Struggling to use your Frequent Flyer Points?
Frequent Flyer Concierge takes the hard work out of finding award availability and redeeming your frequent flyer or credit card points for flights.
Using their expert knowledge and specialised tools, the Frequent Flyer Concierge team at Frequent Flyer Concierge will help you book a great trip that maximises the value for your points.
It was never like HBA. Much better food and drink, and a separate business corner. Candles only, but probably not beeswax.Completely agree here too. If anything they would close the whole lot down and either dump passengers to the NZ lounge or the EK lounge depending on timings and lounge arrangements. It would be nice to visit this lounge one last time so that I can have a frame of reference between the old and new lounge.
Do they allow flowers, wreaths and candles through INTL security at AKL? I may have to hold a vigil outside the lounge in remembrance of the only QF lounge outside Australia that gives HBA a run for its money!
Although, if you get it through INTL security, you have to mind your own.
The last time I was at AKL INTL was February 2017 and it seems like they had some renovations since then including the aforementioned Strata lounge. Will be interesting to see which lounge is the best when I fly out on the 15th (have access to EK, QF, Strata lounges). As an aside, I sure hope QF146 gets delayed by a couple hours!
Thanks for the info. Was an alternative lounge proposed?
Hence why I'm hoping for the delays QF are famous for. C'mon Uncle Alan don't fail me now!
Let me guess it's the 737 special that doesn't even have a divider separating Economy from BusinessFirst? Would it harm QF to invest $5 on a magnetic rod to separate the two cabins like Virgin does. At least then economy passengers are forced to limbo under the pole (and I've checked most don't succeed attempting that at altitude)
Oh I wish- they can “dump” me into the EK lounge any time. Not quite as great as it used to be, but still by miles the best lounge in AKL, hands down.
Well why should EK open their lounge outside of a period before their own metal flight leaves? yes it's a lovely lounge but no reason to have it open at other times.
I quite like the DBX!
Because EK has a number of trans-tasman flights departing AKL to major international destinations like SYD, MEL, BNE, etc. Sure the bird has a red kangaroo on its tail but it doesn't change the fact it's still an EK flight!
I have paid that much to use whatever the predecessor to the Strata lounge was in 2017 (I think it was Dragon lounge or something). I found it was worthwhile having a 4 PM departure out of AKL on the 'hound back to SFO having had an early morning flight into AKL from ZQN. Having a shower, a bite to eat and some liquor before what would be roughly 24 hours of flying at the back of the bus was beneficial. Fortunately, I met a colleague at SFO who guested me into the United Club where I saw Kevin O'Leary (of Shark Tank fame) yelling into his phone. How wonderful!
It clearly depends on a number of factors. For instance, if you have the Amex Platinum or a card that has lounge access built in, why would you even care how much it costs since you'll get in free? Even if you must pay to get in it really depends on how long you'll be using the lounge for, what facilities you'll use, etc. Certainly if I had a 5 or 6 hour layover (or more) spending $70 to sit in an uncrowded lounge versus sitting out in the concourse struggling to find a power outlet and table can be beneficial.
I believe on those travelling as a Star Gold elite or in Business class on Air New Zealand (or a partner airline) would have access to the lounge. At least this NZ webpage says as much.
