave the checkout.
All and all I have been most impressed with my new card, while I don’t plan to travel as much in 2012 as I have previously, it certainly made things very quick and simple – great work Air New Zealand.