Moving to NZ: Is Airpoints the Best Choice?
 

So I am relocating my family from Texas to New Zealand in January. I'm Platinum on AAdvantage (and have lifetime AA Gold status in case I don't fly oneWorld so much once I move).

I'm about to make a few business class trips to NZ and I'm wanting to boost my non-existent status on a *A FFP. But which one?

My #1 desire is to get free/cheap upgrades between NZ/Australia and North America.

My #2 goal is to get status - having no status sucks in seat allocation, boarding, bumping, etc. you know what I mean.

I figure once I'm in NZ my work will pay for 5-10 trips each year within NZ most likely on Air NZ, and a few trips across the Tasman to Australia on whoever is cheapest - Qantas or Air NZ, and most likely economy. I'll also probably pay for 1-2 trips per year out of my own pocket to the US and/or Asia.

So given my #1 and #2 goals - is Air NZ the right choice? What I need to know is if Air NZ gives preferential access to Airpoints members for upgrades, or if other *A members can get upgrades just as easily, coz if that's true then my business class flying might make another *A FFP a better choice.

Please advise... Thanks!! :)

P.S. I forgot to add that I'm expecting to stay in NZ for five years and then return to the U.S. I wish there was an easier way to get lifetime status like AAmerican on a *A carrier... :(

This would probably get a better response over in the NZ forum.

Paying for upgrades - only possible on NZ with NZ Airpoints Dollars. Very difficult to do NZ-US and v.v due high paid loads.

Being op-uped - more likely as 'home' elite but still rare!!! (very rare!!)

Flying domestically NZ & t/t better to have NZ as earn lots more (compared often with 0 elsewhere)

Flying Intl Y better to be somewhere else.

Some of us use more than one account. Just be careful if you go that way - you wouldn't want to start flying a pattern for NZ*G & AC*G and then find out due to changes in your travel you won't be getting/keeping either!

If lifetime status is what you want, and you only have 5 years and you are based in NZ, then there is only one choice: Asiana. They give you lifetime Gold after 1MM miles on any *A carrier. So you would need to do quite a bit of flying in order to get there.
Other than the lifetime status, OZ's FFP does not offer any great benefits.

Actually you can upgrade using the *A mileage upgrade program, at least with FFPs that are participating (UA, for example, is not). However the cost is high, requires a high economy paid fare, and availability between NZ & USA is always difficult (even for paid business class).