Air New Zealand Air Points - No lounge access if in transit on NZ 1/2 at LAX?

We flew this route (NZ 1 on May 11th and NZ 2 on May 16th). We wanted to go to the lounge for a short shower and after going through immigration a very rude Hallamrk Aviation agent(handling agent of NZ) stopped us and said we are not allowed to use the lounges. This happened on the way back on NZ 2. When we flew NZ 1 on May 11th we were allowed to use the lounge by a supervisor and we told the rude agent(Mrs.Martinez) the story. She said nobody was ever let through and that we are lying to her. We requested to speak to somebody of NZ and not Hallmark Aviation and she brought another "lady".
When I asked her if she works for Hallmark she denoed but her ID said Hallmark so both were lying to us...after some discussion we finally gave in and went to the transit lounge without any shower or food.
This is the worst experience I have ever made when in transit and as a result already switch trips from NZ to AC but unfortunately I have to fly NZ from LHR-SYD-LHR on May 23 and May 28.
The onboard service was great and I like NZ but this ground handling at LAX is a mess!

Any idea how to pass these ground handling nazis?

Tim

There was a thread about this topic several weeks ago in this forum. Check the message headers via the extended display settings and go back about 60 days worth to find it.
IIRC, there is no longer lounge access at LAX for transit pax and what you were told is correct. It only stopped being accessible to transits not too long ago when this thread in here was active.
FWIW, this is a copy of the official NZ version of what is happening at LAX as it was posted on the NZ www site.

"In order to meet new security requirements of the US Customs and Border Protection Organisation, all customers transiting through Los Angeles (LAX) on NZ1 to Auckland and NZ2 to London will no longer be able to clear Customs and Immigration. Premium customers will therefore not be able to use the Air New Zealand International lounge during the stopover.

New procedure for customers transiting in Los Angeles on NZ1 or NZ2

As customers leave the aircraft in Los Angeles, Air New Zealand ground staff will direct them to the transit area where they will be required to present their passport to US officials for inspection. Boarding passes for re-boarding the aircraft should be retained for the continuation of the journey."

Cheers.

[This message has been edited by Al B (edited 05-21-2003).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Al B:
"In order to meet new security requirements of the US Customs and Border Protection Organisation, all customers transiting through Los Angeles (LAX) on NZ1 to Auckland and NZ2 to London will no longer be able to clear Customs and Immigration. Premium customers will therefore not be able to use the Air New Zealand International lounge during the stopover.


[This message has been edited by Al B (edited 05-21-2003).]</font>

The point is that we already cleared immigration! And the customs also had no problem with waiving us through.

Tim

I suppose the first point is that you should not have gone through as the cabin crew make continuous and very explicit instructions that you are to stay on the plane until after all the LAX pax deplane and go directly to Camp Xray. So you cannot really blame them for getting annoyed that you deliberately ignored security warnings.

Note - the airline also checks off transit pax who enter camp Xray against who should actually be there and if you are not where you are supposed to be then they have to do extra paperwork to work out where you are?

But, my other question was who exactly stopped you? You were through immigration and customs and should just have walked straight upstairs to the lounge? And how did you managed to walk backwards through immigration and customs?

Mark
p.s. Camp Xray was specifically for the Iraq situation, no that is over why is NZ still using the facility or do they have absolutely no sway at LAX. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

Its about time that NZ looked for a alternative airport where the facilities can handle A load of pax, most of who are going onto a alternative location and will transit the airport.
No lounge access during a transit stop is going back through caveman days, premium pax should have access to the lounges especially after a 12 hour flight.
A alternative airport would be no problem and there is already multiple flights linking LAX with AKL.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Koru Flyer:
But, my other question was who exactly stopped you? You were through immigration and customs and should just have walked straight upstairs to the lounge? And how did you managed to walk backwards through immigration and customs?

</font>

A Hallmark agent stopped us as we had no baggage and she asked where our bags are. The immigration and customs asked the same and after explaining the situation it was no problem to go pass both of them

I was on NZ2 a few weeks ago and asked the ISD about this - he said it was basically a temporary measure (due to restrictions imposed by the TSA during in the build up to the Iraq war) and that the lounge at LAX was actually being expanded and an F section being added (I should have asked him how). He said all the NZ staff thought it ridiculous that First, Biz and elite FFs not be able to use the lounge during their transit. Unfortunately the ground staff at LAX aren't NZ's strong point and this makes the whole situation worse. Luckily camp X-Ray is only for NZ1/2, if you're arriving from or flying to Auckland on NZ3/4, 5/6 55/50 etc. etc. you're still free to use the lounge.

