Koru Lounge and United MileagePlus Club
Jan 13, 2016, 9:40 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2014
Programs: NZ*Elite *G, QF*G, SPG*Platinum, Accor*Platinum, Hilton*Gold
Posts: 1,006
Koru Lounge and United MileagePlus Club
There was a small incident at the SYD lounge today where a couple insisted their $395 United MileagePlus club granted them access to Koru (Y class, no status, flying back to states on United)
What should be the verdict?
What should be the verdict?
Jan 13, 2016, 9:53 pm
#2
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Christchurch, NZ
Programs: NZ*E, Accor Gold, PGR Black
Posts: 51
The simple answer is no - the following is direct from the rules...
Who is entitled to use Koru or International Lounges?
Answer:
Koru members and business class ticket holders who are travelling on an Air New Zealand ticketed and departing flight the same day.
Gold or Elite Airpoints member have access to all Air New Zealand owned and operated lounges. You also have access to these lounges
Star Alliance Gold Lounges worldwide
United Red Carpet Clubs
US Airways Clubs and US Airways Envoy Lounges in the USA. Please note - only available when presenting a boarding pass in conjunction with international travel.
Silver Airpoints & Air New Zealand credit cardholders & Above & Beyond members may use complimentary single entry lounge passes for all Koru lounges in New Zealand and all Air New Zealand operated International Lounges when travelling on an Air New Zealand ticketed and operated flight the same day.
Who is entitled to use Koru or International Lounges?
Answer:
Koru members and business class ticket holders who are travelling on an Air New Zealand ticketed and departing flight the same day.
Gold or Elite Airpoints member have access to all Air New Zealand owned and operated lounges. You also have access to these lounges
Star Alliance Gold Lounges worldwide
United Red Carpet Clubs
US Airways Clubs and US Airways Envoy Lounges in the USA. Please note - only available when presenting a boarding pass in conjunction with international travel.
Silver Airpoints & Air New Zealand credit cardholders & Above & Beyond members may use complimentary single entry lounge passes for all Koru lounges in New Zealand and all Air New Zealand operated International Lounges when travelling on an Air New Zealand ticketed and operated flight the same day.
Jan 13, 2016, 11:36 pm
#3
Moderator, Hilton Honors
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: on a short leash
Programs: some
Posts: 71,422
UA paid club members get access to NZ lounges as long as flying same day on *A from that airport.
Refer *A reference guide for airline employees, page 148
https://portal.staralliance.com/star...eference-guide
Refer *A reference guide for airline employees, page 148
https://portal.staralliance.com/star...eference-guide
Code:
Intl Dom Cards
F C F C *G AC UA
club
NZ International Lounge ✔ ✔ - - ✔ ✔ ✔
NZ Koru Lounge ✔ ✔ - - ✔ ✔ ✔
Last edited by Kiwi Flyer; Jan 13, 2016 at 11:45 pm
Jan 14, 2016, 1:40 am
#4
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: NZ*G ELT, VA-G
Posts: 3,598
The simple answer is no - the following is direct from the rules...
Who is entitled to use Koru or International Lounges?
Answer:
Koru members and business class ticket holders who are travelling on an Air New Zealand ticketed and departing flight the same day.
Gold or Elite Airpoints member have access to all Air New Zealand owned and operated lounges. You also have access to these lounges
Star Alliance Gold Lounges worldwide
United Red Carpet Clubs
US Airways Clubs and US Airways Envoy Lounges in the USA. Please note - only available when presenting a boarding pass in conjunction with international travel.
Silver Airpoints & Air New Zealand credit cardholders & Above & Beyond members may use complimentary single entry lounge passes for all Koru lounges in New Zealand and all Air New Zealand operated International Lounges when travelling on an Air New Zealand ticketed and operated flight the same day.
Who is entitled to use Koru or International Lounges?
Answer:
Koru members and business class ticket holders who are travelling on an Air New Zealand ticketed and departing flight the same day.
Gold or Elite Airpoints member have access to all Air New Zealand owned and operated lounges. You also have access to these lounges
Star Alliance Gold Lounges worldwide
United Red Carpet Clubs
US Airways Clubs and US Airways Envoy Lounges in the USA. Please note - only available when presenting a boarding pass in conjunction with international travel.
