Air NZ gold status match
#46
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: BNE
Programs: NZ*G, QF Bronze, VA Red
Posts: 563
One other thing about APD is that is really locks you in. I don't think you can use Airpoints to buy award flights from partners (only single-cabin upgrades) and so you're pretty much locked into flying Air NZ, whereas if you're earning United Miles you have access to the Star Alliance network.
One important note is that 1APD = 1NZD, however 1AUAPD = 1AUD. Australia is an exception, having its own Airpoints currency denominated in AUD (hence the second award chart, with lower numbers).
#47
Join Date: Jun 2018
Programs: BA Gold, Delta Plat
Posts: 186
I can just fly on any star alliance airline to qualify though right? Air NZ website says this: (at least half on Air New Zealand operated flights, qualifying partner airline flights, or Star Alliance qualifying flights)
#48
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: SEA
Programs: NZ Elite (*G)
Posts: 657
#49
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: SYD
Programs: Too many golds, no plat: OZ*G, AC*G, NZ*G, VA Gold, QF Gold, HH Gold, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 5,350
For this particular promotion, as part of the status match AirNZ has gifted the 450 of the required 900 status points for Gold, and they have specified that these count as the required spend on NZ (or "qualifying partner flights"). That means that the 450 status points required to retain Gold can be on any Star Alliance airline (or status earning partner flight, presumably), but then once you have 'normal' Gold it will be back to the usual requirement for requalification.
#51
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: AKL
Programs: NZ Elite (*G), IHG Spire Elite, Accor ALL Gold
Posts: 215
For this particular promotion, as part of the status match AirNZ has gifted the 450 of the required 900 status points for Gold, and they have specified that these count as the required spend on NZ (or "qualifying partner flights"). That means that the 450 status points required to retain Gold can be on any Star Alliance airline (or status earning partner flight, presumably), but then once you have 'normal' Gold it will be back to the usual requirement for requalification.
The requirement for Gold can be met with NZ flights, qualifying partner flights OR Star Alliance flights. You can technically get NZ Gold without even flying on a single NZ flight but not Elite.
See link below:
https://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/status-points
#52
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: SYD
Programs: Too many golds, no plat: OZ*G, AC*G, NZ*G, VA Gold, QF Gold, HH Gold, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 5,350
The requirement for half the status points to be earned by NZ or qualifying partner flights is only to qualify/requalify for Elite.
The requirement for Gold can be met with NZ flights, qualifying partner flights OR Star Alliance flights. You can technically get NZ Gold without even flying on a single NZ flight but not Elite.
See link below:
https://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/status-points
The requirement for Gold can be met with NZ flights, qualifying partner flights OR Star Alliance flights. You can technically get NZ Gold without even flying on a single NZ flight but not Elite.
See link below:
https://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/status-points
#53
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: NZ*G ELT, VA-G
Posts: 3,598
Oops, my mistake. I thought the website was just badly written (wouldn't be the first time with NZ). So when it says that of your status points, "(at least half on Air New Zealand operated flights, qualifying partner airline flights, or Star Alliance qualifying flights)", what does that leave out? Or is it referring to status points earned other than by flying, eg credit cards?
#55
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: SYD
Programs: Too many golds, no plat: OZ*G, AC*G, NZ*G, VA Gold, QF Gold, HH Gold, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 5,350
Still waiting to hear...
Interesting. I submitted mine about 9 days ago and haven't heard anything (other than the automated acknowledgement email and incident number). Fingers crossed
#56
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 69
#57
Join Date: Sep 2005
Programs: Lifetime *G (MP), Lifetime PE (Bonvoy)
Posts: 1,465
#58
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: SYD
Programs: Too many golds, no plat: OZ*G, AC*G, NZ*G, VA Gold, QF Gold, HH Gold, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 5,350
I finally heard back re my status match request (successful - hurrah!) this morning, exactly two weeks after submitting the request.
Does anyone know whether the short-haul recognition upgrades that come as part of this package are able to be gifted? It seems like a bit of a grey area, as typically Golds can't gift upgrades (I think?) but short-haul RUs are typically only awarded to Gold Elites, who can gift them... I'm guessing the answer is no but am holding out some hope.
Assuming they can't be gifted, does that also mean you can't apply them to someone else even if on the same booking? Eg I couldn't use two RUs to upgrade myself and my partner on the same PNR?
