This was published 1 year ago
Fire escape plan reveals Air New Zealand's top-secret lounge with incredible perks
By Brook Sabin
Air New Zealand's exclusive EP1 lounge has remained a closely guarded secret, until now.
The location and incredible perks of Air New Zealand's top secret Koru Club - reserved for its wealthiest and most famous flyers - has been unveiled by Stuff Travel.
Membership to Elite Priority One (known as EP1) is highly secretive with Air New Zealand keeping it completely under wraps.
The airline has no publicly available information on its website about the programme.
A fire escape plan at the Auckland International Koru Lounge reveals the Elite Priority One lounge, indicated by the red rectangle.Credit: Brook Sabin/Stuff
The exact location of the clubs has long been rumoured but never publicly revealed - until a missed morning shower led to the clue I'd long been waiting for.
After running late for an international trip, I decided to skip my morning shower and instead have one in the Koru Lounge at Auckland Airport.
On the hunt for hygiene, I wandered down a little-used corridor I'd never explored. It had a kids area and shower block.
Air New Zealand's new business premiere luxe suite has a sliding door for privacy – perfect for the EP1 crowd.
There, attached innocently to the wall, was a fire escape plan. And it's here I discovered a secret wing of the Koru Club right under my nose.
The map revealed that just a few metres further down the corridor I'd find an entrance. Sure enough, I found a semi-frosted door with the words "by invitation only".
The floor plan revealed an expansive space including a boardroom, offices, and a stairwell leading to a mystery location.
Members receive a personalised gift.Credit: DONNAROBERTSCREATIVE.COM
A peek through the frosted glass showed large floor-to-ceiling glass windows overlooking the main departures area, with plush decor. Gone is the usual Koru Club buffet; meals are à la carte, with a premium selection of drinks.
Access to the EP1 programme is understood to be by invitation from Air New Zealand's CEO Greg Foran.
Membership is thought to number about 100, including chief executives of top New Zealand companies and a university vice-chancellor.
Stuff has previously reported that "details of where the lounges are located and the VIP treatment they offer are a closely guarded secret".
That is, until now.
A design company that put together a welcome kit for EP1 members has posted mock-ups of what each member receives on its website, revealing lots about the scheme.
On being invited to join the programme, members get a personalised gift that is designed to look like a luxury travel bag.
It includes an 'Aroha' bottle of wine from Craggy Range, "a personalised boxed titanium pen, personalised artistic representation of their previous year's flying data, and a cardboard welcome pack including; a welcome letter, membership card, personalised luggage tags, Deadly Ponies luggage tags holders, and a book of benefits".
The exact perks of this exclusive programme have also long been a closely-guarded secret.
However, in showing off its designs, the company posted a "book of benefits" - and if you zoom in, you can read them all.
Here is the full list of the benefits:
Board as you wish: Nobody likes queueing, and if you're an EP1 member, you don't need to. The welcome kit explains, "let us know whether you like to board the aircraft early or towards the end of boarding, and we will arrange this for you".
Gifting status: You will become the most popular member of your family if you're EP1 because you're allowed to gift an Airports Elite membership to anyone. On top of that, you can also give an Airpoints Gold membership to a family member or friend.
Seat selection: Most of us pay $10 to select a good seat. If you're EP1, you and five friends get any seat you want – guaranteed.
Inflight meals: Have you ever sat in the last row of the plane, and when the meals finally reach you, the nice-sounding one has run out? If you're an EP1, this will never happen - as you're guaranteed your first meal choice regardless of which cabin you're seated in. Chicken or beef? You can probably have both.
Flexibility: Change of plans? No problem if you're one of Air New Zealand's most prized customers. You and five friends can change a flight without any cancellation or penalty fees, and you can change any domestic and short-haul flight on the day of travel free of charge – even if your ticket isn't flexible.
Valet parking: How about checking in for your flight when you park your car? As an EP1 member, you get "unlimited" access to Air New Zealand Valet parking at Auckland and Christchurch airports. When using the Auckland domestic valet parking, you can check-in for your flight when parking and head straight to the lounge of the boarding gate.
A seat guarantee: Flight full? It doesn't matter if you're EP1. The benefits book explains, "For when you just have to be on a flight, you and one travelling companion are guaranteed an economy seat on any Air New Zealand operated service."
Recognition Upgrades: These are essentially free upgrades gifted to Silver, Gold and Gold Elite members. However, it's always a gamble if you'll get the upgrade. Not a problem if you're EP1, "your upgrade will be confirmed into an unsold seat at the time of the request." If you have a person travelling with you, they also get the same benefit.
Lounges: You get access to the exclusive EP1 lounge at Auckland International Airport and Sydney International Airport. You can invite five other people, and "enjoy a selection of à la carte dining and a selection of premium beverages." Travelling domestic? No worries, your exclusive experience continues with a "private Elite Priority One space" at Auckland and Wellington Airports.
Meeting and greet: One of the most exclusive benefits is a VIP meet and greet service. When you arrive on an international flight (excluding Australia), "you'll find one of our friendly staff waiting for you when you disembark." They are tasked with doing "everything possible" to make your arrival "swift and seamless."
Most benefits can also be given to up to five other travelling companions. When travelling domestically, you and five friends also get to access the Koru Lounge on arrival, where you can "enjoy à la carte dining and a selection of premium beverages".
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