Elite tier benefits
Lounge privileges
Elite members may access Air New Zealand, Star Alliance and partner airline lounges prior to departure on an Air New Zealand or Star Alliance operated flight along with our eligible partner flights.
As an Elite member, when travelling on an Air New Zealand flight, you may invite up to three guests to join you in Air New Zealand International and Domestic Lounges (travelling on the same service and subject to space) and one guest in Air New Zealand Regional Lounges, Partner Lounges and Star Alliance Lounges. Please note Koru Express in Christchurch does not permit any guest entry.
Up to a maximum of three children aged between 3 and 17 years (inclusive) travelling with you will be permitted access to Air New Zealand Lounges on a complimentary basis, subject to space availability. Children aged two years and under travelling with you may access Air New Zealand Lounges on a complimentary basis subject to space availability.
Children aged two years old and over travelling with you will be included as part of your guest allowance in both Partner and Star Alliance Lounges.
Upgrades
Elite members upgrade requests can be applied to an Air New Zealand ticketed and operated booking up to 355 days before the scheduled flight. If Elite upgrade seats are available on a flight at the time of request, the upgrade may be confirmed right away. If we can't confirm your upgrade at the time, we will review the request regularly until the flight date to see if it can be confirmed early. High load factors may prevent us from confirming an upgrade in advance of the day of travel. If this is the case, Elite upgrade requests will be prioritised ahead of Gold and Silver requests for any remaining unsold seats at the airport.
Recognition Upgrades
Elite members receive two Recognition Upgrades and one short haul Recognition Upgrade each time they retain or become an Elite member, and these are valid for that membership year.
Recognition Upgrades can be used to request a one cabin class, one sector upgrade, for example from Premium Economy to Business Premier. An Elite member may apply two long haul Recognition Upgrades, from their Airpoints account at the same time, to request an upgrade from Economy to Business Premier. Where the applicable flight only offers two cabin classes, or on our short-haul trans-Tasman and Pacific Island flights, one Recognition Upgrade may be used for an upgrade request from economy to business class.
The short haul Recognition Upgrade can be applied to flights between New Zealand and applicable east coast Australia destinations and some Pacific Island destinations. For travel on these short haul routes, members can use a single Recognition Upgrade (including short haul Recognition Upgrades) to request an upgrade from Economy to Business Premier.
More information on Recognition Upgrades
Elite Airpoints Dollars™ upgrades
Elite members can request an Elite Airpoints Dollar upgrade for one cabin class, one sector upgrades, for example from Premium Economy to Business Premier, by using Airpoints Dollars at set rates. Where the applicable flight only offers two cabin classes, the upgrade will be applied to move from Economy to Business Premier.
See how many Airpoints Dollars are required to upgrade on your next flight.
Recognition Upgrades and Elite Airpoints Dollar upgrades are only able to be applied to Air New Zealand ticketed and operated flights and are confirmed subject to upgrade seats being available.
Gifting upgrades
An exclusive benefit available to Elite members is the ability to gift Recognition Upgrades or Elite Airpoints Dollar upgrades to other Airpoints members who are on their gifting register. When a member gifts an upgrade and is travelling with their giftee, the upgrade request will be considered at Elite tier status level for the member and travelling companion, as well as any accompanying children aged up to 12 years old. Any additional giftees either accompanying the member or travelling separately will have their upgrade request reviewed based on the giftees' own tier status.
To improve chances of having an upgrade confirmed, it is best to request one of the above upgrades at the time of booking or at least 7 days before the flight as this allows us to fully assess the request before OneUp™ upgrades are considered.
OneUp™ upgrades
OneUp™ is Air New Zealand's upgrade offer system that gives people travelling on Air New Zealand the opportunity to move up one cabin class using either Airpoints Dollars or cash offers when travelling internationally. These requests are assessed after Elite, Gold and Silver Recognition Upgrade requests are reviewed 7 days before departure. Elite members' OneUp offers will be upweighted by 50%. More about OneUp™.
Complimentary frequent flyer seating
Elite members have complimentary access to our frequent flyer seating located towards the front of the cabin on most Air New Zealand flights. These can be booked during the Seat Select process when booking online, by visiting My Bookings or by calling our contact centre. Frequent flyer seats and seats located in the Economy Stretch zone are available to you on a first come first serve basis and available on any fare type purchased on Air New Zealand. Some seats are designated Preferred Seats, these include Exit Row. Elite members enjoy complimentary access to any unsold Preferred or Exit Row Seats within 48 hours of departure.
