Auckland Airport have recently launched their very own ‘frequent visitor’ programme, called Strata Club.

You’ll receive 1 Strata Point for every New Zealand dollar you spend with Strata Club Partners, including on shopping, and booking Auckland Airport parking and Emperor Lounge visits online.

Your ‘membership card’ is the Auckland Airport app. You simply show your Strata Club ID when you make a purchase, or sign into your Strata Club Profile when making a booking online.

The first 20,000 people to join Strata Club will receive 500 bonus Strata Points. You can join here. These points can be converted to a $5 eVoucher, which can be used while booking Auckland Airport services online or with Strata Club Partners.

We’ve explored the features of the Strata Club below, and how you can best take advantage of the programme. Auckland Airport have also helpfully compiled a list of answers to frequently asked questions, and you can view the full list here.

Auckland Airport App

You can start making the most of Strata Club right away from the Auckland Airport app. Apart from being able to join Strata Club from the app, and use your benefits, collect Strata Points and convert your Strata Points to eVouchers, key features include:

• Building a schedule of your journey through the airport, including storing all future flights along with parking and shuttle bookings.
• Booking parking, Valet parking and grooming, or Super Shuttle before you travel. These bookings are then automatically added to your schedule.
• Alerts as to when to leave home to make your flight, taking into account current traffic conditions. You’ll also receive alerts for when you need to head to check in, the time to head to security, the time to head to gate and more.
• Import and export information to and from TripIt®.
• Live status of every flight to and from Auckland, including flight timeline.
• Reminders to collect pre-purchased duty-free goods before you fly.
• Food and shopping information.
• Provides you with exchange rates, time, calling codes, and 7-day weather forecasts for any destination from Auckland Airport.
• Share your flight details with friends and family via text, email etc.

Membership Card

With Strata Club, there is no physical card – everything is based on the Auckland Airport app.

Simply show your Strata Club ID when you make a purchase or sign into your Strata Club Profile when making a booking online.

You’ll find your Strata Club ID by selecting the QR code icon on the Auckland Airport app home screen or in the main menu once you’ve signed in. It is also available online when you login to your Profile.

Strata Points

Strata Points can be redeemed as eVouchers when booking Auckland Airport parking online.

As a Strata Club member, you will collect 1 Strata Point for every New Zealand dollar you spend with Strata Club Partners. Your Strata Points are valid for three years, which is great for those who aren’t travelling regularly.

Once you have 500 Strata Points (which you can receive instantly if you’re one of the first 20,000 members), you can redeem these for a $5 eVoucher. This means that for every dollar you spend, you’re effectively earning back 1% of your spend.

Strata Points will appear in your Profile within 24 hours of the purchase. The value you may collect Strata Points on is based on the transaction value less any discounts, eVouchers, or Benefits that may have been applied. Any tobacco products, prepay and lotto purchases are ineligible to collect Strata Points or count towards your Tier Spend.

From time to time there will also be exclusive Strata Club offers that allow you to collect bonus Strata Points.

Collecting and Using Strata Points on the Auckland Airport app

Strata Points can be collected at the domestic and international terminals when shopping with Strata Club Partners, by following these steps:

1. Go to your Profile when making the purchase
2. Select your Strata Club ID
3. Scan the ID at the checkout

When you have at least 500 Strata Points, and you want to convert these into an eVoucher:

1. Go to eVouchers in your Profile
2. Select the value of the eVoucher you wish to convert
3. Convert into an eVoucher
4. Scan your eVoucher code to save when shopping at Strata Club Partners (either give to the sales assistant, or use their Strata Club tablet if they have one)

Collecting and Using Strata Points on the Auckland Airport website

Strata Points can be collected online when booking airport parking and Emperor Lounge.

1. Log into your Profile online
2. Select the car park or Emperor Lounge entry date
3. Complete the purchase and the value of the booking will be added to your Profile.

Strata Points can also be converted into eVouchers at the payment page of the airport parking and Emperor Lounge booking process.

1. Log into your Profile online
2. Select the car park or Emperor Lounge entry date
3. At the payment screen, select the eVoucher amount you would like to use
4. Complete the purchase at the discounted rate

You can use multiple eVouchers at once to save more on a booking e.g. $5 eVoucher + a $10 eVoucher can be used to save $15.

