When does the check in deck open in IAH for flights to Auckland
#16
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: New Zealand (when I'm home!)
Programs: Air NZ Elite
Posts: 1,218
It's 3 hours. Air NZ is still easily my choice but when flying out of LAX, I will admit its nice that Qantas open up much MUCH earlier so that you can escape the zoo of the check in area and go chill in a lounge. As someone who likes to leave a LOT of time between non-connected domestic flights when leaving internationally that day, it is appreciated.
#17
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: New Zealand (most of the time)
Programs: Air NZ Elite *G, Honors Gold, IHG Platinum Elite
Posts: 6,055
It's 3 hours. Air NZ is still easily my choice but when flying out of LAX, I will admit its nice that Qantas open up much MUCH earlier so that you can escape the zoo of the check in area and go chill in a lounge. As someone who likes to leave a LOT of time between non-connected domestic flights when leaving internationally that day, it is appreciated.
#18
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: New Zealand (when I'm home!)
Programs: Air NZ Elite
Posts: 1,218
Has that always been the case? In the past I have arrived early and had to wait for the check in desks to open around 3 hours prior. Did we just get unlucky? I wish I had been able to check in at 1pm but I definitely could not.
#19
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: SAN
Programs: UA 1MM/1K, HH Diamond
Posts: 6,824
On the way back, we're on UA metal, so we get access at SFO, the transit point, and ORD, the destination.
#20
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: BNE
Programs: NZ*G, QF Bronze, VA Red
Posts: 563
Unrelated note: wow, US origins are gouged on that route. ORD-AKL r/t comes on Google Flights at around $2600USD, but SYD-ORD r/t is $1600AUD!
Hang on, you sure about that? Even on UA metal, if you're on NZ ticket stock you would not have access to Polaris lounges at SFO or ORD for the return as it's the ticketing carrier paying the lounge access, not the operating carrier, and *A lounge access rules for Polaris is International Business or First class only - no domestic.
#22
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 36
#23
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: SAN
Programs: UA 1MM/1K, HH Diamond
Posts: 6,824
Hang on, you sure about that? Even on UA metal, if you're on NZ ticket stock you would not have access to Polaris lounges at SFO or ORD for the return as it's the ticketing carrier paying the lounge access, not the operating carrier, and *A lounge access rules for Polaris is International Business or First class only - no domestic.
https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly...es/access.html
#24
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: YYZ/SFO/AKL
Programs: NZ*G, back of the bus UA, corner of the MLL AC.
Posts: 373
I don't think this is right. The rules state that access to a Polaris is granted if you have "A boarding pass for travel in United Polaris business class" and that "[c]ustomers in United Polaris business class may access a United Polaris lounge at departure, connecting and arrival airports along their eligible same-day routing." No mention of ticketing carrier vs operating.
https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly...es/access.html
https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly...es/access.html
"United Polaris" refers to UA metal - the *A rules on that page are different. Extensively discussed in the UA forum.
Consolidated "Polaris Lounge Access Questions" Thread
#25
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 181
If not flying on UA metal long haul you have to be departing on long haul *A J from the airport in which you access the Polaris lounge (ie no access on domestic connections from NZ arrivals, or when connecting to another gateway out of the US)
"United Polaris" refers to UA metal - the *A rules on that page are different. Extensively discussed in the UA forum.
Consolidated "Polaris Lounge Access Questions" Thread
"United Polaris" refers to UA metal - the *A rules on that page are different. Extensively discussed in the UA forum.
Consolidated "Polaris Lounge Access Questions" Thread
#26
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: YYZ/SFO/AKL
Programs: NZ*G, back of the bus UA, corner of the MLL AC.
Posts: 373
#27
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: BNE
Programs: NZ*G, QF Bronze, VA Red
Posts: 563
But is he right? On that very page:
It talks about the marketing carrier there, not the operating carrier. Which makes sense, since the boarding pass you have will be a BusinessPremier boarding pass that happens to be on UA metal, not a Polaris boarding pass. In that case, you would not have arrivals access.
It'd be good for OP to report back to the consolidated lounge access thread, as currently this scenario is not included.
Please note that access policies vary by airline. Customers who purchased tickets through a Star Alliance member airline other than United should consult the specific airlines policy or the Star Alliance lounge policy to see if they are able to access a lounge or club location.
It'd be good for OP to report back to the consolidated lounge access thread, as currently this scenario is not included.
#28
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: YYZ/SFO/AKL
Programs: NZ*G, back of the bus UA, corner of the MLL AC.
Posts: 373
But is he right? On that very page:
It talks about the marketing carrier there, not the operating carrier. Which makes sense, since the boarding pass you have will be a BusinessPremier boarding pass that happens to be on UA metal, not a Polaris boarding pass. In that case, you would not have arrivals access.
It'd be good for OP to report back to the consolidated lounge access thread, as currently this scenario is not included.
It talks about the marketing carrier there, not the operating carrier. Which makes sense, since the boarding pass you have will be a BusinessPremier boarding pass that happens to be on UA metal, not a Polaris boarding pass. In that case, you would not have arrivals access.
It'd be good for OP to report back to the consolidated lounge access thread, as currently this scenario is not included.
#29
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 181
But is he right? On that very page:
It talks about the marketing carrier there, not the operating carrier. Which makes sense, since the boarding pass you have will be a BusinessPremier boarding pass that happens to be on UA metal, not a Polaris boarding pass. In that case, you would not have arrivals access.
It'd be good for OP to report back to the consolidated lounge access thread, as currently this scenario is not included.
It talks about the marketing carrier there, not the operating carrier. Which makes sense, since the boarding pass you have will be a BusinessPremier boarding pass that happens to be on UA metal, not a Polaris boarding pass. In that case, you would not have arrivals access.
It'd be good for OP to report back to the consolidated lounge access thread, as currently this scenario is not included.
#30
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: BNE
Programs: NZ*G, QF Bronze, VA Red
Posts: 563
Surely when you check in with United the boarding pass they give you will say Polaris not BusinessPremier. The Consolidated Thread is pretty clear that all that matters is that it is a Polaris operated flight (ie, United sells Business Class on that specific flight as Polaris) and the marketing carrier is irrelevant.