Domestic flights within New Zealand only operate with one class of service, so this trip report is probably not nearly as interesting as one on International First Class. I was planning to do this report several weeks ago but decided to take the lounge photo’s on a day when the lounge’s would be quieter (I for one would not like to be in some oddies travel photos). While I have included some lo-res travel shots here in due course I’ll upload some higher res one’s to my photo site, maybe. This first post is of a typical WLGAKL flight which is scheduled for about an hour even though it's only a 480km flight.
On arrival at the WLG (Wellington International Airport) the Premium Counter (Not plural!) had it's sign up but wasn't staffed, so I stood in the premium queue and was called up by the agent at the adjacent desk which didn’t have any sign up. I also ended up with one of those awful boarding passes - NZ would be so much more sensible to print baggage receipts directly onto the boarding pass (because those silly receipt stickers are very fiddly for the agent and often get stuck over the tear off portion).
I then proceeded towards the Koru Lounge which is really NZ’s saving grace. Unfortunately the WLG one is coming up 7 years old and sees over 370,000 entry’s per year so some of the seats are looking a bit tired. The Business centre has 2 slow terminals - both which also have slow internet and were constantly in use. The seats in their especially need replacing (Squeaky chairs anyone ?), along with those IBMs. The toilets are nothing special either, but I didn’t wip the camera out there…
Recently NZ put in a few of the new wide armchair design (Not those awful narrower one's which seem to take up part of the AKL lounge). These are the only newish seats in the lounge (similar to the armchairs at AKL Domestic and LAX) – hopefully the rest of the lounge will get them soon as the other seats are looking a bit tired.
There is an extensive art program which gives you something to look at considering the total LACK of magazines, there were a few NZ Diver or something – but it really is pathetic that NZ can’t manage to provide some decent reading material (Well perhaps everyone steals it but still…)
As you can see in the photograph below there is another hot water dispenser and tea cups though I’ve never seen it in use – perhaps they could rip it out and replace it with some more lounge seating.
The food and beverages in the lounge are self service (Sorry I forgot to take pictures of the beverage options). On arrival there was virtually nothing out, but soon some cookies arrived and then very shortly thereafter they were withdrawn and replaced with the “dinner menu”, which wasn’t too special - in fact I was quite disappointed.
The flight was delayed on departure by about half an hour so I shot some pictures out of the window. I could scarcely believe it – the bags on this trolley seemed to have been sorted in the correct priority order.
Boarding was called late, and as usual I waited for the final call before proceeding down the escalator and through security to board this aircraft.
The aircraft had absolutely awful seats (they really felt like washboards in the lower back). I thought it might have been an ex-Freedom aircraft but it appears not – it wasn’t a NZ new one though.
The flight took off to the south before commencing a tight bank to head off to the north. Service was typical Express Class (even though NZ seem to have dropped that branding, much to my dismay) – Tea/Coffee/Water and a biscuit. Of course I had filled a bag with cookies from the lounge for consumption during the flight. Unfortunately for you I didn't take any cabin photo's but I had seats 1B and 1C.
We touched down about half an hour behind schedule in Auckland (didn’t make much time up) and taxied in to the terminal. NZ (especially domestically) is notorious for their poor priority baggage handling systems - My first 3 pieces were out in 6 minutes (from when I deplaned) but I had to wait for a further 10 minutes for the other 3 pieces. The terminal was quite busy as was the (relatively) new traffic layout in front of the NZ Domestic Terminal which doesn’t really seem to work when there is a lot of the traffic – but that’s hardly NZ’s fault.
Ratings for this service
Check In 5/10
Only because there was no wait
Lounge 8/10
The Food really wasn’t as good as usual, the magazine selection was poor and the shortcomings with the Business Centre are unacceptable IMO
On Board Seating 5/10
The Seat wasn’t broken but was damned uncomfortable
On Board Service 9/10
The FAs don’t have much to do so perhaps they could use the time to greet the pax ?
Luggage Delivery 4/10
Only because they didn’t break/lose anything
MrSydney
Dec 29, 05, 4:24 pm
That was an excellant read - and great photos- having been to the WLG DOM on numerous occassions. Yes it does need a makeover but it has great views - i have many a photo taken from the lounge. Mind you if you think WLG needs a makeover, CHC is even worse.
I find all the NZ lounges in NZ suffer from a serious lack of decent reading material. I am sure on my last visit to CHC there were 200 copies of 'Yachting World' - or whatever its called - and that was about it.
ntddevsys
Dec 30, 05, 5:30 pm
Here’s the next installment in the summer series – this time of AKL. When I get time I’ll upload more photo’s of WLG as well as pictures of the new lounge at DUD and so you can see what MrSydney is talking about lots of photo’s of CHC - and of course the accompanying trip report.
