Air New Zealand Air Points - Air New Zealands' Planned Lounge Upgrades

I was just flicking through my Air New Zealand annual report for 2004 and I noticed that

Major Refurbishment and extention of Los Angeles, Melbourne and Christchurch lounges scheduled for 2005.

Planned Upgrades of Nelson and Palmerston North Koru Lounges.
[Emphasis Added]

Nothing about refurbishment in DUD and HLZ or a new lounge at ROT :td:

Nothing about refurbishment in DUD and HLZ or a new lounge at ROT :td:

Or BHE! :( :D

I thought Christchurch upgrade was announced ages ago?

I am guessing that Rotorua and Hamilton havent been mentioned as dependent on timing of the terminal expansion/upgrades which may not have been finalised?

Or BHE! :( :D

You wish :D

From the March Koru Club Review

The Dunedin Koru Lounge has moved temporarily to the southern end of the Dunedin terminal while a new terminal building is constructed on the northern end. We will move into the new facility, which will feature a new check-in area and Koru Lounge, in late 2005.

That current check-in area is really squashed. Anyone have any more info on the new lounge ?

bump... surely there must be some further lounge news about MEL CHC DUD HLZ ROT NSN or PMR

bump... surely there must be some further lounge news about MEL CHC DUD HLZ ROT NSN or PMR

ahem!

You forgot BHE from your otherwise comprehensive list... :D

ahem!

You forgot BHE from your otherwise comprehensive list... :D

BHE? Where is that? ;)

BHE? Where is that? ;)

It's the centre of the sauvignon blanc universe... and that's good enough for me! :D

bump...Has the new section of the LAX lounge been opened yet ?

I went through the LAX lounge on May 10 & it was still the same old sad looking place. I also thought that AKL could do with a major upgrade too.

KiwiPanda

I went through the LAX lounge on May 10 & it was still the same old sad looking place. I also thought that AKL could do with a major upgrade too.

KiwiPanda

Are you referring to AKL dom lounge? If so, I couldn't agree more. Was there in late March, I thought the flooring and upholstery all looked very tired. However the food selection is light years ahead of AC's MLLs'

Are you referring to AKL dom lounge? If so, I couldn't agree more. Was there in late March, I thought the flooring and upholstery all looked very tired. However the food selection is light years ahead of AC's MLLs'

Actually I was referring to the International lounge departing NZ2 24 May. Now I grant you that the wine/food selection was excellent but that's it (oh, I like the art as well!). The chairs and carpets were worn & grubby; two of the three computers were not working; the lighting is poor; no magazines or newspapers at all; and the main seating area needs repainting.

Still, a couple of galsses of Lindauer Special Reserve makes things look rosier ... ;)

KiwiPanda

That lounge never looks its best that hour of the day.

At least there's some drinkies and good company to distract! (NZ if you're reading this please bring back the Macs)

Are you referring to AKL dom lounge? If so, I couldn't agree more. Was there in late March, I thought the flooring and upholstery all looked very tired. However the food selection is light years ahead of AC's MLLs'
I personally find the AKL domestic lounge relaxing with the dimmer lighting. I doubt we will see a new lounge again in that terminal building. When AIAL finally get around to putting in the new runway for domestic departures we will finally get a new terminal - but I cannot see that happening any time soon as they have just revamped the entrance to the NZ terminal.

IIRC new northern runway planned for 2007, new terminal 2008? I'm sure there's more info on www.auckland-airport.co.nz (sorry bad connection so wont look it up right now)

Air New Zealand have finally posted a summary of their new LAX International Lounge (http://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/travelinfo/checkingin/internationallounges/los_angeles_international_lounge_description.htm) with pictures on their website. It seems odd that under the Business zone heading a picture was put of someone working in a lounge chair.

I see not alot has proceeded with the refurbishment of MEL and CHC Intl. Lounges or the upgrades to NSN and PSN that were promised in last years annual report. DUD northern end terminal reconstruction seems to be progressing well.

