Cheapest way to gain Airport Lounge entry?

Forums › Off topic › Cheapest way to gain Airport Lounge entry?

dacraka

771 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 165

ID Verified

Trusted

#143435 14-Apr-2014 23:40

My partner & I are going to Hong Kong with Cathay pacific (first leg is code-share with Air NZ) in September (arriving late at night), four days later we will be in Tokyo, then the reverse (travelling in-transit this time with a long wait at the airport) back to Auckland.
I was wondering if anyone knows of any cheap Airport Lounge deals that I can sign up to e.g. specialised lounge passes, Credit Card deals/privileges, Air Points deals etc...?
E.g. It may be cheaper to sign up to a credit card just to get this privilege compared to a specialised lounge pass club?

Cheers!

Phill

1 | 2

4631 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 874

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1025258 14-Apr-2014 23:42

https://www.westpac.co.nz/world/

http://www.prioritypass.com/mobile/index.cfm

rayonline

1736 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 51

#1025260 15-Apr-2014 00:06

The abvoe the $400 CC or the Priority Pass thingy that can be bought. But only AKL have it in NZ, cannot use Koru AirNZ lounges.

If you are flying Star Alliance not sure if that Cathay codeshare or whatever counts thou. You can go with Aegean Airlines and get Star Gold but that needs 2x return Asia trips equiv per 12 months to earn it. So you won't be getting lounges until you done those flights first. Or Asiana which does in 2yr - 3x return to Asia I think or almost 1x to EU I think.

Talkiet

4819 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3934

Trusted

#1025265 15-Apr-2014 00:41

rayonline: The abvoe the $400 CC or the Priority Pass thingy that can be bought. But only AKL have it in NZ, cannot use Koru AirNZ lounges.

If you are flying Star Alliance not sure if that Cathay codeshare or whatever counts thou. You can go with Aegean Airlines and get Star Gold but that needs 2x return Asia trips equiv per 12 months to earn it. So you won't be getting lounges until you done those flights first. Or Asiana which does in 2yr - 3x return to Asia I think or almost 1x to EU I think.

Have they really not tightened that loophole? When I last looked into crediting the AirNZ flights to Aegean it seemed they had gutted the benefits of doing it.

Cheers- N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

jarledb

Webhead
3319 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1983

Moderator

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1025266 15-Apr-2014 01:15

I would not recommend going to Aegean. They don't seem to have their things sorted. Tried using them to try to get gold, but if my experience is anything to go by I would say you are probably better off using your air miles somewhere else.

Jarle Dahl Bergersen | Referral Links: Want $50 off when you join Octopus Energy? Use this referral code
Are you happy with what you get from Geekzone? Please consider supporting us by making a donation or subscribing.

timmmay

20858 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 5350

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1025279 15-Apr-2014 07:03

In Singapore we just paid to get into a lounge. It wasn't great, comfortable enough chairs, free food that was pretty poor, decent showers though. We did the same in Hong Kong. We were in the business class lounge in Chiang Mai (a smallish airport by Thai standards, bigger than Wellington), it was average as well - sofas instead of hard plastic chairs, ok snacks, and bathrooms - no showers or meals.

What are you trying to achieve? Showers? Comfortable seats?

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9996

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#1025346 15-Apr-2014 08:21

Many lounges offer one off paid access.

I'm pretty sure Koru will give you access to HK on the way back (since all flights between HKG and AKL are codeshares) but won't give you access when leaving HKG or at NRT since you're not on Air NZ.

I was in Japan last week, the ANA lounge at NRT is pretty nice but I'm unsure about paid access. You should be able to buy your way into the UA lounge but that's pretty average so anybody who's *G on UA and has a brain uses the ANA lounge.

Have a look at Priority Pass, it's probably the best option for casual access.

Lego

Shop now for Lego sets and other gifts (affiliate link).

fastmikey

296 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 12

ID Verified

#1025353 15-Apr-2014 08:43

https://www.dinersclub.co.nz/services/travel-services/airport-lounges

The SPCA Charge Card appears to be only $35/year, and that gives you a supplementary card too...

NonprayingMantis

6434 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1528

#1025355 15-Apr-2014 08:44

fastmikey: https://www.dinersclub.co.nz/services/travel-services/airport-lounges

The SPCA Charge Card appears to be only $35/year, and that gives you a supplementary card too...

"As a Diners Club Cardmember this entitles you to one complimentary visit within a twelve month period."

not especially useful I would think.

graemeh

2080 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 226

#1025358 15-Apr-2014 08:48

sbiddle: I'm pretty sure Koru will give you access to HK on the way back (since all flights between HKG and AKL are codeshares) but won't give you access when leaving HKG or at NRT since you're not on Air NZ.