The airport was relatively empty, the premium counter open and staffed – no line but she spent a long time typing to check me in (this seems to be quite a common occurrence thanks to the antiquated IT). After depositing my 6 pieces of luggage I proceeded through security, up the escalator, right and right again into the Koru lounge. The lounge is a bit newer than most in the system – it was the first with the new seating style (and is much better than the erstwhile lounge, which is a distant memory now).
The other half has lounge chairs (There were people scattered in them so I didn’t get any photo’s of most of it). There's also a bit tucked away with plasma screen’s (and there's another TV in another part of the lounge which was thankfully off). The plan when the lounge was built was to split the lounge up into a short, medium and long stay "zone's" - with the long stay "zone" being located at the end of the lounge (near the window) with wide armchairs (pictured below). The concept hasn't really worked I don't think - the narrower armchairs further forward in the lounge don't seem so inviting and alot of the short stay (buffet seating) is never really used.
This is the far back corner which I think should be converted to lounge seating – it’s never really used. Before Air New Zealand built this they did some research and found that most people in the lounge were traveling along - hence the absence of couch's. It seems strange then that each of these tables has 4 chairs around it.
The magazine rack/business bench breaks the lounge up so it seems smaller. These business bench's on the other side of the magazine rack have about 5 or 6 office chairs and a bench with telephones which you can plug your laptop into if you wish to Dial up (very 90s - for a lounge built in this millennium you would have though those ports would have been for broadband).
I ambled through to the nicely decorated Business Centre, which only had 4 computers (which might not be such a bad thing). Some of the chairs looked in need of a clean and the computers were the same as the one's found in WLG - running Windows 2000 and highly restrictive in what you can actually do with them.
Those things you can see on the top right of each partition are coat hooks. Through the back of the room is the door to the staff locker room. Here’s the 15” screen I was forced to peer into to check flyertalk !
On returning to the main lounge I noticed the Shoe Shine Machine – There is a revolving advertising board just in front of you to watch while it's shining your shoes (well they do have a captive audience). Sorry for the bad picture - it's taken at about 13 x zoom from far back where you turn into the Business Centre.
After investigating the machine I went in search of something to read. There were some magazine’s, but none caught my interest so I went to check out the buffet. Because of the time of day the spread today was awful (just as well I wasn’t hungry, but nevertheless I’m still disappointed) and it's pictured below
For those of you which care about these things here's the line up - Stella Artois, Steinlarger (and Light), Macs Gold, Lion Red, Speights, Export Gold (and Dry), Heineken and 7 types of Monteiths (Yes I know it’s cheating :D).
One thing you can't fault is the detailing of the design. It won some kind of award for the architecture firm Brewer Davidson (even though it was designed in partnership with Melbourne-based Cunningham Martyn Design) and was also in the Forbes top airport lounges in the world for 2003 – up there with VS in JFK, BA in JFK, QF in SYD, SA in JNB, SK in CPH, EK in DXB, MY in KUL and SQ in SIN. I remember back to when the 12 week, $1.3 million complete upgrade was in full steam – those temporary facilities almost made me fly QF !
As usual there was the obligatory art even though the full length windows looking out over the apron give me all the art I need :)
After the final call I went to the gate which was empty (seems to be a first - must be an empty flight) but after boarding there was still a wait for a family of 3 connecting from the Pacific islands. Had seats 3ABC (Quite a long way back for me). We pushed back on time and the aircraft took off to the west before banking around to fly south.
During the flight they served the usual Express Class fare and afterwards I noticed the Purser was reading a magazine in the galley – obviously there's not much to do on these short services with no real meal service.
As I was sitting in my seats writing this and eating the biscuit’s which I had borrowed from the lounge a FA came up and made conversation about my biscuit. That looks nice, we couldn't have provided you with that, did you buy it; my reply - no, I carried it on though :D
Apart from that the flight was fairly uneventful (even though those Toilet's are really cramped onboard aren't they). On arrival we landed into the north at WLG, and taxied into gate something-er-rather arriving before schedule (for once !)..
My 6 pieces of luggage were out in 8 minutes – none were sorted in priority order.
Ratings for this service
Check In 8/10
Charming
Lounge 9/10
The Food really wasn’t as good as usual and those business centre seats could do with a good clean. Also why can't NZ stock magazine's which I might like to read (The QP usually does after all)
On Board Seating 9/10
Seat was much more comfortable than the previous flight - but still not the best for Coach.
On Board Service 9/10
Perhaps I'm just used to Business Class
Luggage Delivery 4/10
Only because they didn’t break/lose anything
MrSydney
Dec 31, 05, 5:26 pm
Thanks once again for that - most enjoyable. The photo of those scones made my mouth water!! I usual grab a few plus butter when i fly across the Tasman as they are far tastier than the Cafe style rubbish they serve in Y.The AKL Koru Lounge is about the only redeeming feature of that appalling AKL domestic terminal.
