Air New Zealand Air Points - Introduction and Question

Just found this site and pleased to find Air NZ has a forum.

Now for my question: Most of my travel is domestic with Air NZ. I attained Gold Elite status about 8 months ago (480 status credits this year) but apart from receiving a cookery book I haven't noticed much else on offer. On my last trip to Australia I did receive an upgrade to business class, but so it seems, did half the queue.

I've read a couple of threads that suggest I'm not maximising the benefits. Does anyone have any suggestions on where I can read about the full benefits?

Thanks

Welcome to FT HateFlying :)

Thats an ironic handle given you fly a lot. Wow - its very hard to make GE on domestic travel! You must have a lot of full econ fares, so sounds like you will benefit from the change to airbucks (Airpoints Dollars) from 16 Nov 04.

Your members guide should have the basics of what you get for status. Some very knowledgeable people here who can help get the most out of FFPs (frequent flyer programs). Do some searches on things you want to find out more of - I'd suggest looking at this forum, the *A (Star Alliance) forum as a minimum. Then ask away. And as you have discovered there are some undocumented (= not guaranteed) perks of your high status.

Welcome to FT.
The published benefits over Gold are
Upgrades from Pacific Class to Business Class can be confirmed up to 12 months before your requested flight.
Entrance for five guests at Air New Zealand operated Lounges (excluding regional) when travelling on Air New Zealand
Gift Rewards to two nominated friends or family members each year
Five complimentary Koru Club Valet parking vouchers which entitle you to 24 hours complimentary valet parking at Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch Airports.
First Class Check In on Air New Zealand only.

As a *GE it has been my experiance that there are hardly any benefits of our status whatsoever. Great you can get into lounges, but I think the majority of GE's travel premium anyway and the airline know this. Wow we can upgrade 12 months in advance, but under the new airpoints so will jade members with full fare economy tickets. If you examine other FF programes such a BA you will realise how we are seriously missing out when it comes down to personalised service which they boast we should recieve. I am not so sure!

Regards

I totally disagree. While I do not travel on NZ that much any more (one long haul per year), I can guarantee that NZ treats their NZ*E's much better than BA, QF and SK treat theirs (being top tier on all of those at some stage). Of course it is not the same as being a Prem or Chairman's lounge but that was not the comparison.

The benefits of NZ*E are generally not written but appreciated when you need them. I chose not to go into specifics in public but if you are flying enough long haul on predominantly NZ to get to NZ*E then you will have seen these elusive benefits.

Of course if you always fly in F, every flight is on time, availability is always wide open and you never have an special request nor make a redemption then I guess you will not see any benefits of status. ;)

Now whether it is worth the insane amount of travel in WHY required for that level that is another question, but my guess is that they really do not want WHY members in that category of membership

Mark