I spent most of my time in the SKL. I decided on a whim to pop by Air NZ to get a look at the facility to share a review. It is more of an in-and-out kinda thing. Thankfully, the boarding for an A380 takes quite some time. The queues were ridiculous. This is the only aircraft where you will see a snaking line for business class. Air NZ is the other option available here for Star Alliance passengers. I have a very good experience back in their flagship lounge in Auckland. Let’s see how the Sydney lounge is.

Access Requirements

The Air New Zealand Sydney Lounge is open 2.30 hours before an Air NZ flight. This is subject to changes, depending on the flight schedules. Currently, all Star Alliance premium cabin customers, KrisFlyer Elite Gold, PPS Club and Star Alliance Status holders are allowed access to the lounge. Typical access rules for guests follow. You are also only allowed to guest in guests on the same flight as yours.

Arrival & Location

The lounge is located near gate 59, one level above the main terminal. It is quite a walk from security and immigration. The lounge is located right next to the SilverKris Lounge where I was earlier. I was warmly welcomed at the entrance by the staff and entered after scanning my boarding pass. The lounge measures 1450 Sqm and has a capacity for 299 guests.

Air New Zealand Lounge Sydney 

Straight ahead after entering, you will immediately see the gorgeous bar. This is the centrepiece of the lounge. I am always a fan of the Air NZ design. Those white and purple match too well. It is so striking and pop. The lounge is super spacious and at least 2 to 3 times bigger than the SKL It is far quieter too although this might be due to the timing of my visit. You can find some pictures of the place here.

Wifi is readily available and the bar is also manned for barista-made drinks and cocktails. I will share more about this later on. There are some couches and high-top seating. Nearer to the refreshment area, you can also find some dining tables.

I love that the place comes with plenty of natural light and it also has an expansive view of the tarmac.

Toilets and Showers

The lounge comes with toilets and showers. The showers are located in individual suites and are very spacious. It is stocked with Antipodes toiletries in large pump-size bottles. There is also a toilet inside the suite. The shower comes with both a handheld shower head and a rainforest shower head. The facility will come in handy before your flight.

Food and Drinks

As mentioned earlier alcoholic drinks and non-alcoholic drinks can be found at the bar which is manned by the bartender. There are various wines and spirits here. You can also get simple cocktails and mixers. There are also various bottled beers and ciders. In addition to this, you can get barista-made coffee drinks too. Some of the drinks are found in fridges located around the lounge. This prevents overcrowding. There is no champagne on offer.

Here are some pictures of the buffet refreshment. There is only one hot dish at the moment. Other than that, there is also a soup and some sandwiches. Keeping in line with the tradition there should be a live cooking station too but it is currently not available. I believe that they will bring out the full selection when it is approaching Air NZ departures.

Conclusion

I am sure that this is not a true reflection of the quality of this lounge. The refreshment should be polished up when it is approaching the departure time of an Air NZ flight. There will probably be a better selection and a live station. Perhaps this is the reason why the lounge stays so empty and everyone stays in the SKL instead. That is such a waste as I very much prefer the ambience and look of this lounge instead. The Air New Zealand lounge also comes with a gorgeous bar. If the timing is right, my conclusion is to come here if you are in business class. Stick to the SKL if you are in first class. Looking forward to coming here for a proper stay.