- Introduction: A Detour Across The Pacific
- Review: Qantas Business Class 787 San Francisco To Melbourne
- Review: Sheraton Melbourne
- Review: American Express Lounge Melbourne Airport
- Review: Air New Zealand Lounge Melbourne Airport
- Review: Singapore Airlines Business Class Lounge Melbourne Airport
- Review: Singapore Airlines First Class Lounge Melbourne Airport
- Review: Singapore Airlines First Class 777 Melbourne To Singapore
- Review: Singapore Airlines Private Room
- Review: Singapore Airlines Business Class A350 Singapore To Kuala Lumpur
- Review: Sama-Sama Express Hotel Kuala Lumpur Airport
- Review: Malaysia Airlines Golden Lounge Kuala Lumpur Airport
- Review: Malaysia Airlines Business Suite Lounge Kuala Lumpur Airport
- Review: Malaysia Airlines Business Suite A350 Kuala Lumpur To Tokyo
- Japan Airlines First Class Lounge Tokyo Narita Airport Review
- Review: Japan Airlines First Class 777 Tokyo To Chicago
After checking out the American Express Lounge Melbourne Airport, I decided to check out the Air New Zealand Lounge. This lounge is located on the ground floor, so it’s one level below the American Express and Singapore Airlines lounges.
The lounge opens three hours before the earliest Air New Zealand departure. The number of flights Air New Zealand operates to Melbourne varies based on the day and season. Typically they operate 5-10 flights per day, primarily to Auckland, though they also operate some flights to Christchurch, Queenstown, and Wellington.
However, typically only a couple of the daily flights are on widebody aircraft with business class, while the rest are operated by narrowbody planes without business class.
Keep in mind the Air New Zealand lounge can also be accessed by all Star Alliance business class as well as Star Alliance Gold passengers, so you can use this lounge when flying Singapore Airlines (which is how I was using it) and other airlines.
Just over a year ago I reviewed the Air New Zealand Lounge Sydney, and for a moment I was having deja vu, because the lounges almost seem identical in terms of design. The airline renovated both of these lounges recently, which would explain that.
The lounge has a really sleek exterior, with “Air New Zealand” written in white letters across a black, backlit wall.
Air New Zealand Lounge Melbourne exterior
Air New Zealand Lounge Melbourne entrance
The lady at the front desk was friendly, and had me checked in within seconds.
The Air New Zealand Lounge feels massive to me, given the limited flights Air New Zealand operates here.
Inside the entrance were rows of seats facing one another, including dark seats as well as purple ones, for a splash of color.
Air New Zealand Lounge Melbourne seating
Air New Zealand Lounge Melbourne seating
Inside and to the left was the dining area, which had dining tables with booths, as well as communal tables.
Air New Zealand Lounge Melbourne dining area
Air New Zealand Lounge Melbourne dining area
Then straight ahead was a bar with custom espresso beverages.
Air New Zealand Lounge Melbourne bar area
To the right of that was lots more seating.
Air New Zealand Lounge Melbourne seating
Air New Zealand Lounge Melbourne seating
Air New Zealand Lounge Melbourne seating
Air New Zealand Lounge Melbourne seating
Air New Zealand Lounge Melbourne seating
Off to the side was a cute area that had some benches built into the wall, as well as some curtains of sorts hanging from the ceiling, to create more of a sense of privacy.
Air New Zealand Lounge Melbourne seating
Air New Zealand Lounge Melbourne seating
There was also a play area for kids in the back corner of the lounge.
Air New Zealand Lounge Melbourne seating
Air New Zealand Lounge Melbourne play area
As mentioned above, the buffet was inside and to the left, and was the only part of the lounge with food.
Air New Zealand Lounge Melbourne buffet
The breakfast selection included cereal, yogurt, fruit salad, several kinds of breads and pastries, etc.
Air New Zealand Lounge Melbourne breakfast
Air New Zealand Lounge Melbourne breakfast
Air New Zealand Lounge Melbourne breakfast
Air New Zealand Lounge Melbourne breakfast
Air New Zealand Lounge Melbourne breakfast
Hot options included a pancake machine, scrambled eggs, sausage, and hash browns.
Air New Zealand Lounge Melbourne breakfast
Air New Zealand Lounge Melbourne breakfast
Air New Zealand Lounge Melbourne breakfast
Air New Zealand Lounge Melbourne breakfast
Air New Zealand Lounge Melbourne breakfast
Overall I’d say the food selection was significantly better than in the American Express Lounge.
One of my favorite features of Air New Zealand lounges is the custom espresso drinks available at the bar.
Air New Zealand Lounge Melbourne bar area
There’s a tablet where you can place your order, and then it tells you roughly how long it should be.
Air New Zealand Lounge Melbourne espresso bar
Air New Zealand Lounge Melbourne espresso bar
I ordered a flat white, so I could do a head-to-head comparison to the flat white I had in the American Express Lounge. While this one was good, I preferred the other one — this one was a little bitter for my liking.