I fully endorse your comments about the lack of reading material - crikey even a NZ Womens Weekly would be preferable to Golfers Monthly or Rugby Weekly!
BTW......the taxi fare from WLG to WGN Railway Stn is on average $30 which is a rip off, whereas a simlilar trip in Sydney would be $15!!
ntddevsys
Jan 2, 06, 4:19 pm
I fully endorse your comments about the lack of reading material - crikey even a NZ Womens Weekly would be preferable to Golfers Monthly or Rugby Weekly!Just as well there's always a plentiful supply of newspapers then.
BTW......the taxi fare from WLG to WGN Railway Stn is on average $30 which is a rip off, whereas a simlilar trip in Sydney would be $15!!Or you'd have plenty of change from $5 in Buenos Aires ! Still.. shouldn't complain all three put together are still far cheaper than the cost of running a driver.
For my next 4 segments I'll make sure I get more photographs of the food/beverage offering.
Leumas
Jan 2, 06, 8:09 pm
Nice report! :)
Who is that woman in the photo/painting? She's scary...
Kiwi Flyer
Jan 6, 06, 1:08 pm
Thanks for the report, although I'm annoyed that there never seems to be any Macs in the fridge whenever I visit, but so many other FTers report otherwise.
As for the AKL buffet chairs not being used - I take it you dont visit during peak hours. Pretty much every seat is used at the busiest times.
Randy Petersen
Jan 6, 06, 3:05 pm
Very nice information and the pics really added to this report. Thank you on behalf of FlyerTalk.
ntddevsys
Jan 10, 06, 1:54 am
Thanks for the kind comments everyone ! Look out tomorrow for the next instalment of my report WLGCHCDUD with an extremely tight connection :EEK
Kiwi Flyer if by some veracious oversight there is no mac's in the fridge just ask some of the lounge staff and I'm sure they'll find you some :D As for those buffet chairs - the whole lounge gets quite full in peak times so people sit there - I'm sure they'd rather some of those nice big wide armchairs such as exist at the back of the lounge.
Nippon_UK
Jan 10, 06, 2:48 pm
Great report!!
IMO, the lounge beats the NH lounges I use (mainly HND and NRT) by a million miles. Yes, the lounge agents are very polite and go out of their way to answer to any questions/problems, but looking at facilities, services, food selection this is light years ahead!!
P.S. I love the (AKL) alcohol selection!
ntddevsys
Jan 10, 06, 4:32 pm
There was no queue for priority check-in but unfortunately the sole premium desk (which seems to have had it’s overhead monitor text changed from when I last took a picture of it – it now says “Koru Club-Gold”) was busy checking in a group of about 10 from an erstwhile generation (though they were premium pax – confirmed by their later presence in the Koru Lounge). I was called up by an International agent without too much wait.
Anyway after that ordeal (once again check-in took a long time) I proceeded through the public concourse up to the Koru Lounge. Unsurprisingly I didn’t see anyone I knew –remember this is the public area. Once again after entering the Koru lounge which, as I suspected was quite empty I drew my camera without delay
On first glance the food selection looked to be the same as last week but on closer inspection I noticed the difference – there was Chicken on the hot plates. It really was good.
I settled back into my usual seat and watched the baggage handlers working the apron – watching several suitcases drop out of a Saab 340A and onto the tarmac.. oh well
I looked back in that display case but couldn’t recognise the autographs on that lowest 747 model – though someone had scribbled “What an amazing way to fly” on the wings.
For solely evaluative purposes I flicked through the magazines – some choice, but not much
Boarded my flight in the usual fashion – except this is an ATR which boards through the rear so I had seats 16AB (the highest row number I’ve had on any aircraft in years). I had forgotten how narrow these seats were but managed to get myself comfortable – or as comfortable as you can be in an aircraft which has been parked smack bang in the middle of the Wellington crosswinds.
The Captain came on the PA and advised us of his and the First Officers name “on the flight deck” while <insert cabin crew names here> were “on the flight deck” also. We had a full power takeoff to the north (Military style) but we still rotated quite far down the runway. We had barely lifted off that thing that pass’s for a tarmac at WLG when the winds started to through us. We then ended up in some very severe turbulence – dropping several meters vertically before the captain managed to regain control and move us forward a few metres when again we dropped even more. Someone quipped up about rollercoaster’s – but I tell you this was much better than that. The airframe rocked around, all of this happening contemporaneously as I was trying to pour myself a beverage. Highly engaging – WLG never ceases to entertain (the smaller the airframe the better) ! By now we were almost over the Hutt Valley before the pilot commenced a step bank to turn south, providing us with a wonderful view of the Harbour City. We rose rapidly trying to get to above 20,000 feet to avoid flying through lower turbulence. Throughout the trip we repeatedly changed flight level’s trying to dodge it. You could tell the pilot’s really where earning their keep on this one.
