Which Qantas lounges can Air New Zealand Airpoints Golds, Elites use?
By David Flynn, July 20 2018
Air New Zealand's Airpoints frequent flyers will enjoy have access to Qantas Clubs around Australia under the newly-forged alliance between the two airlines.
As of October 28, 2018, Airpoints Elite and Gold members booked on a codeshare flight with Qantas will find the doors swing open for them at the two dozen Qantas Club lounges in Australia's capital cities and regional centres. They'll also be permitted to bring in one guest.
But it won't be as easy as flashing your shiny Airpoints card: you'll have to be travelling on a domestic Qantas flight booked under the Air New Zealand codeshare (such as a flight number in the NZ7xxx range).
This arrangement replaces Airpoints access to Virgin Australia lounges following the dramatic bust-up between the two former allies.
However, there's no Qantas Club lounge access for Koru Club members, nor can AirNZ frequent flyers cool their heels in the more upmarket Qantas Business lounges.
The Qantas / Air New Zealand alliance covers selected flights on the domestic network of each airline, however trans-Tasman and other international flights are excluded from the arrangement.
Read more: Qantas, Air New Zealand alliance will take on Virgin Australia
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.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
23 Oct 2013
Total posts 704
Doesn't it seem a bit odd that Koru club won't get access (something that the VA deal provided) . I guess there will be no access for QF Club cardholders in NZ either?
18 Mar 2014
Total posts 94
Correct, it's reciprocal in that QF Club card holders can't use NZ lounges. The VA deal was very unique as they were the only partner lounges Koru members could access without actually flying Air NZ.
15 Mar 2017
Total posts 15
Looks like air nz ff get the raw end of the deal
18 Mar 2014
Total posts 94
Thanks for the article, however, there are a few errors.
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2551
Hi aviation – we've based this article on info provided by Air New Zealand's own website as of Friday, which has since been updated along the lines you mention, this info has been revised by AirNZ (eg no mention of being exclusive to a NZ7xxx codeshare or tras-Tasman booking requirement) and will be updating this article accordingly, just can't dp it right now due to some issues at the backend.
Air New Zealand - Airpoints
21 Jan 2016
Total posts 197
David. I agree with Aviation, the Air NZ/Qantas deal is more of a basic code share agreement not an alliance. In essence, its Air NZ putting a 'NZ' flight number of on Qantas metal for selected routes and services and offering crumbs for Airpoints members with no 'Status' points or lounge access for Koru Members.
To me, an 'Alliance' is is more an in depth arrangement what Air NZ has currently got with Virgin Australia, Singapore, Cathy Pacific, etc
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2551
Krisdude: yes, but as mentioned earlier, we're using 'alliance' this in the broader sense – same as partnership, etc – as understood by the mainstream audience for whom we write, not the more granular aviation meaning of 'alliance'.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
25 Sep 2013
Total posts 1247
Oh hey look, it's the Rings of Power
22 May 2011
Total posts 85
Can qantas elite members access air nz lounges?
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2551
We're waiting to hear back from Qantas on that score.
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