Upgrades

Upgrades make your flight a little more comfortable and a lot more special. With Air New Zealand, you can buy them, make an offer or earn them.

Earning an upgrade through your Airpoints membership

Air New Zealand Airpoints is our frequent flyer programme. The more you fly, the more you benefit - and that includes access to exclusive upgrades.

Recognition upgrades

If you're an Elite or Gold Airpoints member we give you two recognition upgrades per membership year. Silver members receive one recognition upgrade per membership year. You can use them to upgrade one cabin class on one sector of a journey.

Use a recognition upgrade

Elite short haul recognition upgrades

As an Elite Airpoints member, you also receive one short haul recognition upgrade each membership year. You can request an Economy to Business Premier upgrade when you fly to most trans-Tasman and Pacific Islands destinations. You can use your upgrade yourself, or gift it to someone else.

Use your Elite short haul recognition upgrade

Elite Airpoints Dollar™ upgrades

Used up your recognition upgrades? Elite members can also request an upgrade using Airpoints Dollars at a fixed rate. You can apply to upgrade on short and long haul Air New Zealand flights.

Use an Elite Airpoints Dollars upgrade

Star Alliance upgrades

Travelling overseas on a Star Alliance airline? As an Airpoints member you can request to buy an upgrade with Airpoints Dollars, as long as you have purchased an eligible booking class and there are seats available. The upgrade options depend on your airline. View Star Alliance upgrade rates and info.

Request to buy a Star Alliance upgrade