Jetstar Lounges NZ

[samh004]

I found this article tonight, from December admittedly, advising of the 2 lounges Jetstar has/is about to open in New Zealand and was wondering if anyone has tried either of them (obviously the AKL one wont be open till February).

As part of Jetstar's continual investment for the benefit of both leisure and business travelers on its low fare domestic New Zealand services the airline has facilitated:

• The new Akarana Lounge at Auckland Airport exclusively available for Jetstar or Qantas international passengers for purchase when traveling on the airline's domestic network from Auckland or connecting from an international service onto the carrier's domestic operations through Auckland;
  
• The ability for Jetstar domestic passengers to purchase access to the new Wild at Heart Lounge operated by Wellington Airport;

Interestingly it mentioned that you’d be able to seamlessly buy access for the AKL lounge online from later in December, but I tried tonight for a booking in September and wasn’t given an option anywhere. Likewise for Wellington, and that lounge is supposedly already open.

There’s also no information (that I could see) on their website.

So, if anyone intends to fly on Jetstar New Zealand in the next few months, I’d love to know what the facilities are like and what sort of access there is.

 

[tuapekastar]

Someone on FT has used the WaH lounge and provided a very brief review.

 

[samh004]

Interestingly the Wellington airport WaH site doesn’t mention that there’s a maximum of 3 alcoholic beverages per person! Suddenly the price looks a little steep. If JQ gets their act together and offers memberships though, here’s hoping QC+ members get reciprocal and it’s more than 3 drinks

 

[anat0l]

News arrived in my monthly QFF e-communique that the Akarana Lounge (AKL domestic JQ lounge) has opened (as of 8 Feb).

Ākarana, as it is spelt, is the Maori name for Auckland.

The short details are (I have not been to this lounge - this is all off the JQ website):

• Normal facilities as per a lounge, but no showers (there are toilets, however).
• Available for access to any pax who have a same day departure on a JQ domestic flight from Auckland. Open from 5.30am to last boarding call.
• You only need to be travelling on a JQ domestic flight to enter - the marketed / ticketed airline designator is irrelevant (e.g. JQ, QF etc.)
• Subject to capacity restrictions ; prepaid entries that are refused based on capacity will be refunded (you need to put in a request at the desk ).
• Entry fee is NZD 9.99 prepaid at the time of booking or up until the day before departure. NZD 15.00 when paid at the door. Children of ages 6 and under are admitted free of charge.
• QF WPs are entitled to complimentary access provided they have a same day departure on a JQ domestic flight; 2 guests are allowed (this last point was in the QF communique, not on the JQ website...). No other complimentary or discount rights are extended to other QFF members, QP members or oneworld customers.

 

[moa999]

Clause 1.9 on the Jetstar T&Cs confirms 2 guest policy for plats
Terms & Conditions - Gold Coast Lounge & Akarana Lounge - Travel Services - Travel Information - Jetstar Airways

for both Gold Coast Lounge and Ākarana Lounge
Nothing on the WaH lounge

 

[samh004]

They mention membership to the Gold Coast lounge again, but no specific details as yet. Seems like it’ll be a pretty poor offering if it only gives access to 1 lounge.

 

[zig]

Akarana Lounge - Travel Services - Travel Information - Jetstar Airways


Link to Jetstar site.

Cheap if pre-booked NZ$9.90. At that price you would expect the lounge to be full all the time.

 

[Danger]

I found this point in the QFF email interesting:

Platinum Frequent Flyers have complimentary access to the Lounge, including up to two qualifying guests.
​

Correct me if I'm wrong but, as a domestic lounge, there's never been any "qualifying" criteria for a platinum guest. I know it's good for WPs but I think this just adds to the confusion of lounge access.

 

[Cheesy]

I used the WaH lounge at WLG back in mid-January (flying NZ, not JQ), and was quite pleased with what was on offer. They have a 3-hour maximum usage period and I was the only person in the lounge for about two of those three hours, so couldn't complain. When one of the staff (there was only one on duty on arrival, but two around lunchtime) came to collect my plate after lunch, I quizzed her on a few issues.

With the 3 drink limit for alcoholic beverages, she stated that they would be pretty liberal with it initial to see how people response (honour system), but they had plans to install BigBrother style cameras to keep an eye on proceedings. But basically, anyone who starts to get a bit tipsy will be asked to leave, and more than likely denied boarding anyway. Unfortunately being a raging non-alcoholic, I can't even advise what the local offering was, so sorry about that!

Can't quite remember what I paid for it, but it was a Saturday and even with the opening special, the weekend price was even cheaper still and will remain in place permanently (until all the beer disappears I guess!).

Quite a large lounge, couple of large TV's (which was conveniently changed to the AUS v PAK test match when asked!), at least half a dozen PC workstations, and plenty of literature available. I'd certainly be going back again if spending some time at WLG.

Cheesy

 

[anat0l]

I found this point in the QFF email interesting:

Platinum Frequent Flyers have complimentary access to the Lounge, including up to two qualifying guests.
​

Correct me if I'm wrong but, as a domestic lounge, there's never been any "qualifying" criteria for a platinum guest. I know it's good for WPs but I think this just adds to the confusion of lounge access.

It does sound confusing.

The way that I read it is that the guests of the WP need to "be able" to access the lounge under the rules (but as a guest of the WP they get their admission for free). That is, you can't just take someone who isn't travelling on a JQ domestic flight in with you as a guest.

For QF domestic lounges WP access certainly had no bounds on what kind of guest you could take in. However, although as much as people will probably think it otherwise, this is not a QF lounge.

 

[oz_mark]

I found this point in the QFF email interesting:

Platinum Frequent Flyers have complimentary access to the Lounge, including up to two qualifying guests.
​

Correct me if I'm wrong but, as a domestic lounge, there's never been any "qualifying" criteria for a platinum guest. I know it's good for WPs but I think this just adds to the confusion of lounge access.

Not really. The JQ Gold Coast lounge originally started out without any kind of access to QF FF of any persuasion. Access to QFWP was subsequently added, and the access in NZ seems to take the same approch.

 

[Cyclogenesis]

So essentially, since there is no earn on JQ for other OW airlines, Air NZ is just as attractive to OW Saphire flyers as JQ in NZ since OW Saph (eg AA PLT) are essentially statusless...