Cheapest way to gain Airport Lounge entry?

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rayonline

1616 posts

Uber Geek

# 1025514 15-Apr-2014 12:28

Talkiet:
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

I dunno. I haven't checked lately. Re: if AirNZ gutted it well that's AirNZ :-) they do dictate which fares gets miles accrued and by how much, haha. I don't normally go to EU hence ..

Still 16,000Miles to get Gold

http://en.aegeanair.com/milesandbonus/program-description/benefits/gold-card-privileges/

Talkiet

4198 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

# 1025528 15-Apr-2014 12:50

rayonline:
Talkiet:
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

I dunno. I haven't checked lately. Re: if AirNZ gutted it well that's AirNZ :-) they do dictate which fares gets miles accrued and by how much, haha. I don't normally go to EU hence ..

Still 16,000Miles to get Gold

http://en.aegeanair.com/milesandbonus/program-description/benefits/gold-card-privileges/

I think the trick is if you book anything but full economy they have horrible multipliers (dividers? :-) on the miles

N

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

rayonline

1616 posts

Uber Geek

# 1025543 15-Apr-2014 13:12

Talkiet:
rayonline:
Talkiet:
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

I dunno. I haven't checked lately. Re: if AirNZ gutted it well that's AirNZ :-) they do dictate which fares gets miles accrued and by how much, haha. I don't normally go to EU hence ..

Still 16,000Miles to get Gold

http://en.aegeanair.com/milesandbonus/program-description/benefits/gold-card-privileges/

I think the trick is if you book anything but full economy they have horrible multipliers (dividers? :-) on the miles

N

Pretty much a standard. Discount economy like a W class fare earns 0.7 per mile flown. And as it says

**W, T are not eligible for accrual on Domestic flights or Tasman & Pacific Island flights

http://en.aegeanair.com/milesandbonus/program-description/earn-miles/#AIR%20NEW%20ZEALAND

I have the flexibility to get grabaseats so no mileage for me but I do get instant savings that none can rival :D

I go to Asia more hence I can not use my AirNZ much other than domestics to AKL for that connection. Asiana provides 100% per mile flown for W class. So for Asiana it needs 40,000Miles within 2yr for a 2yr validity Gold period. Or 20,000 per year but once you get Silver Gold (that needs 20,000) with them you get a 5% bonus for each flight. So the other 20,000 only needs 19,000. Or avg of 19,000-20,000 per year basis.

For Aegean I guess to get the 16,000Miles you need to fly 22,900Miles on W AirNZ class.

dacraka

606 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

# 1025896 15-Apr-2014 23:47

Thanks for all your comments so far guys! I'll reply all in one post...

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...

Nice, however it doesn't say "Lounge access" in the benifits list on that page you linked for that specific SPCA Charge Card?

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.

Yes it does say "One complimentary visit", however below that it says: "All other Diners Club airport lounges around the world are complimentary to New Zealand Diners Club Cardmembers for unlimited visits. Simply present your card to the lounge provider at the time of entry."

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

I've always wanted to experience an "Airport Lounge", I always walk past them imagining myself in one so basically for the experience, but equally for the included food and drinks.

From the Diners Personal Credit Card page it looks like it grants you access to unlimited lounges overseas (and a one-off AKL lounge) for the main card holder and Supplementary card holder as well?
However on the generic Diners Airport Lounge page it looks like all Diners Club cards give you access to airport lounges, am I correct in assuming this based on the text given on the website?
The link on the Diners SPCA Charge Card page that says "Click here to learn more about Diners Club charge card features and benefits.", states: "Charge Card Benefits: International Airport Lounges"

Looks like that I should go with the Diners SPCA Charge Card for $35/year (plus $30/year for the compulsory Club Rewards Membership) which includes a free supplementary card for my partner as well? If so, that is a bloddy good deal! They also donate to the SPCA, everybody wins! Right?

Kyanar

3102 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Subscriber

# 1025903 16-Apr-2014 00:16

dacraka:
Looks like that I should go with the Diners SPCA Charge Card for $35/year (plus $30/year for the compulsory Club Rewards Membership) which includes a free supplementary card for my partner as well? If so, that is a bloddy good deal! They also donate to the SPCA, everybody wins! Right?

Depends if you like The Warehouse (Diner's Club is actually The Warehouse, believe it or not. Yup, those red sheds).

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