The FAs (all 2 of them – instead of 1 for the Q300) handed out water but not hot beverages (ostensibly for safety reasons). Those 150Ml waters really don’t fill you, I or anyone – luckily I had had supplies packed.
Anyhow the flight continued in a relatively uneventful fashion though we did track out to sea more than usual before turning in round the peninsular to land, where we went into full reverse thrust – a full 5 minutes late ! Just as well – I’m still justified in calling the airline Air Delayed. The runway was wet, so quite greasy but you wouldn’t have noticed it. Despite an air bridge being available we parked up on a stand to use the inbuilt stairs to disembark. There was a large delay while we waited for some engines somewhere-er-rather to be switched off before we were allowed to disembark. The indignity of it all ! Luckily (for them) all was forgotten as I disembarked and found myself looking at an EK 777.
After hustling off this flight and through security I saw my flight was starting to board – but nevertheless I busted upstairs and into the Koru Lounge to use the lav’s and was planning on doing a few other things – but there was no time. The doors on the cubical seem to automatically shut so I always give them a good knock/wack. I hoofed it back downstairs to board my flight – followed by just 1 other person. Oh well, not quite last. That brings me to a “security” point – If an ATR fly’s from anywhere to CHC and uses one of the many gates beyond security it would result in the screened and unscreened mingling !
The service today only had 52 pax – so 14 free seats… make that 12 because 17AB is perpetually blocked for the flight crew to use to socialise in flight (nevertheless I quite happily commandeered the other seats). There was a short wait while some luggage was loaded (not mine though as you’ll find later), and then we were off across the apron. We held short of joining the taxiway which runs parallel to the runway for a NZ 737 which seemed to get slower and slower until eventually the pilot had established that indeed it was waiting for us. We accelerated down the taxiway before spirally neatly onto the runway and had another wonderful takeoff – hitting some turbulence of course. That 50 knot nor westerly was really proving a problem. Not to worry though – the weather improved as we flew south -at one time the wind was at a mere 4 knots.
Once again the FAs passed out water, but “for safety reasons” flagged on the coffee service (much to the annoyance of many pax on this flight for some reason). Then the pilot ordered everyone into their seats and for the FAs to prepare the cabin for landing – some 200km from the destination ! One FA went up the aisle and stopped to return virtually every second pax’s seat to the upright position, including the cow who reclined her seat right into me basically forcing me to recline mine. They didn’t realise till after landing and a pax had pointed it out that they hadn’t collected the trash – so they did the right thing and made a PA announcement to leave the trash on the seats and they’ll collect them after all passengers had disembarked (I must say I was quite surprised – I would have thought they would have asked everyone to take their rubbish with them).
We flew along at around 6,000 feet before diving through various levels to 8,000 feet as the wind dropped. The wind then picked up though, making for a quite bumpy approach (but nothing compared to my earlier flight from WLG). Alas still no go around to report !
Had a good look at the new DUD terminal – which is only half completed but is a substantial improvement. All 8 bags were out in 13 minutes after disembarking, though they weren’t sorted in priority order (Hence why my bags weren’t being loaded last). While I was waiting I watched many bags come out on the new carousel too far over – they just fall on off.
Ratings for these services
Check In 7/10
Spent a long time at the desk, and staffer was quite patronising
Lounge 9/10
The Food was better than last time – though I still wonder what those consultant chef’s are thinking sometimes ! Magazine selection had improved but had a long way to go
Luggage Delivery 6/10
They didn’t break/lose anything and it was a bit quicker than at some other stations – but still nothing like my last visits
Kiwi Flyer
Jan 10, 06, 4:43 pm
No red wine at WLG koru club? They used to have some just beside the fridge.
Yes boarding/deplaning the ATR is a pain on those wild weather days.
ntddevsys
Jan 10, 06, 5:14 pm
No red wine at WLG koru club? They used to have some just beside the fridge.Sorry - yes there was red wine, but it was also Sileni
mad_atta
Jan 11, 06, 12:10 am
Great report and photos, ntddevsys. NZ's domestic lounges are for the most part (i.e. excluding CHC) a cut above almost everyone else's, especially for food and drinks. Looking forward to some photos of the new DUD lounge...
ntddevsys
Jan 11, 06, 4:11 pm
Arrived at IVC and just as I’m entering the terminal the phone rings – no need to travel. Luckily the airports not far from town, but after having made the trip I decided I’d look around the terminal (which is very basic)
I went on up to find the shoe box of a regional lounge – not that I’d be able to access it anyway because I hadn’t checked in to get a code. This reminds me – what happened to the NSN lounge refurbishment or a lounge at ROT – have NZ put regional lounge construction on hold ?