Complimentary seating does not include Neighbour free seats, available on some of our services.
Baggage privileges
Passengers travelling in Economy class, departing from Australia or New Zealand on an Air New Zealand ticketed and operated flight, with an Air New Zealand flight number to Honolulu, Singapore, or China (including transit journeys via Hong Kong) or vice versa have a standard check in baggage allowance of 2 pieces, with each bag weighing no more than 23kg. Elite members can take an extra bag up to 23kg at no extra charge providing a maximum allowance of 3 check in bags when flying in Economy class.
Please note: The maximum number of checked bags for all cabins is 3 when travelling with Air New Zealand, with each piece weighing no more than 23kg. Overweight and oversized bag charges still apply to any checked baggage allowance. The additional bag allowance (1 piece up to 23kg) cannot be used to offset overweight or oversized bag charges. Find more about checked-in baggage.
NZ domestic flights
Elite members may check in one extra bag (up to 23kg) on New Zealand domestic flights over and above their ticketed allowance for no additional charge, provided travel is on a fare that includes a checked bag. The maximum number of checked-in bags is 3, any additional or overweight bags will be charged as excess baggage. Additional baggage allowance does not apply to members travelling on seat fares, even if they have purchased a bag on top of their seat only ticket.
International flights
Provided travel is on a fare inclusive of a checked bag, Elite members may check in one extra bag (up to 23kg) on international flights with Air New Zealand or our Star Alliance partners over and above their ticketed allowance for no additional charge. The total maximum number of checked-in bag is 3 and any additional or overweight bags will be charged as excess baggage. Additional baggage allowance does not apply to members travelling on seat fares, even if they have purchased a bag on top of their seat only ticket.
Elite members travelling in Business Premier, where the ticketed itinerary has two or more Star Alliance airlines, are entitled to one additional standard piece of checked baggage free of charge, to a maximum total of 4 pieces (up to 23kg per piece).
Additional baggage allowances do not apply to flights with non-Star Alliance airlines, even if connecting to an Air New Zealand flight.
Carry-on bags
Elite members may take two pieces of carry-on baggage, with a combined total weight of 14kg with a maximum weight of either bag of up to 10kg. Find more about carry-on baggage.
Fast Bag
Elite members can pick up your bag from right beside the aircraft on Air New Zealand Link regional domestic flights. Find more about Fast Bag.
Elite Partner benefits
Elite members may nominate someone to become an Elite Partner. They will receive many of the benefits that you do when travelling with Air New Zealand and some of our partner airlines. For a full range on how to receive these benefits please see more information about Elite Partner.
To register or change your Elite Partner, sign into your Air New Zealand account and go to the Benefits page. You can change your Elite Partner once per year, in the first month after retaining your Elite status. Your Elite Partner will be able to view and show their digital Elite Partner card through their Air NZ app.
Priority travel benefits
Priority check-in
To speed up your journey through the airport, Airpoints Elite members are invited to check in at the Premium counter when travelling on an Air New Zealand operated flight. When travelling on flights operated by our partner airlines please check in with the operating carrier.
Priority boarding
Once boarding commences, you may board at your leisure on Air New Zealand and most Star Alliance flights.
Priority baggage claim
You will be among the first to collect your baggage after disembarking an Air New Zealand operated flight. This benefit also applies to most Star Alliance airline operated flights.
Vouchers and gifts
Complimentary valet parking
As an Elite member, you will receive five complimentary Air New Zealand valet parking eVouchers. These are valid for one year, and are stored in your online account. Each eVoucher entitles you to one day (24 hours) complimentary valet parking when flying on an Air New Zealand ticketed and operated flight with an Air New Zealand flight number. These can be used for Air New Zealand Valet in Auckland or Christchurch and Wellington Airport valet in Wellington.
To use your eVouchers in Wellington, you will need to pre-book your parking by signing into your Airpoints account and select redeem vouchers as payment when making your online booking.
Elite threshold gifts
We like to thank our most frequent customers for continuing to choose Air New Zealand as their preferred airline. To show our thanks, we'll send an email inviting you to select a special gift with our compliments once you reach 3,000 Status Points within your current Elite membership year (with a minimum of 1,600 earned from Air New Zealand or qualifying partner airline travel).
You will also be eligible for another gift when you reach 5,000 Status Points (1,800 from Air New Zealand), 7,500 Status Points (2,000 from Air New Zealand), 10,000 Status Points (2,200 from Air New Zealand), and 12,500 Status Points (2,400 from Air New Zealand) within a membership year.
