Is the new AKL Regional lounge almost complete?
Sep 10, 2019, 1:22 pm
#16
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: New Zealand (most of the time)
Programs: Air NZ Elite *G, Honors Gold, IHG Platinum Elite
Posts: 6,115
I flew WLG-TRG via AKL on Monday morning. Went into the main domestic Koru after landing as there was no point even trying to visit the regional lounge. Walked down to the regional area and got there about 10 mins before boarding started and the place was a zoo. Zero free seats and probably another 60-70 people standing around so I walked outside to enjoy the sunshine.
The entire regional area simply isn't big enough. I'd hate to think how they'll cope if screening on regional flights becomes a reality before the new domestic terminal is completed in 2034 (if it doesn't get pushed back further.)
The entire regional area simply isn't big enough. I'd hate to think how they'll cope if screening on regional flights becomes a reality before the new domestic terminal is completed in 2034 (if it doesn't get pushed back further.)
Sep 11, 2019, 6:59 pm
#17
Join Date: Dec 2013
Programs: NZ Airpoints GE, Qantas Platinum, Accor Diamond, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 965
One wonders whether Air NZ will turn off the demand for Koru space given they seem to be unable to accurately provide the supply of capacity to manage a stream of business that they themselves create.
Sep 11, 2019, 10:12 pm
#18
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Wellington
Programs: AirNZ Airpoints Elite
Posts: 121
They could bump the Koru fee if this would reduce numbers - if it didn’t they could use the extra dosh to increase lounge size (where possible) or amenities..
Sep 13, 2019, 12:54 pm
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: WLG/BKK
Programs: TG*G, NZ*GE, QF G, Accor Gold
Posts: 10,195
It would be interesting to know the proportion of Lounge guests who are Koru Members vs NZ G & GE vs other entry privileges.
They could bump the Koru fee if this would reduce numbers - if it didn’t they could use the extra dosh to increase lounge size (where possible) or amenities..
They could bump the Koru fee if this would reduce numbers - if it didn’t they could use the extra dosh to increase lounge size (where possible) or amenities..
Sep 16, 2019, 12:51 am
#20
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Christchurch, New Zealand
Programs: NZ Elite; QF Platinum; CZ Gold; MU Platinum; Marriott Titanium; Accor Platinum
Posts: 1,467
I know i bang on about this but one thing they could do is put in place a dress code. i note that the new virgin lounge (operated by 1 Lounge in Brisbane) has this dress code
"Be mindful that as with most lounges operated by No1, My Lounge has a dress code: fancy dress outfits, clothing with offensive slogans, replica sports kits, exposed midriffs or upper thighs, or bare shoulders on men are all prohibited. Tracksuits are also barred, except when changing into these just prior to departing the lounge."
All of the above are frequently spotted at all NZ lounges. A dress code would reduce the numbers
"Be mindful that as with most lounges operated by No1, My Lounge has a dress code: fancy dress outfits, clothing with offensive slogans, replica sports kits, exposed midriffs or upper thighs, or bare shoulders on men are all prohibited. Tracksuits are also barred, except when changing into these just prior to departing the lounge."
All of the above are frequently spotted at all NZ lounges. A dress code would reduce the numbers
Sep 16, 2019, 2:02 am
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: WLG/BKK
Programs: TG*G, NZ*GE, QF G, Accor Gold
Posts: 10,195
I know i bang on about this but one thing they could do is put in place a dress code. i note that the new virgin lounge (operated by 1 Lounge in Brisbane) has this dress code
"Be mindful that as with most lounges operated by No1, My Lounge has a dress code: fancy dress outfits, clothing with offensive slogans, replica sports kits, exposed midriffs or upper thighs, or bare shoulders on men are all prohibited. Tracksuits are also barred, except when changing into these just prior to departing the lounge."
All of the above are frequently spotted at all NZ lounges. A dress code would reduce the numbers
"Be mindful that as with most lounges operated by No1, My Lounge has a dress code: fancy dress outfits, clothing with offensive slogans, replica sports kits, exposed midriffs or upper thighs, or bare shoulders on men are all prohibited. Tracksuits are also barred, except when changing into these just prior to departing the lounge."
