Kids lounge access via *G
Jan 12, 2023, 11:35 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: AKL, YUL
Programs: NZ*GE, UA*G
Posts: 319
Kids lounge access via *G
Hi folks, had the misfortune of my partner and kids and I being booked on the AC YVR-AKL long haul instead of NZ. Was surprised to find out that we don't even have lounge access for the whole family in YVR -- *G fliers are limited to one guest, and kids (even ages 2 and 5) count as guests. Was this always the policy and it's loosely enforced? Or is there some exception for NZ long hauls? We've had the whole family in the YVR AC lounge several times before, so was surprised that apparently we aren't entitled to it ... making me wonder where else we shouldn't expect lounge access as a family!
Cheers
Cheers
Jan 12, 2023, 11:40 pm
#2
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Auckland
Programs: NZ Elite, IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 908
Hi folks, had the misfortune of my partner and kids and I being booked on the AC YVR-AKL long haul instead of NZ. Was surprised to find out that we don't even have lounge access for the whole family in YVR -- *G fliers are limited to one guest, and kids (even ages 2 and 5) count as guests. Was this always the policy and it's loosely enforced? Or is there some exception for NZ long hauls? We've had the whole family in the YVR AC lounge several times before, so was surprised that apparently we aren't entitled to it ... making me wonder where else we shouldn't expect lounge access as a family!
Cheers
Cheers
NZ have an exception for NZ-operated lounges where kids can be taken in addition to your one guest.
Jan 13, 2023, 12:12 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: AKL, YUL
Programs: NZ*GE, UA*G
Posts: 319
That makes sense... I did wonder whether we've had good luck with free kids in the past or something. A few months ago we were in the YVR AC lounge but on an NZ ticket so I wonder if my partner got in with one kid as NZ Elite Partner plus one guest and I got in with the other as NZ*G plus one guest. Hmm.
Jan 13, 2023, 12:47 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: WLG/BKK
Programs: TG*G, NZ*GE, QF G, Accor Gold
Posts: 10,176
That makes sense... I did wonder whether we've had good luck with free kids in the past or something. A few months ago we were in the YVR AC lounge but on an NZ ticket so I wonder if my partner got in with one kid as NZ Elite Partner plus one guest and I got in with the other as NZ*G plus one guest. Hmm.
As a Star Alliance Gold customer travelling in any class on a Star Alliance member airline operated flight, you have access to any member airline lounge at the airport where your flight departs, if the following conditions are met:
- You present your boarding pass of a Star Alliance member airline operated flight which departs at the same day as your visit or latest by 05:00 AM the next morning.
- If your boarding pass does not carry the Star Alliance Gold indicator, you will need to also show your valid Star Alliance Gold card.
- The lounge displays the Star Alliance Gold logo at the entrance.
Guests. First Class and Star Alliance Gold customers travelling on a Star Alliance or Connecting Partner Flight and Eligible Paid Lounge Membership customers are each entitled to bring one guest into the lounge. The guest must enter the lounge together with the eligible customer and present a boarding pass for a Star Alliance member airline operated flight or Connecting Partner flight departing from the respective airport at the same day. For contract lounges, the guest must be travelling on the same Star Alliance flight as the customer.
Any accompanying person over the age of two is considered a guest. Children under the age of two may accompany the customer to the lounge and are not considered as guests.
The guest entitlement may not be exceeded by the customer entering a lounge on multiple occasions, each time accompanied by a different guest.
Each eligible customer might bring only one guest to the lounge, even if said customer is entitled to bring a guest by multiple grounds (e.g. being a First Class customer with Star Alliance Gold status).
Any accompanying person over the age of two is considered a guest. Children under the age of two may accompany the customer to the lounge and are not considered as guests.
The guest entitlement may not be exceeded by the customer entering a lounge on multiple occasions, each time accompanied by a different guest.
Each eligible customer might bring only one guest to the lounge, even if said customer is entitled to bring a guest by multiple grounds (e.g. being a First Class customer with Star Alliance Gold status).
Jan 18, 2023, 8:23 pm
#5
Join Date: Dec 2022
Location: YWS / ZQN
Posts: 30
The YVR AC Maple leaf lounge has a reputation for being very by the book on guest access. They need to be - it's extremely small and poky with little space for kids, or anyone much else for that matter. Most of the times I have been in there I have found it very overcrowded (often no spare seats whatsoever). This holds true especially for the evening NZ departures. It needs to be about 3x it's current size IMO.
Oh and the food quality and selection is abysmal.
Traveling with young kids I have actually preferred in recent years to at least spend some of our wait time wandering around the main international concourse and checking out the large aquarium. Burns off some of their excess energy before the long flight.
Oh and the food quality and selection is abysmal.
Traveling with young kids I have actually preferred in recent years to at least spend some of our wait time wandering around the main international concourse and checking out the large aquarium. Burns off some of their excess energy before the long flight.
Jan 19, 2023, 8:34 am
#6
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Sun Peaks, Taupo.
