Air New Zealand Air Points - ?s re: F Lounges at LAX & AKL, & amenity kits

I searched through the last year & didn't find that much info on lounges/amenity kits, so here are a few ?s:

* Is there a sep F-class lounge for ANZ at either or both LAX & AKL, and if so, what are they like/what should I expect? (and where are they located).

* If they're no great shakes, are there any others I should go to (I'm flying F but also *G UA) instead?

* Do either have internet terminals? (I'm thinking of leaving laptop at home & just doing i-cafes). (and not related to ANZ, but anyone have a url for i-cafe locations in NZ?)

* What's the amenity F kit like? Also, LH usually gives out a Bogner sweater to change into (UA doesn't) - does ANZ do anything like that, or should I bring along my LH one (it's nice to change into dif shirt to sleep in rather than just sleep in your clothes & arrive really frumpy; I change back just before landing).

And finally, if you happen to be flying LAX-AKL on the 7th or AKL-LAX on the 19th, be great to meet you. I'm in 2B on both flights.



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Sharon

Sharon,

The only part I can help you with is the lounge. NZ has a lounge upsatiers from the main departure level/area. It is on a mezzanine with all the lounges. The NZ lounge offers a bathroom and shower withing the lounge, bathroom for AC lounge is accross the hallway. Their is a "seperate" area for F passengers. It is sitting area within the regular lounge that has a reserved sign for F passengers, picture a fishbowl!!
My wife is travelling on a F award flight LAX-AKL in Feb, I have bought a F rev ticket to fly with her. Having read the report form Gratn, I am seriously considering cancelling my ticket, and flying AC via SYD ex YVR (we originate in YVR) and just meeting her there. Price difference is huge.
I am very curious to read your perception of NZ F. Enjoy your trip, the country is beautiful, even w/o sleeper seats to get there!!

Hi Sharon,

You can click here (http://www.airnz.co.nz/travelinfo/ontheplane/firstclass/first_class_amenities_kit.htm) for a description and inventory of a typical NZ F amenity kit, and here (http://www.airnz.co.nz/travelinfo/koruclub/loungedirectory/international_lounges.htm) for a list of the LAX lounge facilities. Hope this helps! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif



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All my posts are my own personal opinions and experiences and in no way represent the opinon of my employer.

thanks airnzboy; i'll click on after this post. taupo, read this - gives a dif perspective on F & J. based on it, i think it will be fine (but i'm on an award vs paid ticket, so i'm not too picky).

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum7/HTML/000541.html

i think i can find a i-cafe in auckland, so will post there on my trip over (and when i return to la back).

btw - i prefer a sep 1st class lounge, but fishbowl works for me if there's room & decent booze http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

i'm definitely treating this as a holiday, so it's gonna have to really suck for me to be upset. i'm a princess but not as bad as some on FT (male & female); for the most part my needs are simple.

btw - i may be going to n.z. 'last samurai' premiere (i've already seen it in the states). my clients worked on it & i'll be over there then, but wasn't quite sure i'd be in wellington on that day.

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Sharon

Sharon -

I used *alliance F award to NZ in Apr/May flying UA (F) to SYD, NZ (J) to AKL, then NZ (P) to LAX.
I am attaching the link to my travel report.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum81/HTML/003826.html

NZ has one 747 equipped with sleeper seats (unless they change it). If you are lucky, you could be on that one. I am sure airnzboy would be happy to check the a/c for you.

Seatwise UA's first suite is the winner, but overall servicewise NZ is the winner in my opinion. Simple things such as separate curtains between F/C/Y, and nice meal presentation (incl. the tableware) reminded me - what first class used to be kind of.

I am actually planning to go back there from the end of Jan to mid Feb - am still wondering if I should take UA (via SYD) oneway and NZ return or roundtrip on NZ.

You will love their summer season in NZ...

Sharon,

There're plenty of Internet cafes along Queen Street and around the CBD. They'll be impossible to miss if you walk along Queen Street.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by taupo:
Sharon,

The only part I can help you with is the lounge. NZ has a lounge upsatiers from the main departure level/area. It is on a mezzanine with all the lounges. The NZ lounge offers a bathroom and shower withing the lounge, bathroom for AC lounge is accross the hallway. Their is a "seperate" area for F passengers. It is sitting area within the regular lounge that has a reserved sign for F passengers, picture a fishbowl!! </font>

This is in LAX. In AKL the F lounge is indeed separate and quite nice (certainly quieter than the other lounge).

AKL has 2 computer terminals and LAX has 3 or 4. Both can be very busy at times.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">My wife is travelling on a F award flight LAX-AKL in Feb, I have bought a F rev ticket to fly with her. Having read the report form Gratn, I am seriously considering cancelling my ticket, and flying AC via SYD ex YVR (we originate in YVR) and just meeting her there. Price difference is huge.</font>

I enjoyed recent F upgrades on NZ for AKL-LAX and vv. The upgrade was worth it over business IMHO. I cant compare with other airline's F as no experience there, but the service food drink and seats were excellent. Many times better than biz class on AC for LAX-YYZ and vv.

[This message has been edited by Kiwi Flyer (edited Jan 18, 2004).]

And here (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum5/HTML/011663.html) is a thread on LAX lounges comparing AC with NZ.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Leumas:
Sharon,

There're plenty of Internet cafes along Queen Street and around the CBD. They'll be impossible to miss if you walk along Queen Street.</font>

And plenty in the other cities and most larger towns have at least one. Ask at the information centres or at your accommodation if not already obvious where they are.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Kiwi Flyer:
I enjoyed recent F upgrades on NZ for AKL-LAX and vv. The upgrade was worth it over business IMHO. I cant compare with other airline's F as no experience there, but the service food drink and seats were excellent. Many times better than biz class on AC for LAX-YYZ and vv.</font>


The AC biz class product for LAX-YYZ is their domestic product, very different from their intl ExecFirst (60" pitch), IFE etc. Their ExecFirst is cross between NZ F and C products. More room thatn NZ , but nothing like as much as F. I would imagine that NZ has AC beat hands down on the service front. I have flown NZ C/J quite a lot, the service is very good, seats and leg room are OK (I'm 6'4").
I have bought and paid for the NZ F ticket already, however I recently realised I can purchase an AC Y ticket and get u/g to C/J at time of booking. I am very naive at this "free" u/g thing. The $ difference is huge, it is the only reason I would change to AC. I would love to try NZ F. They may not have the sleeper seats, I have heard the service is second to none.