No room in Auckland Lounge
Nov 22, 2018, 11:24 am
#122
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 644
They could thin out the crowd playing the latest Inflight Safety Video rap over the PA in a continuous loop.
Nov 22, 2018, 12:38 pm
#123
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,497
It's not so bad between gates 28-30. Plenty of seats, big windows. In the mornings I have taken to buying something from Shaky Isles and enjoying my breakfast there in peace and quiet, rather the zoo that is the Koru Club. I suppose in the afternoons there might be a more even distribution of busy across both Koru and non-Koru than early mornings, though.
Nov 22, 2018, 3:17 pm
#125
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: New Zealand (most of the time)
Programs: Air NZ Elite *G, Honors Gold, IHG Platinum Elite
Posts: 6,095
In recent months they've even stopped Elite welcomes TT (and arrival passes) simply because of the number of Elite pax on some flights so there is no time - it's not uncommon now to have up to 1/3 of pax on TT A320 flights to AKL being Elite.
Nov 22, 2018, 4:31 pm
#126
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: WLG/BKK
Programs: TG*G, NZ*GE, QF G, Accor Gold
Posts: 10,168
Wouldn't work due to the number of Elite pax now. It would have to be BP only.
In recent months they've even stopped Elite welcomes TT (and arrival passes) simply because of the number of Elite pax on some flights so there is no time - it's not uncommon now to have up to 1/3 of pax on TT A320 flights to AKL being Elite.
In recent months they've even stopped Elite welcomes TT (and arrival passes) simply because of the number of Elite pax on some flights so there is no time - it's not uncommon now to have up to 1/3 of pax on TT A320 flights to AKL being Elite.
The list could be quite long, and it'd be interesting to know the proportions (for both dom and intl lounges):
Business Class pax
NZ*GE and higher
NZ*G
Other *G
NZ*GE Partner
Koru Club
NZ*S using a voucher
Credit Card holders using a voucher
Guests of any of those above with 'guesting rights'
Nov 22, 2018, 4:53 pm
#127
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 644
I achieved QF Platinum shortly after NZ fiddled with the APD and SC earn and aligned it to spend in a ridiculously complex manner.
I am glad they did. As it cured my "Stockholm Syndrome" for NZ.
Nov 22, 2018, 5:07 pm
#128
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: New Zealand (when I'm home!)
Programs: Air NZ Elite
Posts: 1,218
Surely Qantas platinum aren't much higher in number than Air NZ elites? I thought I read somewhere it's easier to achieve platinum than it is to reach Air NZ elite...
As for Air NZ, unless you utilise APDs like I do a lot, I agree its a terrible FF program. If you DO utilise them though, I haven't seen anything quite like it. You can buy unlimited APDs so you can get guaranteed upgrades for all long haul flights booked relatively in advance.
As for Air NZ, unless you utilise APDs like I do a lot, I agree its a terrible FF program. If you DO utilise them though, I haven't seen anything quite like it. You can buy unlimited APDs so you can get guaranteed upgrades for all long haul flights booked relatively in advance.
Nov 22, 2018, 6:50 pm
#129
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 644
- on TT flights, QF earn could be 2x 3x more. Particularly on sale where not too much SC earn with NZ.
- QF has more double SC promo to everywhere.
- OW alliance partner earn, on average not as heavily penalised by QF as NZ
If Plat/Emerald achieved = First Lounge access with benefits > NZ EP1
For me, a choice of much better wine, choice of always 4x French champagne with restaurant dining manned by Sofitel waiters and quiet private rooms is the main plus.
Nov 22, 2018, 7:40 pm
#130
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: NZ
Programs: NZ Gold, BA Gold, QF Silver, IHG Platinum Elite Ambassador, Accor Diamond
Posts: 1,048
From MEL and SYD it is a big factor in picking QF Trans Tasman, it's just another level and means no need to think about economy class food on the flight. Not that MEL or SYD NZ lounges are bad, but at peak times they are more like a noisy rabble with adequate buffet food, rather than a quiet place to work and relax and have a full meal. Once QF finally gets to improving the AKL lounges into something akin to the BNE, HKG, SIN lounge then it will be competitive with the NZ one. As for now, unless the EK lounge is available for a QF AKL departure, neither QF nor NZ have lounges worth spending much time at in AKL.
Nov 22, 2018, 9:07 pm
#131
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 644
The lounge is dated, but to me it feels less sterile.
I thought I read somewhere, the lounge is due for a refurb soon removing the F Lounge and probably the champagne too.
Nov 23, 2018, 3:09 pm
#132
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Auckland NZ
Programs: NZ Gold Elite, AS, AC, QF
Posts: 748
How, precisely, do you have access to this level of granular, ostensively private, data?
Wouldn't work due to the number of Elite pax now. It would have to be BP only.
In recent months they've even stopped Elite welcomes TT (and arrival passes) simply because of the number of Elite pax on some flights so there is no time - it's not uncommon now to have up to 1/3 of pax on TT A320 flights to AKL being Elite.
In recent months they've even stopped Elite welcomes TT (and arrival passes) simply because of the number of Elite pax on some flights so there is no time - it's not uncommon now to have up to 1/3 of pax on TT A320 flights to AKL being Elite.
Nov 23, 2018, 9:21 pm
#133
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: New Zealand (most of the time)
Programs: Air NZ Elite *G, Honors Gold, IHG Platinum Elite
Posts: 6,095
It was very easy to see how many Elite and Elite partners there were on A320 services - you just needed to look who they were greeting, and on flights to Aussie who they were handing express arrival cards to. Ex WLG this would often be a minimum of 20 people, more of busier flights such as Sunday afternoons or Monday mornings over.
Nov 24, 2018, 2:17 am
#134
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: New Zealand (when I'm home!)
Programs: Air NZ Elite
Posts: 1,218
I have never once received a welcome on any flight as an elite let alone an arrival card, and I have definitely been on planes with less than one third pax elites. I know that because I know how many of us left the lounge, and less than one third of those on the plane did, and as we know, a good number in the lounge are obviously not elite.
I suspect its more just laziness/overworking most of the time. I flew with Qantas LAX to Brisbane in J and didn't get a single hot towel. Low and behold, venture in Qantas forum, it turns out whether you get one is the whim of the cabin manger that day.
Not that I care about a greeting, but damn, I would like those arrival cards...
I suspect its more just laziness/overworking most of the time. I flew with Qantas LAX to Brisbane in J and didn't get a single hot towel. Low and behold, venture in Qantas forum, it turns out whether you get one is the whim of the cabin manger that day.
Not that I care about a greeting, but damn, I would like those arrival cards...
Nov 24, 2018, 10:42 am
#135
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Christchurch, NZ
Programs: NZ *E, QF Gold, Hertz President’s Circle, Accor Gold, PanPacific Platinum
Posts: 747
I have never once received a welcome on any flight as an elite let alone an arrival card, and I have definitely been on planes with less than one third pax elites. I know that because I know how many of us left the lounge, and less than one third of those on the plane did, and as we know, a good number in the lounge are obviously not elite.
I suspect its more just laziness/overworking most of the time. I flew with Qantas LAX to Brisbane in J and didn't get a single hot towel. Low and behold, venture in Qantas forum, it turns out whether you get one is the whim of the cabin manger that day.
Not that I care about a greeting, but damn, I would like those arrival cards...
I suspect its more just laziness/overworking most of the time. I flew with Qantas LAX to Brisbane in J and didn't get a single hot towel. Low and behold, venture in Qantas forum, it turns out whether you get one is the whim of the cabin manger that day.
Not that I care about a greeting, but damn, I would like those arrival cards...
