newtestleper
Jan 28, 12, 6:43 pm
Hi al
Thought readers might be interested in a series of less than satisfactory experiences I have just had flying AKL - PER - JNB - CPT return. Flights booked through AirNZ, on NZ planes AKL-PER and SAA the rest.
Upon check in in AKL was told that bags could be checked all the way through to CPT. That sounded suspect to me so I checked and was assured that bags would not need to be uplifted anywhere. Am given boarding passes for all three flights.
Flight from AKL to PER was excellent in J - typical great NZ service. Upon disembarking in PER I follow the international transfer signs, only to find a security wall/barrer that is shut. I knock on the perspex doors/windows and flag a staff member and motion for it to be opened. Staff member indicates I need to go downstairs. Somewhat puzzled I do just that, to find myself at immigration and passport control. I query this with one of the airport staff, who insists I am in the right place and that I need to go through immigration. I say that seems a little silly given I have a boarding pass for my next flight. A few others have joined me at this point and agree. Finally the staffer agrees it seems silly for us to go through immigration and goes off to check with someone. We are told to go back upstairs and wait by the transfer perspex window. After about 20 minutes someone wanders by (at this point we are due to board in 20 minutes) and we are eventually let in.
When I get to the departure lounge I go off to find the Singapore Airlines star alliance lounge. It is shut and looks like it has been for a while - no lights on, doors locked, etc. Give up at that point and hang around and board my flight.
When we get to Joburg we are told by the flight staff that if we are connecting to a SA domestic flight we must uplift bags in Joburg and recheck them in - the opposite of what the NZ agent said at the start. No worries though and I do just that. SA Baobab lounge in Joburg is very nice indeed (although no towels supplied).
Cut through to return to Perth (today). This time we transferring passengers to Auckland are met off the flight by a staff member who has a list. She takes us through security and issues boarding passes for PER - AKL. GReat. Hit the departures area again and try the SQ lounge - the lights are on but door is locked. After about 5 minutes a cleaner comes by the door and I ask her to open it. Eventually talk to the duty manager who tells me the lounge is for SQ passengers only and it will reopen at 1pm (it is 9am now), having just been open for an early SQ flight. I point out it is Star Alliance gold lounge and that I am flying AirNZ in 90 minutes. She says it is only a Singapore lounge. I point to the Star Alliance Gold sign on the desk. She says well regardless of that it is only for Singapore and mentions I should try Qantas.
That seems odd to me but after 2 weeks of sun and 14 hours of travelling I am keen for a shower so I do indeed try Qantas. Attendant tells me the QF lounge is the contracted lounge for AirNZ in Perth and lets me in.
This seems incredibly bizarre and classic Singapore behaviour. However I don't have a massive issue with it apart from the total lack of information - wasnt told in Auckland, there are no signs in Perth and it seems totally illogical that the Qantas lounge is the AirNZ lounge. I just stumbled onto it by luck.
So summing it all up, AirNZ/Star Alliance need to sort out what goes on in Perth. The transit system is a bit of a debacle, and the lounge situation needs clearing up. AirNZ (and this was a premium staff member) really need to know when bags are checked through all the way and when they need to be uplifted, as this can cause inconvenience and bother.
Thought readers might be interested in a series of less than satisfactory experiences I have just had flying AKL - PER - JNB - CPT return. Flights booked through AirNZ, on NZ planes AKL-PER and SAA the rest.
Upon check in in AKL was told that bags could be checked all the way through to CPT. That sounded suspect to me so I checked and was assured that bags would not need to be uplifted anywhere. Am given boarding passes for all three flights.
Flight from AKL to PER was excellent in J - typical great NZ service. Upon disembarking in PER I follow the international transfer signs, only to find a security wall/barrer that is shut. I knock on the perspex doors/windows and flag a staff member and motion for it to be opened. Staff member indicates I need to go downstairs. Somewhat puzzled I do just that, to find myself at immigration and passport control. I query this with one of the airport staff, who insists I am in the right place and that I need to go through immigration. I say that seems a little silly given I have a boarding pass for my next flight. A few others have joined me at this point and agree. Finally the staffer agrees it seems silly for us to go through immigration and goes off to check with someone. We are told to go back upstairs and wait by the transfer perspex window. After about 20 minutes someone wanders by (at this point we are due to board in 20 minutes) and we are eventually let in.
When I get to the departure lounge I go off to find the Singapore Airlines star alliance lounge. It is shut and looks like it has been for a while - no lights on, doors locked, etc. Give up at that point and hang around and board my flight.
When we get to Joburg we are told by the flight staff that if we are connecting to a SA domestic flight we must uplift bags in Joburg and recheck them in - the opposite of what the NZ agent said at the start. No worries though and I do just that. SA Baobab lounge in Joburg is very nice indeed (although no towels supplied).
Cut through to return to Perth (today). This time we transferring passengers to Auckland are met off the flight by a staff member who has a list. She takes us through security and issues boarding passes for PER - AKL. GReat. Hit the departures area again and try the SQ lounge - the lights are on but door is locked. After about 5 minutes a cleaner comes by the door and I ask her to open it. Eventually talk to the duty manager who tells me the lounge is for SQ passengers only and it will reopen at 1pm (it is 9am now), having just been open for an early SQ flight. I point out it is Star Alliance gold lounge and that I am flying AirNZ in 90 minutes. She says it is only a Singapore lounge. I point to the Star Alliance Gold sign on the desk. She says well regardless of that it is only for Singapore and mentions I should try Qantas.
That seems odd to me but after 2 weeks of sun and 14 hours of travelling I am keen for a shower so I do indeed try Qantas. Attendant tells me the QF lounge is the contracted lounge for AirNZ in Perth and lets me in.
This seems incredibly bizarre and classic Singapore behaviour. However I don't have a massive issue with it apart from the total lack of information - wasnt told in Auckland, there are no signs in Perth and it seems totally illogical that the Qantas lounge is the AirNZ lounge. I just stumbled onto it by luck.
So summing it all up, AirNZ/Star Alliance need to sort out what goes on in Perth. The transit system is a bit of a debacle, and the lounge situation needs clearing up. AirNZ (and this was a premium staff member) really need to know when bags are checked through all the way and when they need to be uplifted, as this can cause inconvenience and bother.