Which Qantas lounges can Air New Zealand Airpoints Golds, Elites use?

By David Flynn, July 20 2018
Which Qantas lounges can Air New Zealand Airpoints Golds, Elites use?

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

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 699

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 98

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 98

Thanks for the article, however, there are a few errors.

  1. It's not really an alliance, but a straight domestic codeshare agreement. Alliance to me suggests coordination on pricing, schedules, etc, of which is there is none of.
  2. Some codeshare flights on Qantas are in the NZ1xxx range too (namely the triangle routes)
  3. The codeshare flight can be used for any international journey originating in Australia, not just trans-Tasman (i.e. you could fly CBR-SYD-AKL-LAX or MEL-SYD-RAR)

24 Oct 2010

Total posts 2563

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.

As to 'alliance or not', this is an alliance in the pure sense of the word – two companies working together (with mutual and reciprocal benefit for each other and for customers). An 'alliance' between two businesses doesn't have to co-ord on pricing etc, although in aviation argot that is a more common scenario and usage.

Air New Zealand - Airpoints

21 Jan 2016

Total posts 193

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 2563

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'.

25 Sep 2013

Total posts 1242

Oh hey look, it's the Rings of Power

22 May 2011

Total posts 86

Can qantas elite members access air nz lounges?

24 Oct 2010

Total posts 2563

We're waiting to hear back from Qantas on that score.


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