Reciprocal lounge access In New Zealand

[trippin_the_rift]

All these joint ventures, intra-alliance codeshares, some flight series numbers earn and others don't, third party lounge access rules different for alliance vs codeshare, benefits that apply to some ticket types but not others.

Seriously what hope does the average frequent flyer have in understanding all this? Let alone the complexity airline staff have with all the quirks and variations in every airline agreement.

Furthermore - what is the point of having a global airline alliance if airlines can routinely do deals with direct competitors in other alliances?

The ***ONLY*** benefit to passengers flying within the alliance is earning status credits, of which, Qantas frequent flyers get royally shafted by not being able to earn on deep discount economy fares with most OW carriers anyway. Thus, the benefit of sticking with Oneworld is somewhere between minimal and zero.

Oneworld needs to harden the cough up and stop airlines from doing deals which are confusing for the public. Charging airlines based on their MARKETING ASKs rather than OPERATING ASKs will fix things real fast.

.... and the airlines need to stop being lazy by relying on government-endorsed collusion joint ventures to secure market share and drive up yields.

Airlines talk a big game about putting passengers first - but some of the deals they do are to the direct detriment of the passenger experience and this thread highlights the most basic of issues perfectly.

What a mess.

 

[blaz]

All these joint ventures, intra-alliance codeshares, some flight series numbers earn and others don't, third party lounge access rules different for alliance vs codeshare, benefits that apply to some ticket types but not others.

Seriously what hope does the average frequent flyer have in understanding all this? Let alone the complexity airline staff have with all the quirks and variations in every airline agreement.

Furthermore - what is the point of having a global airline alliance if airlines can routinely do deals with direct competitors in other alliances?

The ***ONLY*** benefit to passengers flying within the alliance is earning status credits, of which, Qantas frequent flyers get royally shafted by not being able to earn on deep discount economy fares with most OW carriers anyway. Thus, the benefit of sticking with Oneworld is somewhere between minimal and zero.

Oneworld needs to harden the **** up and stop airlines from doing deals which are confusing for the public. Charging airlines based on their MARKETING ASKs rather than OPERATING ASKs will fix things real fast.

.... and the airlines need to stop being lazy by relying on government-endorsed collusion joint ventures to secure market share and drive up yields.

Airlines talk a big game about putting passengers first - but some of the deals they do are to the direct detriment of the passenger experience and this thread highlights the most basic of issues perfectly.

What a mess.

I have had this issue with oneworld flights, and with star alliance flights. It is simply a matter of poor education of the rules. I was told for example that my gold Qantas FF status would not allow me into a third party lounge in Nice while flying with BA. But I was allowed in without any issue.( they actually displayed a sign which stated who was allowed in, and was not and oneworld Gold was included) I had a similar issue with a star alliance flight, and only after asking for somebody with more authority was the issue fixed. So, I suspect that this is the real issue and not cross allegiance deals per se.

 

[VPS]

so if I'm QF WP on Air NZ flight that's not a code share I shouldn't go and ask for lounge access

Any status matches available at the moment for Star Alliance

 

[Mattg]

so if I'm QF WP on Air NZ flight that's not a code share I shouldn't go and ask for lounge access

Any status matches available at the moment for Star Alliance

Yes, there are a few.

United's 2022 MileagePlus Status Match Challenge

United Airlines has launched a new MileagePlus Premier Status Match Challenge for 2022, offering 120 days of complimentary Star Alliance status and a

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

Star Alliance Status Match with Turkish Airlines

Did you know that Turkish Airlines offers a shortcut to Star Alliance Gold status?

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[trippin_the_rift]

so if I'm QF WP on Air NZ flight that's not a code share I shouldn't go and ask for lounge access

Any status matches available at the moment for Star Alliance

The mind boggles.

Would an AA Exec Plat (Emerald) be permitted into the Air NZ lounge on when flying NZ on QF flight# ?

I bet 99% of airline employees couldn't answer it without looking at a reference book.

What hope do consumers have?

 

[VPS]

Yes, there are a few.

United's 2022 MileagePlus Status Match Challenge

United Airlines has launched a new MileagePlus Premier Status Match Challenge for 2022, offering 120 days of complimentary Star Alliance status and a

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

Star Alliance Status Match with Turkish Airlines

Did you know that Turkish Airlines offers a shortcut to Star Alliance Gold status?

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

Thanks I was saving the United one until I'm about ready to go to the US so might try the Turkish one

 

[eminere]

I bet 99% of airline employees couldn't answer it without looking at a reference book.

Assuming (1) there is one, and (2) it is correct.

 

[calmelb]

Assuming (1) there is one, and (2) it is correct.

One time I tried to access the domestic lounge in Melbourne after an international flight with EK (QF code) in Y as a WP. The reference book actually stated that EK flights were not permitted access after a flight (contrary to the website), granted this was in 2015. Was turned away after the lounge dragon at the desk asked for my passport to check age (I was trying to sneak in as under 18 I will admit), though she then threw it on the counter shaming myself in front of others (though that’s a whole other story, emailed Qantas and got an apologetic phone call so it’s now just a funny story).

Basically the book is not always correct or up to date even for the special situations like EK/QF

 

[Beano]

Success! I'm in the temporary Koru lounge in WLG. On a QF codeshare flight. The ticket did not show the codeshare flight number and would not let me in electronically. My ongoing boarding pass on a QF flight was issued. Had to ngotiate with Koru staff but they let me in after ckecking that the flight was codeshare and looking at my QF card.

 

[serfty]

I'm in the temporary Koru lounge in WLG. On a QF codeshare flight

Yay! Now for IVC ...

 

[Stormy]

What is interesting is that the system is not allowing QF into the lounges, which says to me this is an Air New Zealand system failure.... so why is QF not chasing this up?

 

[NZ_Flyer]

If it helps I’ve had the same problems accessing QF lounges on a QF flight with an NZ code. QF staff flatly refused and said that wasn’t the agreement. Eventually relented when they looked up the entry manual etc but did the whole “just this once then but you actually shouldn’t really be in here” line that lounge dragons like to give when they may not have been correct.

 

[Stormy]

Sounds like neither AirNZ or QF have got their cough together with this one.. would be good if both actually sent an email to all lounges informing them of this.. But that would be hard work!