sonyxperiageek

This year has been a busy year of flying (mainly domestic) and I seem to have already retained E to 2025 and gain a banked year! Have a couple hundred points to go before I can get one of their gifts for the first time ever though.

Basically my point is, what is there after this? Every time I fly, it seems no different than if I were to have Gold status or even if I were to buy a Koru lounge membership. And my bags still come out not first but waitable.

Is the next tier EP1 lol?

nzkarit

Yeah with no E+ or lifetime gold it doee leave a bit of a hole. Hence people getting QF status.

oranjemakker

I am flying just enough to scrape by my Elite requal every year, mostly domestic, but i wont be able to maintain that forever (its a lot of flights needed) and after my banked years run out (6) thats it.

QF on the other hand has Plat, which is just so good. While my SYD-CHC flights are always delayed (by 30-120 minutes) I actually am happy when the flight is delayed because the F lounge is so good. Three different champagnes (not a bottle of Dulcet to be seen thankfully) and amazing menu. I suspect the "standard" QF F experience beats EP1 (can anyone confirm?)

Also, my recent upgrade success with points has been about 80% including both legs of my recent flights SYD-BKK-SYD, from memory only about 30k points needed Y-J

samjnz

The Elite gift after the banked year isn't terribly exciting (especially for those of us based outside NZ). In the past I've just got an additional recognition upgrade (which gets confirmed the same as the standard ones you get as Elite)

Although I suppose the silver lining is that it leaves me more free to get a second status with Delta (so thankfully no more domestic US flights on UA!) vs trying to get every NZ status point possible.

nzkarit

Depends what you are looking at. Food most probably.

But a private room, escort through airport, etc is better than QF 1st. Know some other airlines who have the escort, buggies, etc through airport for F, but don't think QF offers that.

Then the non first things like more and guaranteed RUs, deadicated phone, bump people off flight, always get your preferred seat, etc. Last on and still room in overhead above seat.

edmm

Yes there is a significant hole in the programme after achieving the 2400 SP Banked Year. There is no incentive to achieve any further, the 3000 gifts are not worth any effort.This must lose NZ a significant amount of business. There is no higher level, better lounges or lifetime status. Although you can stack up enough banked years to stay Elite for a very long time.
And yes, I agree, basically Elites don't get any different treatment. If you don't use your upgrades, and can't use your parking vouchers, there is virtually no personal benefit over Koru or Gold.

greg23

Agree, NZ needs something better after 2400SP. I'm in that same boat this year, have achieved a banked year and wont quite reach the 3000 points required for a gift. It also sounds like its not worth any additional effort to get to 3000SP as the gifts are nothing special.

Personally I feel that any SP earned after 2400SP should be able to be rolled over into the next year vs expiring.

I also think you should be able to earn multiple banked years at Elite, why stop at one? If people are spending enough $$ to earn multiple banked years, they deserve multiple banked years.

It's as though NZ wants to encourage frequent fliers to travel on other airlines after reaching 2400SP each year, as they certainly are not doing anything to retain peoples loyalty after that point.

I'm still awaiting the loyalty refresh which Greg Foran was telling everyone was coming mid-2023!! He gets the award for over promising and under delivering.

sbiddle

I'm the opposite. I'm happy we haven't had their announcement.. When does any refresh of a loyalty program ever deliver better outcomes?

greg23

Surely it has to be better than we have now. Elite for me means overcrowded lounges, and pot luck upgrades which I can’t use.
Any other benefits such as additional baggage and frequent flyer seating can all be purchased with a $500
Koru membership.
Surely elite is worth more than $500?

sbiddle

But how do you improve those things? The only effective way to deliver meaningful change is to start culling the number of HVCs. It is pretty clear Air NZ have too many.

kryptonjohn

Status boost, complimentary valet parking, RU Gifting and Elite Airpoints Dollar Upgrades are all quite good Elite benefits.

oranjemakker

thanks yes I can see the value of many of those but personally I would find the escorted service awkward. If flying J and if you have an APEC card and so many countries now having e-passport readers most airports are Ok to manage arrival and departure.

Also, in the QF F lounge I much prefer being in the main lounge rather than the weird roped off Platinum 1 area (I think they get a steak as a dining option). Personally, in Sydney, I love sitting at the bar area for dining as its quite social and you can watch the open kitchen and they keep glasses topped up!

In the Brisbane lounge a few weeks ago where QF does not have F, some people were sitting in the most ridiculous roped off little area that said "reserved" but was exactly the same as the rest of the lounge.

Also, the private EP1 room must have some of those "world famous in NZ" types surely? DYWIA etc.?

raznz

Something more meaningful to non AKL based HVCs.
Their hotel vouchers - they need an easier way for this to both be redeemed and planned for.

Also might be good to have a separate Elite/Business class lounge vs gold/koru lounge in their International lounges, albeit i can understand space in airports are probably super limited.

samjnz

I think that would be the biggest improvement of all -- wouldn't even need to be a Polaris-style setup (with a dining room etc) but even a less crowded standard lounge space would be nice

nzkarit

I wouldn't even say that. They are CEOs and other who set travel policy in large orgs.