Programs: NZ Elite, AC SE100K, Westjet Teal, Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite, Nexus, Global Entry
Posts: 6,127
Highly recommend going to far end of Intl concourse where generally very few people and have the kids run the travellators backwards. Had many a great race there.
Apr 30, 2023, 7:20 am
#7
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 302
Can anyone confirm that NZ will allow a 2yr old into their lounges for a *G member (non-NZ elite)? My spouse is my "guest", and I understand the Star Alliance policy is a 2yr old counts as a guest as well. However the NZ rules differ on this, and they seem to count a 2yr old as in addition to any guest access at least for their own elite members. I'm just wondering if they apply that rule to *G members from other programs.
Apr 30, 2023, 1:22 pm
#8
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,638
Can anyone confirm that NZ will allow a 2yr old into their lounges for a *G member (non-NZ elite)? My spouse is my "guest", and I understand the Star Alliance policy is a 2yr old counts as a guest as well. However the NZ rules differ on this, and they seem to count a 2yr old as in addition to any guest access at least for their own elite members. I'm just wondering if they apply that rule to *G members from other programs.
If it is a quiet time they are more likely to let it slide. But depending on which lounge you are talking about e.g. AKL domestic there never seems to be a quiet time now. Often see signs saying no guests or e vouchers.
Last edited by nzkarit; Apr 30, 2023 at 1:31 pm
Apr 30, 2023, 1:49 pm
#9
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 302
Depends on the person on the front desk and how full the lounge is. That perk is only for Koru & NZ status (Gold not just elite) and not a *A benefit.
If it is a quiet time they are more likely to let it slide. But depending on which lounge you are talking about e.g. AKL domestic there never seems to be a quiet time now. Often see signs saying no guests or e vouchers.
If it is a quiet time they are more likely to let it slide. But depending on which lounge you are talking about e.g. AKL domestic there never seems to be a quiet time now. Often see signs saying no guests or e vouchers.
May 24, 2023, 2:20 pm
#10
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: YYZ, DUB, OGG
Programs: *G (as are spouse and 2 kids), ACCOR ALL DIAMOND, Marriott - GE
Posts: 1,189
Child with *G status travelling without parents
My kids both have had *G status since 2yo. Now the elder child is a young teen and will leave the nest on an international exchange soon. Just working out that travelling will not be with the main group of students, but likely will be individually there. On the way back, the exchange student may fly back as well on the same flight. Can both go into any *G lounge (member with guest) that day together as they will both be minors?
PC
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PC
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May 24, 2023, 3:08 pm
#11
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,638
My kids both have had *G status since 2yo. Now the elder child is a young teen and will leave the nest on an international exchange soon. Just working out that travelling will not be with the main group of students, but likely will be individually there. On the way back, the exchange student may fly back as well on the same flight. Can both go into any *G lounge (member with guest) that day together as they will both be minors?
PC
(moderators: please move to *A forum if more appropriate)
PC
(moderators: please move to *A forum if more appropriate)
May 24, 2023, 6:39 pm
#12
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: NZ
Programs: NZ*E, QF-G, EK-P
Posts: 604
Been through something similar recently.
< 18 need to be chaperoned as has been said. So if both minors no.
Rules say that the guest can be the chaperone according to the lounge manager in Auckland, but having had a really embarrassed and upset 17-year-old and his 21-year-old cousin rejected from several lounges recently it is clear that the lounge staff don't know the rules - their view was the member needs to the 18 plus.
< 18 need to be chaperoned as has been said. So if both minors no.
Rules say that the guest can be the chaperone according to the lounge manager in Auckland, but having had a really embarrassed and upset 17-year-old and his 21-year-old cousin rejected from several lounges recently it is clear that the lounge staff don't know the rules - their view was the member needs to the 18 plus.
May 24, 2023, 8:21 pm
#13
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: YYZ, DUB, OGG
Programs: *G (as are spouse and 2 kids), ACCOR ALL DIAMOND, Marriott - GE
Posts: 1,189
Been through something similar recently.
< 18 need to be chaperoned as has been said. So if both minors no.
Rules say that the guest can be the chaperone according to the lounge manager in Auckland, but having had a really embarrassed and upset 17-year-old and his 21-year-old cousin rejected from several lounges recently it is clear that the lounge staff don't know the rules - their view was the member needs to the 18 plus.
< 18 need to be chaperoned as has been said. So if both minors no.
Rules say that the guest can be the chaperone according to the lounge manager in Auckland, but having had a really embarrassed and upset 17-year-old and his 21-year-old cousin rejected from several lounges recently it is clear that the lounge staff don't know the rules - their view was the member needs to the 18 plus.
May 24, 2023, 8:24 pm
#14
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,638
May 24, 2023, 8:31 pm
#15
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: YYZ, DUB, OGG
Programs: *G (as are spouse and 2 kids), ACCOR ALL DIAMOND, Marriott - GE
Posts: 1,189
I can agree that would be the case; I should have clarified that if the chaperone was of legal age, would that be OK as bce1's example above not panning out even though it should - source of this info?