For NZ the revenue stream from other airline contracts will well exceed the one or two unhappy Koru customers who are referred to Strata and who decide not to renew their membership - so there is no way this will happen. NZ will not want to jeopardise this.

Also no way this will happen as NZ is required to offer a *G lounge, and there are no other alternatives. They could contract with Strata to make it a *G lounge, but that relies on (a) Strata being happy to accept the overflow; and (b) NZ willing to pay for it (ie pass on the lounge entry fees paid to it by the other *A airline). Which again, I doubt NZ would do for the couple of days a year where there is overflow.

Like most things AKL-related, it just comes down to bad planning by the airport, with perhaps a little bit of blame to NZ who might have (and should have) pushed a bit harder at the time.

Another Article in the NZ Herald today: NZ Herald

Really it comes down to airports designing enough space. Need a full second floor in departure for lounges rather than the partial second floors you commonly see.

Also for the second AKL international lounge. Why isn't that built already? Shouldn't it have been done while they were building the new pier? So would be ready to go?

Name one thing at AKL that is designed well. It's like someone read a book about airport design that extolled the importance of wayfinding and clear directional layout, and then not only completely ignored it but very carefully did the exact opposite. Practically every route you have to take as a passenger or driver involves looping round obstacles and doubling back on yourself. The entire terminal building is basically bad decision built on bad decision built on bad decision.

The runway is straight.......

That is for maximum retail exposure which obviously maximises rental revenue. Reminds me of MEL.

AKL is a dog's breakfast of many extensions over the decades. For something proper, only a clean sheet and lots of $$$$ will deliver.

if you are free on the 31st of October at 10am we would welcome your voice at the Auckland Airport AGM

Have any of you flown to CHC recently and noticed all the new seating in the terminal areas, domestic post security and in the public areas upstairs? Its great. A real variety too, from beanbags to seats to these cool par type seats. All with loads of free power ports! When the Koru lounge is full in CHC this is a much more pleasant environment

The problem is AKL in both domestic and international is the terminals are so awful. As mentioned above, the much hooplad "upgrades": to the international terminal are all retail. passenger seating and comfort is an afterthought (like that bizarre extremely uncomfortable looking pit in the main retail area, ... is that!)

Christchurch really is such a superior airport. i cant help thinking that management and culture have to be part of this. AKL only seem to care about money

Stuff thought they better get involved now.

Stuff News Article

And they are in a "my-fault your-fault type argument". Air NZ have known from day one that the new lounge is not big enough. It's time they stopped blaming everyone else and fix the problems, although Auckland Airport is at fault too.
I'm not looking forward to the zoo (or is it sbiddle's child care centre) tomorrow.

Could solve that problem by counting kids as plus one not unlimited.

They could try the UA approach - Air NZ Business Premier "Polaris" type lounges with access only for C passengers flying any *A airline departing that airport. Takes a few 772/773 loads of BP and equivalent pax out of the Koru lounge and with a stricter guesting policy and cutting out *G pax flying in Y or A class...

Absolutely. We spent much of a day in the SFO Polaris lounge in May. It was great, everything a lounge should be- quiet, spacious, comfortable and good food. You pay huge money for NZ C. It's about time we got value for money.

I doubt there would be much value on NZ C even with a quiet spacious lounge.

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