Upon exiting the terminal I realised that I hadn’t seen a single person in that terminal – no staff, no passengers. How bizarre.
Kiwi Flyer
Jan 11, 06, 7:07 pm
Thanks for the update ^
How early were you before the flight? (IVC only has one doesnt it?)
ntddevsys
Jan 11, 06, 8:19 pm
How early were you before the flight? (IVC only has one doesnt it?) ;) These days IVC has 6 daily ATR departures
Kiwi Flyer
Jan 11, 06, 10:09 pm
Shows you how long its been since I last flew there. I think it was 1 daily 737!
ntddevsys
Jan 16, 06, 2:22 am
I arrived at DUD a bit later than I expected to as I wanted to have the maximum time to enjoy the new facilities.. but as per usual I was in a screaming hurry by the time I got to the airport. Anyway the terminal was not finished (with only the new northern bit complete (no bridge’s though).
I stepped into the new terminal to find a large gaggle of Freedom Air pax waiting to check-in. Only 1 Nz agent was on duty… right down at the ticket desk. The Premium Counter seemed to have been moved since I flew in it was located on the far right closest to the escalators and next to the ticket counter and now it’s on the far left next to Freedom Air. Does anyone else think that Freedom’s colour scheme is kitsch ?
The sign which signals the entrance to that queue (to make sure no idiot’s make a mistake) was most strangely missing. The only working staffer called out to check that I was travelling with NZ. I pushed my dangerously loaded (Four bags high and 2 wide) trolley up to the counter – not stopping in time so once the trolley hit the desk a few bags fell off landing right onto the conveyor. The agent then very swiftly checked me in (I have no idea how he managed to work the computer that fast – maybe they use different software down here in DUD). He stapled my connecting boarding pass’s together and then stabled my luggage receipts to the back of my boarding pass – which took me a few moment’s to unpick on my way up to the lounge. The boarding pass was one of those awful 5cm wide one’s which the stub always falls off really easily.
I got a bit lost on my way up to the lounge – for future reference the lounge is located on the second floor. Don’t go up the escalator – it’s quicker to go to the staircase and walk to the top (thus avoiding entering the public area which was quite full). Once at the top of the stairs turn right and through the glass door – which strangely doesn’t have any signage on it. There’s also a lift if you rather.
On arrival at the lounge the sole staff member was over fighting with the coffee machine so I just strolled on in and took a seat – plus a few dozen photographs :D This was my first time in the new DUD lounge and I was expecting it to be bigger – but compared to the old lounge I guess it is.
I’ll briefly explain the layout. On entry looking straight ahead along the back is the food with the bar on the left and the coffee on the right - in front of that is café style seating.
The door to the bathroom’s/staff area is between the food and the coffee maker.Once through there I found it difficult to decide which set of bathrooms was for which - the figures were a little ambiguous and the usual way of telling wasn't there (the males didn't have urinals).
Which you’ll find equipped with very nice seats – the best in the domestic system and the most clean (granted they are less than a month old). I found them quite comfortable, it’s just a pity that WLG-D doesn’t have any.
To me the business centre seemed too small – only 3 cube’s. Two with computers and 1 stuffed with a printer and fax which could be quite easily integrated into the fax machine. I sat down to use one of them but found the internet to be slow (9.68k modem ?) so quickly stood again
Anyway, back to as your entering - on the left is some more seating. This includes 10 seats setup facing the television (This photo taken from behind the bar looking forward)
As you can see there are some stools at the bar; meaning you can pour yourself another Vodka and Lemon without getting up – would be quite handy for some patron’s I would think.
Remembering I’d failed on writing down the booze for previous lounge visits I hastened over to the bar. As explained above the bar concept is different to all the other domestic lounges, as you can see throughout the photo’s of this report.
You can see the Speights tap which draws from the refrigerated keg’s below. Clearly Speights has done a deal with NZ because all the beer glasses have Speights blazed on them and the consumption of beverages is such that NZ don’t have a soda fountain for the soft drinks so maybe NZ have got half keg’s ? Otherwise look forward to Flat Speights from a Koru lounge near you…
Beer - 17 by my count
Speights, Speights Old Dark, Speights Distinction Ale, Steinlarger, Steinlarger Light, Stella Artois, Becks, Export Gold, Macs Gold, Heineken, Export Dry, Monteiths (Radler, Golden, Celtic, Original, Black and Plisner).
