akl_cat

Ditto, the EP1 area of the WLG domestic lounge is by the bar area closest to the entrance. There is a pretty conspicuous door with frosted glass and "invitation only" or something to that effect written on it.

bce1

https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/news/...credible-perks

LyingFlat

I suspect Air NZ aren't too happy about this. The agency who did the design work have taken their website down. It was up and running this morning.

brenrox

I did wonder what they'd think of it....according to the designers Linkedin it looks like they might actually be an employee of AirNZ, which would be a big own goal.

LyingFlat

Maybe we'll soon see her LinkedIn status change to 'looking for opportunities'

codyc1515

I love how Stuff is making out like the features of EP1 are never before seen / breaking news when we originally posted the features back in early 2018.

nzjay

I managed to get a screenshot before they took it down

ttravelator

it’s probably an advertorial.

nzkarit

Advertorial for what exactly?

My understanding it is for keeping businesses loyal and making sure they have travel policies that say AirNZ unless no other option not for recruiting new customers.

cavemanzk

Exactly, most of NZ’s FF’s know what the door in the lounge is for that says Private or By Invitation Only Means.

I wonder if that stuff reporter might find, there gold card doesn’t work next time they visit the lounge.

nzkarit

Wonder now if they are trying to work expense a yep to Sydney to take a photo of the Sydney fire evac route sign?

NZ_Flyer

I’m interested in the “premium food and drinks” they talk about. I’d always heard the food was exactly the same as in the main lounge

Ellice

The one I find the most interesting, as an elite, is the guaranteed confirmation of RUs on request for EP1s. Not surprising RUs don’t clear for anyone else. Not gonna get sucked in to buying NZ cash fares any more in the hope that RUs clear. NZ are probably holding that upgrade space for EP1s even when there’s other RU requests. They used to clear a lot more regularly than they do now. RU vouchers not worth much to anyone but EP1s. It’s not really going to cut it any more getting a special ‘hello’ from the flight crew, if RUs are never going to clear.

LyingFlat

There's no upgrade space to 'hold' per se. The benefit allows an EP1 member to take the last seat in PE/BP if they wish with their RUs. Don't forget, when availability is single digits in PE/BP there will not be any R/A class released anyway... If there's no R/A class available for an EP1, NZ will overbook it for them. I have no problem with the benefit considering how much these people spend and how few EP1s there are. EP1 has been around since about 2014/2015 (with the RU benefit being there as well) and I've never had an issue getting an RU pre-confirmed.

The reason for RUs not clearing as often post-Covid is that NZ can pretty much sell every seat in the cabin so there's little incentive to release R class. I know for a fact that their revenue management greatly dislike the EP1 RU benefit (even pre-Covid) because of how much potential revenue is lost...

Take for example, AKL-JFK on 6 April 2023:

• Economy = $1374
• Business = $8454

If there is no R class available and an EP1 wants a Y-BP upgrade, NZ will overbook R class for them. This is going to cost the airline $7080 in lost potential revenue...

prp343

How many RUs are they even getting?