Air New Zealand Air Points - Air NZ at Terminal 1 at LHR

Anyone know what zone the check in area for T1 from end of March will be? Besides the dreaded RCC what other * Lounges will be located at T1?

Is T1 better than awful T3 or much of a muchness? Mind you, we are talking about LHR!

I rather doubt NZ will move from T3 to T1 end of March. If it is on time, BA will have only just started their move to T5.

T1 is fairly grim, but at least it isn't T2. T1 going to be noisy for the next several years as new Heathrow East terminal gets built right next door.

There will be a common *A lounge in T1.

T1 and T3 are definitely much of a muchness, *slightly* nicer check-in experience at T3, and *slightly* better facillities airside at T3.

Both are a total zoo, landside and airside - arriving and departing. Silver lining: neither are as bad as T2 or as irritating for transport options as T4.

Haven't seen any construction on my recent jaunts through both the international and domestic piers of T1, so I guess its unclear exactly what lounges will be ready when UA/NZ move in. Obviously the BD and SA lounges will still be around. I understand the domestic and international sections will be merged once BA move out, and the former (quite nice, for a British airport) BA lounges taken over and improved.

Talking a couple of weeks ago to the lovely ladies at the NZ lounge at SYD, they were saying they had seen some plans at an away day which looked pretty promising for Heathrow - and that Air NZ are playing a big part in improving the lounge experience there -- perhaps even a BBQ zone to go with the bach concept. Of course, one should never listen to gossip....

Hmm - maybe I should drop by the UA lounge on my upcoming visit (I don't normally of course) to see if I can get some news. UA is supposed to be moving the same time as NZ.

I flew NZ1 on Sunday and the girl at check in said that if I flew from June onwards then it would be from terminal 1 and that they would have a new lounge at that point based in the old BA terraces lounge.

Yes this seems to be what is being said in other threads. Rumour is that NZ will go in to the old BA 'Zone R', which has its own security checkpoint at the moment.

hmm, I wonder if anyone will take over the BA arrivals lounge at T1 (and for that matter T4), would be nice if NZ took that too, especially after the two long hauls on NZ into LHR
dj

Actually I think *A will build a lounge for the *A carriers.

Actually I think *A will build a lounge for the *A carriers.

Off the top of my mind i though NZ has allready said they want there own lounge at LHR not the *A lounges and so far air nz doesnt use any *A lounges.

In the recent half year presentation, NZ said they'd contributed to the new *A lounge at LHR.

so far air nz doesnt use any *A lounges.

Air NZ use the United RCC (thus *A) lounges at LHR, HKG and SFO, and the Air Canada (*A) lounge at YVR.

Air NZ use the United RCC (thus *A) lounges at LHR, HKG and SFO, and the Air Canada (*A) lounge at YVR.

I was meaning *A lounges that are run by *A not the airline if you get what i mean.

I suspect the T1 BA Lounges will just become the *Alliance Lounges run by committee of *Alliance Airport Managers.

I was meaning *A lounges that are run by *A not the airline if you get what i mean.

But there are not more than a handful dedicated * lounges around the world anyway.

The first one was in ZUrich, but that was before LX joined, don't know what happened to it. I think there are also plans for * lounges in CDG and the new J pier in MIA. But that is all I can think of.

But that is all I can think of.

I guess the lounges at LAX Tom Bradley terminal are *-operated, although in a different terminal from Air NZ.

Are the NRT T1 lounges *A or NH? Although again NZ is in a different terminal there.

Big move on june 10 to T1 zone H, currently the one next to all the cattle gates and will be next to UA. UA will move on same date i have been told, handy as they are the contracted agents at LHR.

Well thats the plan so far as we all know anything can happen between now and then.........!:rolleyes:

But there are not more than a handful dedicated * lounges around the world anyway.

The first one was in ZUrich, but that was before LX joined, don't know what happened to it. I think there are also plans for * lounges in CDG and the new J pier in MIA. But that is all I can think of.

