Air New Zealand Air Points - Inflight wine tasting - any FTers going?

I know a number of us have commented of late that it was getting pretty difficult to see any major benefits to Gold Elite membership over Gold. So I was quite pleased to get an invitation to the In-flight Wine Tasting event that's being held this evening.

(As an aside, when my daughter first saw the invitation, she thought it said "in-flight tasting" and was terribly impressed that Air NZ was going going to take us on a flight to drink wine.....)

Just wondering if any other FT *Es are going to this event??

Not invited :(

I'm outraged that NZ didn't invite me! Although it might have something to do with the fact that I have no NZ status and don't live in AKL... but surely they know that inflight wine consumption is my specialist subject?

Be sure to let us know your impressions, debh. And don't hesitate to tell them if they're palming off the cheap stuff on us!

Wonder what criteria was for issuing an invite?

Not invited either, and I'd have loved to have had the opportunity. :(

Wonder what criteria was for issuing an invite?

I sure hope there wasn't any assumption about a vast knowledge of wines. I'll nosy around and try to find out how names were selected and how many were invited.

Do threads about these sort of events usually get posted? This is the first invite I've had since the *E get-togethers around the country to learn about the new aircraft and what was, at that point, the upcoming refits.

I'm almost afraid to ask - anybody get the Dame Kiri CD and the pre-release ticket offer for the Gala Concert in Wellington in February? Any other FTers going?

nope (new a/c), nope (cd) and nope (concert) :( but dont let that stop you posting this stuff

I sure hope there wasn't any assumption about a vast knowledge of wines. I'll nosy around and try to find out how names were selected and how many were invited.

Do threads about these sort of events usually get posted? This is the first invite I've had since the *E get-togethers around the country to learn about the new aircraft and what was, at that point, the upcoming refits.

I'm almost afraid to ask - anybody get the Dame Kiri CD and the pre-release ticket offer for the Gala Concert in Wellington in February? Any other FTers going?
I received the Dame Kiri CD and Gala Concert offer, but this is the first I've heard of get-togethers around the country to learn about the new aircraft and interiors. :(

nope (new a/c), nope (cd) and nope (concert) :( but dont let that stop you posting this stuff

Just to clarify, the CD was part of the Concert offer - it says in the mail-out that Dame Kiri and Friends is...presented by The Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation in association with...and Air New Zealand.

I received the Dame Kiri CD and Gala Concert offer, but this is the first I've heard of get-togethers around the country to learn about the new aircraft and interiors. :(

This was quite awhile ago, probably end of 2004 or so? I was of the opinion that they were also held outside Auckland, but I could be wrong.

It was quite good - held down at the Hilton at the Viaduct with tea, coffee and nibbles provided. There was a PowerPoint / video presentation about the 777 and 787, as well as the refurbishment and a chance for Q&A with Norm Thompson and others from the airline. ^

I've just been on the phone to Air NZ, asking about tonight's wine tasting event and Gold Elite promotions in general. I spoke to someone called Craig and asked him what the criteria were for sending out invitations to tonight's event. He put me on hold for about five minutes and then informed me that invites were sent out to select Auckland based Gold Elites, but was unable to give me any further criteria. I replied that better communication was needed from Air NZ in order to reduce confusion and resentment among its elite cultomers. Craig undertook to report this to the Loyalty people.

Anyway, here's a bit of good news. Craig offered to see what he could do for any Auckland based GE's who didn't receive an invite to tonight's tasting and who would like to attend. Craig's at the Gold Elite number with ext. 32034.

Enjoy,
CHC Kiwi

If there is going to be several AKL based FTers at that event perhaps they could form a team and continuously ask supplementary questions about why there is no lifetime status, no blocked middle seats domestically and why there is no such thing as priority luggage handling..

Anyone go to this? If so, how was it?

How about Wellingtonians for a wine tasting? I would have thought that they might be rather more discerning than Aucklanders :D

BTW, I got a Kiri CD.

Like the comparison between Melburnians (where I come from) and Sydneysiders really :D