All of the above are frequently spotted at all NZ lounges. A dress code would reduce the numbers
The thing that stands out most in my mind was not dress code issues (don’t recall any), it was was noise generated by (mainly) women drinking quite a lot of wine.
Specifically, I observed group of 6 women who consumed 5 ‘full’ glasses of wine (each) before boarding their flight to HNL in the ‘porch area’ behind the second bar, and the change of noise level over the 90-120 minutes they were there was notable. Unfortunately, the lounge was so full I couldn’t relocate. To be fair, they were not totally obnoxious, just extremely loud with quite a lot of swearing thrown in.
Improving general behaviour and consideration for others ranks higher for me than implementing and (somehow) policing dress code...
By way of comparison, pax in CX’s Pier at HKG, TG/SQ/BR/TK lounges in BKK, and LX’s Senator Lounge(s) in ZRH were all very much quieter. And yes, the dress code similar to that quoted by @oranjemakker appeared to be broadly adhered to in all of these lounges.
Perhaps my recent KC experience (a modest data point I know), is just a generalised reflection of NZ culture?
Last edited by Thai-Kiwi; Sep 16, 2019 at 2:17 am
Sep 16, 2019, 2:07 am
#22
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: New Zealand (most of the time)
Programs: Air NZ Elite *G, Honors Gold, IHG Platinum Elite
Posts: 6,115
I felt so under dressed visiting The Pier the other day before flying back to NZ...
Sep 16, 2019, 8:00 pm
#24
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Auckland
Programs: NZ Elite Partner/Silver (in own right), PR Classic, QF Bronze, UA Member, VA Red
Posts: 1,551
I know i bang on about this but one thing they could do is put in place a dress code. i note that the new virgin lounge (operated by 1 Lounge in Brisbane) has this dress code
"Be mindful that as with most lounges operated by No1, My Lounge has a dress code: fancy dress outfits, clothing with offensive slogans, replica sports kits, exposed midriffs or upper thighs, or bare shoulders on men are all prohibited. Tracksuits are also barred, except when changing into these just prior to departing the lounge."
All of the above are frequently spotted at all NZ lounges. A dress code would reduce the numbers
"Be mindful that as with most lounges operated by No1, My Lounge has a dress code: fancy dress outfits, clothing with offensive slogans, replica sports kits, exposed midriffs or upper thighs, or bare shoulders on men are all prohibited. Tracksuits are also barred, except when changing into these just prior to departing the lounge."
All of the above are frequently spotted at all NZ lounges. A dress code would reduce the numbers
I gotta say I've never been bothered by the dress of anyone - more annoyed by the loud and inconsiderate behavior of a relatively small number (some dressed in suits).
Sep 16, 2019, 10:05 pm
#26
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: New Zealand (most of the time)
Programs: Air NZ Elite *G, Honors Gold, IHG Platinum Elite
Posts: 6,115
Sep 16, 2019, 10:12 pm
#27
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Auckland
Programs: NZ*GE / EK*GOLD
Posts: 2,510
Sep 17, 2019, 12:26 am
#29
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: NZ
Programs: NZ Gold, BA Gold, QF Silver, IHG Platinum Elite Ambassador, Accor Diamond
Posts: 1,048
Maybe. I spent around 10 hours in the International Lounge on Fri 30 Aug after TG492 went unserviceable and I re-routed to BKK on NZ/CX via HKG - so I had plenty of time to observe the growing lounge numbers until the 5pm- 9pm period of chaos and crowding.
The thing that stands out most in my mind was not dress code issues (don’t recall any), it was was noise generated by (mainly) women drinking quite a lot of wine.
Specifically, I observed group of 6 women who consumed 5 ‘full’ glasses of wine (each) before boarding their flight to HNL in the ‘porch area’ behind the second bar, and the change of noise level over the 90-120 minutes they were there was notable. Unfortunately, the lounge was so full I couldn’t relocate. To be fair, they were not totally obnoxious, just extremely loud with quite a lot of swearing thrown in.
Improving general behaviour and consideration for others ranks higher for me than implementing and (somehow) policing dress code...
