Op Upgrades on *Alliance

[neil_gardner]

Hi There, does anyone know (and I'm tipping Kiwi Flyer might) what the odds are on me getting an upgrade on Air NZ if I am a Gold Star Alliance cardholder with another *A airline (BMI)?

Planning to go over in a few weeks and am torn between QF and Air NZ... Will be on an economy ticket.

Cheers

 

[cssaus]

I would expect that if anyone is going to get an operational upgrade it's going to be someone holding status with Air NZ!!!

 

[NM]

The chance of getting an op-up is not high on my list of airline selection criteria. In my book, the chances are so slim that I am sure I could find some other criteria that is more significant for making my airline choice. Perhaps something like price, schedule, IFE or whether the seat material colour clashes with my hair colour??

 

[Yada Yada]

...or whether the seat material colour clashes with my hair colour??

You can always change that if you wish.

 

[neil_gardner]

didn't really rate the IFE on NZ last time I flew....but then i was crying all the way back over the poor showing of the British Lions.....SO maybe I stick to Qantas....

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Hi There, does anyone know (and I'm tipping Kiwi Flyer might) what the odds are on me getting an upgrade on Air NZ if I am a Gold Star Alliance cardholder with another *A airline (BMI)?

Planning to go over in a few weeks and am torn between QF and Air NZ... Will be on an economy ticket.

An op-up? Slim to none. Air NZ's yield management is very good. If they need to op-up anyone, then they'll first pick NZ Gold Elite, then NZ Gold, then * Gold.

I presume you would be flying on NZ1? Every time I have flown that, there is a lot of NZ Gold Elite and Gold passengers.

Having said that, if there is a last minute need to op-up (eg discover broken seat) then anyone is in with a chance and NZ1 is probably the single most likely flight to oversell.

If you get an op-up it would likely be to premium economy (better seat, better food & drink than economy). If you want something more comfortable than economy but dont want to/cant pay for business - then premium economy would be a very good choice.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

didn't really rate the IFE on NZ last time I flew....but then i was crying all the way back over the poor showing of the British Lions.....SO maybe I stick to Qantas....

The LHR route is now using the upgraded 747s, which you'll be pleased to hear has AVOD and lots of channels in all classes. Many times better than what they used to have (and still do on some routes with non-upgraded 747s and 767s).

 

[MetroAir]

Go NZ, they are a better airline (IMO), better food and you will be able to use the lounge as a *Gold.

 

[clifford]

For what it's worth, I got an op-up (from Y to C) on NZ a couple of years ago flying BNE-AKL on a 767.

I was handed the upgraded BP at the gate and can only assume that the Y cabin was oversold.

I'm a 1K member of Mileage Plus, but have no status with NZ's FF program.

So it can happen...

 

[NM]

...or whether the seat material colour clashes with my hair colour??

You can always change that if you wish.

Oh, I do. But it keeps changing back. And it gets greyer each time :shock: .

 

[neil_gardner]

well i never...its just happened. First ever upgrade. Am about to depart on Thai TG982 to Bangkok and then onto London. Have been upgraded as flight oversold and no *A Gold on board other than me. So I was first in line. Hurrah. Shame its an MD-11 and not their new A340's. Oh well, better than a seat in economy.

TTFN

 

[NM]

Congratulations Neil. Enjoy the moment and the experience. did you get upgraded all the way to London or just to BKK?

 

[QF WP]

Well done, Neil! Still, beggars can't be choosers, any Business Class seat is better than economy :wink:

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

For what it's worth, I got an op-up (from Y to C) on NZ a couple of years ago flying BNE-AKL on a 767.

I was handed the upgraded BP at the gate and can only assume that the Y cabin was oversold.

I'm a 1K member of Mileage Plus, but have no status with NZ's FF program.

So it can happen...

I'm not surprised for that route being so leisure based. Flights to/from US and LHR are far less likely to have op-ups.

Neil - congratulations on the op-up. Any business class is better than economy.

 

[neil_gardner]

Only to BKK. The plane was then empty through to LHR go managed to get 68DEF&G to myself. Not quite a flat bed but near enough.

I heard a rumour that they were ditching their MD-11 from MEL to BKK in favour of the A330. Anybody else heard this? I'm not knocking the chance to fly in Busiess but still having a single large screen at the front of the cabin...very 90's!

 

[oz_mark]

Only to BKK. The plane was then empty through to LHR go managed to get 68DEF&G to myself. Not quite a flat bed but near enough.

I heard a rumour that they were ditching their MD-11 from MEL to BKK in favour of the A330. Anybody else heard this? I'm not knocking the chance to fly in Busiess but still having a single large screen at the front of the cabin...very 90's!

TG's recent hard landing incident at MEL was done with an A340, so they do fly things other than MD11's from BKK To MEL. I have also heard that the MD11 turns up on routes that are supposed to have A330's on then, so I guess Thai must do lots of equipment rotation.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

TG is notorious for changing a/c, sometimes at very short notice.

 

[oz_mark]

TG is notorious for changing a/c, sometimes at very short notice.

I got delayed for 9 hours after checking in at BKK once. Reason given was 'aircraft rotation'