Air New Zealand Air Points - Upgrading Trans-Tasman

Potentially dumb question alert. At a minimum, a long post.

I am thinking of flying a one-way from preferably AKL to BNE or MEL, i.e. you guessed it, one of the few NZ Trans-Tasman operated by long-haul aircraft. Bus Prem is too exhorbitant (using either airbucks or cash), so......

Could I purchase a dY ticket (Smart Saver, Flexi Saver) then register a Standby Upgrade for BP? Confirmed Upgrades don't work on dY tickets but they do work on Y ((full) Flexi) ones, but again the price is a bit much (although if the upgrade came through it would still be a cheap BP ticket).

The problem is that if it were possible to register for a standby upgrade to BP on Trans-Tasman, then how much does it cost? The rules book only gives the price (250 airbucks) for a standby upgrade between NZ and East AU using a 2-class aircraft.

The next question would then probably be what would be the chances (as a GE, booking in mid-Dec on Tue/Wed/Thu, one of AKL-BNE B744 or AKL-MEL B777 flights) of the standby upgrade clearing? I'm prepared to hear answers such as 0% chance, but I would like to hear the reasons (e.g. registration of upgrade is possible but no way in Hell that yield management will ever approve such an upgrade). On that note, it seems clear that availability of upgrades - like QF - are based on yield and not mere space-availability, right?

Finally.... I'm thinking of buying a Flexi Saver rather than Smart Saver so that I can at least get a ticket which will credit something to BD, my other *A carrier. However, I am conscious of another thread (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/air-new-zealand-air-points/992744-possible-lose-upgrade-changing-ff-no-nz-bd.html) where someone tried to change their FFP details NZ to BD after check-in and receiving their upgrade (didn't receive boarding pass - was supposed to get it issued at gate), then got squirreled out of their upgrade at the gate. So does anyone know of a way to prevent this happening yet still being able to credit to BD? (I have no status on BD)

Well, I have over the past 2-3 years used either AP for standby upgrades, or my complimentary upgrades, all on TT Smart Saver fares. All have cleared, some about 48 hours before the flight. This being in the Dec period either just before Christmas or after Christmas, e.g.
AKL-SYD on A320
AKL-PER on B767
SYD-AKL on B767
SYD-CHC on A320
MEL-AKL on B777
(Some of my flights were on Saturdays too, most of my AKL-SYD/SYD-AKL ones were those operating around midday rather than the early morning or the late evening ones.)

Yes, you can put in for a Standby upgrade on ANY fare...the upgrade cost should be the same given the 777/747 are effectively operated as 2 class on those routes... Premium Economy becomes "Space +"..

As I fly in/out of SYD I don't bother upgrading... I just try to book 763's and grab 11A!!:D

As a GE I'd be surprised if you didn't get it... but that is not based on empirical evidence... just on the route and the number of BP seats!

Where is Kiwi Flyer.?. he'll know! ^

If you cant get 11a take 19A or 19K (39" seat pitch)

Another benefit of Row 19 on the 767 is that Row 18 is locked upright - so you can guarantee noone will recline into your space.

They used to be unlocked by the cabin crew after takeoff, but when the new cabin was retrofitted, the new seats require CAANZ certification to be unlockedafter takeoff - to date this has not been granted.

Chances of upgrade clearing are reasonable, but not guaranteed (sometimes the cabin does sell out even on 747/777). My personal success rate is maybe 60% on these routes, mostly using the complimentary u/g vouchers which have higher priority than standby airbucks u/gs. That said, I'm mostly travelling Friday through Monday, and often in busy periods (major events, school holidays, etc) which will not have helped my odds.

If upgrade doesn't clear then you still get a reasonable seat (premium economy on 747/777 or space+ on 767/A320). Is the food & drink onboard + a bit more personal space worth the upgrade cost? Will you be happy if there is an a/c swap to 767 (as sometimes happens)?

They used to be unlocked by the cabin crew after takeoff, but when the new cabin was retrofitted, the new seats require CAANZ certification to be unlockedafter takeoff - to date this has not been granted.

How did the lock work? was it like a pin to prevent the sets reclining?
Row 18 makes row 19 feel so much better when you recline, but then you do get some weird looks from other passengers.

Has anyone else noticed that they wont pre-assign row 18AB JK anymore?

My success rate is about 98% but am rather specific when I fly ie: not beginning/end of school holidays or major sporting events.

UG on a A320 is in my mind, a waste of money so only go for 767/777/747.

Unless you simply wish to try BP, Why would you wish to upgrade TT - as a GE you already get Space+, which on a 777 is quite good for such a short international flight. (not too shabby on 320/767 either)

Personally, I thoroughly enjoy upgrading trans-Tasman flights (except at breakfast time, when I don't really think it's worth it). Though I agree that the Y/Y+ product is very good for shorthaul, so is the J product. The food/beverage service is not far off that of the longhaul product, there's a great booze selection, and the flight is the perfect length to enjoy a movie, leisurely dinner and a few (too many?! ;)) glasses of wine, without having to worry about jetlag or longhaul-style dehydration etc.

Ill be using one of my UGs when i fly in December, at this stage i can fly on a 767 which is good, don't want to waste an upgrade on an A320.

I also enjoy upgrading on the TT flights as well as those to the Pacific Islands. But with space + that's a good fall back, particularly on the 747 where you can go upper deck with only 2 seats across or, as others have said, 11A and others on the 767. Breakfast flights can be a bit of a waste of A$ but nice if you have plenty to spare.

I always go for the biggest first if possible. 747 has the biggest BP cabin, followed by the 777. I also find the 767 ok, but avoid 320s like the plague if at all possible.

If I'm travelling at short notice I do a trial booking for 9 people (the max allowable on the ANZ site). If that many seats are available in BP (or Business on the 767) it's a sign that there's a good chance of upgrading. I always travel outside school hols and usually at weekends.

Have usually been lucky with flights to BNE, MEL, ADL as well as RAR, NAD and APW.