Spirits
42 Below Vodka, Chatelle Napoleón Brandy, Gordon’s London Dry Gin, Johnnie Walker Red Label Old Scotch Whisky, Smirnoff, Bacardi, Coruba Jamaican, Jim Bean and some Port (sorry didn’t note the label correctly) and Lemon, Lime but no bitters.
Wine
Mills Reef 2004 Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot Cabernet, Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling; along with Olssesn’s (Central Otago) 2004 Riesling and 2001 Oaked Chardonnay; 2004 Timara Merlot (ug) and a 2004 Spy Valley Merlot.
That selection is one of the best I’ve seen for Domestic NZ and knocks’ the pant’s off any Red Carpet Club (with the added bonus of being self serve)
The reading material is all located on a low table behind the reception desk – I think it’s a very good selection (well for NZ it is…). That tall pile you can see about halfway along is the ubiquitous BMW corporate magazine – they’re never likely to run out of copies of that.
but nevertheless I took a seat at one of their “café style seats” and hated it immensely – for the food selection the lounge chairs are much nicer (well in my opinion)
All too soon final boarding was called and the time came to leave. After leaving the lounge I found the layout difficult – looking around for my boarding gate. Because the terminal is only half finished there are no air bridges, not that this ATR would necessarily have used them.
Eventually found my gate and was the last person on. Unfortunately the flight was relatively uneventful – the FAs stood at the rear whining about the staff travel benefits but gladly opened the toilet door for me and stood aside when I ventured to the aft of the aircraft. Apart from a bit of turbulence on final approach there’s not much else to report – or not anything which would be interesting (unless your an avid people watcher).
More follows soon on CHC and another flight…
typhoon
Jan 16, 06, 4:03 pm
ntddevsys this is brill. I particularly liked the DUD view of greenery. It's refreshing after the usual tarmac pictures we see. (photos count for a thousand words)
WellingtonFF
Jan 16, 06, 5:11 pm
I have just caught up with this thread after coming from the NZ Airpoints forum to see the comments on DUD Koru.
An excellent series.
After experiencing the Red Carpet Club in SFO early last year, and having done a fair bit of travel in my early years, I would have to agree that the NZ and QF lounges are miles ahead of most other lounges around the world.
The UA SFO lounge facilities were OK, but there was little food, a ticket for one free drink, with the rest having to be paid for, and a very surly barman.
IMHO all the main domestic and international Koru lounges in NZ are great, apart from the two CHC ones, particularly international.
Look forward to the continuing of the series.
Kiwi Flyer
Jan 16, 06, 6:42 pm
Excellent ntddevsys.
Are you going to do the regional lounges too? I think the only ones I havent been to are Queenstown (checked in too late to use :o ), New Plymouth and Palmerston North (plus Dunedin full koru club). The latter 3 I will definitely visit later this year.
For those interested the website page for the domestic koru clubs is here (http://www.airnz.co.nz/travelinfo/koruclub/loungedirectory/default.htm)
ntddevsys
Jan 17, 06, 6:09 pm
Rushed through security and up to the lounge in the fastest possible fashion - bearing in mind that I
A) Did not want to be seen by anyone I knew
B) Needed to use the toilet
C) Had a very short connection but had photographs to take, paperwork to complete - not to mention being in need of a nice long drink
After entering I turned right and right again to enter the glassed in Business Centre located directly across from the reception desks
While it’s not exactly paradise it allowed me to call a car to meet me in WLG and to photocopy – as per usual the glass was in need of a clean to produce anything resembling what it was ment to be copying so I left that
As you can see here the food was particularly rubbish – I mean *one* dry club sandwich ? Next time they’ll tell me that I must have a UM seated next to me in 1E – perish the thought.
Of course more salad’s and the like could be found nearby but none of it was particularly appetising. I hastened through to make a dinner reservation for my arrival in WLG – of course forgetting about this and that and this which need to be done in a hurry before this person and that person depart for C.
I hurried off to find myself a seat… now that sofa wouldn’t look out of place In most people’s home’s !
Now you can’t really fault this lounge for space (well it’s never been overfill whenever I’ve visited recently) but for design, ambience and business facilities – the Wellington train station is better :D As for the toilets – 2 cubicals’ doesn’t really cut it especially seeing the doors auto shut so you need up in a queue of a few people for 2 empty toilets :rolleyes:
A unique feature is the presence of about 5 doors which lead out to various gate areas – while they’re a nice idea they’re damn confusing and upon opening of a side door for boarding your confronted by a long line of people making it a bit difficult to push in. The good gates have opaque glass so you can see if there is a line – but it conceals the line in the aerobridge. Anyway this unique feature means you can have as many lounge guests as you like, to help you fill the seats :D
The reading selection wasn’t too bad, but *I* want to read Australian Personal Computer or some other uber-geek publication not Woman’s Day or Fish & Game Magazine –though they would find a copy had been mysteriously relocated to the WLG lounge after my visit. ;)
Anyway boarding was called and I made the mistake of venturing out too soon – ending up in a queue about 30 people long :(
Someone had put the “Classic Hits” tape in so for boarding music today we had -Chariots of Fire (Vangelis), Need You Tonight (InXS) and Stupid Cupid (Connie Francis) , the latter annoying the purser the most.
