Air New Zealand Air Points - One up bidding now underway

Thought I would test it out today and have placed a bid for our september trip. The bid is "very poor" on the rating meter :) I can of course go in and modify that bid at a later point.

Interesting that if you have more than one flight in your booking (ie different sectors) it will place an average bid on them all so you would want to be certain that you place your bid only on the flight sector you do want to upgrade and move the slider back to no bid on the others. Personally I think that is a sneaky thing on air nz's part, any robust testing of the system should have picked that up and been corrected unless they are hoping to get more revenue from people unwittingly one-upping themselves on other sectors (although I cant really believe anyone would be that stupid not to review as they go along). In my opinion, when you go into one up bidding, the slider should sit at no bid until you change it.

Anyway will be interested to hear how others get on and what gets accepted, if people are willing to share.

I've given it a go, too. NZ2 to LAX next week, then LAX-LHR a few days later, trying to upgrade from PE to BP. Put in minimum bids just to see what happens (availability currently showing C4D4Z4J7 up to LAX, and C4D2Z0J0 up to LHR).

Interestingly, the OneUp bid amounts are all in British Pounds, I guess as this is the currency of the original ticket purchase. Keen to see how the currency conversion to APD works if a bid is accepted. Minimum bid in pounds was £160 for each of the two sectors.

I too tried the system late last week, for one sector upgrade between AKL-LAX. I too was surprised when currency came up in Euros. My ticket was purchased in Spain, so understood why, but wasn't something I was initially aware of. No indication on the site if APD would be converted accordingly, so aborted my upgrade request.

Update on my OneUp requests (above).

72 hours out from departure of the first sector (almost to the minute) I got an email from Plusgrade saying that my £160 bid was not successful (even with the 50% GE weighting bonus). Interestingly, BP availability through FlightStats.com is still showing at C4D4Z4J7, exactly as it did when I placed the bid a week ago (I don't have a Expert Flyer subscription, so can't check award seat availability through there).

Based on the relatively good availability in the cabin, I'm a bit surprised that the bid was not accepted. Makes me wonder whether OneUp bids are processed based purely on availability (i.e. "let's fill the cabin, taking whatever money is offered") or if low bids will be declined, even if availability exists (i.e. even though I bid the minimum OneUp amount, that's still not enough for the bid to be accepted).

Not holding out much hope for the 2nd sector 3 days later, where the cabin is already choc full.

Now I just have to decide whether to fork out the extra for a Standby upgrade, instead.

based on your experience so far it would appear that the super low bids arent going to make it. I dont know what the original cost of an upgrade from PE to BP was before, but I do know that we paid $440 APD for our upgrade from econ to PE LHR to LAX. So you would think that an offer of around $400 should be acceptable? It's all so vague and annoying.

based on your experience so far it would appear that the super low bids arent going to make it. I dont know what the original cost of an upgrade from PE to BP was before, but I do know that we paid $440 APD for our upgrade from econ to PE LHR to LAX. So you would think that an offer of around $400 should be acceptable? It's all so vague and annoying.
It was previously APD220/440/730 for Y-class to U-class, U-class to C-class, and Y-class to C-class respectively on long haul sectors.

Although I note it is now APD480 for U-class to C-class, when did that sneak up...

based on your experience so far it would appear that the super low bids arent going to make it. I dont know what the original cost of an upgrade from PE to BP was before, but I do know that we paid $440 APD for our upgrade from econ to PE LHR to LAX. So you would think that an offer of around $400 should be acceptable? It's all so vague and annoying.

Well KiwiNorway's bid was for about $313NZD + GE weighting = about $470, your $400 bid + silver weighting would be $440, so I'd suggest the odds would be similar to KiwiNorway's. I'd suggest maybe a $456 bid, that'd beat a statusless bid of $500.

But of course, we're all none the wiser at this point. For all we know, NZ is just chucking all bids less than $1000. Hopefully we get more people posting their experiences so we can get a rough estimate of what's realistic.

I've got a standby upgrade from Works to Business pending for October at the old rate of $250APD for SYD/AKL on a 767.

Be interesting to see if this gets trumped.

It was previously APD220/440/730 for Y-class to U-class, U-class to C-class, and Y-class to C-class respectively on long haul sectors.

Although I note it is now APD480 for U-class to C-class, when did that sneak up...

I am assuming you mean the old standby upgrades. We paid 440 for confirmed upgrades (Economy to PE) from LHR-LAX and again from LAX-RAR in Sept. So that was why I was wondering what the rates were and thinking if you bid around the old confirmed upgrade rate, you might have a chance.

edit: I am trying out the one up bidding for the HKG-LHR leg.

I am assuming you mean the old standby upgrades. We paid 440 for confirmed upgrades (Economy to PE) from LHR-LAX and again from LAX-RAR in Sept. So that was why I was wondering what the rates were and thinking if you bid around the old confirmed upgrade rate, you might have a chance.

edit: I am trying out the one up bidding for the HKG-LHR leg.
Yes, sorry. Those were standby upgrade rates. I only ever used confirmed upgrades trans-Tasman so never really looked at them for long haul.

I'm assuming that the terms around this have not changed (ie not permitted), but can we bid up a class on star alliance partner award flights on NZ metal?

I've got a standby upgrade from Works to Business pending for October at the old rate of $250APD for SYD/AKL on a 767.

Be interesting to see if this gets trumped.

I've got an upgrade application under the old system for a 777-200 flight AKL/NAD on 29 July.

Usually Silver members can enquire 48 hours before departure. Wonder what will happen now that one-up bids are accepted or rejected 7 days before departure.

It seems that the lowest bid the system allows you to make, will never be accepted, even as Gold Elite.

If anyone has any contrary information, please share.

What would be telling is the loads these flights take off with in PE/J-that'd be a way of determining for sure whether they're filling a certain number of seats, or if they're only taking bids they like. If it's the latter, it makes the whole weighting system worthless and we've been had.

Flights which are not, and which will not be, even a quarter full in the upgraded class are having Gold Elite bids at the lowest possible level declined 72 hours out.

It seems if you do not get an email a week out accepting your bid you are SOL.

Anyone else have any information to share?

Flights which are not, and which will not be, even a quarter full in the upgraded class are having Gold Elite bids at the lowest possible level declined 72 hours out.

It seems if you do not get an email a week out accepting your bid you are SOL.

Anyone else have any information to share?

More information would indeed be useful. One of the big "selling" points when OneUp was first communicated was the fact that OneUp would allow cheaper upgrades. I suspect that that point was simply fired out quickly in an effort to quell the uprising, rather than being rooted in fact.

Someone with sufficient data (i.e. premium availability on flights with failed bids) should put it forward to Air New Zealand and see what they say.

They really should have a set amount of seats to be auctioned per flight and state how many are up for grabs, and fill them with the highest bids plus any weightings. Otherwise it's a bit of a crock.

They really should have a set amount of seats to be auctioned per flight and state how many are up for grabs, and fill them with the highest bids plus any weightings. Otherwise it's a bit of a crock.

I don't agree.
Firstly they sell seats. Often on popular routings they will be fully sold.
Then if there is availability process recognition upgrades.
Then if there are seats left put them out for oneup.
For many flights this will mean there will be no seats available for oneup. Don't have too higher expectations of there being many seats available for sale through this new process. I suggest PVG and TT may be your best chances.

Oh yeah, I obviously agree that seats sold need to be taken into account. However if ntddevsys is to be believed, they're rejecting bids even when 75% of the cabin is vacant, and that doesn't sound right to me.

For many flights this will mean there will be no seats available for oneup. Don't have too higher expectations of there being many seats available for sale through this new process. I suggest PVG and TT may be your best chances.
Which of course is an interesting issue in itself. In the old system, all upgrades remained waitlisted til the doors closed - so you continually had a chance given any misconnects, last minute changes/cancellations, no-shows, denied boarding, etc.

With OneUp that's all gone.

I know I cleared at least one upgrade due to misconnects at LAX, so this actually represents a further downgrade in benefits to pax.

Welcome to the art of one up upgrade everyone!!

Oh yeah, I obviously agree that seats sold need to be taken into account. However if ntddevsys is to be believed, they're rejecting bids even when 75% of the cabin is vacant, and that doesn't sound right to me.

Particularly given that one of the reasons given for the whole shemozzle was that this was designed to spread upgrade demand to those flights where requests could be filled due to emptyish cabins!

Sat accross from GE who stated he had a one- up LA Auckland for $750. No reason not to believe him. He was pleased.

Sat across from GE who stated he had a one- up LA Auckland for $750. No reason not to believe him. He was pleased.

Y to PE, or PE to C?

Sat accross from GE who stated he had a one- up LA Auckland for $750. No reason not to believe him. He was pleased.
Miseducated about how it used to work? I don't think I'd be pleased at that cost.

I'm sure Air New Zealand were pleased though. ;)

Sat accross from GE who stated he had a one- up LA Auckland for $750. No reason not to believe him. He was pleased.

Did you educate him at all and direct him here to learn more?

I was pleasantly surprised today to find I could use a recognition upgrade inside of seven days .. in fact inside of seven hours .. and it cleared at check in.

Having just achieved GE, and this being a G recognition upgrade certificate, it was either use it or lose it.

:)

I was pleasantly surprised today to find I could use a recognition upgrade inside of seven days .. in fact inside of seven hours .. and it cleared at check in.

The more interesting question is how useful RUs - or the now GE-only standby upgrades - are within the seven day window. Obviously it worked great for you! :)

With the new upgrades system being so opaque, it's hard to know whether one or two 'seats' are being specifically being held at T-168hrs for last minute ticket purchasers who wish to upgrade, or whether no-shows, last minute cancellations, or the last one or two unsold seats are being used (which under a week are only useful for uncleared RU or standby upgrades).

I'm not sure from T & Cs (maybe I missed it), but I have a non AirNZ award flight on AirNZ in economy from Wellington - London (no seats in business available - doh).

Is it possible for me to bid via OneUp for upgrade to PE?
I know I can't upgrade using Airpoints...

Thanks

I don't know - he seemed reasonably pleased - I did suggest I thought that was a bit pricey. Said last time he had paid nearly $500 for a standby upgrade and wasn't overly fussed.

Also just had another couple of standby upgrades auto-confirm tonight - were showing R7 on expert flyer.

cheers

I'm not sure from T & Cs (maybe I missed it), but I have a non AirNZ award flight on AirNZ in economy from Wellington - London (no seats in business available - doh).

Is it possible for me to bid via OneUp for upgrade to PE?
I know I can't upgrade using Airpoints...

Thanks

To be eligible, your ticket must be issued by NZ.

Originally Posted by davidrnz

I was pleasantly surprised today to find I could use a recognition upgrade inside of seven days .. in fact inside of seven hours .. and it cleared at check in.

The more interesting question is how useful RUs - or the now GE-only standby upgrades - are within the seven day window. Obviously it worked great for you!

With the new upgrades system being so opaque, it's hard to know whether one or two 'seats' are being specifically being held at T-168hrs for last minute ticket purchasers who wish to upgrade, or whether no-shows, last minute cancellations, or the last one or two unsold seats are being used (which under a week are only useful for uncleared RU or standby upgrades).

I also offered APD480 for a PE-BP upgrade on the return flight and despite the bid strength meter telling me it was weak, I got the upgrade.

Admittedly, when I subsequently went to select a seat, BP was half empty.