Judging by those photos, the LAX lounge looks pretty good - the shower suite especially look fabulous. I never did get to see the old one which everyone hated so much, so I don't know just how dramatic the improvement is...

It was not that we hated it, it was a nice lounge, it was just the size and facilities. Given that there would be something like 3x747 and 2x767 a lounge that was similar in size to DUD did not really cut it. For example, IRC there were only 3 showers (2 in the gents and 1 in the womens) leading to long waits and queues in the toilets. Not to mention the angst if you were told you had to use the Northworst lounge.

Mark

Based on those photos...the seating area looks like the previous lounge, but the food area looks much better. More like the SYD food area, which is a huge improvement. Hopefully I'll be able to go there soon.

Scott

The seating looks like the furniture in the AKL Domestic lounge - extremely wide arm-rests and so forth. Since NZ took over the lounge from PanAm back in the 70s(?) the furniture has only been replaced once, back in the 90s/2000 (?).

Does this offically mean that NZ no longer use the NWA Lounge ?

The real test is if there are any magazine's worth reading on the shelves -noticeable by their absence in most NZ lounges, even when compared to QF clubs.

Does this offically mean that NZ no longer use the NWA Lounge ?

The real test is if there are any magazine's worth reading on the shelves -noticeable by their absence in most NZ lounges, even when compared to QF clubs.

I really hope to never ever visit that place (The NW lounge) ever again. The last time I remember a lovely man who was either trying to pick me up, or explain the rules of basketball to me. I still am not entirely sure. Horrible drinks and food, crowded, no showers and a funny smell -- if you've never experienced the place count your blessings.

I'm guessing this thread from the Air France forum about new closing times means there is no longer a deal to take the overflow:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=463694

In terms of magazines, I've always found the LAX lounge to be much better than the AKL int lounge - not huge praise though as its hard to beat three copies of the bmw magazine and a two-month old 'Bulletin' with grafitti over pictures of John Howard.

LAX regularly have People, Vanity Fair and Conde Naste amongst others (and no grafitti)

Marginally off topic but I'm travelling through LAX with Mrs KBD and our toddler (20 months old) next month, all with seats in the Y cabin, though I have a Koru Club membership and a *G card [with AC]. Any thoughts on whether they will try to enforce the one guest only rule in the new lounge? Presumably I should at least give access a go?

You'll be fine with adult + toddler as guests

A new Air New Zealand International lounge at MEL is now scheduled to be completed and ready for pax before the Commonwealth Games in March (A challenging schedule if I do say so myself).

The lounge of course will take the zone concept, the general focus on food, beverage and shower facilities.

The lounge is expected to have

A capacious Business Centre
A long sports bar
A showcase area of New Zealand’s fashion and design industries ??
A verandah area decked out to be like our country


Looking good…

A new Air New Zealand International lounge at MEL is now scheduled to be completed and ready for pax before the Commonwealth Games in March (A challenging schedule if I do say so myself).

The lounge of course will take the zone concept, the general focus on food, beverage and shower facilities.

The lounge is expected to have

A capacious Business Centre
A long sports bar
A showcase area of New Zealand’s fashion and design industries ??
A verandah area decked out to be like our country


Looking good…

Yes I was through Melbourne this morning, and NZ Sally confirmed that it was to be open early March. At long last - United Red Carpet in the meantime has been less than adequate to put it mildly, although I must admit that the sandwiches this morning were almost back to the very high standard that used to be in the old NZ Melbourne lounge!

What's the target date for improvements at CHC? I passed through the NZ CHC international lounge this past Sunday evening and found it to be even more miserable than usual ... the place was an oven with the AC not working properly in the lounge area despite the rest of the international terminal being just fine temperature wise. The place was hot, crowded, mostly devoid of reading material, and (horrors) under-cheesed.

The NZ domestic lounge in CHC is less grim, but not by much.

Where is the new MEL lounge going to be? I must confess I have gotten used to the QF F lounge since NZ closed their old lounge and moved in with UA.

Where is the new MEL lounge going to be? I must confess I have gotten used to the QF F lounge since NZ closed their old lounge and moved in with UA.

