Air NZ 'Touch of Gold' status match

[Mattg]

Air New Zealand has matched Qantas' status match offer for AU/NZ residents.

Have Gold status (or higher) with Qantas, Virgin Australia, or any other airline except Cathay Pacific or another Star Alliance carrier? You can now get 4 months of Air New Zealand status, and earn 100 status points within 4 months to keep your status for the rest of the year.

Apply by 7 May 2021.

Touch of Gold benefits

www.airnewzealand.com.au

 

[henrus]

Looks like Air NZ doesn't want to miss out.

Unlike Qantas where you get at least 12 months (once you get the 100 status credits), Air NZ is giving a fixed 12 months (which includes the time before you get the 100 status credits).

Also worth noting that once you've earned the 100 status credits, you get 2x upgrades that will take you from Economy to Business on East Coast AU to AKL flights.

 

[Matt_01]

I may have to apply for this just to add it to my current status tally which doesn't mean that much at the moment. If approved and managed to get the 100 status points I would have the following status levels - QF WP1, QR WP (matched), SQ *G, NZ *G (matched) and VA WP. Not a bad haul for 12 months of not flying.

 

[SYD]

I’m thinking of doing this in case I need to burn SQ points on NZ flights. Otherwise, AirPoints is pretty coughpy?

 

[henrus]

I’m thinking of doing this in case I need to burn SQ points on NZ flights. Otherwise, AirPoints is pretty coughpy?

You basically get Star Gold for 4 months and extends for another 6 months if you get 100 status credits however Air NZ has in the past made it difficult to change FF number on an award booking.

Airpoints has poor earning/redemption in general and Australian members are treated as 2nd class (can't combine points, can't use easily on *A partners, not a lot of earn partners in AU and also harder to maintain status).

 

[serfty]

Airpoints has poor earning/redemption in general and Australian members are treated as 2nd class (can't combine points, can't use easily on *A partners, not a lot of earn partners in AU and also harder to maintain status).

It was worth chasing around 2010 which I did for a few years of being *Elite.

The hardest part was 2/3 of *Elite status earn had to be on NZ operated, marketed and ticketed flights.

Main benefit of Elite for me was you could confirm an upgrade to Business from any fare at ticketing. I had quite a few transpacs via AKL.

Around 2013 the program was destroyed, even for that.

 

[SYD]

When AN went bust, I went looking for a *A replacement (I was doing a lot of USA travel in J - still have my AN Diamond card somewhere but not the points....). NZ even then didn’t look good for me and I recall the fallout when it was restructured.

UA turned out to be the best fit then and served me well. SQ looked good but I was always put off by the hard expiry of points (which could bite me having transferred some VA points)....

When VA had ties to NZ and SQ going, *A Gold was less important with QF and VA WP cards In my wallet.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

- still have my AN Diamond card somewhere..... but not the points

Good to know that I am not the only sentimental one. I still have mine too.

I was lucky to have emptied our my points balance just weeks before they went belly up, and with SQ honouring the 5 redemption flights, and *A the lounge access till New Years which meant I kept using the card after the airline was gone.

Also luckily the lounge in Cairo was not computerised back then so the card got me into the lounge there in Feb, but in Dubai the computer said no

 

[Mattg]

Otherwise, AirPoints is pretty coughpy?

In short, yes. One of the worst frequent flyer programs I know of in our region.

 

[serfty]

In short, yes. One of the worst frequent flyer programs I know of in our region.

To be honest it is more like a means for NZ government employees to feel a little better about their travel.

It is like a NZ tax - there is really little other option other than JQ.

 

[Daver6]

I found this useless a couple of years ago. Landed up having to fly SAS and the status got me free seat selection. Given there is zero chance of flying Air NZ or any other *A member in the next few months, I don't think I'll bother applying.

 

[Beano]

May be good for me for domestic travel in NZ. I'm handcuffed to Qantas; P and LTG, with travel mostly Trans-Tasman and around Australia. It will be good to get back in the air.

 

[Aus ATC]

I don't think this can hurt - even if only for 1 x trip across the ditch, which we were thinking of planning anyway. Just opens up the flight options (beyond QF/JQ) while still getting lounge access (assuming they are open by then).

 

[Nicholas Wood]

I applied on Friday based on Velocity status match. Flying to NZ with two kids from Brisbane in 2 weeks and I understand the ANZ international lounges are all open. No internal flights or other tasman trips planned so not sure if I'll make the 100 points but the lounge for both departures will be appreciated

 

[Matt_01]

May be good for me for domestic travel in NZ. I'm handcuffed to Qantas; P and LTG

I was of the understanding that the QF/NZ deal struck a couple of years back allows QF to codeshare some NZ domestic flights (and the other way around) and provides the relevant status benefits.

 

[henrus]

I was of the understanding that the QF/NZ deal struck a couple of years back allows QF to codeshare some NZ domestic flights (and the other way around) and provides the relevant status benefits.

That deal isn't great compared to the previous NZ/VA tie up.

The only benefit QF Plat/Gold gets on Air NZ-operated domestic flights is lounge access. In addition to receive this access, you must be booked on a QF codeshare that are somewhat few and far between, can only be booked connecting to/from a QF trans tasman flight and they're quite expensive as an add on (~$150-200 depending on route when the actual Air NZ fare may only be $50-100).

 

[ChrisFlyer]

As a data point - I applied for the match on Friday morning, and around lunchtime yesterday, the digital card had updated to Airpoints Gold in my Air NZ mobile app - then after restarting the app, a second card arrived, which was the Star Alliance Gold barcode.

Didn't get an email about it (either to acknowledge that I'd submitted the request, or that it'd been processed), so it's worth installing the NZ app on your phone and periodically checking the Airpoints tab.

Great timing for me: flying AKL-BNE next week in NZ Y, and NZ *G means I could pick an extra legroom seat for free (not an exit row, but further forward on the plane where they have a 'frequent flyer zone' with more space), and of course, get NZ lounge access and all the rest.

 

[henrus]

not an exit row, but further forward on the plane where they have a 'frequent flyer zone' with more space

48 hours prior to departure if there are any exit rows remaining then you can pick them for free.

 

[Nicholas Wood]

Checked my account yesterday and no change. Just checked today and I have Gold No email as of yet.

Just updated seating to row 6

 

[ChrisFlyer]

48 hours prior to departure if there are any exit rows remaining then you can pick them for free.

Oh, thanks for the tip!