Air New Zealand extends ‘Touch of Gold’ status match
Touch of Gold is the gift that keeps on giving!
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December 1, 2021 - 10:00 am
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UPDATED 30 November 2021 | Did you take up Air New Zealand’s ‘Touch of Gold’ status challenge earlier this year? You’ll now have even longer to enjoy your perks, and to qualify for a full year of status.
In fact, if you applied back in April 2021, this latest change may already give you a full year of perks. And that’s before you’ve even qualified for the extra time at Gold. Talk about a deal!
Touch of Gold members now have until 30 June 2022 to complete their challenge. Earn just 100 Status Points on Air New Zealand flights before then, and you’ll bag yet another eight months at Gold. That’s in addition to the time you’ve already spent enjoying Airpoints Gold status via this promotion.
Right now, Touch of Gold isn’t open to new applicants, so this extension only applies to travellers already granted Touch of Gold membership. If that’s you, continue reading below for a reminder of your Touch of Gold benefits, and how you can lock them in until early 2023.
What is Air New Zealand’s Touch of Gold status match?
The Touch of Gold offer promises four months of selected member benefits. Among them, access to Air New Zealand, Star Alliance and partner airline lounges before eligible flights.
In addition, you can also immediately access complimentary frequent flyer seating, boosted baggage privileges, and priority benefits at the airport.
Want to extend that Touch of Gold to a fully-fledged Air New Zealand Gold membership? Then you just have to pocket 100 Status Points through Air New Zealand flights during your trial period.
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What are the Touch of Gold benefits?
To receive these benefits, be sure to use the Air NZ mobile app and also enter your Airpoints number on eligible bookings. Perks during the trial period include:
- Lounge access as per Air New Zealand and Star Alliance rules.
- The opportunity to submit OneUp cash upgrade bids with a 30% weighting on the offer.
- Complimentary frequent flyer seating onboard.
- Extra 1x 23kg bag on Air New Zealand domestic and international flights at no extra charge, provided the fare includes a checked bag.
- 2x carry on bags with 14kg combined weight, 10kg max per piece.
- Priority check-in, boarding and baggage.
If you earn more than 100 Status Points during this time, you’ll unlock a further eight months of Air New Zealand Gold Status. This includes two Recognition Upgrades that provide you with a one-cabin class upgrade on any Air New Zealand flight sector.
How do I earn 100 Status Points?
It’s possible to earn Status Points across the pond when the trans-Tasman bubble is open for business, though Perth residents will find it much easier than anyone in the Eastern States. At least, when travel restrictions permit! Here’s how you could earn 100 Status Points on Air New Zealand-operated flights from the west coast:
- Perth-Auckland return on any fare (at least 57 Status Points one-way on the lowest Economy ‘seat’ fare).
- Perth-Auckland one-way in Business Class (at least 158 Status Points).
If you’re travelling from Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane, you’ll need to fly a bit more often or book a higher fare to reach that goal sooner:
- Sydney-Auckland return three times in the cheapest Economy ‘seat’ fare (at least 18 Status Points each way).
- Sydney-Auckland return two times in Premium Economy Class (at least 34 Status Points each way).
- Alternatively, Sydney-Auckland return with at least one leg in Business Class (from 82 Status Points one-way Business, plus at least 18 Status Points the other way in the lowest Economy ‘seat’ fare).
Finally, domestic travel within New Zealand is also eligible, of course. Using Auckland-Queenstown as an example:
- Auckland-Queenstown return four times on the cheapest Economy ‘seat’ fare (at least 14 Status Points each way).
- Auckland-Queenstown five one-way flights on the most flexible Economy ‘flexidate’ fare (at least 20 Status Points each way).
Summing up
Air New Zealand’s Touch of Gold is a great incentive. Qantas and Velocity Frequent Flyers can dip their toes into Air New Zealand and Star Alliance perks, with a free status match for four months.
It also gives you the opportunity to increase this by a further eight months if you fly and collect 100 Status Points. That’s reasonably easy to do. While international travel is limited at present, holding Star Alliance Gold status could certainly come in handy down the line.
Additional reporting by Chris Chamberlin.
Air New Zealand extends ‘Touch of Gold’ status match was last modified: August 25th, 2023 by
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They are also less generous than Qantas I have noticed with respect to these status match extensions and ticket flexibility for credits and refunds over the COVID border closures. I have been onto them quite a bit personally with long phone waits. If you have ANZ domestic sectors booked they treat you like a domestic pax and are not willing to extend the credits past 31-Oct-21 unless you bought the fully flex fare. They are doing nothing like Qantas and Virgin with free domestic changes and credits until 30 Apr 22. I have 5 semi-flex domestic flights sitting there for my planned Dec/Jan trip and given they are post Oct-21 they have gone back to normal ticket conditions for a somewhat closed off country. They would only review it if I had ANZ trans Tasman flights booked with them to link up these domestic sectors (mine are QF).
I also find their AirPoints program a tougher meet and less generous than Qantas as it is based on $ value spend over the different booking class levels rather than fixed distance thresholds. It’s a bit more complex to work out what you will receive with points, status credits and air dollars. It requires use their online tool pricing each trip/class. I guess in a smaller country you have to travel them lots like a bus route to make this program work domestically. International would be your only savour but they are the last to open that up so that looks a long shot. At least Qantas and Virgin have kept their FF programs active and rewarding during our lengthy lockdowns and thrown lots of promos at us to keep us engaged and loyal. AirNZ hardly issues any AP promos to make you jump and knock this status match on the head.
I think I will milk the timing of the extension without completing it until 30 Jun 22. I will use their remaining Gold status as a Star Alliance airline for my European trip in June, prob with Sing Air. Keeping the AP’s program active as a stand alone is probably unachievable for me as an Aussie as we will have 3 local airlines to cover that base (unless you are a kiwi heading home).
In any case, Air NZ codeshares on Qantas can only be purchased in conjunction with an Air NZ Trans-Tasman ticket.