More flexibility and greater choice - benefits for our most frequent flyers include:
Upgrade Privileges - Silver, Gold and Gold Elite
Priority Wait-listing - Silver, Gold and Gold Elite
No Airpoints Dollars™ Expiry - Gold Elite and Gold
Gift Recipients - Gold Elite and Gold
Discounted Business Awards - Silver, Gold and Gold Elite
Upgrade Privileges - Silver, Gold and Gold Elite
From 12 July 2012 to purchase an upgrade using Airpoints Dollars, Airpoints Gold, Silver and Jade members will need to request a OneUp™ upgrade. Gold Elite members will still be able to request one class Standby Upgrades at current fixed rates, see below for more information.
Gold Elite Airpoints Standby Upgrades
From 12 July 2012, Gold Elite members will still be able to request Standby Upgrades with Airpoints Dollars at the current Airpoints Dollars values.
Standby Upgrades will only be available to upgrade one class, from Economy to Premium Economy or Premium Economy to Business Premier. If the applicable flight only offers Economy class and Business class your upgrade will move you from Economy into Business class.
See how many Airpoints Dollars are required for Gold Elite Standby Upgrades.
Check here for the Standby Upgrade chart valid up to and including 11 July 2012.
Recognition Upgrades (previously called Complimentary Upgrades)
If you are a Silver, Gold or Gold Elite member you will receive Recognition Upgrades which allow you to request a one-class, one-sector upgrade to use in your membership year as part of your tier benefits.
For all Recognition Upgrade requests, Airpoints members may receive advance confirmation of their Recognition Upgrade as follows:
- Silver members may receive confirmation up to 48 hours prior to travel
- Gold members may receive confirmation up to 72 hours prior to travel
- Gold Elite members may receive confirmation up to 355 days prior to travel.
All Recognition Upgrades are subject to specific booking class availability, aircraft capacity control and catering and are not guaranteed. They may only be used on Air New Zealand ticketed and operated flights.
Recognition Upgrades may be gifted by Gold Elite members only.
A Member's Recognition Upgrade is valid for the 12 month period from the qualification or requalification date of that Member into the applicable Tier Status. If during that time the Member upgrades to a higher Tier Status, any unused Recognition Upgrades for the lower Tier Status will automatically expire on the date that the higher Tier Status becomes effective.
If you are an Airpoints Silver, Gold or Gold Elite Member, you can see how many Recognition Upgrades you have available online. Just login to myairnz (your personal homepage). Or, if you've not logged in before, register now.
Request a Recognition Upgrade.
Using your Upgrade Privileges for flights departing London Heathrow
The UK government imposes an Air Passenger Duty in relation to each passenger travelling on flights originating from London. The Air Passenger Duty on the lowest class of travel (Economy) is charged at a reduced rate, and the Air Passenger Duty on the higher classes (Premium Economy and Business Premier) is charged at a higher rate. When you upgrade from Economy class to one of the higher classes, the higher Air Passenger Duty rate applies and we will collect the difference from you as follows:
London to New Zealand = £92
London to Hong Kong = £81
London to Los Angeles = £65
We require payment of this amount by credit card prior to the commencement of your flight. If your London upgrade is confirmed before your journey commences, a member of our contact centre or your travel agent will attempt to contact you to collect payment. If we can't reach you or if your London upgrade isn't confirmed prior to check-in, you will be required to pay this Air Passenger Duty at time of check-in.* If you have purchased a Premium Economy fare and wish to upgrade into Business Premier, the additional Air Passenger Duty does not apply.
* Infants under the age of 2 years not occupying a seat are exempt. The UK Air Passenger Duty applies to infants and children occupying a seat. If you are connecting to a flight in Hong Kong, Los Angeles or Auckland not operated by Air New Zealand, charges may differ. Frequently Asked Questions for more information.
Priority Wait-listing - Silver, Gold and Gold Elite
If the flight you want is full, you can be priority wait-listed in the chance a seat becomes available. This must be requested through your booking agent. This service is available on Air New Zealand and Star Alliance-operated flights. Wait-listing is not available in conjunction with reward tickets and is not available on all fare types.
No Airpoints Dollars Expiry - Gold Elite and Gold
Your Airpoints Dollars will not expire while you retain Gold Elite or Gold status. Should you move below Gold status, you will have until your next anniversary of joining to use any Airpoints Dollars that would otherwise expired. If your next anniversary falls within two months of you moving below Gold status you will have two months to utilise these Airpoints Dollars.
Gift Recipients - Gold Elite and Gold
In addition to the household gifting rules, Gold Elite and Gold members have an exclusive opportunity to gift rewards to nominated friends or family members each year. These people do not have to live in the same household or be Airpoints members. Gold Elite members are able to nominate an additional four people, and Gold members an additional two people. To register your giftees, login to myairnz, and choose Gifting Register under myProfile. If you're not already registered for myairnz, register here.
Discounted Business Awards - Silver, Gold and Gold Elite
A special allocation of discounted Long Haul Business fares are available in limited quantities. These fares are also available for Koru members.
Gold Elite Partner
If you are a Gold Elite member you can nominate a Gold Elite Partner to enjoy many of the same exclusive privileges as you do when travelling on Air New Zealand operated flights, even if you are not travelling together. With their Gold Elite Partner card, your partner will enjoy: access to Air New Zealand owned and operated lounges (with one guest) and our partner lounges*, premium check-in, additional baggage allowance, priority airport standby, priority boarding and priority baggage claim. To register your Gold Elite Partner, login to myairnz, and choose Partner information under myprofile, Or, if you've not logged in before, register now. Please note that your Gold Elite Partner pack will be sent to your registered address, and we ask that you pass this on to your nominated partner. Nominated partners do not need to reside at the same address as the nominating Gold Elite member. Please note Gold Elite Partners must be re-nominated each year. Please refer to our Airpoints terms and conditions for further information.
* Details of Gold Elite Partner lounge access information can be found here.
Gold Elite Gifts
We've introduced Gold Elite Gifts to thank our Gold Elite members for choosing to fly with us so frequently. When a member reaches 2500 Status Points from their last requalification date, we'll get in touch with them to ask what gift they would like. An example of a Gold Elite Gift could include:
- A degustation and wine match dinner for two at one of the award winning restaurants of our consultant chefs.
- A case of medal winning wines from the Air New Zealand Wine Awards.
If you have qualified for a Gold Elite Gift, we will be in contact with you.
Advanced Seat Request
Gold Elite, Gold and Koru members may be able to request seats in advance.
When travelling on trans-Tasman flights Gold Elite, Gold and Koru members need to book The Works to request premium seats in advance online.
Gold Elite, Gold and Koru members travelling on our domestic Night Rider flights between Auckland and Wellington will not be able to request premium seats in advance. Find out more about Night Rider services.
You'll find Premium Seating towards the front of our cabins on most Air New Zealand flights - just remember to enter your Airpoints number when you book to be able to request premium seating if available online, or through the mybookings section at myairnz.
