Air New Zealand nixes lounge access for Works Deluxe passengers
By Chris C., June 17 2015
Passengers travelling on Air New Zealand's Works Deluxe economy fares will no longer enjoy free access to the airline’s network of airport lounges.
The exclusion applies to tickets booked from June 17 2015, although guests who had already purchased a Works Deluxe fare prior to this date – including for travel beyond June 17 and even into next year – will still have lounge access where available.
An Air New Zealand spokesperson confirmed the change to Australian Business Traveller today, which comes as a result of the airline’s introduction of premium economy on flights to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
“The Works Deluxe offering has been changed to better align with the existing Premium Economy offering,” the spokesperson said, as premium economy tickets don’t include lounge access.
Works Deluxe is one of four economy fare packages offered by the Kiwi carrier across the Tasman, alongside The Works, Seat + Bag and ‘Seat’, with no checked baggage:
Passengers booking a Works Deluxe ticket will continue to receive the product’s other benefits over and above The Works such as a ‘neighbour-free guarantee’, an extra free checked bag plus priority check-in, priority boarding and also priority baggage delivery on arrival at your destination.
Lounge access remains available across the Tasman for Air New Zealand’s Koru Club members and Airpoints Gold, Elite and Elite Priority One frequent flyers sitting in economy on any fare type, along with Virgin Australia Velocity Gold and Platinum cardholders on the same.
Also read: Air NZ opens new Star Alliance lounge at Sydney Airport
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Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.
02 Jan 2013
Total posts 140
Makes it less appealing to purchase Works Delux now. As for "neighbour free", it doesn't really bother me, especially on a 3 hour flight.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
23 Oct 2013
Total posts 699
You can still buy access at the door (at Air NZ operated lounges)
This really effect flyers from Adelaide, Perth and other cities where you will no longer have a lounge
QantasFF
16 Nov 2012
Total posts 59
Yes, pity abut that, I had planned to use it for the return leg to Adelaide on my regular Transtasman trips, so unless PE turns out to be an equally good deal I'll have to stick with QF's inconvenient offering where at least I get QC and Gold benefits. Less point in the other direction as there's no airside lounge in Adelaide for either Qantas or AirNZ.
10 Sep 2012
Total posts 149
Premium Economy, huh?
My bet is that the 320 fleet with have a small J cabin again soon, especially with the VA 738's having J at the front.
It was moronic to remove it in the first place.
Air New Zealand - Airpoints
08 Aug 2014
Total posts 39
That sucks, but it's kind of what I expect from Air New Zealand. And Works Deluxe in their crappy one-class A320 services has never been a picnic anyway, so I avoid them like the plague. What a tightwad airline. QF and VA flights look good to me whenever I can time things for them.
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