We pushed back just a little late and the safety video played – Am I the only person who thinks it’s badly done ? With the title’s in between “Seatbelt” and so forth you could be excused for thinking you’d need to set your watch back about 20 years !
On take-off I noticed JSZ (the two tone ATR which they leased after Origin dumped it) parked up and from what I could see it didn’t have the NZ logo on the tail anymore.
The flight was smooth, I was occupying 1D, my newspaper 1E while there was some lady in 1F. As per usual they came through with water, coffee, tea and for some people biscuits – I of course pass on the biscuit’s as I don’t find them very good.
On arrival the bags started appearing on the carousel at about the 4 minutes since landing mark and all my pieces were out by the 8 minute mark with all the bags sorted in priority order, which of course they would be flying from CHC into WLG.
ntddevsys
Jan 17, 06, 6:15 pm
Update: Note that the CHC AKL and WLG lounges have all been refitted with new designs in the last few years, making most of the pictures on this redundant. I'm not such a fan of the 'batch style' concept myself.
It appears I am too lazy to write any more trip reports.... unless there is overwhelming demand by PM.
That was the last of my reports because I’ve now done all 4 main domestic lounges and I’m sick of the look’s one gets when snapping photographs in the lounge. I feel I’m doing NZ a favour by not highlighting their Regional lounges – such is the size and facilities which some of the offer.
Kiwi Flyer ZQN is one of the best in the regional network IMO (well I guess it has to due to International J departures) but I'm not sure I'll have a reason to visit for quite a while. I can understand you being late to check-in, I’ve never had a more surly agent then at ZQN.
Domestic segs are of a very high standard for me even though there are many little quibbles and as I think back to when Domestic 737s had 122 seats instead of the 136 which they have now and a full bar service after 11am :D – the timing was wonderful as it would stop you getting plastered on their outbound flight, thus meaning the trip wasn’t wasted.
Thanks for reading.
MrSydney
Jan 17, 06, 6:57 pm
Thanks for taking the time out to write this report. Loved the photos.
I know what you mean about getting 'funny looks' when taking photos. People look at you as if you are an undercover spy.
Kiwi Flyer
Jan 17, 06, 7:29 pm
Thanks for writing (and the photos) ^
mad_atta
Jan 18, 06, 6:01 am
Great report and photos - thanks ntddevsys. NZ domestic flights may be basic, but the lounges more than make up for it IMHO (and FWIW, they are streets ahead of the QF domestic equivalents if you ask me). The DUD lounge looks great - especially when you consider it's a small regional centre with 10-12 flights per day (mix of turboprop and 737s).
Your mission now, should you choose to accept it, is to do a tour of duty of the NZ regional lounges. The only one I've seen is NPL, which was really quite cute. Whaddyareckon? :D
AJLondon
Jan 18, 06, 7:32 am
Thank you for those photos and the great trip report! ^
ntddevsys
Jan 18, 06, 1:52 pm
Your mission now, should you choose to accept it, is to do a tour of duty of the NZ regional lounges.Next stop BHE Regional lounge :D
I can see where this slippery slope is going... "Your mission now is to do a tour of duty of the NZ International lounges with cross-comparision with the alternative lounges :o
Kiwi Flyer
Jan 18, 06, 2:06 pm
Here's (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=468018) a list to help you out ;)
Leumas
Jan 18, 06, 3:01 pm
Next stop BHE Regional lounge :D
I was wondering how long before that 'B' word would appear... :D
MrSydney
Jan 18, 06, 8:00 pm
Lets face it - BHE will never get a lounge, at least not in our life time!
mad_atta
Jan 19, 06, 6:48 am
Lets face it - BHE will never get a lounge, at least not in our life time!
You never know! (http://www.newzealandnz.co.nz/discussions/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=47;t=000006;p=0) :D :D
ntddevsys
Jan 19, 06, 1:04 pm
I especially liked this bit
"Mr Bolt said an upgrade to the terminal would also help prevent overcrowding..." :D
mad_atta
Jan 19, 06, 8:47 pm
You'd be surprised - it actually does get very overcrowded. Difficult to believe, I know, but true. It's because when they built the new terminal not very many years ago (less than 10 IIRC) they really didn't allow for any traffic growth. The growth since then has been considerable... which may explain two novel experiences coming into BHE recently:
1) On approach, having to go into a holding pattern (admittedly only one short circuit) due to "air traffic congestion at BHE!"
