What's next for the Qantas, Emirates lounges at Auckland?
By David Flynn, October 13 2017
With Emirates axing its remaining Airbus A380 flights between Australia and Auckland (Melbourne and Brisbane are on the chopping block as of March 25, 2018) and Qantas boosting its trans-Tasman flights to fill the capacity gap, the fate of both airline's Auckland lounges comes into sharp relief.
After all, travellers will typically spend close to two hours in the Qantas or Emirates lounge before their flight compared to not much more than three hours in the air – making the airport lounge a key component of the journey.
Will Emirates close its Auckland lounge?
But by the end of March 2018 Emirates will have only one flight out of Auckland – the daily Airbus A380 to Dubai – compared to the four Auckland superjumbo flights it boasted earlier this year (before the Gulf carrier pulled the plug on its Sydney-Auckland service).
Is one flight enough to support Emirates keeping its Auckland lounge open, staffed and serving food and drink for just three hours a day?
By the same token, with Qantas ramping up its flights across the pond – including seven new Melbourne-Auckland return flights per week plus an extra two Brisbane-Auckland return flights per week – the airline will be funnelling many more passengers into its own Auckland lounges.
(While savvy Qantas business class travellers and Gold and Platinum-grade frequent flyers know that they can also use Emirates' superior Auckland lounge under the terms of the Qantas-Emirates alliance – the superior food plus Veuve Clicquot Champagne are solid drawcards – in our experience the vast majority of Qantas passengers always default to the Qantas lounge.)
Qantas still to make a move
However, Qantas' Auckland lounges are the weak link in the trans-Tasman chain. Old, tired and well-worn, they're generally regarded by travellers as among the worst in the airline's international network – and long overdue for an upgrade.
Almost two years back Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce confirmed that the Auckland lounge was on the to-do list – with the aim of transforming it into "the best lounge in New Zealand."
"We have Auckland on the plan, it's a question of when we'll do it" Joyce told Australian Business Traveller in November 2015. "We'd like to have the best lounge in NZ, but these things take time."
Joyce added that a new Qantas Auckland lounge would be "like the other (international) lounges," ditching today's separate first class and business class lounges for a single-class 'premium' space similar to Qantas' international lounges in Brisbane, Singapore, Hong Kong and soon London.
The clock should be ticking on Qantas' new Auckland lounge, but a spokesperson for the airline tells Australian Business Traveller there's nothing to announce as this stage.
Earlier this week Australian Business Traveller also approached Emirates for clarity on the fate of its Auckland lounge, but the airline was unable to respond by the time this story was published.
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
19 Feb 2016
Total posts 7
What about the check in area. Last time I flew it was in a pokey little area and chaotic. Wonder if they will then share/move to the Emirates desks.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
11 Nov 2016
Total posts 29
The premium check in room was removed many months ago. There are now just the regular check in desks with the usual separation for Business/OWE/OWS/Qantas Club etc.
24 Feb 2015
Total posts 22
David - just FYI - not that it's too important, EK have removed Veuve and now only serve Moet in the Akl lounge...disaster for me as I hate Moet.
12 Feb 2015
Total posts 89
Agreed. The Moet Brut Imperial NV label covers something like 20 million bottles a year, representing around 7 per cent of total champagne production. This is a staggering amount of champagne, driven by the fact that the name is well known and synonymous with luxury. It must be extremely difficult to maintain consistency in the blend for such a large volume of wine. All I can say is that personal tests over many years with family and friends of Moet NV lined up against one or more other champagnes have led me to the conclusion ABM: anything but Moet! Veuve Cliquot NV is very reliably high quality, but pricey. All the more reason to hope that Emirates serves it to you. Bollinger and Taittinger are other great wines often found in the Qantas First Class Lounges.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
13 Jan 2015
Total posts 595
Even the cheaper taittinger offered in SQ J is probably the best of the J champagnes i've tried...don't fly F or have access to F lounge so can't compared to the more expensive stuff
Emirates Airlines - Skywards
30 Nov 2015
Total posts 745
'old, tired and well worn, they're generally regarded by travelers as among the worst in the airlines international network', well that's something to look forward to. Thank you Qantas.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
25 Sep 2013
Total posts 1248
"Is one flight enough to support Emirates keeping its Auckland lounge open, staffed and serving food and drink for just three hours a day?"
