Airpoints Upgrades Gone!
AIR NEW ZEALAND CHANGING THE WAY AIRPOINTS DOLLARS™ UPGRADES ARE REQUESTED AND ONEUP™ ENHANCED TO INCLUDE GDS BOOKED CUSTOMERS
For travel from 30 May 2012, customers who are booked via a GDS, on flights where there are premium cabins, will be eligible to make bids for upgrades using Air New Zealand’s OneUp™ programme. At the same time Airpoints Stand-by and Confirmed upgrades will be replaced by OneUp™.
OneUp™ is an offer-based upgrade system that allows customers to choose how much they are prepared to pay for an upgrade and make an offer on that basis. OneUp™ offers can be made for a ‘single class’ upgrade, i.e. from Economy to Premium Economy or from Premium Economy to Business. To be eligible, the upgrade offer needs to be submitted to Air New Zealand at least seven days prior to flight departure. Customers can choose whether to pay with Airpoints Dollars™, debit card, credit card or Travelcard.
Airpoints members who book through a travel agent will be able to request a OneUp™ upgrade via myairnz.co.nz or as a travel agent you can make an offer on their behalf using an online form which is currently under development. This online form will be available at airnzagent.co.nz by 30 May2012.
Recognition upgrades are not affected by this change and can be requested as they are today. Likewise, Airpoints Standby and Confirmed Upgrade requests received prior to 30 May 2012 for travel after 30 May 2012 will not be affected and will be treated as they are today.
Exit strategy anyone? We have repeatedly stated that the only value of Airpoints is upgrades. Now they have taken the one and only good thing about Airpoints away. It doesn't mention how it will affect Gold Elite members but in any case, this is our worst nightmare. Time to say good bye to NZ.
Last edited by Xiaotung; Feb 29, 2012 at 4:31 pm