Air New Zealand Air Points - Lounge for NZ pax at Gold Coast OOL?

Hey people,

Just a quick question that a brief search didn't bring up the answer to: Does anyone know if there is lounge access at OOL for NZ passengers?

I'm sure that with an 8-seat business class cabin there won't be an NZ-branded lounge, but wondering if an invitation is provided on check-in to another lounge (and if so) what the lounge is like.

Have never used OOL airport, always been through BNE instead but a couple of trips will take me there in the next few months.

There was talk of opening an NZ lounge when QF closed theirs but I don't think that happened.

The airport is very basic.

When NZ first started OOL they talked about providing a KC, nothing has come from it.

They should just people invites to the Jetstar lounge, atleast its something.

If your travel out of OOL soon give NZ a ring

I currently (temporarily) fly Air NZ Business Class OOL-AKL-HNL every three weeks or so.

When the new "Gold Coast Airport Lounge" opened I went in and enquired, and was told quite snottily that only Jetstar currently pay to use it, and that I'll be welcome in there as soon as Air NZ pays for its use.

I currently (temporarily) fly Air NZ Business Class OOL-AKL-HNL every three weeks or so.

When the new "Gold Coast Airport Lounge" opened I went in and enquired, and was told quite snottily that only Jetstar currently pay to use it, and that I'll be welcome in there as soon as Air NZ pays for its use.

I have found ever since ansett, Aussie ground staff have been so rude towards NZ passengers. Just look at NZ check-in at syd

I have found ever since ansett, Aussie ground staff have been so rude towards NZ passengers. Just look at NZ check-in at syd

lack of training too. one in c one in y the check-in lady (Qantas) assumed both of us in y. asked to put my friend into spece+ seat she has no idea what it was. this was in MEL C class/perineum check-in counter back in July.

Also a regular on OOL-AKL, hoping to see a lounge once the construction is finished.

this was in MEL C class/perineum check-in counter back in July.
Whoa. Check-in is getting a bit thorough. (http://www.google.com/search?q=define%3Aperineum&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&client=firefox-a)

;).

I have found ever since ansett, Aussie ground staff have been so rude towards NZ passengers. Just look at NZ check-in at syd

Tell me about it! Last time I checked in at SYD was for NZ106. Got called up to the counter. I said hello to the guy who barked "what flight?". Those were the only two words he said to me in the whole check-in process :rolleyes:

Tell me about it! Last time I checked in at SYD was for NZ106. Got called up to the counter. I said hello to the guy who barked "what flight?". Those were the only two words he said to me in the whole check-in process :rolleyes:

LOL! that happened to me a few weeks ago, but we didn't get called up to the counter. They wouldn't even say when checking was going to open, they just stood there for a hour yelling jokes at each other. Don't bother trying to turn up 4hours before your flight, there was about 100people waiting between the AKL & WLG flight. Then when checkin did open, this ***** opened the rope said nothing and stormed away.

I have found ever since ansett, Aussie ground staff have been so rude towards NZ passengers. Just look at NZ check-in at syd

I disagree. I have flown out of SYD on NZ more times than I can think of and have never had a rude check in agent, ever. If anything, they have been courteous and friendly especially the QF agents.

I disagree. I have flown out of SYD on NZ more times than I can think of and have never had a rude check in agent, ever. If anything, they have been courteous and friendly especially the QF agents.
My experience reflects MrSydney one and that includes the time I did not even have Koru Club and was just one of the plebs at the back.

I disagree. I have flown out of SYD on NZ more times than I can think of and have never had a rude check in agent, ever. If anything, they have been courteous and friendly especially the QF agents.

You've been very lucky. I've also flown out of SYD many times on NZ and while there are some good agents NZ does seem to get more than its share of surly QF staff in my experience.

I've always found Brisbane to be bad. They are always late opening and are just civil. A couple of years back they were very late (and this was the business class queue) and an elderly lady in her 80s was waiting with us to check in. She was travelling to Auckland to connect to a flight to SanFran. She was a Qantas customer in the past and did not realise that it was Qantas people checking in NZ flights.

We didn't see her in the lounge and asked a cabin crew member to ask what had happened. She had asked at check-in where to find the lounge and was told to just go buy a cup of coffee until her flight was called. The cabin crew were horrified and arranged for her to receive vip treatment in Auckland.

