Do prisoners get air points?
March 29th, 2006 at 5:34 am by David FarrarAfter revelations that the Government is sepending $100,000 a month flying prisoners around NZ, Damien O’Connor has asserted that inmates are not getting airpoints.
I’m not sure that the Minister can be 1005 sure. There are three basic ways to get airpoints:
1) Give Air NZ your airpoints number when booking the flight
2) Give Air NZ your airpoints number when checking in
3) Send in your boarding pass to Air NZ after you fly
Now with (1) we can assume that not even the Corrections Department asks prisoners for their airpoints numbers and uses them in making bookings. However if the prisoner knows what flight he is on, he could get a friend to phone Air NZ with his airpoint number and have it added on.
With (2) again I think we can assume that prison guards do not allow prisoners to hand over their frequent flyer cards at check in.
But with (3) it is possible that if a prisoner retains his boarding pass, then he could post it in afterwards and claim the airpoints.
Are there any other ways prisoners could be claiming air points?
No tag for this post.
March 29th, 2006 at 5:58 am
There is special class of ticket that you can’t claim airpoints on. I assume that the prisoners would be flying on one of these.
Vote:March 29th, 2006 at 6:57 am
Richie, those tickets are simply the economy saver tickets which are available only if you book your flight early enough (generally at least a week in advance).
If they have had to make flight arrangements under short notice chances are it would be one of the more expensive ticket options which would have flight points in theory available.
In saying that I believe the many Government departments like businesses if flightpoints are earnt go to the department not the indivdual and are used for future travel arrangements. So yes a prisoner may earn air points on their prison flight but these would be going to the corrections department and paying to move other prisoners around. I would hope at least this would be how they’re doing it.
Vote:March 29th, 2006 at 6:58 am
Richie, those tickets are simply the economy saver tickets which are available only if you book your flight early enough (generally at least a week in advance).
If they have had to make flight arrangements under short notice chances are it would be one of the more expensive ticket options which would have flight points in theory available.
In saying that I believe the many Government departments like businesses if flightpoints are earnt go to the department not the indivdual and are used for future travel arrangements. So yes a prisoner may earn air points on their prison flight but these would be going to the corrections department and paying to move other prisoners around. I would hope at least this would be how they’re doing it.
Vote:March 29th, 2006 at 7:56 am
I think you will find Air NZ does not allow the organisation paying for a flight to claim the airpoints instead of the person travelling.
Vote:March 29th, 2006 at 8:39 am
Corporations can negotiate with the airline for discounts, which often include a fare basis which doesn’t allow Airpoints earning.
Although I’m not personally sure I see a problem with the prisoners earning Airpoints.
Vote:March 29th, 2006 at 8:44 am
So know we have the problem of 2 many people in Prisons?
So the Labour & Associates govt is putting 2 many people behind bars and they are having to fly them to prisons that have a place available.
There is of course a simple answer to this problem, put National back in power and have the prisons empty and the crime rate up, but no! the good people of NZ were to wise for that one.
Vote:March 29th, 2006 at 9:08 am
Spending $100,000/month would give the Department plenty of leverage with Air New Zealand not to credit individual prisoners with airpoints. I am sure a special arrangement can be made that the Airpoints go to the Department or they get a special deal in lieu of Airpoints.
Vote:March 29th, 2006 at 10:55 am
Come again Cadmus?
A month ago you criticised the centre right for rejecting the scandinavian model (where criminals are not imprisoned), berating them for trying to lock everyone up, now you’re saying they want to let everyone go? Which one is it again?
Personally, I think any kind of prison system involving scandinavian models doesn’t sound like such a bad idea to me. Add in some handcuffs, uniforms and interrogations and where do I sign up?
Vote:March 29th, 2006 at 11:25 am
Trev, correct, the difference is who they lock up. Labour are locking hardcore crimes, by keeping them out of the community, and sending them to prisons with a spare placement.
Vote:Of course it is a no win situation, you will moan what ever Labour do.
Again, I fully support the Scandinavian Prison system, it’s just a pity all Political Parties agree the present system doesn’t work, but are not prepared to try another, pity.
March 29th, 2006 at 11:46 am
Cadmus thats bullsh#t.
You said national would have the prisons empty, not full of petty crims. Read your post again you twit.
Your statements indicate you don’t even know what the scandinavian model is. You appear to be parroting it because the leader of your poodle posse backs it.
I personally support a moderate approach, where repeat offenders and serious crims are dealt with harshly, while rehabilitative approaches are appropriate for less serious offenders.
You on the other hand support whatever approach/policy/agreement/statement Winston Peters makes. Your posts contradict themselves. You are nothing more than a dim witted parrot.
Vote:March 29th, 2006 at 11:53 am
It rally would have been amusing to watch cadmus if winston-first had gone with national. He’s as much of a labour lacky as winnie-the-poodle. He really would have been torn, wouldn’t he?
Vote:March 29th, 2006 at 12:12 pm
Trev, the prisons were lets say, not full when National was Govt. They talked tough, but when push can to shove National turned to jelly, spending less on the Prison budget when in power. But crime up and parole the easy option to save money.
Again I don’t care who is in Power the Present Prison System doesn’t work, it needs to change.
Vote:From my understanding the NZ Prison system is lock them up and let them out again.
Why is it the same people keep coming back to Prison? Why isn’t rehab such as the Scandinavian model used in the NZ Prison system?
Your mates in National/ACT don’t believe in Rehab otherwise they would be supporting the Scandinavian Model. At least Labour & Associates are prepared to look at the prison problem. with a different concept of Prison for first and minor offences. You see Trev you have to start somewhere, which Labour & Associates is prepared to do. No Trev I can think for myself, and work out what is the best solution, it happens to be the same as what the majority of voters belive.
March 29th, 2006 at 5:45 pm
Cadmus is correct, the ‘do one third of your time’ was indroduced under Nationals ‘reforms’ in about 1992 or 1993.
Vote:It was seen as an easy way of not building more prisons.
But they never built more hospitals or schools or even much on roads aswell.
March 30th, 2006 at 7:31 am
My point isn’t who has adopted which policies. Rather I am annoyed at people calling the Right overly harsh on crime and in the same breath saying they’re also too soft. You can’t have it both ways.
Vote: