Recognition Upgrades
Recognition Upgrades give you the opportunity to request an upgrade to the next cabin class when you travel with Air New Zealand.
How Recognition Upgrades work
A Recognition Upgrade lets you request an upgrade to the next cabin class on eligible Air New Zealand Short Haul and Long Haul flights. If your request is successful, you enjoy the higher cabin. If your upgrade isn’t confirmed, your Recognition Upgrade is returned to your account, unless it has expired due to a tier change.
Recognition Upgrades are not guaranteed and are always subject to availability.
When Upgrade requests are reviewed
Upgrade requests are reviewed close to departure, once seating availability is clearer.
Koru Black and Koru Platinum requests may be considered from the time of booking, while Koru Gold and Koru Silver members are considered closer to departure (from 7 days prior).
We’ll do our best to let you know before your flight if your upgrade has been confirmed. During busy periods, some upgrades may only be confirmed at the airport, based on remaining seats and tier priority.
Gifting Recognition Upgrades
Koru Platinum and Koru Black can gift Recognition Upgrades to other Koru members who are on their gifting register. Gifted Recognition Upgrades follow the same request and review process as other Recognition Upgrades.
If you're travelling together
If you gift a Recognition Upgrade and travel on the same flight as the person you’ve nominated, the upgrade request is reviewed at your tier level for:
- you
- the person you’re travelling with
- children aged 12 years and under.
This means the request is considered with the same priority as your own.
If you're travelling separately
If the person you’ve gifted an upgrade to is travelling without you, their request is reviewed based on their own Koru tier instead.
How Recognition Upgrades differ from OneUp
Recognition Upgrades and OneUp both give you the chance to move to a higher cabin, but they work in different ways. Recognition Upgrades are included with your Koru tier and do not require payment. OneUp lets you make an offer to upgrade using cash or Airpoints. Offers are weighted differently depending on your tier.
You cannot combine Recognition Upgrades or Airpoints Upgrades with OneUp offers. If you choose to place a OneUp bid, any existing Recognition Upgrade or Airpoints Upgrade requests will not be considered, even if your OneUp bid is not successful.
Upgrade reviews
Koru Black | Up to 355 days before departure, if the required upgrade booking class is available |
Koru Platinum | Up to 355 days before departure, after Koru Black upgrades have been assessed |
Koru Gold | Up to seven days before departure, after Koru Black and Koru Platinum upgrades have been assessed |
Koru Silver | Up to seven days before departure, after Koru Black, Koru Platinum and Koru Gold upgrades have been assessed |
| Tier | Upgrades are reviewed for confirmation |
|---|---|
Koru Black | Up to 355 days before departure, if the required upgrade booking class is available |
Koru Platinum | Up to 355 days before departure, after Koru Black upgrades have been assessed |
Koru Gold | Up to seven days before departure, after Koru Black and Koru Platinum upgrades have been assessed |
Koru Silver | Up to seven days before departure, after Koru Black, Koru Platinum and Koru Gold upgrades have been assessed |
Terms and conditions
Recognition Upgrades apply only to Air New Zealand ticketed and operated flights and Airpoints and Status Points are earned based on the original fare. Some fare types aren’t eligible for upgrades. If your upgrade is confirmed in advance, you may be able to select your seat but premium seats may have an additional charge.
Koru terms and conditions apply.