Elite Priority One
Dec 4, 2016, 2:20 pm
#151
Join Date: Aug 2014
Programs: NZ Elite (*G)
Posts: 82
I've seen images from inside the EP1 area at the AKL International departure lounge, which is upstairs in the old viewing area - so obviously has quite a good view. It's nice, but didn't look that amazing. Just a nice semi-private area.
Unfortunately I can't post the photos as they have colleagues in them.
Unfortunately I can't post the photos as they have colleagues in them.
Aug 16, 2017, 2:38 am
#153
Join Date: May 2008
Location: MSP
Programs: DL Plat, NZ Elite, QF Plat
Posts: 1,776
Old thread but new reference point...
ZQN-AKL and there was an EP1 on board. They were seated and during boarding the FSM addressed them by name and gave out a bottle of water. Heard the FSM give the other FA a brief heads up who the EP1 was and where they were.
The EP1 didn't have a middle seat blocked out despite travelling by themselves and other rows in the FF seating section having middle seats free...you'd think they'd at least proactively block for them.
ZQN-AKL and there was an EP1 on board. They were seated and during boarding the FSM addressed them by name and gave out a bottle of water. Heard the FSM give the other FA a brief heads up who the EP1 was and where they were.
The EP1 didn't have a middle seat blocked out despite travelling by themselves and other rows in the FF seating section having middle seats free...you'd think they'd at least proactively block for them.
Aug 17, 2017, 7:51 pm
#154
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 778
Aug 17, 2017, 10:55 pm
#156
Join Date: May 2008
Location: MSP
Programs: DL Plat, NZ Elite, QF Plat
Posts: 1,776
The info NZ has about an EP1s preferences is relatively detailed.
Aug 18, 2017, 1:37 pm
#157
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Christchurch, New Zealand
Programs: NZ Elite; QF Platinum; CZ Gold; MU Platinum; Marriott Titanium; Accor Platinum
Posts: 1,467
I have seen those reserved signs before in some lounges and thought they were completely random
My only EP1 experience was in Hong Kong, I was coming off a flight with a guy who was in J with me, and he was greeted at the gate and the airport was empty and we were both connecting, so we walked together. I say together but i made a comment like oh hi, ive never met an EP1 before (he had the tags) and he basically did not even answer or acknowledge me. He was either a total nob or totally embarrassed.
he was escorted all the way through a completely empty security line! I think his escort saved him about 3 seconds!
Aug 19, 2017, 12:11 am
#158
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: WLG (previously SOU and PLH)
Programs: NZ Elite, QFWP, IHG Plat, *wood Gold
Posts: 532
One of the senior people in our NZ business is EP1.
I quizzed him this year about it. he said the real benefits he gets from it is the customer service and escorts / assistance through airports. He is quite a humble person and feels sometimes awkward on being singled out on busy flights.
I quizzed him this year about it. he said the real benefits he gets from it is the customer service and escorts / assistance through airports. He is quite a humble person and feels sometimes awkward on being singled out on busy flights.
Feb 17, 2018, 10:49 pm
#160
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 778
I don't work for Air NZ, but was told this by a friend who travels often. The guaranteed RU and service fee waivers were a surprise to me.
- Lounge access:
- Star Alliance First or Business lounge access at LAX, plus one guest
- AKL Intl & Sydney Intl have a dedicated EP1 lounge, plus up to 5 guests travelling on NZ metal or Alliance Partners
- AKL Dom & WLG Dom have a dedicated EP1 space available, plus up to 5 guests
- Lounge access is allowed post-Air NZ domestic flight, plus up to 5 guests
- Arrival Fast Track: Airport staff will fast track you through customs / immigration (but not at Australian airports)
- Free Preferred or Exit Row Seats when booking, for EP1 members and up to 5 other travellers
- Nominate 1 person for full *Elite status (in lieu of the Elite Partner benefit, which isn't true *Elite)
- Nominate 1 person for full *Gold status
- The EP1 status is recognised with up to 5 other travellers on the same Air NZ flight as you, including:
- Guaranteed meal choice
- Special boarding: either first or last, your choice
- All service, penalty or cancellation fees waived. Domestic and short haul flights are basically Flexitime (change departure time on the day without fare difference), if there are seats available in that cabin.
