30 May deadline for spending Airpoints on upgrades

Air NZ has announced a measure that significantly devalues the Airpoints dollars in Airpoints members accounts. From 30 May, Airpoints Dollars will no longer be usable to request standby upgrades that will be allocated according to availability and status based on fixed rates depending on the routes.

Instead they will only be usable to bid for a “OneUp” upgrade, one class upgrade only, based on $ value, with bidders competing not on status, but on price. Indeed ANYONE can bid for an upgrade with a confirmed ticket, using cash, setting a value according to what he/she is prepared to pay. Frequent flyer membership or status is not relevant.

The effect is to devalue status, and price up the cost of upgrades as now anyone can buy them.

To avoid this, Air NZ airpoints members can book upgrades for any confirmed flights (including past 30 May) until 30 May. So it may be time for UK airpoints holders, who may think about say a regular Xmas trip to NZ or a summer flight to LA, to book soon and spend up their airpoints.

Don’t forget to diarise this important date, better to spend your points before the deadline and make them count, than let it creep up on you and lose the extra benefits.