Lifetime Elite status?
Jun 27, 2022, 3:14 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2013
Programs: NZ Airpoints GE, Qantas Platinum, Accor Diamond, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 967
Lifetime Elite status?
Seems like everything is on the table - but NZ has a record of over-promising/teasing
https://www.executivetraveller.com/n...ifetime-status
https://www.executivetraveller.com/n...ifetime-status
Jun 27, 2022, 4:02 pm
#2
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 5,984
There seems to be only one new thing in this story: that the CEO has said that changes have been pushed out another year. This publication ran in essence this same story (reporting on the survey) in, if I recall correctly, November 2020.
In November 2021 NZ put out a press release saying it would launch its own credit card in 2022. That press release included the hilarious line that:
In November 2021 NZ put out a press release saying it would launch its own credit card in 2022. That press release included the hilarious line that:
Airpoints was first introduced in 1989 as the Frequent Traveller Club and has evolved over the past 19 years to become the most rewarding frequent flyer and coalition loyalty programme in New Zealand.
Jun 27, 2022, 4:12 pm
#3
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 5,984
From a business perspective, now would be the logical point to be removing complimentary recognition upgrades (theory: many people haven't used them for years so may be less resistant to their demise). Obviously that is a very big devaluation so they would need to throw in some sweeteners.
NZ announced the Status Points Head Start in October 2019 but then never implemented it. Very odd. No idea about the practicality of calculating of calculating lifetime status points (perhaps it requires some system upgrades), but if it could be done it would make sense as you can keep people chasing higher and higher numbers.
Of course, status calculation has changed over time. Someone will correct me, but from memory it was changed in 1999 to be points (1.25 points earned per km flown in business, 0.7 in discount economy). 60k for Gold, 100k for Gold Elite (as it then was). Then in 2002 to status points and in 2014 they took away the simple chart and I don't even pretend to know how it works any more.
And who could forget the debacle in 2012 when they cut the use your Airpoints to upgrade system and had to quickly backtrack... well for Gold Elite members.
NZ announced the Status Points Head Start in October 2019 but then never implemented it. Very odd. No idea about the practicality of calculating of calculating lifetime status points (perhaps it requires some system upgrades), but if it could be done it would make sense as you can keep people chasing higher and higher numbers.
Of course, status calculation has changed over time. Someone will correct me, but from memory it was changed in 1999 to be points (1.25 points earned per km flown in business, 0.7 in discount economy). 60k for Gold, 100k for Gold Elite (as it then was). Then in 2002 to status points and in 2014 they took away the simple chart and I don't even pretend to know how it works any more.
And who could forget the debacle in 2012 when they cut the use your Airpoints to upgrade system and had to quickly backtrack... well for Gold Elite members.
Jun 28, 2022, 8:29 am
#6
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: NZ *E
Posts: 346
I suspect it's probably that any tech stack changes got pushed back in favor of implementing some COVID specific work such as the credit tool
Apr 3, 2024, 1:16 pm
#9
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: SEA
Programs: NZ Elite (*G)
Posts: 657
Keep your expectations low, Foran used to be the CEO of the American division of WalMart. While I have greatly appreciated his response to my e-mail about call wait times, I keep my expectations realistic (aka very low), given the nature of WalMart.
Apr 3, 2024, 3:08 pm
#10
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: New Zealand (most of the time)
Programs: Air NZ Elite *G, Honors Gold, IHG Platinum Elite
Posts: 6,119
Apr 4, 2024, 5:07 pm
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2013
Programs: NZ Airpoints GE, Qantas Platinum, Accor Diamond, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 967
I have 15 years banked and I don't intend to fly that often as to benefit from those banked years. Price will certainly play a role rather than schedule when I have to play for myself for purely leisure trips, and I have lifetime QF Gold, so I am not necessarily devoted to NZ or even Star Alliance.
Apr 4, 2024, 5:20 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: WLG/BKK
Programs: TG*G, NZ*GE, QF G, Accor Gold
Posts: 10,207
They would be better off giving me lifetime elite status.
I have 15 years banked and I don't intend to fly that often as to benefit from those banked years. Price will certainly play a role rather than schedule when I have to play for myself for purely leisure trips, and I have lifetime QF Gold, so I am not necessarily devoted to NZ or even Star Alliance.
I have 15 years banked and I don't intend to fly that often as to benefit from those banked years. Price will certainly play a role rather than schedule when I have to play for myself for purely leisure trips, and I have lifetime QF Gold, so I am not necessarily devoted to NZ or even Star Alliance.