Access to NZ Business Class lounge for UA Polaris customers
#1
Suspended
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Bay Area
Programs: DL SM, UA MP.
Posts: 12,729
Access to NZ Business Class lounge for UA Polaris customers
Have a 3 hour layover in AKL on Jan. 3 (SFO-AKL-WLG, arriving to AKL on UA917) and then a 4 hour layover on Jan 23 (departing on UA916 but arriving at AKL on NZ614 on a separate ticket from ZQN).
This is a J award.
Do my outbound and return boarding passes get me into the NZ Koru International Lounge?
Also heard that NZ won't interline checked bags on separate tickets for NZ and UA for the long-haul?
This is a J award.
Do my outbound and return boarding passes get me into the NZ Koru International Lounge?
Also heard that NZ won't interline checked bags on separate tickets for NZ and UA for the long-haul?
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 13,895
Outbound, no access unless *G (since AKL-WLG is in Y). Inbound, yes you have access on an AKL-SFO J ticket.
Interline is a question for the NZ board, but I believe you are correct.
Interline is a question for the NZ board, but I believe you are correct.
#3
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.034MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis
Posts: 51,855
#4
Suspended
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Bay Area
Programs: DL SM, UA MP.
Posts: 12,729
I am *G but I thought you had to be on a J ticket and thought that maybe arriving at AKL on a flight in J would qualify?
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 13,895
There is only one NZ lounge in each of the AKL terminals (domestic and international). As a *G with a departing Star Alliance flight, you are welcome to use them in both directions of your itinerary, in any class of service.
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 13,895
There are very few lounges which require a J boarding pass as opposed to *G. The only ones I can think of are UA Polaris Lounges (*A long-haul J), the AC Signature Suite (own-metal, non-award, non-upgrade J), and possibly some SQ lounges (I have never flown through SIN).
#8
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: New Zealand (when I'm home!)
Programs: Air NZ Elite
Posts: 1,209
Yes it will get you access. Air NZ don't have a policy to do that but I think they may at their own discretion. There isn't much of a benefit to them doing it though, since you need to collect your bags upon arrival anyway.
#9
Suspended
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Bay Area
Programs: DL SM, UA MP.
Posts: 12,729
On the outbound, do I have to stay in the international terminal to access the lounge there before my AKL-WLG flight?
Or is there a lounge in the domestic terminal which is comparable to the one in the international terminal?
Or is there a lounge in the domestic terminal which is comparable to the one in the international terminal?
#10
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: YYZ/SFO/AKL
Programs: NZ*G, back of the bus UA, corner of the MLL AC.
Posts: 373
You won't have access to any lounge in AKL unless you have *G for SFO-AKL-WLG. You don't have access to the international lounge as you will clear immigration, customs, and biosecurity on arrival before transferring to the domestic terminal for your onward flight to WLG.
NZ will interline on separate tickets for *A only, but YMMV if you don't have status.
You'll have access to the international lounge (it isn't a Koru lounge, that's the domestic branding) on your outbound based on your business class ticket on UA916.
NZ will interline on separate tickets for *A only, but YMMV if you don't have status.
You'll have access to the international lounge (it isn't a Koru lounge, that's the domestic branding) on your outbound based on your business class ticket on UA916.
#12
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Ventura
Programs: Gov't Travel Aficionado, UA Plat
Posts: 268
I have definitely gotten in the *A LAX lounge on a domestic United Y ticket. If you're flying into AKL on int'l you'll have to clear customs, then you connect to a domestic NZ flight which is a separate terminal. Would you even be able to get back into the AKL int'l terminal if you don't have an int'l boarding pass? I don't think you'll be allowed into the Koru International Lounge on your outbound, not even *A gold will get you back into the int'l terminal.