I spent just one night in Sydney, and decided to head to the airport really early the next morning, even though my flight was just at 12:15PM. That's because I wanted to review the Star Alliance lounges at the airport, and I always feel more comfortable reviewing lounges if they're not too full. Singapore Airlines'…
Continue reading: Review: Air New Zealand Lounge Sydney Airport
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That's still one of our favorite lounges worldwide after many visits returning from FT Oz Fest Dos, and I'm happy to read your positive review.
The refrigerator full of New Zealand Marlborough sauvignon blancs always lifts our spirits. 😉
One thing Air NZ does very well: choosing staff for Lounges ( at least those in Australia). ALL the staff are great: charming, personable, efficient. Melbourne, Sydney both. It makes a difference to the lounge experience ( and is so much better than QF , with the boring , pretentious menus, including F ( and the rubbery squid)and the plastic clones serving there, and the miserable cerberus-like types on the desk
Apropos to this review, the lounge also had a man making omelets and other egg dishes to order a la carte. Very nice.
Wish your review was available last week, as I felt ill informed by another blogger. My first time in Sydney. I read a review by another blogger prior to my trip stating the food was better at Singapore lounge but coffee better at New Zealand’s. I disagree. New Zealand’s better on all counts I value: quality of food, coffee/drinks, service, and ambiance (view from Singapore was nice)
How did you get your boarding pass? I thought SQ desks at SYD don't open until 3 hours before the flight?
Air NZ is fantastic to fly. But it's a shame that their frequent flyer program stinks.
Wait till you see the lounge filled to capacity during the midmorning time. You would then feel you are better off in the terminal instead.
When the lounge area was first opened , we flew TG F SYD-BKK and were told to go to NZ lounge... The lounge was filled to the gill with people mulling around to find seats while holding plates of some pitiful foods. We finally found 2 empty seats opposite to each other between a tiny round table among many other passengers already seated. Only to be scolded at by a woman who claimed those seats were theirs and her husband just got up to get foods.
Alright then. Instead of doing the endless search for a place to sit we promptly exited and turned to the SQ lounge which we passed on our way to NZ's. Our TG F BPs were more than adequate to give us access to the wonderful SQ F lounge - a small but extremely tranquil place where both hot and cold breakfast foods were served, together with Krug, plus items from an a la carte menu. Between our entering the lounge to the time we left to board our TG flight, there were only 3 more passengers came in the SQ lounge. At the NZ lounge there must have been over hundred persons inside.
We truly miss the Koru club in the old days. The Koru clubs in Sydney, Auckland and even Christchurch domestic terminal, were heads and shoulders above the current NZ offerings.
If you have star alliances lounge access via class of service, head to the SQ lounge instead. Day and Night experiences.
Just as an FYI, when I flew back from Sydney a year ago on Delta, they gave me a pass to use the Air New Zealand lounge. I agree it's a real nice place to spend a few hours!
Good for Air New Zealand staff.
Speaking of special treatment in a lounge... Years ago when I was flying SEA-SFO-LHR-TLV (don't ask about the routing, it's complicated) on a regular basis, I got to know the VS station manager. One one trip I was in Israel during a particularly ugly attack. When I got off the plane at SFO the VS station manager was waiting for me because he had been concerned about me when he'd heard about the events (as had the world). He informed me my connection on AS was delayed, escorted me through immigration and customs and to the VS departure lounge where he allowed me to stay until the staff was literally ready to lock the doors and go home and then sent me on my way to my connecting flight. And he wasn't the only one who was wonderful - it was the entire staff at the station at the time including everyone working the lounge. On another occasion they escorted me to the gate to see my girlfriend off when she was traveling to LHR and I was staying in SFO. People make the airline.
Mid-morning, some two weeks ago in the AirNZ Melbourne lounge, the staff were walking around offering seated guests a champagne cocktail. Not the first time I have seen that from AirNZ.
Lucky, I think you should review some Air New Zealand flights too, especially premium economy and Business, which as far as I have head, is a fantastic product
I agree that sometimes the lounge can be incredibly busy--what lounge isn't these days? But I have been there a few dozen times and my experiences were always great with food, drinks, and staff. The old lounge was good, too, but I like the make-over better I think.
Love the ANZ lounges, great dedicated kids areas and the iPad to order your coffee - the best in the larger lounges such as Auckland a little less so in BNE
No other customers. No wonder you enjoyed it.
The issue with this lounge is that it is usually rammed to the gills with people (during sociable hours for travel).
The lounge is simply not large enough...
Just wondering how many seats have electrical outlets to use for charging phones, computers, etc.? Thanks!