Originally Posted by
Low Roller
Are there any credit cards in NZ that might give lounge access? That's a popular option in Canada/US.
The lounge is a nice benefit but it's more about the relaxing atmosphere than the food. With possibly a few exceptions, they're generally not serving gourmet meals. Depending on the airport, you can often get better food at the restaurants, but it is expensive (even for quick meals like a sandwich and coffee). So, if you travel any amount, the cost of priority pass can be justified pretty quickly.
No not really . In Malaysia right off the bat you get 2 single use lounge vouchers. In NZ here, for each $13,000US equiv. spending we get 2 single use passes. There is a AirNZ Amex Plat card that gives you 2 per year as a perk. But to get unlimited use you need the $900US Amex Plat Charge card.
Originally Posted by
KDS777
Depends on the lounges/airports you will be frequenting on a regular basis, and how much you'll be travelling. The answers to this topic are subject to location more than anything else. If I read your OP correctly, you fly probably twice a year, so don't bother with status or lounges, unless you are paying for buss/first class.
Out of my own dime. I don't travel for work. So it might be 2 return overseas trip a year. So maybe a total of 4 use of lounges. Then maybe I might do a few more domestic trips for that 2 night weekend thing. Priority Pass is $99US year fee + $27US each entry. Let's say 8 uses = $315US so it is better to use their $249US which has 10x uses. With 8 uses this is $31US per lounge visit.
Places which I visit tend to be Asia, so Tokyo, Hong Kong and Singapore, Kuala Lumpur etc ... $31US is a fair bit right.
I could use Asiana to get star gold easier but it means. As SXC noted, paying $1200US more just to get the status, for the 2 overseas return trips. $1,200US or perhaps a bit more. With Asiana, some of the AirNZ semi middle priced fares are also excluded from mileage accumulation. But certainly we need economy flexi fares. $1,200US can buy a lot of food right. 2 trips, say 4 lounge use. That's $300US each time. It might be OK for people who need to travel in the school holidays or the peak Christmas season however. Since they might be already paying that. Even if I double the use to 8 lounges with a few domestic trips that is still $150US per visit.