Silver Airpoints & Air New Zealand credit cardholders & Above & Beyond members may use complimentary single entry lounge passes for all Koru lounges in New Zealand and all Air New Zealand operated International Lounges when travelling on an Air New Zealand ticketed and operated flight the same day.
From Star Alliance website:
http://www.staralliance.com/en/lounge-access-policy
PAID LOUNGE MEMBERSHIP CUSTOMERS
As an eligible holder of Paid Lounge Membership, you have access to any Star Alliance member airline Business Class Lounge2. Eligible paid memberships include United Club and Air Canada Maple Leaf Club – Worldwide. You will need to show your boarding pass for a Star Alliance flight departing from the local airport together with your valid eligible paid lounge membership card, displaying the Star Alliance Lounge Logo. You are entitled to a maximum of one guest. 2 Except in Singapore where the Singapore Airlines Krisflyer Gold Lounge is available.
Jan 14, 2016, 2:36 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: WLG/BKK
Programs: TG*G, NZ*GE, QF G, Accor Gold
Posts: 10,207
The simple answer is no - the following is direct from the rules...
Who is entitled to use Koru or International Lounges?
Answer:
Koru members and business class ticket holders who are travelling on an Air New Zealand ticketed and departing flight the same day.
Gold or Elite Airpoints member have access to all Air New Zealand owned and operated lounges. You also have access to these lounges
Star Alliance Gold Lounges worldwide
United Red Carpet Clubs
US Airways Clubs and US Airways Envoy Lounges in the USA. Please note - only available when presenting a boarding pass in conjunction with international travel.
Silver Airpoints & Air New Zealand credit cardholders & Above & Beyond members may use complimentary single entry lounge passes for all Koru lounges in New Zealand and all Air New Zealand operated International Lounges when travelling on an Air New Zealand ticketed and operated flight the same day.
Who is entitled to use Koru or International Lounges?
Answer:
Koru members and business class ticket holders who are travelling on an Air New Zealand ticketed and departing flight the same day.
Gold or Elite Airpoints member have access to all Air New Zealand owned and operated lounges. You also have access to these lounges
Star Alliance Gold Lounges worldwide
United Red Carpet Clubs
US Airways Clubs and US Airways Envoy Lounges in the USA. Please note - only available when presenting a boarding pass in conjunction with international travel.
Silver Airpoints & Air New Zealand credit cardholders & Above & Beyond members may use complimentary single entry lounge passes for all Koru lounges in New Zealand and all Air New Zealand operated International Lounges when travelling on an Air New Zealand ticketed and operated flight the same day.
Jan 14, 2016, 2:57 am
#6
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Usually Auckland, NZ
Programs: NZ Elite (*G), QF S (OWR), UA 0.14MM
Posts: 690
If they actually bothered to check United's OWN website regarding United Club lounges and partner lounges location: https://www.united.com/web/en-US/con...ations/bf.aspx
You will find that there actually is no lounge listed for Sydney, and Auckland isn't listed either.
Other curious observations too if you click on the "Other Partner Lounges" tab:
In Melbourne AU (MEL), they choose to send people to the CX lounge, instead of either SQ or NZ
In Singapore, they choose to send people to the SATS lounge, instead of the numerous SQ lounges (even if it meant the sub-par KrisFlyer Gold lounge)
So I assume United have "enhanced" away a lot of other international locations for United Club members' lounge access.
Of course if they hold *G or travelling in J or F, *A rules apply and they could use an *G branded lounge.
You will find that there actually is no lounge listed for Sydney, and Auckland isn't listed either.
Other curious observations too if you click on the "Other Partner Lounges" tab:
In Melbourne AU (MEL), they choose to send people to the CX lounge, instead of either SQ or NZ
In Singapore, they choose to send people to the SATS lounge, instead of the numerous SQ lounges (even if it meant the sub-par KrisFlyer Gold lounge)
So I assume United have "enhanced" away a lot of other international locations for United Club members' lounge access.
Of course if they hold *G or travelling in J or F, *A rules apply and they could use an *G branded lounge.
Jan 14, 2016, 4:01 am
#7
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: NZ*G ELT, VA-G
Posts: 3,598
If they actually bothered to check United's OWN website regarding United Club lounges and partner lounges location: https://www.united.com/web/en-US/con...ations/bf.aspx
You will find that there actually is no lounge listed for Sydney, and Auckland isn't listed either.