2) More recently, having to wait in the penalty box on arrival until there was a free gate to use for us to disembark, as all (four!) gates were filled with 2xNZ flights, 1x Origin Pacific and 1x air2there. (Before you get too surprised, I should probably point out that none of the aircraft present were more than 19 seaters!)
I'm telling you, it's NZ's next major hub airport!!! ;)
ntddevsys
Dec 6, 07, 4:59 pm
Kiwi Flyer's post (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=763182) on the impending 316sqm extension to the AKL Koru Club reminded me that this thread is completely out of date. Air New Zealand is rolling out a program of innovations over the next year to improve the domestic experience, in order to better compete. The online system is being improved, the eTicket and boarding pass are being redesigned, new luggage drop zones are being installed, "new welcome mats, music and an extra-friendly greeting at the gate". None of this has happened yet. However they have started expanding the AKL Domestic lounge.
This post will only focus on the AKL lounge, for the CHC lounge has always too busy for me to snap pictures when I have been visiting. I also do apologise in advance for the brevity of this report – I have other, er productive things to be doing too.
As has always been the case, one enters the lounge at the far end of this picture. After being granted entry, You pass through two desks - from which the new Lounge Concierge team can assist you. To the right as you can see here are located some magazine racks, and one of several television screens -this one is often tuned to a relevant current affairs programming.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a14/ntddevsys/Trip%20Report/4601.jpg
View in larger resolution (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a14/ntddevsys/Trip%20Report/F4601.jpg)
As you can see the main part of the lounge has been refreshed with the addition of new cushions, and some new artworks and items of furniture.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a14/ntddevsys/Trip%20Report/4594.jpg
View in larger resolution (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a14/ntddevsys/Trip%20Report/F4594.jpg)
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a14/ntddevsys/Trip%20Report/4589.jpg
View in larger resolution (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a14/ntddevsys/Trip%20Report/F4589.jpg)
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a14/ntddevsys/Trip%20Report/4579.jpg
View in larger resolution (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a14/ntddevsys/Trip%20Report/F4579.jpg)
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a14/ntddevsys/Trip%20Report/4577.jpg
View in larger resolution (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a14/ntddevsys/Trip%20Report/F4577.jpg)
You can see that the end that the lounge has been truncated - obviously for the extension works to be done, while keeping the lounge open.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a14/ntddevsys/Trip%20Report/4571.jpg
View in larger resolution (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a14/ntddevsys/Trip%20Report/F4571.jpg)
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a14/ntddevsys/Trip%20Report/4592.jpg
View in larger resolution (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a14/ntddevsys/Trip%20Report/F4592.jpg)
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a14/ntddevsys/Trip%20Report/4568.jpg
View in larger resolution (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a14/ntddevsys/Trip%20Report/F4568.jpg)
The extension works are most evident at the end of the lounge where the Playstation is located...
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a14/ntddevsys/Trip%20Report/4598.jpg
View in larger resolution (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a14/ntddevsys/Trip%20Report/F4598.jpg)
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a14/ntddevsys/Trip%20Report/4596.jpg
View in larger resolution (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a14/ntddevsys/Trip%20Report/F4596.jpg)
As you can see the computers have been replaced - of course since I wrote the original Summer Series NZ have installed free wifi in their lounges - now with a password common throughout the network that changes monthly... you just need to remember the ww0rd.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a14/ntddevsys/Trip%20Report/4604.jpg
View in larger resolution (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a14/ntddevsys/Trip%20Report/F4604.jpg)
And the vital information (which I made you scroll all the way to the bottom for)?
Steinlarger
Steinlarger Premium Light
Speights
Mata Manuka
Mata Artesian
Export Gold
Export Dry
Lion Red
Heineken
Monteiths - varieties Original, Golden, Celtic and Black.
Nobilo Poverty Bay 2005 Chardonnay
Limestone Creek 2004 Pinot Noir
Isabel 2005 Sauvignon Blanc
Alan Scott 2006 Riesling.
Not bad.
Kiwi Flyer
Dec 6, 07, 6:50 pm
Thanks ntddevsys.
And the vital information (which I made you scroll all the way to the bottom for)?
Steinlarger
Steinlarger Premium Light
Speights
Mata Manuka
Mata Artesian
Export Gold
Export Dry
Lion Red
Heineken
Monteiths - varieties Original, Golden, Celtic and Black.
Nobilo Poverty Bay 2005 Chardonnay
Limestone Creek 2004 Pinot Noir
Isabel 2005 Sauvignon Blanc
Alan Scott 2006 Riesling.
Not bad.
OMG only 13 beers! :eek: I thought it was bad when I visited recently and there were only 19. And no Macs :td: