Koru Club Access with United Club Membership
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 119
Koru Club Access with United Club Membership
I know there has been some discussion,(Koru Lounge and United MileagePlus Club), on this in the past.
I have called UA and they have said that a UA club membership should get access to Air New Zealand lounges that display the Star Alliance Gold symbol. The Star Alliance access policy, (https://www.staralliance.com/en/lounge-finder), says that the membership is valid for access.
I have been denied access access and just walked away instead of arguing. I was wondering if the above resources are wrong and access shouldnt be granted or if there is someway to try to make the access go smoother?
I have talked to other UA club members and it seems like it is a crap shoot if you get access with more denials than admissions.
I have called UA and they have said that a UA club membership should get access to Air New Zealand lounges that display the Star Alliance Gold symbol. The Star Alliance access policy, (https://www.staralliance.com/en/lounge-finder), says that the membership is valid for access.
I have been denied access access and just walked away instead of arguing. I was wondering if the above resources are wrong and access shouldnt be granted or if there is someway to try to make the access go smoother?
I have talked to other UA club members and it seems like it is a crap shoot if you get access with more denials than admissions.
#4
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: New Zealand (most of the time)
Programs: Air NZ Elite *G, Honors Gold, IHG Platinum Elite
Posts: 6,055
Where are you flying from/to and where does it say you specifically have access?
The only reference I see on the *A site referring to United Club membership being entitled to access is to a "business lounge" of which Air NZ do not have any.
Having *G would give entitlement to them all, but United Club membership is not *G.
The only reference I see on the *A site referring to United Club membership being entitled to access is to a "business lounge" of which Air NZ do not have any.
Having *G would give entitlement to them all, but United Club membership is not *G.
#6
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: New Zealand (most of the time)
Programs: Air NZ Elite *G, Honors Gold, IHG Platinum Elite
Posts: 6,055
I'm just keen to know where it says you're entitled to access. Regardless of other things posted on here previously I can't see a single reference on the *A or United websites saying that you're entitled to Koru access so I'm curious where you're seeing this.
#7
Join Date: Feb 2007
Programs: NZ Koru
Posts: 6,405
Doesn't NZ treat the regional lounges differently to *A Gold Lounges?
#9
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: New Zealand (most of the time)
Programs: Air NZ Elite *G, Honors Gold, IHG Platinum Elite
Posts: 6,055
#10
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: BNE
Programs: NZ*G, QF Bronze, VA Red
Posts: 563
#11
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: New Zealand (most of the time)
Programs: Air NZ Elite *G, Honors Gold, IHG Platinum Elite
Posts: 6,055
Where specifically does it say that? I can't see any reference anywhere that says that and spent a long time today (ironically in a UA lounge!) looking for something that says this.
#12
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: NZ*G ELT, VA-G
Posts: 3,580
https://www.staralliance.com/en/lounge-access-policy
Paid Lounge Membership Customers
As holder of an eligible Paid Lounge Membership, you have access to any Star Alliance member airlines Business Class Lounge at the airport where your flight departs. Eligible paid memberships are United Club and Air Canada Maple Leaf Club Worldwide.You will need to show your boarding pass for a Star Alliance member airline operated flight together with your valid paid lounge membership card, displaying the Star Alliance Lounge Logo.
You are entitled to bring one guest travelling on any Star Alliance flight departing from the same airport on the same day.
#13
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: NZ*G ELT, VA-G
Posts: 3,580
Where are you flying from/to and where does it say you specifically have access?
The only reference I see on the *A site referring to United Club membership being entitled to access is to a "business lounge" of which Air NZ do not have any.
Having *G would give entitlement to them all, but United Club membership is not *G.
The only reference I see on the *A site referring to United Club membership being entitled to access is to a "business lounge" of which Air NZ do not have any.
Having *G would give entitlement to them all, but United Club membership is not *G.
And I think all lounges other than First are Business Lounges. And all Star business lounges carry the Star Gold signage with a few exceptions.
#14
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: New Zealand (most of the time)
Programs: Air NZ Elite *G, Honors Gold, IHG Platinum Elite
Posts: 6,055
I don't interpret "business lounge" as meaning all *G lounges.
Certainly using the *A lounge finder and selecting United Club as the eligibility doesn't bring up Koru lounges (nor most *G lounges) in some random searches I tried. Looking at the United Club site makes no mention of accessing *G lounges either.
What does "business lounge" mean? That's a very good question. It's very clear it does not mean all *G lounges.
So I guess I'm asking the same question again... Where does it say anywhere United Club membership gives access to *G lounges?
Certainly using the *A lounge finder and selecting United Club as the eligibility doesn't bring up Koru lounges (nor most *G lounges) in some random searches I tried. Looking at the United Club site makes no mention of accessing *G lounges either.
What does "business lounge" mean? That's a very good question. It's very clear it does not mean all *G lounges.
So I guess I'm asking the same question again... Where does it say anywhere United Club membership gives access to *G lounges?
#15
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: NZ*G ELT, VA-G
Posts: 3,580
When a member airline has a lounge for their Business Class pax, they must also extend that lounge access to *G pax as well, unless there is an alternative such as the Kris Gold lounges at SIN and the Polaris alternative being United Club.
So yes all member owned Business Class lounges must be *G designated. You are being pedantic. There is no such thing as Economy Class lounge.
So yes all member owned Business Class lounges must be *G designated. You are being pedantic. There is no such thing as Economy Class lounge.