Cheers, Zac

Greetings from the NZ lounge at LAX http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Tim

[This message has been edited by Tim2008 (edited 05-23-2003).]

You got a computer! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif But who stole your seat while you were using it?

Or did you cheat and go next door to the quieter AC club?

Mark

First we went to the AC lounge but it was very busy so we went straight to the NZ lounge and I got one of the two working computers http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
Just landed at AKL and in the lounge now waiting for a shower...

Tim

Does the AC lounge have free PC's? or do you need to dial in? I don't like the layout of the PCs at the NZ lounge, everybody can see you when you're FT chatting!!! I like the little cornered window area down the end, if I get a chance to grab it! While they have some nice gourmet cookies at the NZ lounge, i still prefer the declious cookies at the NW lounge... do others agree? :-)

Do folks have any others tips to while away 2 hours hanging around in T2 waiting for the NZ jet to head home? :-)

The AC lounge has two PCs with free internet access tucked around to the right when you first come in.

They are a little old and slow, but I have never had to wait for one, so I usually have a shower, check mail, then head back to the NZ lounge just before the flight in case of any reseating requirements. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

But that was before camp Xray, now it is with the unwashed masses and free soda! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

Mark

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Koru Flyer:
But that was before camp Xray, now it is with the unwashed masses and free soda! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif
</font>


I am just in the NZ lounge in AKL waiting for our flight to LHR. I will report later from LAX if we were able to get a shower at the lounge. Already have an idea how it could work again... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Well, don't keep us all in suspense!

[This message has been edited by mad_atta (edited 05-28-2003).]

No chance this time. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

In light of this: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=542&e=2&u=/ap/20030802/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/aviation_security

Doesn't it in essence mean that for NZ 1/2 (AKL-LHR via LAX) that you NOW need to either 1) STAY ON THE PLANE at LAX, or 2) Clear US immigration/Customs then reboard... hence lounge access?

Anyone hearing if NZ is going to change the procedure at LAX.... Or is NZ 1/2 exempt from this change

Ahhh the AC lounge in LAX ... it makes you wonder who designed the place when you consider to go to the loo you have to walk across the way to the public loos.

Mind the dialup internet is more or less always available and it was a lot more pleasant than the NZ lounge zoo (NZ2 transit PAX + NZ53 outbound). I know one shouldn't make broad sweeping assumptions (well im about to do so) but in my experience the NZ LAX ground staff could learn a few things from any of the other staff members in the AU/NZ region.

On my last visit to LAX I had flown in on the NZ54 in C and was flying out to YYZ on AC. Looking for a shower after the crazy routing from SYD I went into the NZ lounge ... presented my LH *Gold card and my AC boarding card and was told in no uncertain terms to go next door to the AC lounge. I informed the lady that there was no shower there and I'd very much like to use the shower. She informed me that as I hadn't flown NZ and wasn't leaving on NZ I couldn't use the lounge... so at this point I produced my stack of NZ boarding cards which showed I had arrived an hour previously... not being satisfied with this she demanded to see my passport for security reasons. She then proceeded to check the name in the passport against all four boarding cards I had presented to her.

I got in eventually and realised the line for the shower was a good hour or so ... so went back to the AC lounge as seating was at a premium in the NZ lounge!

May I ask a related question?

In about two months, I am traveling on NZ 1 and 2 all the way from LHR-AKL and back. I'm a *Gold member (via Lufthansa).

If I really want to use the lounge, what should I do upon arriving at LAX?

(I'm a USA passport holder if that makes any difference - no jokes please!)

Cheers,

John

ajax... good question... I was hoping some people who have taken NZ1/2 all the way have some new info. With the transit visa program ending, I don't see how holding people in the T2 "PIT" for intl connects is any different than the transit visa waiver??

I find the NZ staff at the Koru Club in LAX nothing short but tough when it comes to granting you access, they on every occassion have brushed me across to the NW lounge or AC lounge, usually NW.

This is on requesting entry in C as well as Y *G (various programs). A little sweet talk usually gets a nod in after they know, you know how the other side live (never had a prob with showers, never seen a queue, never had to use them, never taken NZ from LAX-LHR-LAX though, only get off at LAX).