Discover affordable ways to access airport lounges at home and abroad. From leveraging credit cards to purchasing day passes, our comprehensive guide helps you explore your options, and learn about the different types of airport lounges to help you choose the best airport lounge to suit your need.
Types of Airport Lounges
Airport lounges offer sanctuary from the hustle and bustle of busy airport terminals and a comfortable place to wait for your flight, but how do you get access to luxurious airport lounges?
Before we dive into how to get access to airport lounges it helps to know about the different types of airport lounges which can essentially be grouped into four different types as detailed below. If you are already familiar with the different types of airport lounges the feel free to skip ahead to find out how to access Airport Lounges below.
Airline lounges
Most Airlines offer airport lounges exclusive for their customers and partners. These lounges are typically reserved for passengers flying in business or first class, as well as elite members of the airline’s frequent flyer program. In New Zealand Air New Zealand has lounges in all the main airports in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurh and Queenstown (including the domestic airports). Qantas has lounges in Auckland and Wellington international airports, and Emirates have a lounge in Auckland international airport.
Airline lounges tend to be high-class lounges (compared to some independent lounges) since these lounges need to cater for the airline’s elite customers with first class and business class tickets.
Credit card lounges
Some credit card providers such as American Express, Chase, Capital One and City offer airport lounges to their high-end customers. There are no credit card lounges in New Zealand, but American Express has Centurion lounges in Sydney and Melbourne in Australia.
Sidenote: The American Express Centurion lounges are high-class lounges by Amex which are known for hiring award winning chefs.
Airline Alliance lounges
Airlines within the same alliance, such as the Star alliance, SkyTeam or Oneworld alliance, tend to allow elite members of other airlines within the same alliance to access their airport lounges. This means that if you are an Elite member of the Air New Zealand Airpoints program, you can access the airport lounges of members of the Star Alliance which Air New Zealand belongs to.
These lounges offer a convenient option for passengers flying with any member airline of the alliance, providing a wider network of lounges to choose from.
Independent lounges
Independent lounges are not owned by any particular airline, alliance or credit card. They are often accessible through lounge membership programs. The three biggest independent lounges programs include Priority Pass, LoungeKey and DragonPass. These independent lounges offer an alternative to the more exclusive airline and credit card lounges. They can also offer an alternative if you are flying to a destination where your frequent flyer program does not offer a lounge.
How do you get acess to Airport Lounges?
First or Business Class Flights
Most airlines provide access to their airport lounges to their business or first class customers if one is available at the airport. This often gives the impression that airport lounges are reserved for only those who can afford to pay for first class or business class tickets, but as you will find out below this if far from the truth. There are many other ways to access airport lounges as detailed below.
Premium Credit Cards
Many premium credit cards provide complimentary or discounted access to airport lounges by partnering with independent airport lounge providers. Credit cards such as the American Express Platinum Card and Westpac Hotpoints World MasterCard (in New Zealand}, and the Chase Sapphire Reserve card (in the US) offer free airport lounge access as a benefit.
Some credit card companies such as Amex even offer their own airport lounge networks. In fact, the American Express Centurion lounges are some of the best lounges in the world and very sort after.
Credit cards with free airport lounge access often also come with other travel perks such as complimentary travel insurance.
Independent Airport lounges
There are several large indepenent airport lounge providers that offer thousands of lounges across the globe. The top three biggest independent airport lounges access programs globally include Priority Pass, LoungeKey and Dragon Pass. These independent airport programs offer a huge number of lounges to choose from. The Priority Pass program for example has 1,500 airport lounges around the world.
Airport Lounge Day Passes
Some independent airport lounge programs, such as LoungeKey, do not require you to have a membership to get a day pass. A Lounge Key day pass costs $35 USD.
In New Zealand, Air New Zealand, Qantas and Emirates do NOT offer day passes to any of of its airport lounges but luckily there are other options.
Auckland:
In Auckland, the Strata lounge at the international airport offers day passes starting from $66 NZD for a standard lounge access to $342 for a private room for 8 hours.
Wellington:
In Wellington, there are no lounges that offer day passes. Wellington airport only has Air New Zealand and Qantas lounges.
