No room in Auckland Lounge
#91
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: New Zealand (most of the time)
Programs: NZ Elite *G, HHonors Diamond, IHG Platinum Elite
Posts: 3,966
#92
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: AKL
Programs: NZ*G
Posts: 244
Now that Velocity/Virgin is moving their customers to Strata Lounge, I wonder if that will become overcrowded and "second class citizen" Priority Pass members will get turned away at the door and write letters to the Herald...
#93
Join Date: Jun 2018
Programs: Airpoints
Posts: 2
ChCh domestic.
Just had a typically great hour or so in ChCh lounge. Left to get my regional flight to Wgtn, which was as usual delayed. New regional gates in ChCh (15a, b, c) nowhere near regional lounge and too much hassle to go through security (again) to domestic lounge. Grrrrr.
#94
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Auckland New Zealand
Programs: Air New Zealand airpoints since 1992, currently *Silver, Koru Club
Posts: 572
And now NZ is saying it was 'caught out' by the rapid growth in the number of people qualifying for access. Oh really?
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/...ectid=12144798
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/...ectid=12144798
#95
They hope to have the new Akl international lounge is going to have plans finalised in next two years. Then have to build it .......
#96
Join Date: Dec 2013
Programs: NZ Airpoints GE, Qantas Platinum, Accor Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 378
Spent a very uncomfortable 30 minutes in the AKL regional lounge yesterday afternoon. I had a seat with access to a power socket; I had some work I really needed to get out but it felt very uncomfortable with about 10 people standing against the main wall some a few feet away waiting to sit whilst balancing drinks and phones. All watching and waiting for a seat. I felt so uncomfortable I ended up in the main waiting area where there is less guilt in having a seat and getting on with what you need to do (mercifully still able to access Koru lounge wifi). Not sure how they sorted out who got my seat once I vacated but this is not what I want in a lounge.
#97
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Auckland
Programs: NZ*GE
Posts: 2,128
#98
Only time I have had an issue with the CHC domestic lounge is at peak when an Auckland flight got delayed so there was a bit of backlog. But yes the high ceiling does make it seem more pleasant.
At little old but the AirNZ lounge sizes vs the number of pax.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...it?usp=sharing
Wellington comes out well but that is mainly because a big regional lounge that is actually worth using, as food and drink wise is pretty much the same as the domestic lounge. If I don't need to go through security or using the north pier at Wellington will use the regional lounge. If Chc and AKL had regional lounges along the same lines as Wellington correctly sized & have same food/drink and barrista coffee, would help things a lot on the domestic side. AKL needs the space, CHC would be nice when flying to Wellington not to worry about security and have to walk so far from the regional gates.
At little old but the AirNZ lounge sizes vs the number of pax.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...it?usp=sharing
Wellington comes out well but that is mainly because a big regional lounge that is actually worth using, as food and drink wise is pretty much the same as the domestic lounge. If I don't need to go through security or using the north pier at Wellington will use the regional lounge. If Chc and AKL had regional lounges along the same lines as Wellington correctly sized & have same food/drink and barrista coffee, would help things a lot on the domestic side. AKL needs the space, CHC would be nice when flying to Wellington not to worry about security and have to walk so far from the regional gates.
#99
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 471
#100
On flip side, got the Wellington regional longue to my self, right now.
#101
Join Date: Jun 2011
Programs: NZ *E
Posts: 18
Just had a typically great hour or so in ChCh lounge. Left to get my regional flight to Wgtn, which was as usual delayed. New regional gates in ChCh (15a, b, c) nowhere near regional lounge and too much hassle to go through security (again) to domestic lounge. Grrrrr.
#102
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 278
It probably depends how big of a delay it is. The security is ridiculously easy to move through, but if it was like a 20 minute delay or less, not worth it at all.
#103
Join Date: Dec 2007
Programs: Qantas, Air New Zealand GE, SPG
Posts: 280
I’m in the Cathay business class lounge at HK airport (HKG population 7m). Similar size to koru akl, busy but can’t see one single child in here. Just saying...
#104

Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: UK
Programs: NZ Gold, BA Gold, QF Silver, AF Ivory, FlyBe, IHG Platinum Elite, Accor Platinum
Posts: 923
Which one? There are four (Deck, Wing, Bridge, Pier). I've been in the Wing (business) and the Bridge where there have been children before, also in the Pier First lounge, but yes the numbers are low.
#105
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: New Zealand (most of the time)
Programs: NZ Elite *G, HHonors Diamond, IHG Platinum Elite
Posts: 3,966
I flew back on NZ1 last night from LAX. I got to the lounge quite early and there were a couple of other flights before all the NZ pax started arriving around 1930.
It was amazing to then see the clientele change so quickly as half of New Zealand arrived into the lounge..Lots of jandals, people walking around in bare feat, and sitting there with bare feet up on other chairs as a foot rest.
It was amazing to then see the clientele change so quickly as half of New Zealand arrived into the lounge..Lots of jandals, people walking around in bare feat, and sitting there with bare feet up on other chairs as a foot rest.