We had intended to complain because of previous experiences and this time we put in a written complaint. They are somewhat better now, but we'll see again in a couple of weeks.

On the plus side, our one experience in Adelaide found the Qantas check-in for Business to be first class - friendly and efficient - and we got an invitation to their lounge which was excellent.

I disagree. I have flown out of SYD on NZ more times than I can think of and have never had a rude check in agent, ever. If anything, they have been courteous and friendly especially the QF agents.

i wonder they treat different nationalise differently? i presume you hold an oz passport? sorry if you are not.:p

The cabin crew were horrified and arranged for her to receive vip treatment in Auckland.

im interested to find out what vip treatment(s) did she get in akl?:D
although i do feel sorry for her.

Umm, if you're talking to me please see that I post under NZlilibet. Yes, I'm a kiwi. But how on earth would that affect the times of opening or the treatment given to an elderly Australian?

i wonder they treat different nationalise differently? i presume you hold an oz passport? sorry if you are not.:p

Haha yes I would think that would be the key to good service.

I do have a copy of the 2001/Sept Air New Zealand/ Ansett Panorama magazine some where at home. Was thinking I should take it with me next time LOL

And to answer your second query. She was accompanied to the Koru lounge by an NZ representative and, as I understand it, (I'd left the airport by then) was looked after until her flight. Don't you think this was the least that should have happened?

Apologies, zqsn. I missed that your comments about nationality were directed to MrSydney, not me. My fault entirely, sorry!!

And you may well be right that NZers are discrimated against. However, NZ is paying Qantas for the service so needs to be aware of problems.

variable service I agree from Sydney

last trip with my partner (who has a medical disability) we waited in the long, slow line - however on getting to the front of the queue the check agent was ever so helpful and raced off to find a wheelchair and helped partner in etc (first international trip using wheelchairs so was not sure of the ropes), double checked the oxygen was loaded on the plane

now that I am Koru I guess I can bypass the queue next time and check in at the premium desk

now that I am Koru I guess I can bypass the queue next time and check in at the premium desk

I think they would let you use the premium desk anyway. Well if I was a CSA I wouldnt have a problem with you using it.

Just returning to the title of the post........

Gold Coast Airport now has a large common departures area with half a dozen domestic gates, and a lounge. It's really excellent, apart from a substandard PA system.

International passengers then go through a further security / passport control checkpoint to get into the international departures are, which is being redeveloped, but without its own lounge.

The "Gold Coast Airport Lounge" is operated by Jetstar and targets Japanese passengers on its 4 daily A330 flights (two to Japan and two continuing to Sydney), but allows any Jetstar domestic passengers to enter for $9.99 pre-paid or for $15 at the door.

It has caused a huge stink locally with lifetime Qantas Club members, who have to pay for entry even though when they bought their life passes they did so in the expectation that Qantas would always fly out of OOL, rather than using a subsidiary and giving the lounge another name.

But Jetstar say that they adopted the name because they always intended to allow Air Asia X and Air New Zealand to buy access for premium class and elite passengers, and that they are surprised that they haven't.

I find it frustrating that when I choose to fly Business Class out of OOL instead of BNE I don't just get substandard IFE but also don't get lounge access - and with my next flight being at 0855 I'll end up paying for breakfast as I'll have been up since 5 am and won't fancy waiting for lunch on the plane.

My own personal suspicion is that Jetstar have deliberately made the lounge so Jetstar-themed (orange everywhere!) in order to discourage Air NZ from buying use, which is sad. If I were Air NZ I'd be buying access anyway, as they really need to develop the OOL market for premium class and frequent travellers.

I find it frustrating that when I choose to fly Business Class out of OOL instead of BNE I don't just get substandard IFE but also don't get lounge access - and with my next flight being at 0855 I'll end up paying for breakfast as I'll have been up since 5 am and won't fancy waiting for lunch on the plane.


What makes the IFE ex OOL so substandard? All the A320 now have AVOD with touch screens. I find the IFE on the A320/763 to be much better than the system on the 747/777.

IIRC the early flights serve breakfast only, not lunch. Despite the mid afternoon arrival time in NZ.