Off the top of my head *A shared lounges (as opposed to airline operated used by multiple *A airlines) are

ZRH (B pier, the lounge at A pier is LX)
NGO
LAX (fairly new, airline operated lounges also for AC, NZ, UA, US)
PEK (new)
LHR (in a few months)

NRT lounges are operated by NH not *A

I rather doubt NZ will move from T3 to T1 end of March. If it is on time, BA will have only just started their move to T5.

T1 is fairly grim, but at least it isn't T2. T1 going to be noisy for the next several years as new Heathrow East terminal gets built right next door.

There will be a common *A lounge in T1.

There's a bit of a shuffle around the UK - US Open Skies agreement but that's more around T4. T1 should be relatively quite when BA jumps ship...

Hmm - maybe I should drop by the UA lounge on my upcoming visit (I don't normally of course) to see if I can get some news. UA is supposed to be moving the same time as NZ.

I guess that's good news. When is the big move exactly?

hmm, I wonder if anyone will take over the BA arrivals lounge at T1 (and for that matter T4), would be nice if NZ took that too, especially after the two long hauls on NZ into LHR
dj

Or use the SAA arrivals lounge but they're perhaps not going to open in the afternoon. SAA all get in around 6am...

*A are currently constructing a brand new arrivals lounge in T1.

Its to the left of bmi zone A (right of zone B) and occupies the space formerly W H Smith.

Its due to open late spring 08

Just got an email through from Airpoints confirming some of the plans for Heathrow - move to T1 will happen June 10th and AirNZ will be using Zone R for both LAX and HKG flights ^

We're taking off for Heathrow's Terminal 1
and giving you a smoother route through the airport.

As you're a loyal member of our Airpoints™ programme, we want you to beone of the very first to know about our exciting new terminal move at Heathrow on 10 June 2008.

More than 50 airlines are moving terminals over the next 12months as Heathrow Airport undergoes a £6.2 billion programme of work to transform it into a world class airport environment with modern spacious terminals that will deliver the very best in passenger experience by 2012.

First phase of 10-year transformation
On Tuesday 10 June 2008, Air New Zealand will lead the way as one of the first Star Alliance member airlines to move out of Heathrow's Terminal 3 and into Terminal 1. As well as signalling to the world that the redesign, rebuild and refurbishment of Terminal 1 has begun, this is a particularly exciting airport transfer for all our most frequent flyers.

An airport transfer you'll benefit from
Besides creating an inspirational environment for travellers, a key objective of the Heathrow transformation is to deliver a smoother experience for everyone using the airport. The ultimate aim is that for 95% of the time, queues should be five minutes or less, making sure you enjoy a faster and more comfortable journey from check-in to boarding.

Changes for the better
With the majority of Star Alliance member airlines coming together in the new Terminal 1, flying Air New Zealand means you can look forward to:

• Greater convenience with both daily services NZ1 via Los Angeles and NZ38 via Hong Kong operating from the same check-in location at Zone R
• Reduced congestion and processing times within a light and spacious check-in environment
• Quicker and easier transfers between Star Alliance member airlines
• Minimum connecting time for both international and domestic flights arriving and departing T1 that will reduce to 75 minutes
• An improved and integrated baggage handling system which speeds up the time it takes passengers to retrieve their luggage, plus a streamlined US baggage screening process for customers flying to or via Los Angeles

Heathrow East Terminal -
Star Alliance terminal in 2012
Spacious Europier Terminal 1
Reduced check-in congestion
Easy baggage collection

An exclusive new Star Alliance lounge
Soon to be revealed – watch this space for the next update with dedicated information on benefits for all Business Premier customers using the new lounge.

In case you haven't heard of Heathrow East, it is a new terminal due to replace T1 and T2 and will be home to *A. The plans look fairly similar to T5 but on a smaller scale. The first phase is due to open in 2012, demolition on T2 starts I believe later on this year. There's an interesting presentation on it here (http://www.baa.com/assets/B2CPortal/Static%20Files/Nov05HeathrowEastpresentation.pdf).