Koru in Hong Kong is a poor choice. Hong Kong is one of the few lounges where Koru doesn't allow you to bring in a guest. The "Koru" lounge in Hong Kong is the Thai Airways lounge, it is hot and often pretty full. The food and drink is good, as are the showers.

You haven't stated what you want out of a lounge but Hong Kong airport is pretty comfortable. There is a cheap (by airport standards) foodcourt but you have to hunt for it (just follow the airport staff) but it is a few minutes from the boarding gates so make sure you allow time to get back to the gate for boarding.

timmmay

20858 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 5350

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1025375 15-Apr-2014 08:53

Hong Kong has multiple pay lounges and paid showers. It's a big airport though, we had two hours there between flights and only just managed to get off the plane, get a shower (other end of the airport) and get back to the plane in that time.

fastmikey

296 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 12

ID Verified

#1025414 15-Apr-2014 10:02

NonprayingMantis:
fastmikey: https://www.dinersclub.co.nz/services/travel-services/airport-lounges

The SPCA Charge Card appears to be only $35/year, and that gives you a supplementary card too...

"As a Diners Club Cardmember this entitles you to one complimentary visit within a twelve month period."

not especially useful I would think.

If you're doing a lot of travel in and out of Auckland, yes... but at that point I'd assume you'd look at something like Koru membership.

That doesn't apply to all Airport Lounges however - and in OP's scenario (travelling to Hong Kong, then Tokyo, then back to Akl, it's probably his cheapest option...

HP

Shop now for HP laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

Geektastic

18009 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 8465

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1025419 15-Apr-2014 10:05

dacraka: My partner & I are going to Hong Kong with Cathay pacific (first leg is code-share with Air NZ) in September (arriving late at night), four days later we will be in Tokyo, then the reverse (travelling in-transit this time with a long wait at the airport) back to Auckland.
I was wondering if anyone knows of any cheap Airport Lounge deals that I can sign up to e.g. specialised lounge passes, Credit Card deals/privileges, Air Points deals etc...?
E.g. It may be cheaper to sign up to a credit card just to get this privilege compared to a specialised lounge pass club?

Cheers!

Phill

I carry Priority Pass and have found it reasonably useful. Not so much in NZ where Air NZ has a monopoly with their vastly expensive Koru.

NonprayingMantis

6434 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1528

#1025420 15-Apr-2014 10:05

fastmikey:
NonprayingMantis:
fastmikey: https://www.dinersclub.co.nz/services/travel-services/airport-lounges

The SPCA Charge Card appears to be only $35/year, and that gives you a supplementary card too...

"As a Diners Club Cardmember this entitles you to one complimentary visit within a twelve month period."

not especially useful I would think.

If you're doing a lot of travel in and out of Auckland, yes... but at that point I'd assume you'd look at something like Koru membership.

That doesn't apply to all Airport Lounges however - and in OP's scenario (travelling to Hong Kong, then Tokyo, then back to Akl, it's probably his cheapest option...

ah, I thought it meant the card grants you one pass per year across all lounges (so a trip to the uk it could be used to get in before the first leg, but then useless for transit and useless on the way back)

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9996

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#1025443 15-Apr-2014 10:38

fastmikey:
NonprayingMantis:
fastmikey: https://www.dinersclub.co.nz/services/travel-services/airport-lounges

The SPCA Charge Card appears to be only $35/year, and that gives you a supplementary card too...

"As a Diners Club Cardmember this entitles you to one complimentary visit within a twelve month period."

not especially useful I would think.

If you're doing a lot of travel in and out of Auckland, yes... but at that point I'd assume you'd look at something like Koru membership.

That doesn't apply to all Airport Lounges however - and in OP's scenario (travelling to Hong Kong, then Tokyo, then back to Akl, it's probably his cheapest option...

Flights aren't on NZ metal so using Koru won't be an option except for departing Auckland and departing Hong Kong as all flights to/from there are codeshare.

rayonline

1736 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 51

#1025513 15-Apr-2014 12:24

Seems like the Priority Pass accesses the same Diner Club lounge in AKL.

http://first2board.com/runningforstatus/2013/12/20/emperor-lounge-auckland-international-airport-priority-pass/

Maybe it's the $400 CC (Westpac) or buy Koru $360 with a AirNZ plat CC or buy Priority Pass which is cheaper.

$99US then $27US each visit or $249US with 10 free visits - which is worth it if you intend to do least 5 visits it not get the $99 + $27 per visit.

https://www.prioritypass.com/Join/What-it-costs.cfm

1 | 2