Air New Zealand Air Points - Possible to lose an upgrade by changing FF no from NZ to BD?

Recently flew HKG-LHR-HKG in Y+, and requested an Airpoints upgrade using complimentary upgrade as NZ * Gold.

On HKG-LHR sector noticed about two days out my seat allocations disappeared from my NZ booking record, and upon checkin was told my upgrade had bene confirmed.^

Coming back same deal - about two days out my seat allocation disappeared from my NZ booking record, so thinking good things. At checkin (about 75mins before departure) I was advised my upgrade (and that of my partner, using my Airpoints) had been confirmed, and they were just reorganising seating - and that I could collect my boarding pass at the gate.

At this point I rather naively changed my FF number to my BMI number as didn't need to the Airbucks to requalify and BMI miles much more valuable to me for redeeming on * partners. Somewhere between check in and gate the "confirmed" upgrade disappeared - upon asking at the gate we were told upgrades were allocated according to priority and there were higher priority pax on board that got the upgrades. When I asked to confirm my BMI number had been entered into my booking (the check in agent didn't reprint my BP as he said I would be getting a new BP at the gate anyway) the supervisor shot an OMG glance and it then dawned on me that perhaps I had done my self out of an upgrade :td: Is this likely? (incidentally for the HKG-LHR sector did the same thing but didn't lose the upgrade).

Also, as an aside was annoyed by the inability to through check luggage from NZ to SQ at HKG as my flights were on separate tickets - even though I had checked twice with the call centre and they advised that interlining baggage to another star alliance carrier was not a problem, even on separate tickets (what on earth are alliances for?)

Somewhere between check in and gate the "confirmed" upgrade disappeared - upon asking at the gate we were told upgrades were allocated according to priority and there were higher priority pax on board that got the upgrades. When I asked to confirm my BMI number had been entered into my booking (the check in agent didn't reprint my BP as he said I would be getting a new BP at the gate anyway) the supervisor shot an OMG glance and it then dawned on me that perhaps I had done my self out of an upgrade :td: Is this likely? (incidentally for the HKG-LHR sector did the same thing but didn't lose the upgrade).
Yes - I think this is very likely what happened. When they did the final sorting process at the gate, you were lower on the list over NZ*G/NZ*E. I had a real mess of an upgrade last year where they inadvertantly upgraded an NZ*G over me (NZ*E), even though I had already been upgraded. At the final stages of flight editing when clearing things at the gate, you want everything on your side to be perfect or it can go horribly wrong!

Also, as an aside was annoyed by the inability to through check luggage from NZ to SQ at HKG as my flights were on separate tickets - even though I had checked twice with the call centre and they advised that interlining baggage to another star alliance carrier was not a problem, even on separate tickets (what on earth are alliances for?)
NZ is very weird about interlining onto SQ out of AKL. I have interlined from SQ to NZ many times (in HKG, SYD, MEL) but AKL-HKG-SIN has never worked. I have had some colleagues have issues with WLG-AKL-SIN even!

NZ is very weird about interlining onto SQ out of AKL. I have interlined from SQ to NZ many times (in HKG, SYD, MEL) but AKL-HKG-SIN has never worked. I have had some colleagues have issues with WLG-AKL-SIN even!

I wonder about the quality of the "International" check in staff at Wellington. It took 20 minutes for them to check me in for WLG-AKL-LAX two days ago as the dometic and International sector were on different PNR's (which was NZ's doing). Even through checking NZ - NZ can be tricky!

Even through checking NZ - NZ can be tricky!
A friend of mine had two separate tickets for AKL-HKG and HKG-LHR that were booked at separate times, but ended up being a single through-journey on NZ39. NZ Premium checkin would not through-check his bag to LHR, they would only check it to HKG! Fortunately the ground staff in HKG were willing to pick the bag up for him saving him a landside transit.

i was able to check my bags all the way from AKL to TPE via HKG and return (two separte booking), AKL- HKG on NZ and HKG - TPE on EVA AIR (BR). i did inform both airline that i will only be transit in HKG, asked them to put a note on my booking. no problem at check-in at all.

the only wired thing i found is air nz won't find your bag in transit area and attach a priority tag on to your bags. EVA AIR found my bags in HKG and i had my bags first out in TPE.

I guess it is OK, albeit inconvenient, for NZ not to through check luggage if on separate tickets. Where I do have a big problem is incorrect and inconsistent information being provided by Air NZ, as it was indicated on the phone that NZ->LX at LHR and NZ->SQ at HKG would be able to be through checked even on separate bookings.

Stuff happens. In the rush to get the flight out sometimes things don't go quite right (like the time I was moved from a forward aisle to a rear middle).

OP - if it bothers you then follow up with premium team.

Did follow up with AirNZ, in relation to the upgrades as Kiwi Flyer suggested stuff happens - apparently trumped by two gold elites, which is fine.

As for the baggage the official word is that interlining can only happen if on the same or conjunction tickets. The NZ policy is that as our onward flights were on separate bookings it did not constitute a single contract of carriage. Therefore, that prohibited NZ from interlining baggage onto our next flight as they are not included in the contract or conditions of carriage. We were also advised "You will find that most airlines enforce the same ruling for liability purposes."

This last statement is the one that I find perplexing, last night I had no dramas interlining baggage on separate tickets from QF to SQ, and have done so in the past from MH to SQ (to two separate SQ tickets). I really wonder why I bother with star alliance, some of them are good airlines in their own right but I always manage to have problems if involving multiple carriers, whether it be interlining baggage, or eticket validation problems that have seen me stand at checkin desks for an hour on each of the two Circle Asia fares I have taken.