Cheers, Zac

kt74 started a thread (http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=804918) on the Heathrow move in the *A forum, with a link to a Star Alliance press release on the move (press release here (http://www.staralliance.com/en/press/press_releases/2008/lhr_terminal_1_mar_08.html)). It mentions the arrivals lounge will be for UA, bmi and South African - no mention of NZ :(

To be expected I guess as no arrivals lounge is available anywhere else in the NZ network, and it could just be an omission in the release, but if not what a missed opportunity.

The lounge is taking shape, it's over 2 levels as was the old WH Smith, with a walkway on level 2 towards the elevators (maybe for direct elevator access or possibly just for more space).

Cheers, Zac

Little bit more info (hearsay? :D) on lounge access at LHR T1 - I spoke to an attendant at the bmi domestic lounge yesterday, she said that as an NZ*G I would have access to the new Star Lounge even when flying domestically. Still crossing my fingers until the press release though, as being able to access a (hopefully) really decent lounge when flying *A within the UK seems just too good to be true, but the signs are good. My domestic flights ex-LHR are usually late evening, so it'll be great to relax with the NZ38 passengers (wishing I was off to the South Pacific and not to Manchester :D) occasionally catch up with an FSM I know and maybe even have a glass or 2 of NZ Sauv Blanc ;)

I'm guessing this applies to all *Gs, although didn't ask about BMI's *Gs.

She said there will be no separation of International - Domestic passengers in the new T1, BMI will have 2 lounges in what is now the domestic pier (current bmi one for domestic, BA's old one at gate 5 for international), and the *A lounge is where the current BA international lounge is (no idea where this is).

Cheers, Zac

Oh dear - they want to do the same thing as T5. To allow BAA to sell more all the domestic pax have to be photographed (was going to be fingerprinted but a week or so before the terminal opening they finally woke up to the realisation that wasn't a good idea :rolleyes: ). By reports on the BA forum, this means security is sloooow. It also means the lounge will be crowded all day (especially when BD will comp anything shiny to BD*G status).

It also means the lounge will be crowded all day (especially when BD will comp anything shiny to BD*G status).

I was wondering about this - it looks like BMI are going to be concentrated in one area (what is now the domestic pier) so it may be that the trek to the *A lounge, coupled with a number of people not knowing about the *A lounge (although I give this 3 months) could keep the numbers down a bit at least.

Also, she definately did say "and as an Air New Zealand Gold you will be able to ..." and the bmi press releases have been saying "*Gs travelling longhaul will be able to access the *A lounge..." - the latter wording has now changed but I have a suspicion bmi is going to try to restrict its *Gs in some way when flying domestic. The fares can be ridiculously low and there is a precedent in UA/US in the States. Who knows. I'm going to see what the lounge staff say when I pass through again this week.

Cheers, Zac

Does anyone know if AirNZ's move to T1 at LHR is still going ahead on 10 June, now that UA does not seem to be moving until 4 July?

http://flyertalk.com/forum/showpost.php?p=9715532&postcount=49

In the "Air NZ in the news" thread a July date has been given. Sorry I have to board my flight so haven't looked up the exact date.

The move takes place on 4th July.

The move takes place on 4th July.
Ah well, I'm going to miss it by one day as I'll arrive back from LAX on NZ2 on 3rd July.

Just as well since I'm not sure if I want to be one of the first ones to experience the baggage system which is being "upgraded to ensure fast efficient delivery of baggage within and between terminals" at LHR. ;)

Thanks for the info.

Ah well, I'm going to miss it by one day as I'll arrive back from LAX on NZ2 on 3rd July.

Just as well since I'm not sure if I want to be one of the first ones to experience the baggage system which is being "upgraded to ensure fast efficient delivery of baggage within and between terminals" at LHR. ;)

Thanks for the info.Well at least they didn't use the word enhanced :D

Well at least they didn't use the word enhanced :D
Does Air NZ use the word 'enhanced' in the same way as LH does? :rolleyes:

Just as well since I'm not sure if I want to be one of the first ones to experience the baggage system which is being "upgraded to ensure fast efficient delivery of baggage within and between terminals" at LHR. ;)

They're going to put two guys on the job instead of one ! :D