NZ
13 Aug 2016
Total posts 61
But at the same time to you have NZ pleading for more space to extend its current lounge, which currently backs onto the EK Lounge.
18 Mar 2014
Total posts 94
Since NZ moved to their new lounge, isn't it on the opposite side? Or does that wrap around to the QF/EK ones?
NZ
13 Aug 2016
Total posts 61
NZ’s new ‘current’ lounge which is only a couple of years old. Backs directly onto the EK lounge, it wraps around the corner onto the rear of the EK Lougne.
18 Mar 2014
Total posts 94
Good to know. In that case you could be right...AIAL might opt to give it to NZ, and QF to refurbish their lounge to also allow the EK DXB flights.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
29 Nov 2013
Total posts 480
I love to see Qantas combine the Emirates space with its own to form a single business lounge that puts Auckland up to world standard.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
14 Sep 2012
Total posts 343
If QF wanted to deal with the AKL lounge they would, but people are still flying with the crap lounge so why do anything. But you do have to wonder.
NZ
13 Aug 2016
Total posts 61
Qantas has pretty much missed there chance to make the upgrade seamless too, since they said there were going todo it two years ago the old NZ space next door sat empty. This space has now been used by AKL for there own pay lounge.
05 Dec 2013
Total posts 36
Does anyone know if EK will start an additional direct AKL-DXB flight (or even an indirect flight via an Asian port)? If so, that would warrant the lounge staying open surely?
Emirates Airlines - Skywards
07 Sep 2012
Total posts 153
Would be nice if they did. One of the good things about the original 3 NZ-AUS flights on EK was the ability to do my onward journey direct to DXB, or via SIN, KUL or BKK. If they don't bring on a 2nd daily flight via an Asian port, all we'll have is the bum-numbing 17.5 hours direct to DXB
03 May 2013
Total posts 575
I really don't find all that much wrong with the F lounge at AKL. OK the seating could be a little more comfy/ lush and food offering quality and quantity upped but it's usually a lovely quiet space which is something I highly value. I agree the food and service in the EK lounge are outstanding in comparison.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
08 Sep 2012
Total posts 244
From memory, the EK AKL lounge is nearly 10 years old and existed well before the JV with QF and well before EK started operating multiple flights a day into AKL. I doubt EK will close the lounge.
Emirates Airlines - Skywards
30 Nov 2015
Total posts 745
It formerly operated from what was the Emperor lounge, zero views - no windows, now revamped and called the Strata Lounge.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
31 Jan 2016
Total posts 81
Hey Qantas - please fix AKL QF lounges, they're tired...!!! Happy for joint First/Business, actually excited at the remote possibility, just make it happen. Thanks, from all of us who travel to and from NZ through AKL...!!!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
03 Mar 2016
Total posts 1
The real shame is that for basically the same price as a domestic style, uninspiring basic business seat on a Qantas jet, I’ve been flying in style trans-Tasman on an Emirates lie flat bed, superior food and bar. Because of this we just have to resign for Qantas treating this like a domestic flight the majority of the time?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 Jul 2011
Total posts 1390
But the reality is, it is a short haul flight..
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 Apr 2012
Total posts 306
Short haul but international... many carriers still offer full service when flying short haul international.... just cuz it's short doesn't mean we should accept less from the airline... i know we sure pay a premium cuz it's international.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 Jul 2011
Total posts 1390
You obviously haven't flown international short haul in Europe
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
14 Oct 2017
Total posts 1
I was declined entry very rudely at the Emirates lounge on 3 October. Was told to use the Qantas lounge and that Qantas Gold entry into the Emirates lounge was not automatic and would not be granted to me. Is that normal?
Air New Zealand - Airpoints
21 Jan 2016
Total posts 196
For the time being, QF and EK will still have separate lounges until a decision is made about the second DXB/AKL/DXB direct service is made. EK ticketed passengers travelling on QF flights will use the EK lounge and QF/AA ticketed passengers will use the QF lounge.
What may happen, the current QF lounge being the smaller lounge may close, be refurbised and reopen as the EK Lounge and the current EK lounge will be become the new QF lounge for all QF J and Y passengers due to increase QF Trans Tasman flights plus AA J class passengers and AA Admirals Club members and other Oneworld carriers arriving/departing AKL, that QF has lounge contracts with.
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