Air New Zealand has opened their very own status match / fast track promotion called A Touch Of Gold for which members can apply by May 7, 2021 in response to a similar campaign by Qantas.
Applications for the Touch of Gold promotion are open to Airpoints members who live in New Zealand or Australia as shown by the residential address listed in their online Airpoints account.
Those seeking to apply must hold current Gold or higher status (or equivalent) with another airline though any Star Alliance airline and specifically Cathay Pacific members are ineligible for the promotion.
With the upcoming, long expected opening of the travel bubble between Australia and NZ next week airlines are back in the business of international flights after being dormant for more than a year.
You can access the Air New Zealand website for the status match here.
Here’s your opportunity to experience a Touch of Gold with Air New Zealand for the next four months. And we’re sure you’ll enjoy it so much you’ll want to make it last much longer.
How do I apply?
Simply complete the Application form by 5pm 7 May 2021, along with your Airpoints number and evidence of Gold or higher status (or equivalent) with another airline (other than a Star Alliance airline™ or Cathay Pacific). We will review your application and respond back directly.
After the initial four-month period your account will be reviewed to see whether you have earned 100 Status Points through Air New Zealand travel. If you have, you’ll keep your Gold Membership active for the following 8 months – giving you a full year of Gold benefits.
And that’s not all, once you receive the extension, you’ll have two Recognition Upgrades added to your account to give you an extra Touch of Gold.
To find out how to check potential Airpoints Dollars and Status Point earnings you can check online for Australian based members or Airpoints Calculator for New Zealand based members.
You can always check to see how you are tracking by logging into your account or on the Air NZ mobile app.
If you haven’t earned 100 Status Points through eligible Air New Zealand travel at the end of the period, your account will be returned to the status that you held prior to the Touch of Gold trial period.
This campaign is very specific and has an address requirement for AUS/NZ that is only verified by the account address. If you’re interested in this match you could just add a random address to your account for this purpose in case you live abroad.
To facilitate the status match only makes sense if your intention is to use the status temporarily for the 4 months or you actually have the opportunity of flying Air New Zealand to collect 100 status points in order to extend the status.
The benefits of Air New Zealand Gold correspond with the usual Star Alliance Gold benefits such as priority ground services (Check-In, Lounge, Priority Boarding) as well as extra baggage allowance. Those members who manage to extend their status will also receive two upgrades for Air New Zealand flights.
If you’re interested in the Qantas status match check out my article about that campaign here and remember it ends on April 30th.
It’s good to see competition gearing up again and have a perspective for travel.
Conclusion
Both Air New Zealand and Qantas are trying to poach elite members from competing frequent flier programs that have not been able to use them due to a ban on foreign travel. As the travel bubble only includes these two countries NZ and QF are direct competitors here with both airlines bleeding money.
Have you already signed up for one of the two matches?
These are the terms & conditions for this campaign:
Touch of Gold entitles certain members to a four-month trial Gold tier Airpoints Membership.
Applications for the Touch of Gold promotion are open to Airpoints™ members who:
- live in New Zealand or Australia as shown by the residential address listed in their online Airpoints Account; and
- hold current Gold or higher status (or equivalent) with another airline. Star Alliance airline™ or Cathay Pacific members are ineligible for the promotion.
(Eligible participants).
To apply for the Touch of Gold promotion, Eligible Participations must:Complete the online application form before 07 May (or any other date advised by Air NZ in its discretion) and include their current Airpoints Membership Number and electronic evidence of the status held with another eligible airline (this can be either a copy of a Membership card or a Membership statement).
Touch of Gold four-month trial membership is offered in limited numbers and may be withdrawn at any time without notification. Air New Zealand has sole discretion whether to accept Eligible Participations into the Touch of Gold promotion (Trial Members) and acceptance is not guaranteed. Confirmation on whether application has been successful or declined will be emailed to the Eligible Participant within 15 business days of the application email being received by Air New Zealand.
To receive Touch of Gold benefits, Trial Members must download the digital card through the Air NZ mobile app and enter their Airpoints number into all eligible bookings.
Touch of Gold benefits will apply for four months from the date of acceptance into the Touch of Gold promotion (Trial Period) and include:
1. lounge access, opportunity to submit OneUp upgrades, complimentary frequent flyer seating, baggage privileges and priority travel benefits, as further detailed above.
Trial Members shall not be entitled to any other Airpoints Gold benefits not listed herein and will not receive an Airpoints membership card, bag tags or a welcome pack.Review process
Trial Members who have earned 100 Status Points or more through eligible travel on Air New Zealand during the Trial Period will be eligible to receive Airpoints Nominated Gold status for the following eight months and will receive 2 Recognition Upgrades for their use for the remainder of that Membership year. Information about Airpoints Gold benefits are set out here.
If the Trial Member does not earn a minimum of 100 Status Points through eligible travel on Air New Zealand during the Trial Period, the Trial Member will be downgraded to their original Airpoints tier with the associated benefits of the downgraded status. No new card or pack will be provided for the downgraded Member. If the Member is downgraded to Silver, they will commence 12 months at Silver status and undertake review as per the normal Airpoints Terms and Conditions. Airpoints Terms and Conditions apply.
