Summary
- Air New Zealand operates lounges both domestically, in addition to six in foreign ports.
- International lounges feature modern designs, food, drinks, WiFi, and business facilities.
- Domestic and regional lounges offer similar amenities, with some featuring runway views and uninterrupted countryside vistas.
The experience of your next trip starts as soon as you walk in the doors at the airport, and for many, as soon as you’ve checked your luggage in, it’s time to head for the airline lounge. Air New Zealand operates a network of lounges both regionally, domestically, and internationally, and the ‘Koru Club,’ which is available for an annual fee, grants access to the airline’s network of lounges both in New Zealand and abroad, regardless of your class of travel.
To be eligible to enter the lounge, you must hold a koru membership, an entry voucher, an Air New Zealand Airports Gold, Elite or Star Alliance Gold, and Elite frequent flier status, or you must be traveling on a business class ticket.
Starting at its base, Auckland International Airport, unsurprisingly, is home to the airline’s flagship Air New Zealand Lounge, located in the international terminal. The lounge features ultra-modern designs with several different tailored seating zones to meet the needs of various types of travelers. You can kick back and relax with a beer, get refreshed in the showers, or type away on your computer at a table before takeoff.
The lounge overlooks the runway and even features a covered outdoor terrace with a fireplace for a year-round ambiance. Opening at 04:30 every morning, the lounge remains open until the last Air NZ flight or one of its partner airlines (Singapore Airlines is a critical partner in AKL).
International lounges
Nine to pick from
For the international traveler, the Kiwi carrier maintains lounges past passport control in nine destinations, including Auckland, which all feature the airline’s sleek, ultra-modern design. While they vary slightly in size, they continue to provide the classic Kiwi service many are accustomed to. Specifications below:
Airport |
Size (Sq m) |
Capacity |
---|---|---|
Auckland (AKL) |
2,100 |
437 |
Christchurch (CHC) |
597 |
125 |
Wellington (WLG) |
394 |
118 |
Brisbane (BNE) |
800 |
185 |
Melbourne (MEL) |
1,241 |
249 |
Perth (PER) |
441 |
113 |
Sydney (SYD) |
1,450 |
299 |
Nadi (NAN) |
Not specified |
Not specified |
Rarotonga (RAR) |
Not specified |
Not specified |
All international lounges offer various food and drink (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic) options. Lounges and tables are provided for seating. High-speed WiFi and business facilities with printing and desks are available for corporate travelers. Most lounges are open at least two hours and 30 minutes before departure, subject to the respective airport’s terminal and security opening times, and remain open until the final Air New Zealand or partner airline flight.
Related
Review: Air New Zealand Domestic Lounge At Christchurch Airport
Christchurch Airport has three Air New Zealand lounges to choose from.
Domestic lounges
Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch
At the airline’s home, it splits its domestic and regional lounges into two different categories, predominantly because passengers traveling within the country’s borders only must pass through airport security if traveling on a jet service. Thus, the ‘Domestic lounges’ are located only in centers that see many jet aircraft; these are located in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch.
These lounges are similar to international lounges in many ways, including showers, toilets, various meal options, barista-made coffee, craft beer, and famous New Zealand white and red wines. A robust selection of magazines and newspapers are on hand, and free to take to enjoy while you take flight around the country.
While all the lounges have views of the runway in one way or another, the crown must be given to Christchurch’s domestic lounge, which has floor-to-ceiling windows with uninterrupted views both to the West and South, capturing the Southern Range, which, in winter, can be snow-capped, making for an exceptional view out the window. At the same time, you sit back and enjoy a glass of sparkling wine (speaking from experience!).
Specifications for the domestic lounges:
Airport |
Size (Sq m) |
Capacity |
---|---|---|
Auckland (AKL) |
1,357 |
375 |
Christchurch (CHC) |
800 |
244 |
Wellington (WLG) |
1,466 |
374 |
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To the regions
From North to South
With 12 regional lounges scattered across the country, they are available as far north as Auckland, and south as Invercargill, and many destinations in between. All of these lounges (apart from Queenstown) do not require you to pass through airport security, as screening is not currently needed (unless in extreme circumstances) if you are traveling on a turbo-prop service.
These lounges all offer buffet food and self-service drinks. They are much smaller than expected, open one hour before the day’s first flight, and remain open until the last Air New Zealand flight departs.
Regional lounges are located and specified below:
Airport |
Size (Sq m) |
Capacity |
---|---|---|
Auckland (AKL) |
1,060 |
265 |
Hamilton (HLZ) |
238 |
92 |
Tauranga (TRG) |
385 |
89 |
New Plymouth (NPL) |
296 |
102 |
Napier (NPE) |
470 |
128 |
Palmerston North (PMR) |
338 |
102 |
Wellington (WLG) |
531 |
162 |
Nelson (NSN) |
427 |
129 |
Queenstown (ZQN) *Security screening required |
748 |
218 |
Dunedin (DUD) |
382 |
122 |
Invercargill (IVC) |
110 |
51 |
Christchurch Regional Express (CHC) |
– |
35 |
Have you visited the Air New Zealand lounge before? What was your first impression? Let us know in the comments.
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