Other curious observations too if you click on the "Other Partner Lounges" tab:
In Melbourne AU (MEL), they choose to send people to the CX lounge, instead of either SQ or NZ
In Singapore, they choose to send people to the SATS lounge, instead of the numerous SQ lounges (even if it meant the sub-par KrisFlyer Gold lounge)
So I assume United have "enhanced" away a lot of other international locations for United Club members' lounge access.
Of course if they hold *G or travelling in J or F, *A rules apply and they could use an *G branded lounge.
You will find that there actually is no lounge listed for Sydney, and Auckland isn't listed either.
Other curious observations too if you click on the "Other Partner Lounges" tab:
In Melbourne AU (MEL), they choose to send people to the CX lounge, instead of either SQ or NZ
In Singapore, they choose to send people to the SATS lounge, instead of the numerous SQ lounges (even if it meant the sub-par KrisFlyer Gold lounge)
So I assume United have "enhanced" away a lot of other international locations for United Club members' lounge access.
Of course if they hold *G or travelling in J or F, *A rules apply and they could use an *G branded lounge.
Again, Star website indicates that Star Alliance Lounge members do have access to any Star carrier owned lounges which would include all NZ owned lounges.
Jan 14, 2016, 10:29 am
#8
Join Date: Feb 2007
Programs: NZ Koru
Posts: 6,415
But the key word on the star alliance website is 'Business Class Lounges', could it be NZ doesn't class AKL/SYD as 'Business Class Lounges'? Then technically UA Club wold have no access.
Jan 14, 2016, 12:19 pm
#9
Join Date: May 2005
Location: SJC
Programs: NZ*G, QF NB, UA 1K, AA ExecPlat, IHG PlatAmb, HHonors Gold, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold, ZE1 PC
Posts: 2,636
Jan 14, 2016, 12:24 pm
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2014
Programs: NZ*Elite *G, QF*G, SPG*Platinum, Accor*Platinum, Hilton*Gold
Posts: 1,006
Thanks for the responses, the varied nature of interpretation is the source of confusion. That leads me to question that Koru paid membership should also be reciprocated by other Star Alliance "Business" lounges?
Jan 14, 2016, 12:53 pm
#12
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Auckland
Programs: NZ GOLD (*G), KLM FB S, QF S,
Posts: 291
If they allowed KORU same rights then I guess they may lift the cost of KORU to cover these costs?
Jan 14, 2016, 6:06 pm
#14
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Posts: 909
So I have done this several times before
Cause I have one of those United Club memberships
Its not US$395 instead its US$550 so NZ$848 which more expensive then a Koru Club Membership at NZ$580
It does not come with and priority benefits and the only thing it does is Lounge Access.
Yes the United Club membership gets you access to EVERY *A Gold Lounge when traveling before a Star Alliance Flight and Air New Zealand don't seem to understand this.
The only Air NZ Lounges I ever accessed with it were Brisbane and Christchurch and I only ever had major issues in Christchurch and in the end she pulled out a massive book with a picture of every frequent flyer card in it and found the United Club card and I was let in.
If thats the card the couple had then the should have been let in and I have had to kind of push for it at Air NZ lounges before.
Meanwhile Singapore Airlines, United, Air Canada, Lufthansa, Thai and ANA have never had one problem with the card.
Its called Training Air NZ
Cause I have one of those United Club memberships
Its not US$395 instead its US$550 so NZ$848 which more expensive then a Koru Club Membership at NZ$580
It does not come with and priority benefits and the only thing it does is Lounge Access.
Yes the United Club membership gets you access to EVERY *A Gold Lounge when traveling before a Star Alliance Flight and Air New Zealand don't seem to understand this.
The only Air NZ Lounges I ever accessed with it were Brisbane and Christchurch and I only ever had major issues in Christchurch and in the end she pulled out a massive book with a picture of every frequent flyer card in it and found the United Club card and I was let in.
If thats the card the couple had then the should have been let in and I have had to kind of push for it at Air NZ lounges before.
Meanwhile Singapore Airlines, United, Air Canada, Lufthansa, Thai and ANA have never had one problem with the card.
Its called Training Air NZ
Jan 15, 2016, 12:07 pm
#15
Moderator, Hilton Honors
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: on a short leash
Programs: some
Posts: 71,422
No, it is all lounges. Refer the star alliance reference guide for *A airline employees, which I linked above.