Priority Pass expands lounge network in Christchurch, Queenstown
By Chris C., January 28 2016
Independent airport lounge scheme Priority Pass is boosting its presence in the region, signing up new lounges at Christchurch and Queenstown airports in New Zealand.
The Manaia Lounge awaits in Christchurch’s international terminal, located beyond security and passport control near Gate 29 and open from 4:30am-7:30am and again from 1:45pm-8:30pm daily:
Priority Pass members can now visit the Manaia Lounge in Christchurch...
Frequent visitors to New Zealand may recognise this as the lounge also used by Qantas passengers before flights to Australia, while in Queenstown Priority Pass members are too greeted by the Manaia Lounge, found before security and open from three hours before the first flight of the day until the last departure.
Fly through Queenstown's Manaia Lounge with Priority Pass...
Both lounges offer complimentary refreshments, alcoholic beverages and wireless Internet access, while showers are also available to lounge guests in Christchurch.
Unlike airline-affiliated lounge schemes such as Qantas Club, Priority Pass members enjoy access to over 800 lounges worldwide when travelling with any airline in any class of service, giving them the freedom to choose the most suitable flight and airline without losing their lounge privileges.
Priority Pass is also tipped to add Brisbane to its map over the coming months with the opening of the also-independent Plaza Premium Lounge in the capital’s international terminal.
Also read: The Aussie traveller’s guide to Priority Pass
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Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.
Emirates Airlines - Skywards
30 Nov 2015
Total posts 729
Business Class China Airlines use Manaia Lounge in Christchurch, I'm looking forward to a visit next month. Didn't know they had one in Queenstown.
Emirates Airlines - Skywards
30 Nov 2015
Total posts 729
Priority Pass need to get real and ramp up connections with Australian Lounges.
14 Apr 2014
Total posts 46
Well, Brisbane would be a good start if a highly-likely partnership with Plaza Premium starts (that's aside from the Reef Lounge at Cairns)
Emirates Airlines - Skywards
30 Nov 2015
Total posts 729
and Plaza Premium's Sydney lounge too.
24 Apr 2012
Total posts 2432
Won't happen in Sydney, at least with the existing lounges – Plaza Premium runs the AMEX Lounge and the SkyTeam lounges, so has to follow those brand standards and access rules, whereas we've confirmed the Brisbane lounge will be a 'Plaza Premium Lounge' (not a co-branded lounge run by Plaza).
20 Nov 2012
Total posts 20
Plaza Premium could be successful in Adelaide. Only Singapore have a lounge past immigration. Malaysia, Cathay, Emirates, New Zealand and possibly Qatar use the Qantas Club, forcing passangers to leave early to proceed through security and immigration.
Emirates Airlines - Skywards
30 Nov 2015
Total posts 729
Sounds poorly positioned.Wrong side of immigration.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
23 Oct 2013
Total posts 699
Look I am from Brisbane and if one opens in Brisbane it will be great.
Most of my flights are between Brisbane and Auckland/Christchurch so the Christchurch lounge now onboard is also great.
The lounge network is greater in Europe/Asia but with the week Aussie dollar the visits work out to be almost AU$40 when they once were about AU$25.
27 Oct 2016
Total posts 2
I just tried to use my priority pass AMEX at Christchurch Airport Manaia Lounge (a Priority Pass lounge) and the woman behind the desk said that she was unaware that Amex was a partner with priority pass and that the machine was broken so she could not check and then said "and you are flying economy anyway so i have to decline it". I was VERY unimpressed, but it seems to be a not uncommon experience. I then tried to use a Qantas club pass and she said they couldn't accept those either.
24 Apr 2012
Total posts 2432
Even with an AMEX Platinum card you need a separate Priority Pass card to access Priority Pass lounges - you can get this by contacting AMEX, but you can't simply show your AMEX card. (That only works in AMEX Lounges, Virgin lounges, Delta lounges and 'Plaza Premium Lounges' - everywhere else requires the separate Priority Pass card.)
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