To complete off my two journeys to the Southern Hemisphere, I flew Air New Zealand’s Boeing 787-9 enterprise class from Auckland to Los Angeles. Previous to that flight I had the possibility to go to the Air New Zealand Worldwide Lounge Auckland, so I’ll be reviewing that on this installment.
Air New Zealand’s lounge at its hub airport is kind of good — it has good views, a strong meals choice, and barista-made espresso. Whereas it’s my understanding that this lounge will get extremely crowded throughout peak hours, happily I used to be on one of many final flights of the night time, so the lounge stayed fairly empty.
Air New Zealand check-in Auckland Airport
I arrived at Auckland Airport at round 6:30PM, lots early for my 11:15PM flight from Los Angeles. The worldwide terminal departures space was good and quiet, and the Air New Zealand check-in desk was kind of abandoned.
I had already checked in on-line, so headed straight for safety and immigration. After all of the journey chaos of the previous a number of months, it was good to see a considerably emptier airport. I used to be via each automated immigration and safety inside 5 minutes, and that included a roughly three minute delay at safety, as I used to be questioned about why I had so many bank cards. Lol…
Air New Zealand Lounge Auckland location
As soon as via immigration and safety, I first needed to stroll via the everyday responsibility free maze, as you discover at so many airports. I adopted the signage within the path of lounges, after which quickly sufficient the doorway to the Air New Zealand Lounge was to the left.
The lounge is one stage above the primary concourse, although the trail resulting in the lounge doesn’t really feel notably grand.
You possibly can select to take both an escalator or elevator up a stage.
As soon as there, I used to be admitted after having my boarding cross scanned, and was reminded that there can be a boarding announcement within the lounge.
Under you may see a map displaying the situation of the Air New Zealand Lounge.
Air New Zealand Lounge Auckland hours
The Air New Zealand Lounge Auckland opens day by day at 4:30AM, and stays open till the final departure. On some days Air New Zealand’s final departure is round midnight, whereas different days it’s a lot sooner than that. Regardless, the lounge needs to be open properly forward of any Star Alliance departure from the airport.
Air New Zealand Lounge Auckland entry necessities
The Air New Zealand Auckland follows customary Star Alliance entry insurance policies for a enterprise class lounge. It may be accessed by:
- Departing Star Alliance enterprise class passengers, together with these touring in Air New Zealand enterprise class; enterprise class passengers can’t deliver any complimentary friends
- Departing Star Alliance Gold members touring on a Star Alliance flight; Star Alliance Gold members can deliver one complimentary visitor
Air New Zealand Lounge Auckland seating & structure
The Air New Zealand Lounge Auckland is 2,100 sq. meters (~22,600 sq. ft), and has seating for 437 friends. Under is the emergency escape map within the lounge, which provides you a way of the structure.
Air New Zealand is remarkably constant in the case of lounge design, and the house seemed just like the lounges I’ve visited in Melbourne and Sydney. Upon coming into the lounge there was a primary room with loads of seats organized in rows, going through each other. The lounge has floor-to-ceiling home windows, so should you’re right here throughout the day, there’s plenty of pure mild.
Additionally close to the doorway is the eating space, which has a bunch of cafe-style tables, in addition to one lengthy communal desk.
Deeper into the lounge is extra seating, which is a little more unique than the everyday lounge decor that you simply’ll discover. Not solely does the Air New Zealand Lounge Auckland have some pizzaz when it comes to coloration palette, however the lounge additionally has plenty of cozy nooks and daybeds the place you may calm down.
Whereas the lounge consists primarily of 1 large room, I respect the semi-transparent partitions that make the lounge areas really feel a bit extra personal and divided.
Towards the again of the lounge is a second self-serve bar with drinks, and extra seating.
The lounge additionally has what’s described as a terrace space, although in actuality it’s totally indoors and enclosed. I think about this was constructed as an extension in some unspecified time in the future and was once an out of doors house, however that’s not the case anymore. The terrace has much more seating, and nice views.
Again close to the doorway to the lounge and within the different path is a media room, with rows of seats going through a big wall-mounted TV, enjoying the information.
There’s additionally a separate play room for teenagers, to reduce noise in different components of the lounge.
Air New Zealand Lounge Auckland meals & drinks
The Air New Zealand Lounge Auckland has a big, single buffet that friends may also help themselves to. I used to be impressed by the choice.
Chilly choices included a number of sweets (mango and chia pudding, cacao and coconut bars, and blueberry tarts), a number of kinds of salad (quinoa salad, potato and inexperienced pea salad, and extra), a number of cheese and crackers, entire fruit, and quite a lot of finger sandwiches.
Scorching choices included a pumpkin and tahini soup, sautéed greens with garlic and onion, quinoa and bean mole, braised pork and cannellini beans, and apricot and almond rice.
There was additionally a number of self-serve drinks, together with a espresso machine, tea, wine, beer, soda, water, and juice.
The lounge additionally has a bar space, that includes cocktails.
The bar has a number of kinds of snacks, together with pretzels, snack combine, cookies, marshmallows, and extra.
After which there’s one of the best characteristic of the bar (and the lounge, for that matter, should you ask me) — barista-made espresso! I really like how Air New Zealand’s lounges have tablets on which you’ll be able to order espresso per your preferences.
You possibly can select if you’d like the espresso in a mug or in a to-go cup.
You possibly can choose what sort of drink you need (flat white, cappuccino, latte, and so on.), your most popular form of milk, and what number of pictures of espresso you need.
The drink will then be prepared inside a couple of minutes.
I loved a flat white in a mug, and in addition loved a cappuccino in a to-go cup.
Superior!
Air New Zealand Lounge Auckland bogs & showers
The Air New Zealand Lounge Auckland has each bathe suites close to the doorway, after which bogs nearer to the middle of the lounge. There are a number of bathe suites down a hallway, every of which includes a walk-in bathe, a rest room, and a sink.
The bogs within the lounge have been properly maintained, although in any other case nothing particular.
Air New Zealand Lounge Auckland crowding
I believe there’s one necessary factor to acknowledge, which could give me a extra favorable impression of this lounge than others. I’ve heard that crowding within the Air New Zealand Lounge Auckland will be terrible throughout peak hours, particularly in excessive season.
This isn’t a problem I handled, because of the time my flight was departing. After I first arrived within the lounge it was fairly full, however then the 8PM financial institution of flights left. The one remaining flights that night have been Air New Zealand flights to Los Angeles and Singapore. So whereas the lounge could normally have individuals from a dozen totally different flights visiting at one time, throughout my go to the lounge was nowhere near capability.
Auckland Airport worldwide terminal
Since I had fairly a little bit of time on the airport, I loved strolling across the worldwide terminal, which was abandoned (once more, as a result of I used to be on one of many two final flights of the night time).
It’s fairly a pleasant terminal. The one factor I’d word is that should you’re departing from gates 15-18 (as I used to be), it’s fairly a haul from the primary a part of the terminal. The under offers you a little bit of a way of simply how far it’s (although doesn’t totally do justice to it).
Backside line
The Air New Zealand Worldwide Lounge Auckland is kind of good. The lounge has floor-to-ceiling home windows, views of the apron, an appetizing number of meals, loads of drinks (together with barista-made espresso), and quite a lot of seating choices. The lounge was particularly nice throughout my go to, on condition that it was fairly empty, however I’ve heard that’s typically not the case.
If you happen to’ve visited the Air New Zealand Lounge Auckland, what was your expertise like?
