Air NZ Experience - Platinum VFF

[gibosity]

I flew to Wellington this week with Air NZ, having booked my flights through Virgin.
Thought I’d post a couple of things worth noting:

* Access to Air NZ lounges is fine, but have your Velocity card/app ready. Going into both AU and NZ lounges, I scanned my boarding pass only to have ‘Entry Denied’ flash up on the screen. AU lounge staff looked at my boarding pass and let me in once I mentioned VFF Plat. Wellington lounge staff asked to see my Velocity card (app)

* Priority boarding is fine, but be prepared to mention VFF Plat, as there’s no sign of this on the boarding pass

* No priority bag tags makes for a long wait upon arrival

It’s an odd arrangement between the two airlines, but still beneficial. Hopefully it’s gets smoother

 

[SheikYerbouti]

Still nothing available if you're a Plat flying VA SYD - ZQN, not even lounge, right?

 

[HS-TQE]

Still nothing available if you're a Plat flying VA SYD - ZQN, not even lounge, right?

Correct, the ZQN routes are not part of the unilateral NZ partnership. Lounge access is only available if booked on the VA cdoeshares on NZ metal.

 

[i0sam0i]

Am I s.o.l booking through airnz (which was significantly cheaper than VA) to use the lounge etc.?
Or is there a way to increase chances (I have managed to use QF lounge and benefits while on a air tahiti ticket trans tasman)

 

[henrus]

as there’s no sign of this on the boarding pass

Did the boarding pass have the VA code written on it?