One other reason I ask is because I'm trying to figure out whether it's worth trying to channel some flying to NZ to keep Gold for another year, which at least makes my trans-Tasman travel a little better, and the (normal) RUs would be the key additional benefit if we flew to the US or South America... but if we'd have to use a mix of OneUps and RUs and always be worrying about one of us getting upgraded and the other not, it would take the shine off the experience a bit.
If I'm honest, I'm just being enticed by the thought of a shiny gold card and a couple of freebie upgrades. I suspect that a far more sensible answer to all this is: enjoy my short-haul RUs and my short-lived NZ*G status, but don't make any effort to gain proper Gold status. Once that lapses, I can just put my OZ*G in the booking to get Gold benefits and make peace with the fact that many trans-Tasman fares won't earn me any miles. It's not like the Airbucks I'd earn would be worth much anyway. It would also mean I don't distract myself from building towards lifetime *G on OZ.
Feel free to chip in with your views on this!
Does anyone know whether the short-haul recognition upgrades that come as part of this package are able to be gifted? It seems like a bit of a grey area, as typically Golds can't gift upgrades (I think?) but short-haul RUs are typically only awarded to Gold Elites, who can gift them... I'm guessing the answer is no but am holding out some hope.
Assuming they can't be gifted, does that also mean you can't apply them to someone else even if on the same booking? Eg I couldn't use two RUs to upgrade myself and my partner on the same PNR?
One other reason I ask is because I'm trying to figure out whether it's worth trying to channel some flying to NZ to keep Gold for another year, which at least makes my trans-Tasman travel a little better, and the (normal) RUs would be the key additional benefit if we flew to the US or South America... but if we'd have to use a mix of OneUps and RUs and always be worrying about one of us getting upgraded and the other not, it would take the shine off the experience a bit.
If I'm honest, I'm just being enticed by the thought of a shiny gold card and a couple of freebie upgrades. I suspect that a far more sensible answer to all this is: enjoy my short-haul RUs and my short-lived NZ*G status, but don't make any effort to gain proper Gold status. Once that lapses, I can just put my OZ*G in the booking to get Gold benefits and make peace with the fact that many trans-Tasman fares won't earn me any miles. It's not like the Airbucks I'd earn would be worth much anyway. It would also mean I don't distract myself from building towards lifetime *G on OZ.
Feel free to chip in with your views on this!
#59
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: BNE
Programs: NZ*G, QF Bronze, VA Red
Posts: 563
I finally heard back re my status match request (successful - hurrah!) this morning, exactly two weeks after submitting the request.
Does anyone know whether the short-haul recognition upgrades that come as part of this package are able to be gifted? It seems like a bit of a grey area, as typically Golds can't gift upgrades (I think?) but short-haul RUs are typically only awarded to Gold Elites, who can gift them... I'm guessing the answer is no but am holding out some hope.
Does anyone know whether the short-haul recognition upgrades that come as part of this package are able to be gifted? It seems like a bit of a grey area, as typically Golds can't gift upgrades (I think?) but short-haul RUs are typically only awarded to Gold Elites, who can gift them... I'm guessing the answer is no but am holding out some hope.
One other reason I ask is because I'm trying to figure out whether it's worth trying to channel some flying to NZ to keep Gold for another year, which at least makes my trans-Tasman travel a little better, and the (normal) RUs would be the key additional benefit if we flew to the US or South America... but if we'd have to use a mix of OneUps and RUs and always be worrying about one of us getting upgraded and the other not, it would take the shine off the experience a bit.
#60
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Newcastle, Australia.
Programs: QF Plat+ LTG/ OW Emerald, VA Plat, NZ Gold, HH Diamond, Hyatt Whatsit. Taxation is theft.
Posts: 2,637
I submitted my application a few days after this promotion closed (received an auto-email basically saying "sod off, too late") - and got an email yesterday advising me that I had been comped to Gold.
QF LTG and VA Platinum, which might have helped.
Main attraction for me is access to the proper SQ lounge when flying on SQ in SIN - as opposed to the pov lounge that VA Plats are bumped to.
If I can keep this with some flights on Singapore and Silk Air, plus the odd NZ AKL-CHC flight, I'm sorted.
QF LTG and VA Platinum, which might have helped.
Main attraction for me is access to the proper SQ lounge when flying on SQ in SIN - as opposed to the pov lounge that VA Plats are bumped to.
If I can keep this with some flights on Singapore and Silk Air, plus the odd NZ AKL-CHC flight, I'm sorted.