By way of comparison, pax in CX’s Pier at HKG, TG/SQ/BR/TK lounges in BKK, and LX’s Senator Lounge(s) in ZRH were all very much quieter. And yes, the dress code similar to that quoted by @oranjemakker appeared to be broadly adhered to in all of these lounges.
Perhaps my recent KC experience (a modest data point I know), is just a generalised reflection of NZ culture?
The thing that stands out most in my mind was not dress code issues (don’t recall any), it was was noise generated by (mainly) women drinking quite a lot of wine.
Specifically, I observed group of 6 women who consumed 5 ‘full’ glasses of wine (each) before boarding their flight to HNL in the ‘porch area’ behind the second bar, and the change of noise level over the 90-120 minutes they were there was notable. Unfortunately, the lounge was so full I couldn’t relocate. To be fair, they were not totally obnoxious, just extremely loud with quite a lot of swearing thrown in.
Improving general behaviour and consideration for others ranks higher for me than implementing and (somehow) policing dress code...
By way of comparison, pax in CX’s Pier at HKG, TG/SQ/BR/TK lounges in BKK, and LX’s Senator Lounge(s) in ZRH were all very much quieter. And yes, the dress code similar to that quoted by @oranjemakker appeared to be broadly adhered to in all of these lounges.
Perhaps my recent KC experience (a modest data point I know), is just a generalised reflection of NZ culture?
Sep 17, 2019, 4:22 pm
#30
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Christchurch, New Zealand
Programs: NZ Elite; QF Platinum; CZ Gold; MU Platinum; Marriott Titanium; Accor Platinum
Posts: 1,467
Maybe. I spent around 10 hours in the International Lounge on Fri 30 Aug after TG492 went unserviceable and I re-routed to BKK on NZ/CX via HKG - so I had plenty of time to observe the growing lounge numbers until the 5pm- 9pm period of chaos and crowding.
The thing that stands out most in my mind was not dress code issues (don’t recall any), it was was noise generated by (mainly) women drinking quite a lot of wine.
Specifically, I observed group of 6 women who consumed 5 ‘full’ glasses of wine (each) before boarding their flight to HNL in the ‘porch area’ behind the second bar, and the change of noise level over the 90-120 minutes they were there was notable. Unfortunately, the lounge was so full I couldn’t relocate. To be fair, they were not totally obnoxious, just extremely loud with quite a lot of swearing thrown in.
Improving general behaviour and consideration for others ranks higher for me than implementing and (somehow) policing dress code...
By way of comparison, pax in CX’s Pier at HKG, TG/SQ/BR/TK lounges in BKK, and LX’s Senator Lounge(s) in ZRH were all very much quieter. And yes, the dress code similar to that quoted by @oranjemakker appeared to be broadly adhered to in all of these lounges.
Perhaps my recent KC experience (a modest data point I know), is just a generalized reflection of NZ culture?
The thing that stands out most in my mind was not dress code issues (don’t recall any), it was was noise generated by (mainly) women drinking quite a lot of wine.
Specifically, I observed group of 6 women who consumed 5 ‘full’ glasses of wine (each) before boarding their flight to HNL in the ‘porch area’ behind the second bar, and the change of noise level over the 90-120 minutes they were there was notable. Unfortunately, the lounge was so full I couldn’t relocate. To be fair, they were not totally obnoxious, just extremely loud with quite a lot of swearing thrown in.
Improving general behaviour and consideration for others ranks higher for me than implementing and (somehow) policing dress code...
By way of comparison, pax in CX’s Pier at HKG, TG/SQ/BR/TK lounges in BKK, and LX’s Senator Lounge(s) in ZRH were all very much quieter. And yes, the dress code similar to that quoted by @oranjemakker appeared to be broadly adhered to in all of these lounges.
Perhaps my recent KC experience (a modest data point I know), is just a generalized reflection of NZ culture?
relating to overcrowding, a dress code might help simply because people would be turned away (I suppose this would be short term as people might learn...)
In the domestic lounge in AKL especially Thursday and Friday evenings feels like a pub, with people standing around getting the drinks in....A fair share of them are "suits" so a dress code would not solve all problems!!!