Christchurch:
In Christchurch, the Manaia lounge offers day passes starting from 26.20 USD for 2 hours and $39.30 for 3 hours.
Queenstown:
In Queenstown, the Manaia lounge offers day passes for $65 NZD for adults and $42 for children.
How to book Airport lounge day passes?
You can visit the airport lounge’s website directly to book a lounge but if you are planning to make several bookings it might be helpful to use the website Lounge Pass to do several bookings from a single website.
To learn about, see photos and read reviews of each airport lounge before you book, visit the website Lounge Buddy.
Frequent flyer Points
Frequent flyer programs reward loyal customers with various perks, including access to airport lounges. When you join an airline’s loyalty program, you earn points or miles every time you fly. These points can be redeemed for a variety of benefits, such as free flights, upgrades, and lounge access.
Frequent flyer Elite Status
Most airlines offer different tiers to their loyalty programs, with higher tiers providing more exclusive benefits such as free airport lounge access. To gain elite status, which gives you free airport lounge access, you typically need to accumulate a certain number of points or miles within a calendar year. This can be achieved through frequent flying or by using a co-branded credit card. Once you reach elite status, you can enjoy benefits like priority boarding, extra baggage allowance, and, of course, airport lounge access.
Airline Membership programs
Some airlines offer membership programs such as the Air New Zealand Koru membership program which offers a range of benefits such as priority checkin, priority boarding, extra luggage, and free airport lounge access across the entire star alliance network of lounges. At the time of this writing a Koru membership cost $834 plus a $225 joining fee. Yikes! There are slighly discounted fees for seniors.
Travel packages
One way to gain access to airport lounges is through bundled travel packages. These packages often include lounge access as part of the deal, providing a seamless travel experience. When booking your next holiday, look for packages that specifically mention lounge access. This can save you both time and money, ensuring you start your trip in comfort.
Hotel bookings
Many hotels and airlines have partnerships that offer lounge access to their customers. For instance, booking a stay at a partner hotel might grant you access to an airline’s lounge. Similarly, some airlines offer lounge access if you book a premium room with a partner hotel. Check the terms and conditions of your booking to see if you qualify for these perks.
Guest Access
Many airport lounge access programs allow you to bring a guest for free or for a small fee. If you would like to experience an airport lounge but don’t want to get a membership yet, you could ask a friend if you can tag along on your next trip. This is particularly helpful if you would like to visit an exclusive lounge that does not offer day passes for non-members.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the different types of airport lounges?
There are four main types of airport lounges: airline-specific lounges, independent lounges, alliance lounges and credit card lounges. Airline-specific lounges are operated by individual airlines, independent lounges are run by third-party companies, alliance lounges are shared by airlines within the same alliance, and credit card lounges are run by credit card providers.
How can I get access to airport lounges with a credit card?
Some premium credit cards offer airport lounge access as a perk. Make sure to check the terms and conditions of your credit card to understand the lounge access benefits. There are just a few credit cards that offer airport lounge access in NZ.
What is the benefit of having elite status in a frequent flyer program?
Achieving elite status in a frequent flyer program can grant you access to exclusive airport lounges. Elite status often comes with additional perks such as priority boarding, extra baggage allowance, and better seating options.
Are there pay-per-use lounges at airports?
Yes, many airports have pay-per-use lounges where you can pay a fee to access the lounge for a set period. These lounges are great if you don’t have a membership or elite status but still want to enjoy the lounge amenities. In New Zealand, there are pay-per-use lounges at Auckland, Christchurch and Queenstown international airports.
Can travel packages include airport lounge access?
Yes, some travel packages offer bundled deals that include airport lounge access. These packages can be offered by tour operators, travel agencies, or through hotel and airline partnerships.
What should I know about lounge etiquette?
When using an airport lounge, it’s important to follow basic etiquette. Keep noise levels down, be mindful of your belongings, and respect the lounge staff and other guests. Following these simple rules ensures a pleasant experience for everyone.
For more information and tips to help you choose the best credit card in NZ, visit our website Credit Cards Compare.
