kyanar

You would actually be wrong. You can redeem on any Star Alliance carrier with availability using a chart (or for the Aussies...) - however, some of the redemption options are literally impossible, and it's a real pain if any part of the journey is forced onto NZ, as you cannot redeem a *A award on NZ metal. Obviously, subject to dismal availability.

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).

braiden9

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)

SeaProf

I just had a look at the website and it appears you are right. I was going off of what is needed for Elite, which requires a certain amount be on NZ flights only according to the app, while the American NZ website adds qualifying partner flights (but not Star Alliance flights).

mad_atta

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.

kiwifrequentflyer

Oh wow - good to know. I thought it was any Star Alliance flight as well.

BZNZ

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

mad_atta

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?

Xiaotung

Yes, credit cards. They might just as well say it. It would just leave anyone outside New Zealand scratching their heads as to what that could possibly leave out?

RTWFF

When I received confirmation of my status match a couple of days ago it linked to a web page that says "status match offer now closed"

mad_atta

Interesting. I submitted mine about 9 days ago and haven't heard anything (other than the automated acknowledgement email and incident number). Fingers crossed

LuoboTiX

I suppose they have not yet reviewed all the applications...which piled up like a mountain

RTWFF

Mine took over a week to come through, so I'm assuming there's a significant backlog

mad_atta

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!

kyanar

I would say not. It's likely they gave you short haul RUs solely for the purpose of ensuring you can't apply them to flights to Buenos Aires, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, or London - consider them cheaper versions of the ones you otherwise would have gotten.

If you're hoping to apply RUs as NZ*G to transpacific flights, forget it - the premium cabins on those flights are pretty packed, and you've got very little chance of it clearing. It's a "nice to have" when it happens, but I wouldn't change your travel patterns just to get into that lottery.

shillard

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.