Hello,
We will be flying to RAR via LAX. My wife and I are both UA 1Ks (*G).
- Are we entitled to an upgrade to premium economy?
- Is this possible even if on an award ticket?
- Are non-*G members of our family we fly with also eligible and if so, how many?
- Would those family members need to be on the same record locator?
Thank you.
libertyuk
Apr 18, 12, 6:21 am
Hello,
We will be flying to RAR via LAX. My wife and I are both UA 1Ks (*G).
- Are we entitled to an upgrade to premium economy?
Welcome
Presuming you are on the direct LAX-RAR flight, it is typically operated by a Boeing 767 which does not contain a premium economy cabin. Please correct me if there is a one-off substitution with another aircraft that you can see on the dates you intend to travel, but that is the current timetabled allocation. Only economy and business class are available.
If a 777 is on your flight, it does not matter substantively as nobody is "entitled" to an upgrade to premium economy. It is a separate paid for cabin for all passengers and is not at all like UA Economy Plus. You can only access it by purchasing the fare, or requesting an upgrade using Air NZ airpoints dollars or upgrade vouchers. The only exception might be if it is a late substitution, and premium economy was not specifically sold - in which case seats may be offered on the basis of status. You can presume Air NZ Gold Elite and *G frequent flyers would have first preference, but you'd be next on the list. However, please note this is just hypothetical. If a 777 is timetabled for the flight and you can buy premium economy tickets for the flight, then presume this wont happen.
Your UA 1K status will of course entitle you to business class checkin, luggage allowance and lounge access at LAX and RAR, and should enable you to select seats in the forward economy cabin on the 767 (which is smaller, but the seating is virtually identical to the rear cabin) on booking, if available. This includes award tickets in economy.
With you and your wife both *G you will both be able to invite one guest each to the lounges, regardless of record locator. However, in relation to seating you will all ideally need to be on the same booking to get seated together, although you can always phone the Air NZ helpline and mention your status, with the other booking number and best endeavours would be made to get you seated together if available.
I hope that helps.
regards
SFO_FT
Apr 20, 12, 11:35 am
Building on libertyuk's excellent details.
NZ allow *G status pax to book into the PremEco cabin on its 3-cabin aircraft (777/747) when these aircraft are used on short-haul routes (mostly trans-Tasman, but some Pacific Island routes too). On these short-haul flights, only 2 classes of service are sold (Economy and Business) ... *G (and select other pax types) are entitled to be seated in the PE cabin/seats, but the service provided (eg, meal, drinks) are Economy.
Quite unlikely that LAX-RAR will be upgauged to a 777, unfortunately.