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
There are two types of Airpoints™ upgrade: Standby and confirmed. If you are a Silver, Gold or Gold Elite member you will also receive additional one-class, one-sector recognition upgrades to use in your membership year as part of your tier benefits (these were previously called complimentary upgrades).
From 5 December 2011, upgrade requests made on flights departing London Heathrow, from Economy Class to Premium Economy or Business Premier an additional charge will apply. Please see further information below.
Silver members receive one (1) one-class, one-sector upgrade, which may be confirmed 48 hours prior to travel.
Gold and Gold Elite members receive two (2) one-class, one-sector recognition upgrades. Recognition upgrades for Gold members may be confirmed by Air New Zealand 72 hours ahead of travel. For Gold Elite members, these upgrades may be confirmed by Air New Zealand up to 355 days before the flight.
All recognition upgrades are subject to specific booking class availability and can only be used on Air New Zealand ticketed and operated flights.
Recognition upgrades may be gifted by Gold Elite members only.
Recognition upgrades are valid for the 12 months Tier Status is effective. If during that time a Member upgrades to a higher Tier Status any remaining recognition upgrades for the lower Tier Status 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 new-look personal homepage). Or, if you've not logged in before, register now.
Request a recognition upgrade (previously complimentary upgrades).
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 the higher classes, the higher Air Passenger Duty rate applies and we will collect the difference from you.
If you decide to use your upgrade privileges or purchase an Airpoints upgrade on Air New Zealand ticketed and operated flights departing London Heathrow, you will be required to pay the amount of the Air Passenger Duty where you upgrade to either Premium Economy or Business Premier from Economy class as follows:
London to New Zealand = £85
London to Hong Kong = £75
London to Los Angeles = £60
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, this additional Air Passenger Duty does not apply.
* Infants under the age of 2 years not occupying a seat are exempt. The British 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. Please refer to 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
Gold Elite Partner allows you to nominate your spouse or 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 Koru lounges (with one guest), 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 must reside at your home address and be and Airpoints Member in their own right.
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.
You'll find Premium Seating towards the front of our cabins on all Air New Zealand flights - just remember to enter your Airpoints number when you book to be able to request premium seating online, or through the mybookings section at myairnz.