- Guaranteed recognition upgrade if there are unsold seats in that cabin class (even if you gift it)
- One person travelling with you can also get a guaranteed upgrade using their own RU
- Guaranteed Economy seat when travelling on NZ metal, even if it's sold out (w/ fare difference)
- Unlimited access to Air NZ valet parking at AKL Dom / Intl and Christchurch when travelling on Air NZ
- When flying domestically from Auckland you can checkin and bag drop at the valet and go straight to the gate / lounge
- 24/7 Concierge with dedicated phone / email
Jan 3, 2020, 7:03 am
#161
Join Date: Jan 2020
Programs: Emirates Skywards, Air NZ Airpoints
Posts: 6
EP1
Interestingly the CEO of my company (a household name in NZ) was recently downgraded from EP1 to Elite and was so pissed off he effectively black listed Air NZ for the entire company (circa 600) people. Now everyone is scrambling to find alternative airlines. His travel may have decreased but the company as a whole must spend $1m+ easily on airfares. Ridiculous decision by Air NZ!
As an aside I peeked into the IO lounge last week ex ALK International. Aside from the privacy it was pretty underwhelming.
As an aside I peeked into the IO lounge last week ex ALK International. Aside from the privacy it was pretty underwhelming.
Last edited by Nzglen; Jan 3, 2020 at 7:08 am
Jan 3, 2020, 10:50 am
#162
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: New Zealand (most of the time)
Programs: Air NZ Elite *G, Honors Gold, IHG Platinum Elite
Posts: 6,114
EP1 is not a permanent status level - it's something granted annually that does rollover for some people so there is nothing rediculous about it.
What a douche who obviously puts his ego above everything else. Hope it's not a listed company that I have shares in because of want out with such an idiot at the top.
What a douche who obviously puts his ego above everything else. Hope it's not a listed company that I have shares in because of want out with such an idiot at the top.
Jan 3, 2020, 1:24 pm
#163
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Sun Peaks, Taupo.
Programs: NZ Elite, AC SE100K, Westjet Teal, Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite, Nexus, Global Entry
Posts: 6,127
Interestingly the CEO of my company (a household name in NZ) was recently downgraded from EP1 to Elite and was so pissed off he effectively black listed Air NZ for the entire company (circa 600) people. Now everyone is scrambling to find alternative airlines. His travel may have decreased but the company as a whole must spend $1m+ easily on airfares. Ridiculous decision by Air NZ!
As an aside I peeked into the IO lounge last week ex ALK International. Aside from the privacy it was pretty underwhelming.
As an aside I peeked into the IO lounge last week ex ALK International. Aside from the privacy it was pretty underwhelming.
For your CEO to be stripped of EP1, company spend must have dropped, or his .........ness level increased to the point NZ said we don't need this fecal matter any more.
The fact a CEO and employer of 600 would make a decision effecting so many based on his own ego speaks volumes to the character of the person.
Jan 3, 2020, 2:24 pm
#164
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: JER
Programs: NZ Elite *G, QF Gold, Accor+ Diamond
Posts: 157
That sounds like truly shoddy corporate behaviour. But it really just lays bare the fact that EP1 status is a personal inducement for corporate decision-makers to steer spending towards NZ even if it's not in the company's interests. I expect that there are converse situations where a CEO requires all flying on NZ, regardless of whether there are better or cheaper alternatives available, merely to retain their EP1 status. These CEOs will always be able to claim that the decision is based on other factors (as this CEO will do if this blows up). But we now know of at least 1 case where EP1 status was enough to sway a CEO's decision-making towards self-interest.
Jan 3, 2020, 3:27 pm
#165
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: New Zealand (when I'm home!)
Programs: Air NZ Elite
Posts: 1,218
There are some "elite" groups I am apart of for my business that require me to meet certain thresholds such as money spent with the business that runs the "elite" group and if I don't meet them then that's it, I don't. I don't get mad about it and blacklist a company because I no longer get to be part of their super special secret club for life, especially at the expense of my employees using their services. That's some egotistical behaviour if I have ever seen it. That's not a mistake of Air NZ, that's just bad behaviour on his behalf.
Honestly the $1 million/year spend sounds pretty low. I'd have thought the threshold would be much higher than that.
Honestly the $1 million/year spend sounds pretty low. I'd have thought the threshold would be much higher than that.