The Employment Relations Authority has found Air New Zealand acted properly in firing an employee who upgraded his mother to business class for free.
Malae Koria, who was employed by the airline for more than 20 years, also upgraded two relatives of a staff member in his team.
An audit three years ago uncovered the ticketing irregularities with three transactions leading back to Mr Koria.
In January 2009, Mr Koria had his mother's seat upgraded to business class for no extra cost when she had to return to Samoa for her brother's funeral.
A month before, he also upgraded relatives of a staff member to business class without charging them extra.
Mr Koria said as a long-term employee he should have been treated with more compassion.
But the Employment Relations Authority has ruled the dismissal was what a fair and reasonable employer would do.