Supposed to be downstairs near to the UA lounge I was told.

I did see what appeared to be renovations starting in the Malaysian lounge next door to UA, but I don't know whether this is the new site.

Agree with the comments about CHC domestic and international - very tired indeed.

See my comments in another thread on the new DUN lounge - together with Lyn making sure that everyone is fussed over, it would now have to be the best domestic lounge in the system.

While I don't find the UA lounge in MEL that bad, it would be nice to check out the NZ lounge once it opens - (it mentioned the upgrade in this months NZ inflight mag). As long as I can have a drink, pick up a wifi signal and not have to fight for a seat, I'm happy. Then again, it's only a 3-4 hour flight to AKL.

goodo

While I don't find the UA lounge in MEL that bad, it would be nice to check out the NZ lounge once it opens - (it mentioned the upgrade in this months NZ inflight mag). As long as I can have a drink, pick up a wifi signal and not have to fight for a seat, I'm happy. Then again, it's only a 3-4 hour flight to AKL.

goodo

I guess my growl was that I seemed to always have to fight for a seat, and that the food was not too flash. Certainly on Tuesday I have to admit that I didn't have to fight for a seat, and that the food quality had gone up markedly.

(BTW - interesting - I used a word b**** meaning to growl, which in NZ would be perfectly OK, but the software edited it out. It surely is taking PC a little far, or doesn't the software distinguish the grammar)

The software censoring is very simplistic.

Eg ....ake mushrooms.

The software censoring is very simplistic.
I wasn't even aware there was a censoring tool - fancy that. I guess just as well that there isn't a major airport in a English town that starts with Scun and ends with thorpe, else S....horpe

It caused me grief on the Hilton hotel master thread as a number of web addresses included S-H-I-T without the "-"s.

The software censoring is very simplistic.

Eg ....ake mushrooms.

Really, you mean I can't talk about my favourite mushrooms :confused:

It may be a little off topic, but I was through SFO last year, and travelling NZ had the opportunity to sample the UA lounge. I have to say that while the facilities were OK, the food, grog service and general ambiance weren't a patch on NZ lounges that I have seen both domestic and international, and that the gap is probably the same as it was 15 years ago.

Getting a ticket for a complimentry grog, and very ordinary grog at that if you are a wine drinker with it being served by a very surly bartender, then having to pay for anything else is not in the NZ/Oz tradition at all, and I had better not say anything more without offending someone.

I hadn't done the States for a considerable amount of time, but my US friends tell me how great the gap is between US airline's lounges and the NZ and Australian equivalents, and I can't but agree.

I do admit that Virgin Blue for example has a different business model, and it may be a matter of price, but I don't think so.

It caused me grief on the Hilton hotel master thread as a number of web addresses included S-H-I-T without the "-"s.

Kiwi Flyer,

Off topic again, and I admit to be a semi geriatic, but you you have taught me that if I want to b_i_t_c_h about something, I have to be patient ;)

Kiwi Flyer,

Off topic again, and I admit to be a semi geriatic, but you you have taught me that if I want to b_i_t_c_h about something, I have to be patient ;)

Sorry - geriatric - it gives me away again :o

Supposed to be downstairs near to the UA lounge I was told.

I did see what appeared to be renovations starting in the Malaysian lounge next door to UA, but I don't know whether this is the new site.The new lounge is going to be a level down from the Arrival's level which houses the UA SQ CX QF and MY lounges. In effect the new lounge is going to be right below the Qantas Club.

You will either use the lift or take an escalator down to the arrival's level (as you do now for the UA Lounge) and then take another escalator (found in the hall in front of the CX and between the QF and SQ lounges) down to the Ground Floor to access the new lounge.

Good grief - sounds like a dungeon!

Good grief - sounds like a dungeon!

I didn't realise it was down another floor. The Melbourne NZ ground crew were telling me some months ago that there was a fair bit of aggro about the new site.

Let's just hope the design is such that people don't mind the new site.