Air New Zealand’s Flagship Lounge, the International Lounge at Auckland International Airport (AKL), opened in 2015. This review is from May 2018. For all posts on Air New Zealand, click here.
Air New Zealand International Lounge – AKL
After an all too short trip to Auckland, I was headed back to LAX, but not before I got some quality #loungelife time! Available to Business Premier and Star Alliance Gold passengers, there is seating for 375 guests over a space of 2100m squared.
Though it’s their flagship lounge, I was a bit surprised as how the design and amenities ranked, compared to their alliance partners. Air New Zealand is, after all one of the world’s top five airlines. Shower facilities are available, in addition to a mix of traditional lounge furniture.
Though there is an outdoor patio with fire pit, I didn’t make it out as it was a bit too breezy.
Food & Beverage
There’s a barista staffed coffee station, self serve bar, buffet and an action station. Selections were incredibly fresh and there was something for any and all dietary preferences and requirements. All the food was good – nothing stood out but the Spiced Carrot and Coconut Soup was perfect on a crisp chilly day.
Final Take
The lounge is almost all glass and there are some great views for planespotting AV geeks.
Overall, the lounge was never too crowded while I awaited an early evening departure. Outlets were available, but not at every seat. The customer service was great, as expected. The staff was quite friendly and so efficient that there were barely any dirty plates or glasses to be found.