Tier and Benefits

Silver, Gold and Platinum Tier members can receive discounted or limited free access to the Emperor Lounge

As soon as you join, you’ll instantly receive extended complimentary Wi-Fi at the airport, up to 90 minutes, or 1.5GB. You can enjoy this every time you visit (on different days). You will also find exclusive Strata Club offers and special deals when you shop in the Domestic and International terminals.

Dependent on how much you spend at the airport in a year, you will move up to the next Tier. See the table below for the spend thresholds for each Tier level.

The specific benefits and offers received at the different levels are listed below:

Silver

• 3 hours/up to 2.0GB of Wi-Fi, faster than standard
• $10 off an Emperor Lounge entry
• International parking upgrade from car park E to A for a booking of between 3 & 10 days
• Domestic parking upgrade from car park K to M for a booking of up to 5 days
• Free drink with daily special food purchase

Gold

All Silver benefits, plus:

• 4 hours/up to 2.5GB of Wi-Fi, up to four times faster than standard
• Extra voucher for $20 off an Emperor Lounge pass
• Upgrade to Valet Parking from car parks R, D and A
• $20 off Wash & Wax when you book Valet Parking
• $10 off a $50 food & beverage purchase

Platinum

All Silver and Gold benefits, plus:

• Unlimited time /up to 3.0GB, Premium speed up to five times faster than standard
• Discounted weekend Valet Parking of $59 for 3 days (or $69 for 4 days) – 2 for domestic Valet Parking and 2 for international Valet Parking
• Complimentary TripIt Pro for 1 year
• Two for One Emperor Lounge Entry (standard stay)
• One Emperor Lounge Entry (standard stay)
• Complimentary bottle of wine, or up to 5 drinks, with $200 food purchase

Enjoying your Benefits

Your Emperor Lounge benefits are easy to redeem when booking your visit in advance online

Tier Benefits can be used when booking airport services online as well as using the Auckland Airport app when you shop at Strata Club Partners. Below is more information for how you can make the most of your Tier Benefits. Note that only one benefit can be used with each purchase and cannot be used in conjunction with Strata Points redemption or other offers.

Benefits can be used in person at Strata Club Partners by logging into your Profile on the Auckland Airport app:

1. Go to Benefits in your Profile
2. Select the Benefit you wish to use
3. Scan the Benefit with the Strata Club Partner when making the purchase

This is also how you can connect to the Wi-Fi for extended complimentary use (e.g. go to “Connect to Wi-Fi” on the Benefits page). Alternatively, you can connect to the Wi-Fi by choosing the Auckland Airport network and signing in with your Strata Club Membership email address and password.

Parking upgrades and Emperor Lounge discounts can be accessed on the Auckland Airport website, once they have been awarded to you based on your Tier level:

1. Log into your Profile online
2. Select the car park or Emperor Lounge entry date
3. Select the special parking or Emperor Lounge Benefit and continue to purchase; or select the discount Benefit at the payment screen you wish to use

Note that for parking, Tier Benefits are only available for bookings made in advance, online, they do not apply to drive ups. You’ll need to book your airport parking online at least 24 hours before your visit.

If you have reached Platinum Tier, you can request your free TripIt Pro licence here.

Strata Club Partners

There are many locations at Auckland Airport where your Membership is recognised, you can find the full list here. While most stores allow you to collect Strata Points and Tier Spend, there are a few that do not currently allow you to redeem eVouchers – we’ll update the list below when and if this situation changes:

* You will be recognised and can collect Strata Points and Tier Spend with these stores. However, you are currently unable to redeem eVouchers.

Our Take

If you’re based in, or travel through Auckland regularly, there is no harm in joining the Strata Club and collecting points for spend, particularly on advance car park bookings. Joining up now will also give you the chance to save $5 on your next booking.

If you plan to make a major purchase, such as on a new mobile phone, tablet, or notebook, it may be worthwhile exploring whether that purchase is best made at the airport. You could catapult to the Gold or Diamond Tier of the Strata Club with one purchase.

It would obviously be worth shopping around to see if airport pricing is competitive, but if the benefits received under the different Tiers would likely save you money, you can factor this into your purchase decision.

While most frequent travellers will already have Koru or Qantas Lounge access, and will not find much use for the Emperor Lounge, the faster Wi-Fi, or discounts at any of the food and beverage retailers, they may often book car parking or make duty-free purchases, in which case the program is still a good way of earning something back.

While a 1% rebate on spend is very little, it’s a 1% rebate for doing nothing other than showing or entering your membership number – seems an easy choice to make!

Feature image courtesy of Strata Club