LoungePair expands airport lounge access with new partnerships
New Zealand-based travel technology company LoungePair has signed agreements with Freely, Australian Frequent Flyer, and Dragonpass, extending its platform's reach to over 1,400 airport lounges across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.
The expansion aims to broaden access to premium airport lounges, making them available to travellers without the need for memberships or airline loyalty status.
Expanded access
LoungePair's technology enables travellers to purchase on-demand or walk-up access to airport lounges. The recent partnerships are designed to scale its business beyond direct-to-consumer channels, providing lounge passes via business-to-business arrangements and large-member loyalty programmes.
Through the new distribution channels, more travellers, especially those without premium airline status, can gain entry to airport lounges prior to their flights. CEO Daniel Kinnoch said these moves address longstanding barriers that typically limit lounge entry to frequent flyers or premium cardholders.
"For many travellers, access to a quiet, comfortable lounge still depends on luck or loyalty. We wanted to change that. Our mission is to remove the barriers to premium travel experiences and give every traveller, whether flying for business or leisure, the ability to start their journey or wait for a connection in comfort," said Daniel Kinnoch, CEO, LoungePair.
Freely integration
A partnership with Australian travel insurer Freely will see over 200,000 travellers offered lounge benefits as part of Freely's Travel Rewards programme.
Benefits are distributed based on membership tiers. Some Freely members are eligible for one or two complimentary lounge passes, while others receive credits for lounge access. The arrangement positions LoungePair within the travel insurance space as an additional service for members purchasing cover for their upcoming trips.
Kinnoch said the integration reflects a focus on removing barriers for customers.
"Freely customers usually start their journey looking for travel insurance, by working with LoungePair they can now add improved airport experiences too. No memberships, no complications, just straightforward lounge access when they need it. This partnership reflects our mission to work with companies that share our customer-first approach," said Kinnoch.
Australian Frequent Flyer offering
LoungePair's agreement with Australian Frequent Flyer (AFF), a major travellers' community, extends the company's lounge product to frequent flyers in Australia and New Zealand. The arrangement provides complimentary LoungePair+ membership and a free lounge pass to AFF Platinum members. In addition, members can access exclusive rewards including a lounge satisfaction guarantee, credit for unused passes, and priority support. AFF Gold members receive discounted rates and extra lounge credits. All members benefit from preferred pricing within the LoungePair network.
Dragonpass expansion
The new supplier agreement with Dragonpass, a global lounge network, significantly increases LoungePair's inventory, particularly in Asia and mainland China. This will allow LoungePair users to access Dragonpass's airport lounges regardless of airline or ticket class, addressing demand in key regions for international travel.
Growth strategy
Kinnoch said the latest agreements are part of a broader B2B strategy designed to diversify LoungePair's customer base and supply lounge access solutions to commercial partners as well as individual travellers.
"Our partnerships with Freely, Dragonpass and AFF are a realisation of our company's B2B strategy. Securing Freely and AFF demonstrates our ability to provide travel perks to businesses that need to reward their customers. Our technology platform started as B2C, but LoungePair's capability to provide inventory to businesses that need access to premium experiences has solidified and is growing rapidly," said Kinnoch.
