Air New Zealand Air Points - using usairways and rcc lounges in the us?

I thought to use the stateside usairways or rcc clubs as a NZ gold you had to be travelling on an international ticket, but twice now I've been able to gain access with just a domestic ticket. Is this new? Also can you bring in a guest?

No access to the US Airways clubs or the RCC's is available to all *G's, regardless of itinerary; domestic or international.

It is when you are travelling on a paid C or F fare and do not have status (or club membership) that you are allowed to enter one of the clubs IF the destination is international. Paid C or F domestically is not eligible for lounge admission.

You got exactly what you were entitled to :)

Oh yeah, you can bring in 1 guest as a *G.

No access to the US Airways clubs or the RCC's is available to all *G's, regardless of itinerary; domestic or international.

This is true except in the case of UA and US *G's who cannot access their own lounges on domestic itineraries (this is where the confusion from the OP arises, I note sheepherder lists 1k in their profile

It is when you are travelling on a paid C or F fare and do not have status (or club membership) that you are allowed to enter one of the clubs IF the destination is international. Paid C or F domestically is not eligible for lounge admission.

Again true apart from one exception. That is those travelling p.s on UA in F (who have access to RCC's)

Jeff

No access to the US Airways clubs or the RCC's is available to all *G's, regardless of itinerary; domestic or international.

Only as long as the *G status is not with UA or US. All others, including NZ, are allowed access when flying *A. Note that some lounge bouncers confuse this rule with the access rule for UA*G and US*G. If you want you can print off the rules from *A website (http://www.staralliance.com/star_alliance/star/content/lounge_access.html).

I have had no trouble entering United's Red Carpet clubs in the USA, however, the Air New Zealand website indicates that you may only access them in conjunction with international travel, although it does not say same day?


Gold members have access to all Koru Club Lounges within New Zealand and all Air New Zealand operated International Lounges. They can also bring one guest into these lounges, subject to space, on the day of travel on Star Alliance ticketed and operated flights. In addition, they have access with one travelling companion to Star Alliance Gold Lounges worldwide. Access to United Red Carpet Clubs, US Airways Clubs and US Airways Envoy Lounges within the United States is only permitted when presenting a ticket or boarding pass in conjunction with international travel.

That is not correct. See the wording on the *A link I posted.

Indeed, I had no problem gaining access to the UA RCC's in LAX, PDX, SFO, SEA, and JFK with my NZ*G status/card and no associated international travel.

Also no issue with the US Club in LGA and BOS. The PDX RCC did query it, but they checked the rules (on their own prompting) and were happy to let me in.

All of them did want to see the card itself, with the exception of the LGA US Club.

Thanks.

This definitely means I'll do an "A" run on US next year. It brings my net cost of getting gold down to around $500 USD. (saves me the cost of an RCC
club membership.)

Thanks.

This definitely means I'll do an "A" run on US next year. It brings my net cost of getting gold down to around $500 USD. (saves me the cost of an RCC
club membership.)
Wow that is cheap. How many flights and what class are you travelling because 23 October the reduced non-ANZ rates come into play.

Wow that is cheap. How many flights and what class are you travelling because 23 October the reduced non-ANZ rates come into play.


These would be A class fares on USAirways. As of now they still earn the bonus miles. You can get gold for about 1200-1300 USD or at least you could a couple of months ago(check www.farecompare.com which has a special program for YUP fares).

After subtracting the value of the airpoints and the cost of of the RCC card the net would be about $500 USD.