Air New Zealand Air Points - Upgrades on NZ

I am booked NZ LAX-AKL in Business Class in April. As a *G what are my chances on getting a free upgrade to F? Any advice when/where/how to ask for one?

Wouldnt it be lovely mate but Air NZ are real tight re upgrades anywhere.

Good luck though, let me know how you go!

Anyway wouldnt you rather be on the upper deck??

Best wishes

Dave

Thanks for the encouragement!
I am confirmed on the upper deck exit row aisle seat so I can't complain about space.
Luck has been on my side for my past two longhaul flights getting free upgrades to F on SQ (yes, SQ!)
There is always hope...
I'll keep you all posted on what happens

I have found any op upgrade on NZ to be very rare in deed. In the old days the FA use to come down the cabin with the pax list and tap certain people on the shoulder (prerequisite was a NZ accent) and ask them to come up front - this practice seems to have stopped (as it was grossly unfair unless you were the one tapped).

Op upgrades on AirNZ are in fact very rare and are pretty much only done in overbooking or disruption situations. Just having status won't do it (especially just *G unfortunately, even a NZ *E would be lucky). I think there are usually enough airpoints upgrade requests to take care of any overbooking problems and they come first. Good luck all the same, it does occasionally happen.

Cheers, Zac

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by CorporateFlyer:
I have found any op upgrade on NZ to be very rare in deed. In the old days the FA use to come down the cabin with the pax list and tap certain people on the shoulder (prerequisite was a NZ accent) and ask them to come up front - this practice seems to have stopped (as it was grossly unfair unless you were the one tapped). </font>

Last time I saw this was about 9 months ago on a NAN-AKL 744 flight. The whole lower deck J class was empty and the ISD invited my seatmate up to the front (he was *E, me just NZ*G so got left behind http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif). It was a nice gesture from the ISD on such a short flight (he still got the regular Y food and drinks albeight with personal service) and one of those nice touches that makes being an AirNZ *E worth it. I've never seen someone get upgraded to actual J class, although I'm sure it does happen.

Cheers, Zac

It used to happen http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif But was typically done in the lounge at the instruction of the IFSD, especially out of certain ports (PER and BNE used to be guaranteed). (but only to NZ*E)

Mark

Why do people think that just because they have *G(and not even AirPoints members) that they can be upgraded just like that?

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Guy Betsy:
Why do people think that just because they have *G(and not even AirPoints members) that they can be upgraded just like that? </font>

Every airline has different upgrade policies and I was simply asking how NZ handles this. I have a J class ticket and a nice seat, which I am perfectly happy with. There have been flights in the past where I had an F class ticket and was the only pax in that class. Everytime the flight service director asked me if I would mind that they upgrade people. Each time I said yes I do mind. Call me a ******* but I figure that if I pay a premium F class fare why should I share the cabin and services with someone who pays a fraction of my fare? I prefer when airlines do not give free updrades as a matter of principle (unless absolutely necessary). In that way everyone gets what they pay for.

So if I understand you correctly you're hoping for an upgrade, but only as long as it's you. Everyone else should get what they pay for.

Nope not at all. I am very happy to accept what I pay for. Seat 11C is not bad at all for a 12 hour flight.
I was simply curious about how NZ deals with upgrading.
If I get very very lucky and they happen to upgrade me I won't say no of course. But I won't hope or even ask for it.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by fm747:

I am booked NZ LAX-AKL in Business Class in April. As a *G what are my chances on getting a free upgrade to F?

There have been flights in the past where I had an F class ticket and was the only pax in that class. Everytime the flight service director asked me if I would mind that they upgrade people. Each time I said yes I do mind. Call me a ******* but I figure that if I pay a premium F class fare why should I share the cabin and services with someone who pays a fraction of my fare?

</font>

Not very good at all if the only person in that cabin is also a "*******"

Could you not then also complain that having bought a Full Y fare you have to share the coach cabin of the 747 with all those scabby people who bought W/T/S/L fares. They are a fraction of the cost too!!

*******!

Do NZ's elite upgrades work with award tix ?

No

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Kiwi Flyer:
No</font>


Which booking classes do they work on ?

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