We've refreshed the Elite threshold gift selection and will be adding lots of new options in the future. Gifts at each threshold may vary and some examples of these could include:
- Fine dining experiences at some of New Zealand's best restaurants, as well as international dining experiences
- A long haul Recognition Upgrade
- An overnight stay at one of our acclaimed hotel partners in New Zealand and Australia
- Fun family activities, spa treatments or tickets to sporting events to share with loved ones
Hotel voucher
As an Elite member, you will receive a voucher for a complimentary, one room category, hotel upgrade at participating hotels in New Zealand and Australia. Hotel upgrade requests are only able to be assessed by the hotel at check-in and are valid for up to three consecutive nights. These can be redeemed on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday only. Upgrades are subject to hotel availability, participation and room type, the vouchers cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Hotel partners may change from time to time.
Rental car voucher
Each year Airpoints Elite members receive a voucher for a complimentary, one car type rental car upgrade at participating locations in New Zealand and Australia. Rental car upgrade requests should be made at the time of booking, and will be assessed by the car company upon collection. They can be redeemed on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday and are valid for up to three consecutive days. Upgrades are subject to availability and some car types may not be eligible for upgrade. Vouchers cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Rental car partners may change from time to time.
Discounted Business class award fares
Discounted long haul Business class fares are available in limited quantities to Elite members.
Extra Elite benefits
Frequent Flyer Status Boost
For every 10 Status Boost Journeys you take during your tier status year, whether to Taupō or Taipei, we give you 30 bonus Status Points. It's a thank you for being an Airpoints Elite frequent flyer. More about Frequent Flyer Status Boost.
No Airpoints Dollars expiry
Your Airpoints Dollars won't expire while you retain Elite status.
Retaining Elite status - roll over Status Points
Once you retain your Elite status by earning 1,350 Status Points (810 must be earned on Air New Zealand operated flights), any Status Points earned above 1,351 and up to 2,399 can be counted towards retention of your Elite tier status in the following year. You are able to roll over up to 1,048 Status Points in this way.
For example, if you retain Elite and you earn 1,650 Status Points in your membership year you will rollover 299 Status Points towards requalification in your next membership year. When your following year's requalification date is reached, we will combine your 299 roll over Status Points with your current Status Points earned to determine whether you have retained Elite status for another year. The minimum requirement of 810 Status Points earned on Air New Zealand operated flights will still apply.
Status Points that are rolled over from the preceding membership year cannot be used for the purpose of qualifying for a banked year.
Elite banked year
If you earn more than 2,400 Status Points (1,400 Status Points must be earned on Air New Zealand operated flights) since your last requalification date, you will automatically receive a complimentary banked year at Elite Tier Status to use in the future, instead of receiving roll over Status Points. Elite banked years are added to your account and will be used the first time you don't requalify for Elite status on your own merit.
Extra gift recipients
You are able to nominate an additional four people to join your gifting register who do not share the same address as you, non-household giftees. This benefit is in addition to those who share the same address as you, your household giftees.
To register your household and non-household giftees sign in to your Air New Zealand account and choose Gifting Register under My Profile.
Star Alliance Gold benefits apply.
Status Hold - Parental
Have you recently welcomed a new child to your family? Or is one on the way?
As an Airpoints Elite member, you can grow your family and keep most of your Airpoints benefits as well, with Status Hold - Parental. You keep your Elite Tier Status for up to two years, even if you travel less during that time.
Here's how it works. We change your tier end date to the last day of the month, 12 months from the day we approve your Status Hold - Parental application. So if we approve it on 10 August, your new tier end date will be 31 August next year.
During this Status Hold period you can still enjoy many of your Elite benefits. You can still earn Airpoints Dollars and Status Points. But best of all, you keep your Elite Tier Status no matter what.
At the end of your Status Hold period, you'll start a new Tier Status year as normal, as an Airpoints Elite member. You'll receive all your usual Elite benefits, such as new Recognition Upgrades and your Elite partner will receive a new Elite Partner card. It's like parental leave for your Airpoints Elite Tier Status. Find out more about Status Hold - Parental.
Star Alliance Gold status
As an Airpoints Elite member, you will enjoy all the recognition and benefits of Star Alliance Gold status when travelling the Star Alliance network, and will receive premium customer benefits and privileges including:
- Priority Baggage Handling
- Airport Lounge Access
- Priority Boarding
- Extra Baggage Allowance
See the full list of benefits at Star Alliance website.
As an Airpoints Elite and Star Alliance Gold member, you can't combine your benefits and will receive only one entitlement at a time.