Originally Posted by
greg23
How does that work when it's a requirement of Star Alliance that member airlines provide complimentary lounge access for Star Gold?
I'm not sure that NZ could avoid their Star obligations.
The UA (and legacy US carriers) situation is unique. They block their own UA*G from domestic lounges, but allow other *G members on domestic flights into their lounges. Heck even some of their domestic first class passengers don't get lounge if its not transcontinental
It goes back to their original conception of lounges where it was based on paid membership rather than on status.