Air New Zealand Lounge Melbourne flat white
In addition to the food spread, the lounge has a couple of different drink stations.
Air New Zealand Lounge Melbourne drinks
Air New Zealand Lounge Melbourne drinks
Options included juice, a soda fountain, a water fountain, self serve liquor, and wine.
Air New Zealand Lounge Melbourne juice
Air New Zealand Lounge Melbourne soda
Air New Zealand Lounge Melbourne water
Air New Zealand Lounge Melbourne alcohol
As far as other amenities go, the lounge had nice bathrooms and very nice private shower rooms.
Air New Zealand Lounge Melbourne showers
Air New Zealand Lounge Melbourne showers
The one other thing I’d note is that because the lounge is on the ground floor it has limited views. It’s on the same level as the apron, so you primarily have views of baggage carts driving back and forth.
I spent about 30 minutes in the Air New Zealand Lounge before continuing my tour.
Air New Zealand Lounge Melbourne bottom line
The Air New Zealand Lounge Melbourne is spacious and nicely decorated, and has a good selection of food and drinks. The lounge reminded me almost exactly of their recently renovated lounge in Sydney.
Frankly I’m surprised by just how big the lounge is. I guess they largely rely on other Star Alliance passengers to fill the lounge, especially between flights. A ton of space doesn’t make this the best airport lounge, but it certainly is a great space to spend some time.
If you’ve visited the Air New Zealand Lounge Melbourne, what was your experience like?
Thanks for the warning! I realize that was not your intention, but you are right: It is essentially identical to the Sydney lounge, which is depressingly generic. "Sleek" is an apt choice. "Soulless" would also work. Replace the Air NZ logo with any other airline logo, and no one would care. What a failed opportunity to market NZ and its products - not even L&P offered at the soda dispenser, or nice pictures and portraits...
Thanks for the warning! I realize that was not your intention, but you are right: It is essentially identical to the Sydney lounge, which is depressingly generic. "Sleek" is an apt choice. "Soulless" would also work. Replace the Air NZ logo with any other airline logo, and no one would care. What a failed opportunity to market NZ and its products - not even L&P offered at the soda dispenser, or nice pictures and portraits on the walls. Just the same ol' boring breakfast. And, BTW, not everyone is on breakfast time when they show up in the morning. How about some non-breakfast offerings? So I quickly left the Sydney lounge and went to the un-sleek Singapore Airlines one next door - much better (and emptier); guess I'll do the same in Melbourne next year. I see SIN has Weet-Bix and (possibly Wattie's?) baked beans. Yum.
Beautiful lounge.
This lounge serves as the primary Star Alliance lounge for Melbourne (AirNZ, UA, AC, CA, TG etc) and is usually very busy by mid-morning. Service levels are high and have seen staff in the past wandering the lounge offering guests pre-poured Mimosas.
Air NZ also sell an annual lounge pass, Koru Club, and each pass comes with a free guest allocation so although the narrow body planes have no Business class you can still have many people with lounge access. On a Sunday evening the lounges can be packed to the gunnels and resemble feeding time at the zoo
Wow that Lounge looks huge! But I’m sure it can get pretty full from the Star Alliance flights. It looks really clean and nice, I also like how open it looks. Can’t wait to see what you think about the SQ lounge
I can assure you it is packed in the early evenings before the 772 or 789 to AKL leaves, together with A320s to WLG and CHC not far apart. There can easily be 200+ guests off those 3 flights alone. Plus other Star carriers using it (CA, SQ, TG). Although it may have subsided lately though since NZ ended its relationship with VA, since all Velocity Gold and Plat members also had access previously when...
I can assure you it is packed in the early evenings before the 772 or 789 to AKL leaves, together with A320s to WLG and CHC not far apart. There can easily be 200+ guests off those 3 flights alone. Plus other Star carriers using it (CA, SQ, TG). Although it may have subsided lately though since NZ ended its relationship with VA, since all Velocity Gold and Plat members also had access previously when on NZ or VA trans-tasman flights.
Not surprised with the coffee, Lucky. New Zealanders typically have a stronger brew, so a normal flat white in New Zealand is equivalent to a strong one in Australia. And NZ manages to export this across their lounge network somehow.
Looking forward to you assessment of the SQ cupboard ... ahem, lounge :)
This is weird. As you said it is huge. I wonder how many people use it.
@Lucky. You better churn out those trip reports or you will be super backlogged soon with all the upcoming trips LOL. I always do enjoy reading them
Spred the golden Tip FRIENDS !!! I had very bad experience at BEAUVAIS AIRPORT !!!
No Lounge at All!
Security took my foie gras even though it was in a 100g can. No explanation was given, but I found it soon after: they sell foie grois after SECURITY!!!!
This lounge does get full, many Air NZ passengers have Elite or Koru status and take advantage of the lounge.
It's about time you flew air NZ long haul!