Ansett New Zealand Golden Wing lounges

 

Golden Wing Lounge

Golden Wing Lounge facilities

Golden Wing member benefits

Golden Wing member benefits

Golden Wing membership options

Golden Wing membership form

New Zealand business and frequent flying travellers are typically familiar with Air New Zealand's Koru Club and the network of what are now branded Air New Zealand lounges.  However, if it were not for Ansett New Zealand, it is unclear when Air New Zealand would have introduced the Koru Club or domestic lounges, as it was Ansett New Zealand that pioneered domestic airport lounges.  They had, after all, been commonplace in Australian domestic airport terminals for some years, as Ansett Australia and TAA (later Australian Airlines and subsequently merged with QANTAS), but Air New Zealand treated its most lucrative customers like everyone else. Everyone had to sit in the terminal to await their flights, and if you wanted to eat or drink, you'd have to buy food at one of the handful of concessions (which at Wellington's old domestic terminal was fairly dire). 

Ansett made it very clear from the start that it wasn't starting services in the New Zealand domestic market to be a discount low-cost carrier (which was a phenomenon only seen in the US in 1987), although its entry into the market did lower fares because of the additional capacity offered. It was interested in targeting the lucrative business travel market and saw an opportunity because of the relatively austere standards of service offered by Air New Zealand.  One of the key differentiators was Golden Wing.

Ansett opened Golden Wing lounges in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, and did it fact build it own terminals in Auckland and Wellington to provide the space for the lounges.  Access to the lounges was either by membership or for those holding a first class ticket. 

Besides offering a quiet and comfortable place to sit and relax, in an age when mobile phones had been launched barely a year (and were eye-wateringly expensive with short battery life), there were multiple landline phones dotted about with free local calls (calls beyond local areas had to be "arranged").  There was a separate check-in desk, so passengers without checked-in luggage could check-in (no self-check in in the age of paper tickets). 

Free newspapers (now also of the past) and a "TV news area", during an age when New Zealand literally had two TV channels (but by 1991 Sky would bring CNN).  Not just tea and coffee but complimentary drinks, as in alcoholic drinks, were available after 4pm.  Getting a liquor licence was, at the time, a very big deal for Golden Wing lounges. Showers and a cheque cashing service as well.  The standard of refreshments is NOT described, but the image of the croissant suggests it was very much light and cold, not the hot meals served buffet style today in Air NZ lounges. Ansett NZ did have on-board meals at meal times of course.

Notably different was having boarding calls that were for the "last possible moment", in an age when travellers wanted the least amount of time on the plane, whereas today early boarding is expected of premium travellers.

Also included was valet parking (more on that another day), priority luggage for Golden Wing members and for members, six guest passes available for members to travel with family, friends or colleagues.  Golden Wing members could also indicate seating preferences (nobody was looking up seat maps in those days, after all, what was there to look up on besides the timetable?). 

Finally there was some reciprocity as a Golden Wing with partner airlines overseas, Ansett Australia of course, but also British Airways, American Airlines and Cathay Pacific (all subsequently OneWorld Alliance members who would be allied with Qantas!). 

Membership at the time was $200 for a year ($150 subsequent years) which is about $484 in 2023 ($363 in subsequent years), with $90 to add a spouse (wife OR husband!) ($218 in 2023 dollars).  Pity those who bought life membership for $1500 ($3629 in 2023) for an airline that in 2000 was sold and subsequently rebranded Qantas New Zealand until it folded completely in 2001. 

Compared with Koru Club in 2023, Golden Wing was a bargain! Although arguably with poorer catering, it might be argued that Koru Club provides a lot of value in free food, but it's a personal decision as to whether it matters by that much.  Koru Club membership today is $694 per annum (compared to equivalent of $363) with a joining fee of $255 (waived if membership is renewed after one year).  A later post will include information about Koru Club in 1988.  One might only speculate at whether Koru Club would be cheaper in 2023 if Ansett New Zealand remained.

In 2023, the main trunk competition for Air New Zealand is Jetstar, offering a no-frills service with no airport lounges (and although New Zealanders can join the Qantas Club, there are few benefits for domestic passengers in New Zealand).