Multi-pax GE gifted RU/$AP clearing: all or nothing?
Apr 24, 2023, 8:17 pm
#1
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Multi-pax GE gifted RU/$AP clearing: all or nothing?
I have had a search but found nothing definitive to this question.
How are Elite $AP upgrades Y->PE cleared in the situation where the Elite is travelling with two giftees (all with Elite $AP Upgrades lodged), but there are less than three (or even 2) upgrade seats available at whatever point these are considered? Are they all declined and offered to those further down the pecking order, or is the Elite offered the option to take what is available?
How are Elite $AP upgrades Y->PE cleared in the situation where the Elite is travelling with two giftees (all with Elite $AP Upgrades lodged), but there are less than three (or even 2) upgrade seats available at whatever point these are considered? Are they all declined and offered to those further down the pecking order, or is the Elite offered the option to take what is available?
Apr 24, 2023, 8:51 pm
#2
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Auckland
Programs: NZ Elite, IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 908
I have had a search but found nothing definitive to this question.
How are Elite $AP upgrades Y->PE cleared in the situation where the Elite is travelling with two giftees (all with Elite $AP Upgrades lodged), but there are less than three (or even 2) upgrade seats available at whatever point these are considered? Are they all declined and offered to those further down the pecking order, or is the Elite offered the option to take what is available?
How are Elite $AP upgrades Y->PE cleared in the situation where the Elite is travelling with two giftees (all with Elite $AP Upgrades lodged), but there are less than three (or even 2) upgrade seats available at whatever point these are considered? Are they all declined and offered to those further down the pecking order, or is the Elite offered the option to take what is available?
If you are unable to be pre-confirmed then it will come down to the airport and the giftees will have the same priority as you provided you’re travelling with them. If they can only confirm 2/3 of your party then they **should** have the courtesy to ask you who’s getting them but YMMV…
Apr 24, 2023, 9:16 pm
#3
Join Date: May 2008
Location: MSP
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I would agree it depends - I can't see an automated system helping in this situation. I'd imagine it would see 3x upgrade requests and if 3x seats not available when it gets to your turn on the list then it would automatically go to the next person on the list. If the team doing the upgrades on the day are under the pump then they might pass it over as well. It could take 10-20min to stop the upgrade process, get the lounge to page you and ask, get back to the upgrade team for confirmation. In that time they could have processed all the upgrades and moved onto to other things needed to get the plane out on time.
Last edited by NZ_Flyer; Apr 24, 2023 at 10:29 pm
Apr 24, 2023, 9:54 pm
#4
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Unsurprising, and not unexpected. Sigh. Thanks both.
Perhaps the odds will improve if a 77W is used per last year SIN-AKL rather than the 789v1 currently scheduled.
Perhaps the odds will improve if a 77W is used per last year SIN-AKL rather than the 789v1 currently scheduled.
Apr 25, 2023, 12:52 am
#5
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: New Zealand
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In my experience (pre COVID, haven’t experienced this recently) you can be asked in the lounge as to whether you would take one upgrade out of the two or whatever size of the group, where only one UG is available. I am not certain this is the default process, due to such a small sample size on this ever happening.
Apr 25, 2023, 3:24 am
#6
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Programs: NZ *G
Posts: 412
I agree with JayKiwi . I’ve only had one experience of this, trying to upgrade my family from Y to PE on the way home from LAX to AKL. At the gate I was called to the desk and offered the upgrade for me only, as there was only one seat. I declined, to ensure marital harmony.
On the plane, a Flight Attendant approached my wife and offered her the upgrade.
On the plane, a Flight Attendant approached my wife and offered her the upgrade.
Apr 26, 2023, 12:37 pm
#7
Join Date: Jul 2019
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I agree with JayKiwi . I’ve only had one experience of this, trying to upgrade my family from Y to PE on the way home from LAX to AKL. At the gate I was called to the desk and offered the upgrade for me only, as there was only one seat. I declined, to ensure marital harmony.
On the plane, a Flight Attendant approached my wife and offered her the upgrade.
On the plane, a Flight Attendant approached my wife and offered her the upgrade.
And did she take it haha?
Apr 26, 2023, 1:21 pm
#8
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: New Zealand (when I'm home!)
Programs: Air NZ Elite
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I have actually done this a lot. It's my main reason for maintaining elite, to upgrade the family.
Pre checking in, it is all or nothing if you lodge online. Nothing online asks you to split up PNRs. I wouldn't do it anyway, since my family members would not get the same priority if split from me.
Once checking in though and upgrades have not cleared, you can ask the agent to consider upgrading just 1/2 etc of you, if space is available, and they will then do that. It's then up to your family to negotiate who gets what!
Edit: Something else you can do if you are closer to the time and want to try to guarantee some get an upgrade, is to call up Air NZ and check to see if there is enough space to clear at least 1/2 of you. They can often do that, but they won't do it automatically for a group booking.
Pre checking in, it is all or nothing if you lodge online. Nothing online asks you to split up PNRs. I wouldn't do it anyway, since my family members would not get the same priority if split from me.
Once checking in though and upgrades have not cleared, you can ask the agent to consider upgrading just 1/2 etc of you, if space is available, and they will then do that. It's then up to your family to negotiate who gets what!
Edit: Something else you can do if you are closer to the time and want to try to guarantee some get an upgrade, is to call up Air NZ and check to see if there is enough space to clear at least 1/2 of you. They can often do that, but they won't do it automatically for a group booking.
Last edited by kiwifrequentflyer; Apr 26, 2023 at 2:09 pm
May 6, 2023, 9:51 pm
#9
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Related query. With 3 pax on one PNR is it possible for 2 pax to have RUs applied (1 gifted), and for the 3rd pax to have gifted Elite $AP upgrade applied?
Obviously it'd be preferable to have the 3rd pax not split from the PNR and become dis-associated from me (as the Elite).
Obviously it'd be preferable to have the 3rd pax not split from the PNR and become dis-associated from me (as the Elite).
May 7, 2023, 12:30 am
#10
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,645
Related query. With 3 pax on one PNR is it possible for 2 pax to have RUs applied (1 gifted), and for the 3rd pax to have gifted Elite $AP upgrade applied?
Obviously it'd be preferable to have the 3rd pax not split from the PNR and become dis-associated from me (as the Elite).
Obviously it'd be preferable to have the 3rd pax not split from the PNR and become dis-associated from me (as the Elite).
Split or not to use two upgrade instrumentsn going to have to ring them.
If don't want to split always the option of 3 APD upgrades.
May 7, 2023, 2:32 am
#11
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Auckland
Programs: NZ Elite, IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 908
Related query. With 3 pax on one PNR is it possible for 2 pax to have RUs applied (1 gifted), and for the 3rd pax to have gifted Elite $AP upgrade applied?
Obviously it'd be preferable to have the 3rd pax not split from the PNR and become dis-associated from me (as the Elite).
Obviously it'd be preferable to have the 3rd pax not split from the PNR and become dis-associated from me (as the Elite).
May 7, 2023, 6:13 am
#12
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 367
Yes, you can mix APD/RUs on one PNR. However, I believe you may need to use the contact centre to do this. You should be able to do one type of UG (such as RUs) yourself online first but I don't think the online system allows you to use a different UG type once you've already submitted.
May 7, 2023, 11:48 am
#13
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