Upgrades/ Lounge passes in Auckland airport 1st week of July?

[Dale Eastham]

HI AFF community, this is awful cheeky for a first post, but I've been a keen lurker for a month or so now, reading threads like Ask The Pilot/ Crew - fast becoming a firm AFF fan (even if I don't fit the Frequent Flyer description much anymore.

Im taking the wife to Rarotonga 1st week of July (sans kids) for her birthday & we have a few hours to kill in Auckland airport on the way up there.
Is there any tips/tricks to getting her access to one of the VIP/ FF lounges (i'd like to get in to, but I've been in them before & if its only going to be one of us, it would be her) for a few hours? We are flying Air NZ if that makes any differences.

Any advice or tips are very welcome, in the meantime Ill go back to working my way through that massive Ask the Pilots thread.....

 

[Deleted member]

Welcome to AFF.
Can you be a bit more specific about dates, any FF program you may belong to and which airline you are flying in / out on?
Rarotonga sounds great. Maybe a TR of your holiday ?

 

[Dale Eastham]

Looking at the itinerary, i've gotten myself backwards - going out theres very little time spent in AKL( connecting flight from domestic), but on the way back we come into AKL on NZ19 on July 7th, but connecting flight doesn't leave for about 3.5hrs. This would obviously be the best time.

I'm not a member of any FF though, so perhaps that is going to be a roadblock.
Bring on Raro, I've been told that you can stand right at the end of the runway when the big planes are coming in - that sounds like a bit of me

(whats TR?)

 

[prozac]

...
(whats TR?)

What you did with your wife whilst away...you know what I mean.
Trip Report.

 

[Dale Eastham]

What you did with your wife whilst away...you know what I mean.
Trip Report.

The details of which may be improved should I give her an 'upgraded experience' in the travelling part..... (which totally hasn't driven me to this very forum in search of answers!)

jokes aside, yes for sure - its not a big place, so we hope to scope out the best activities/places to eat, things to see, etc

 

[Dale Eastham]

Last chance plug for this one. ill post a TR in thanks of the help to date either way. I see there is a scenic flight operator there so I can rack up some more air time whilst we're there

 

[prozac]

...
I'm not a member of any FF though, so perhaps that is going to be a roadblock. ...

Dale, just noticed this on reread. I hope that by now you have joined yourself and wife up to the FF scheme of the airline on which you are flying so that you can accumulate points but importantly status for the trip? Joining is generally free except for Qantas but this can also be free if done on the back of the booking. Make sure that your FF membership number is attached to your booking.

Have you posted on the Lounge Meets thread to see if anyone might be generous enough to guest you?

 

[serfty]

Lounge access can be purchased for the Koru club for NZD55 pp (up to 4 hours): [www.airnewzealand.com.au/international-lounge-information]

The Emperor lounge may be a slightly cheaper option at NZD49 pp (prepaid, up to 3 hours): [http://www.aucklandairport.co.nz/AirportInformation/International-terminal/Emperor-Lounge.aspx]

The latter is also a Priority Pass lounge - depending on your Amex, you may be able to get entry at a much lower rate for two.

 

[Dale Eastham]

Dale, just noticed this on reread. I hope that by now you have joined yourself and wife up to the FF scheme of the airline on which you are flying so that you can accumulate points but importantly status for the trip? Joining is generally free except for Qantas but this can also be free if done on the back of the booking. Make sure that your FF membership number is attached to your booking.

Have you posted on the Lounge Meets thread to see if anyone might be generous enough to guest you?

I have indeed Prozac, thanks - planning on an increasing amount of trips in coming years so it should start being worth it quite soon. i'm going to speak to Air NZ today about possible status changes for this trip. long shot perhaps, but nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Lounge access can be purchased for the Koru club for NZD55 pp (up to 4 hours): [www.airnewzealand.com.au/international-lounge-information]

The Emperor lounge may be a slightly cheaper option at NZD49 pp (prepaid, up to 3 hours): [http://www.aucklandairport.co.nz/AirportInformation/International-terminal/Emperor-Lounge.aspx]

The latter is also a Priority Pass lounge - depending on your Amex, you may be able to get entry at a much lower rate for two.

Thanks very much Serfty, I had looked for this info, failed to find it & had been told that access ad hoc was in the region of 4-5 times this cost. this is good news, and thank you very much!

 

[nickykim]

Rarotonga? Grab a car and go around island stopping at the kiosks that sell the black pearl "specials". You will be pleasantly surprised at what is in the bowls and the price. Most of the places will then mount what you buy so it is wearable. It was a load of fun.

 

[prozac]

Rarotonga? Grab a car and go around island stopping at the kiosks that sell the black pearl "specials". You will be pleasantly surprised at what is in the bowls and the price. Most of the places will then mount what you buy so it is wearable. It was a load of fun.

I suppose I will need to go there now to find out what you mean nk.
I've read threads on getting there but now so long ago. Anyone got any tips on best points options?

 

[Dale Eastham]

I suppose I will need to go there now to find out what you mean nk.
I've read threads on getting there but now so long ago. Anyone got any tips on best points options?

Yes, a little Pearl shopping is on the cards for the Wife. I enjoy a good barter so will dust off those skills again too.

I dont know about points, but theres not a lot of airlines that fly to Raro, so your options might be limited. Air NZ, Qantas (I think). THink there might be a 3rd but not sure. Canada 3000 did.. until they went bust.

 

[Dale Eastham]

Rarotonga? Grab a car and go around island stopping at the kiosks that sell the black pearl "specials". You will be pleasantly surprised at what is in the bowls and the price. Most of the places will then mount what you buy so it is wearable. It was a load of fun.

Firstly thank you to those who gave me some good tips for this trip - the Emperor lounge at Auckland Airport was quite pleasant & a nice relaxing space during the stop-over.

Rarotonga was very nice - would highly recommend it for a cheap holiday from NZ - same currency, short flight etc. I did indeed do some bartering for one of the black pearls for a birthday present for my wife which was fun. We chose the scooter over a car though, that was good fun!


We flew TGA-AKL-RAR & vice versa with AirNZ; Q300, 772,733,Beech 1900D (much to my wife's horror). That last leg was rough enough to make me feel queasy, even on a short 30min hop.

Wasn't very impressed with Air NZ; despite booking together & specifying we wanted to be seated together we were across the aisle & in staggered seat for each of the international legs. I got to sit next to a couple with a young child both times in the middle 3 seats, whereas my wife was next to a single traveller. Flights were packed as well, so no chance of shifting seats.

On the bright side though was the friendly onboard staff, I had an interesting discussion with two of them whilst waiting to get off in Auckland on our return leg; the crew 'rest' area on the 737 was somewhat dismaying - I had though it was a strange location for what surely was the life rafts, not somewhere for human beings to enter & rest in!

If you go to Raro, a must-do is standing at the end of the runway (preferably the seaward end) as an airliner comes in - we did this for a 772 landing; bloody impressive!