Two quick questions re upgrades
Jan 8, 2018, 1:41 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: AKL, WLG
Programs: Air New Zealand Gold
Posts: 16
Two quick questions re upgrades
Hi all.
My father in law has generously offered to gift me an Elite Airpoints Dollar upgrade for an upcoming flight to Tokyo. I am on his gifting register but can't see where to lodge this request in his Airpoints account online. Do I need to get him to call AirNZ?
Secondly, I am travelling to LA in June. I am currently gold but should get to Elite by April. Am I better to lodge RU's now as a Gold member or should I wait until I hit Elite and then request them?
Cheers.
My father in law has generously offered to gift me an Elite Airpoints Dollar upgrade for an upcoming flight to Tokyo. I am on his gifting register but can't see where to lodge this request in his Airpoints account online. Do I need to get him to call AirNZ?
Secondly, I am travelling to LA in June. I am currently gold but should get to Elite by April. Am I better to lodge RU's now as a Gold member or should I wait until I hit Elite and then request them?
Cheers.
Jan 8, 2018, 2:13 pm
#2
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,637
Do the RU now as when you turn Elite any unused/not linked to future bookings Gold RUs will be deleted.
Jan 8, 2018, 2:31 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: AKL, WLG
Programs: Air New Zealand Gold
Posts: 16
Oh cool. Sorry missed that. It says there are no upgradeable flights on that booking. Presumably because I lodged an RU at the time of booking - which won't clear because the loading is pretty high. I've played this very poorly!
Jan 8, 2018, 3:55 pm
#5
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Auckland
Programs: NZ GOLD (*G), KLM FB S, QF S,
Posts: 291
I think you can call the call centre and have the RU reversed, then lodge the Elite Airpoints upgrade.
Jan 9, 2018, 1:08 am
#6
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: New Zealand (most of the time)
Programs: Air NZ Elite *G, Honors Gold, IHG Platinum Elite
Posts: 6,098
Why would you want to lodge an upgrade if you already have one lodged?
Jan 9, 2018, 3:47 am
#7
Join Date: Dec 2007
Programs: Air New Zealand Elite
Posts: 445
I think if your father in law had two RUs you could have used both to go from economy up to business. But I don’t think it would work using one of your RUs and one of his. Don’t quote me though. Maybe the call centre can clarify if you can do this.
Jan 9, 2018, 12:49 pm
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: AKL, WLG
Programs: Air New Zealand Gold
Posts: 16
Thanks all. It was an elite airpoints dollar upgrade he was gifting not an RU. I've withdrawn my silver upgrade and he's put in the request. Still a longshot apparently as the flight is nearly full up front.
Jan 9, 2018, 3:40 pm
#11
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: New Zealand (most of the time)
Programs: Air NZ Elite *G, Honors Gold, IHG Platinum Elite
Posts: 6,098
You can't stack upgrades. If you want to go from Y to BP it needs to be 2 x RU either belonging to the customer or gifted to them.
Jan 9, 2018, 3:41 pm
#12
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: New Zealand (most of the time)
Programs: Air NZ Elite *G, Honors Gold, IHG Platinum Elite
Posts: 6,098
While an APD upgrade takes priority so does the date it was lodged. You've probably moved yourself down the list by doing that.
Jan 9, 2018, 3:55 pm
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: AKL, WLG
Programs: Air New Zealand Gold
Posts: 16
Interesting. The Air New Zealand call centre told me that I would have a better chance with the Elite APD upgrade than my previously lodged Silver RU. I should note that my father in law is travelling with me which I think means it's considered at his status rather than my Gold.
Jan 11, 2018, 7:12 pm
#15
Join Date: May 2008
Location: MSP
Programs: DL Plat, NZ Elite, QF Plat
Posts: 1,776
My experience is that Elite APDs are prioritised ahead of Silver and Gold RUs. I’ve travelled as a Silver on a gifted Elite APD and had my upgrades consistently cleared before a colleague who was Gold using Gold RUs- all upgrades requested at the same time weeks in advance. I also was on a flight with two friends who were both Silver but 3 separate bookings. One used his Silver RU and I put in an Elite APD for the other. Requested at the same time. The Elite APD came through and the Silver didn’t.
Apparently Elite APDs are prioritised ahead of Silver and Gold RUs regardless of the status of the recipient.
Apparently Elite APDs are prioritised ahead of Silver and Gold RUs regardless of the status of the recipient.