Air New Zealand Air Points - Absurdity at AKL

Today, NZ's stupid "new" (???) rules at AKL left me rather unimpressed.

Here's the deal: I get to AKL international at around 2 pm to check in for NZ 2 to LAX. Ridiculously early, I know, but I had to return the car so Budget wouldn't whack me with another day's rental charge. After divesting myself of the vehicle, I head for the *G checkin, only to be told (by a checkin agent who I'd politely describe as "having an attitude") that I couldn't check in until 3 hours before the flight. No lounge access, nada. Charming. I asked him what I was supposed to do, sit around with my thumb up.. er.. somewhere unmentionable? Yes, I know I should be ashamed of myself http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/tongue.gif

Anyhoo, I confirm with the nice lady at the info desk (and, just to clarify, I think that the vast majority of the NZ customer service staff are awesome) that this was the case. She couldn't help me either, since rules are rules, but at least she made the suggestion I head to the domestic terminal & hit the Koru Club there (which I should have thought of anyway, duh!) This I proceed to do on (sore) foot after waiting for for an inter-terminal bus that doesn't materialise. Every 20 minutes, like the sign says? Methinx not http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

So, I get to the Koru Club, explain the situation, & am told that I can't get in there either as I'm not a departing passenger, and that I should be at the int'l terminal. I AM a departing passenger, grrrrr, but I can't get into the int'l lounge, or even through to the airside shops, 'cos of the silly rules. They let me in anyway after a we'll-let-you-away-with-it-this-time spiel, which served to cool me off somewhat, both physically & mentally. I then proceeded to satisfy my hunger for food, and for a phone jack to plug my laptop into, and write this, among other various catch-ups.

I've never had this problem before, no matter how early I've arrived at AKL int'l, but then again I've always been connecting from a domestic flight. I guess that's why I haven't struck this in the past. Supposedly the changes are related to 9/11, but HOW does keeping the airline's loyal customers out of the lounges assist security? Well, that's the reason I was given, anyway. Are NZ just being cheap?

justakiwi

[This message has been edited by justakiwi (edited 04-30-2002).]

I dunno if it's the done thing to reply to one's own post before anyone else has, but I thought I should underscore what I said about most NZ staff being awesome, in case my first post portrayed me as a grumpy bugg*r.

In my stupidity, I managed to leave my cellphone in the Koru Club when heading back to the int'l terminal. I let them know my predicament when I arrived, and just now a very kind staff member handed me the phone, here in the int'l lounge. I was seriously impressed!

justakiwi

This rule has been around for a while (I think since flight resumed after the terrorist attacks), I think it has something to do with security (at least, that's what I was told last time I took NZ2 but I only had to wait 20 minutes so it was ok) and only applies to flights to the US. I doubt it has anything to do with saving money on the lounge, because you're going there anyway and the extra hour or so you'd be in isn't worth AirNZ angering their customers.

Cheers, Zac

Not surprised about the NZ2 thing, but why didn't you waitlist for NZ6 - or was it not departing on the day you were flying? Then you could have flown earlier and spoken to the even nicer agents at UA about connecting flights ;-) Or if you were going onto LHR the Koru Lounge in LAX (crowded I know!) would have been available for you.

Must agree though that I have noticed some of the usually wonderful and awesome NZ checkin staff at AKL international have been a little "stressed" of late. Although, I usually put it down to they have just checked someone before me who had a little attitude - you know the I'm a UA 1K type thing and they are a little frazled from that. So a smile and how is your day going usually gets around the stress of the day. Sometimes if there is no queue checking in at the standard NZ checkin can bring rewards. ;-)

You should have had no problem with the domestic Koru Lounge as (1) they have some of the best lounge staff in the system there, who truely treat *G and *E like royalty and (2) you have *G status you can use any lounge given that you have a star alliance flight that day them's the rules. I routinely use the domestic lounge at CHC when checked in for an international flight as (1) it is nicer and (2) guest who have been kind enough to deliever me to the airport can wait and have a beer or three with me! :-)

Yeah the inter transfer bus being every 20 mins is about as believable as the qantas SYD terminal bus being every 15 minutes! :-(

Mark

Strange.

I flew to LAX on NZ2 last month, and I checked in at 2pm. Never been told to wait until three hours before...

David

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Koru Flyer:
You should have had no problem with the domestic Koru Lounge as (1) they have some of the best lounge staff in the system there, who truely treat *G and *E like royalty and (2) you have *G status you can use any lounge given that you have a star alliance flight that day them's the rules.
</font>

From what I gathered from what the Koru Club receptionist said, the rules changed from May 1 when they moved the entry to the lounge airside. If one is not a departing domestic passenger, one doesn't get admitted.

I suspect I'd better start carrying a hardcopy of the rules regarding access to *G lounges on day of departure, so's I can whip 'em out when required http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

justakiwi

I was on NZ2 just like you... Showed up early to return the rental car as well... NZ wouldn't check me in.. .BUT they gave me the last seat in "C" class on NZ6 - I was on a C award ticket.

So I was happy - got in earlier to LA.

Did they state that NZ6 was sold out??