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I was just looking at the historical price. 15 years ago it was $495!

What's the new price?

It's going up from $599 to $629

freitasm:

 

What's the new price?

 

going up $30 for single member $20 bucks for corp and senior.

I wonder if the various credit cards whom discount it will pass on the new increase....

If you travel a lot, the Koru Lounge is nice as a "free breakfast/lunch/dinner" place but nothing more. During the school holidays/holiday seasons in particular, you have to endure an avalanche of idiotic adults traveling with their families and about to head off to the Pacific islands (who most likely bought premium economy tickets as treats) coming into the lounge in their shorts and then making a mess of the place whilst taking up additional seats and table space with all their hand-carry crap. The truly scary thing is that their kids tend to be far better bahaved than the adults. The general level of (un)cleanliness of the lounges, along with consistently high number of guests means that I would never personally pay for a membership. On some levels, I probably wouldn't be too sad if work stops paying for mine -- it would mean that I can at least eat at some of the airport eateries for a bit more variety.

Grumpy today are we???

Some of the lounges - notably Auckland domestic - are way overcrowded. The Melbourne international used to be absolutely awful, although its been replaced now.

The new AKL international is pretty good though (and yes I do take my kids in if I'm taking a family holiday).

Most of my travel is work though - usually once a week, and to all parts of the country, so I think I've seen most if not all of them.

If I wasn't travelling so much I wouldn't bother with it (although its free with GE).

I think they should make the membership about 3 times more expensive. It's too accessible at the current pricing and it shows in some of the lounges.

In general the lounges are awesome at the start and end of the day. But Auckland Domestic really needs sorting out, Nelson comes to mind too (although I guess the new terminal will sort that out). I personally think that only Elite members should be allowed guests and children should just not be permitted. A ditch those passes that people of airpoints credit cards get. The lounges should be for the sole purpose of making the frequent flyer's day just a little better. Too many people just makes it an absolute cesspool on Friday afternoon/evenings.

chevrolux:

 

I think they should make the membership about 3 times more expensive. It's too accessible at the current pricing and it shows in some of the lounges.

 

The problem is that won't affect all the people who don't pay - and it's anybody's guess how many Airpoints Gold members there are now but it's safe to say Elite + Gold would probably be somewhere around the 80k - 100k mark.

Air NZ won't get rid of the credit card guest passes because they're an absolute cash cow for them. My bank is stupid enough to pay them lots of money every year for passes that I'll never use as an Elite, and if you look at the number of Gold's + Elite's that would get these it you realise Air NZ are raking is significant $$ from the banks for vouchers that go unused.

stocksp:

 

 

 

The new AKL international is pretty good though (and yes I do take my kids in if I'm taking a family holiday).

 

 

I would happily take the kids over most of the adults in the group that I talked about.

Geektastic:

 

JFYI in case anyone was looking to join or renew soon, the price is about to go up on 1 August.

 

mattwnz: I have never been to one. But maybe they should have different grades, so have a totally different lounge for more elite membership classes. So rich people aren't slumming it with the common people (sarcastic of course)

dejadeadnz:

snip
During the school holidays/holiday seasons in particular, you have to endure an avalanche of idiotic adults traveling with their families and about to head off to the Pacific islands (who most likely bought premium economy tickets as treats) coming into the lounge in their shorts and then making a mess of the place. Snip

Dingbatt:

dejadeadnz:

snip
During the school holidays/holiday seasons in particular, you have to endure an avalanche of idiotic adults traveling with their families and about to head off to the Pacific islands (who most likely bought premium economy tickets as treats) coming into the lounge in their shorts and then making a mess of the place. Snip

PE doesn't get you lounge access. So they were either Koru members or elite etc. Or paid extra for lounge passes.