Gold tier benefits
Lounge access
Gold members may access any Air New Zealand, Star Alliance and partner airline lounge prior to departure on an Air New Zealand or Star Alliance operated flight along with our eligible partner flights.
As an Airpoints™ Gold member you may also invite one additional guest (travelling on the same service and subject to space) to join you in any Air New Zealand International, Domestic and Regional Lounge (excluding Koru Express, which does not allow guest entry), Star Alliance lounges and some partner lounges.
Please note that Star Alliance and Partner lounge access regulations stipulate that any travellers, including children aged two years old and over will be included as part of the member's guest allowance.
Upgrades
Recognition Upgrades
Gold members receive two Recognition Upgrades each time they retain or become a Gold member, and they are valid for that membership year. A Recognition Upgrade can be used to upgrade one flight sector by one cabin class (for example, from Premium Economy to Business Premier™). Where the applicable flight only offers two cabin classes, or on our short-haul trans-Tasman and Pacific Island flights, Gold members may use one Recognition Upgrade for an upgrade from Economy to Business Premier.
On our long-haul flights, where we offer a three-cabin class configuration, two Recognition Upgrades can be applied at the same time on one sector to move from Economy to Business Premier.
Recognition Upgrades are only able to be applied to Air New Zealand ticketed and operated flights. We recommend our members apply their Recognition Upgrade to their flight booking as soon as possible. Our upgrades team will review requests seven days prior to travel, and if upgrade seats are available on the flight we will confirm the request.
High load factors may prevent us from confirming the request in advance of travel. If this is the case, Gold upgrade requests will be reviewed after Elite requests and ahead of Silver upgrade requests for any remaining, unsold seats at the airport on the day of travel.
More information about Recognition Upgrades.
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 as payment when travelling internationally. These requests are assessed after Elite, Gold and Silver Recognition Upgrade requests are reviewed 7 days before departure.
Any OneUp offers made by a Gold member will be upweighted by 30%.
Complimentary frequent flyer seating
Gold 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 seating is 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 as Preferred Seats and Gold members enjoy complimentary access to any unsold Preferred, Exit Row or seats located in the Economy Stretch zone within 48 hours of departure.
Complimentary seating does not include Neighbour free seats, available on some of our services.
Baggage privileges
NZ domestic flights
Gold 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
Gold members may check in one extra bag (up to 23kg) on international flights at no extra charge. This is over and above the ticketed allowance, provided travel is on a fare that includes a checked bag. 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.
Gold 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).
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.
Carry-on bags
Gold 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
Gold members can pick up your bag from right beside the aircraft on Air New Zealand Link regional domestic flights. Find more about Fast Bag.
Priority travel benefits
Priority check-in
To speed up your journey through the airport, Airpoints Gold members are invited to check in at the Premium counter when travelling on an Air New Zealand operated flight or the Star Alliance Gold counter when travelling on a Star Alliance flight. When travelling on flights operated by any of 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
Hotel voucher
As a Gold 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 at the hotel check-in and are valid for up to three consecutive days. These can be redeemed on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday nights only. Upgrades are subject to hotel availability, participation and room type and the vouchers cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Hotel partners may change from time to time.
Rental car voucher
Every year Airpoints Gold 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 to be assessed at time of pick-up and are valid for up to three consecutive days. They can be redeemed on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday only. 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 Gold members.
Extra Gold 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 15 bonus Status Points. It's a thank you for being an Airpoints Gold frequent flyer. More about Frequent Flyer Status Boost.
No Airpoints Dollars™ expiry
Your Airpoints Dollars won't expire while you retain Gold status. If you move below Gold, you will have until your next anniversary of joining to use any Airpoints Dollars that were due to expire. If your next anniversary falls within two months of you moving below Gold, you will have a full two months to use your expiring points.
Extra gift recipients
You are able to nominate an additional two 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 Gold member, you can grow your family and keep most of your Airpoints benefits as well, with Status Hold - Parental. You keep your Gold status for up to two years, even if you travel less during that time.
Here's how it works. We change your end of tier 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 end of tier date will be 31 August next year.
During this Status Hold period you can still enjoy many of your Gold benefits. You can still earn Airpoints Dollars and Status Points. But best of all, you keep your Gold Tier Status no matter what.
At the end of your Status Hold period, you start a new Tier Status year as normal, as an Airpoints Gold member. You'll receive all your expected benefits, such as new Recognition Upgrades. It's like parental leave for your Airpoints Gold Tier Status. Find out more about Status Hold - Parental.
Star Alliance Gold status
As an Airpoints Gold 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 Gold and Star Alliance Gold member, you can't combine your benefits and will receive only one entitlement at a time.