In April 2025, we saw Qantas close its lounge at Auckland International Airport (AKL), so that it could undergo a full redevelopment. There’s an exciting update, as this lounge is now just over a week from opening.
In this post:
Details of the new Qantas Lounge Auckland
On December 17, 2025, we’re going to see the reopening of the Qantas Lounge Auckland, which has undergone an expansion, plus a full renovation.
The footprint of the lounge is 60% larger than the previous space, with capacity for more than 370 passengers, across dedicated zones for dining, relaxing, and working.
For the first time across the Qantas global lounge network, oneworld Emerald flyers (including Qantas Platinum One and Platinum members) will have access to a dedicated a la carte dining area, offering a menu from Neil Perry, with dishes like crumbed local fish and chips, salt and pepper squid, signature pavlova, and more. So think of it as a little mini first class lounge, without there actually being a first class lounge.
Beyond that, there will be a standard buffet area, featuring New Zealand produce and wine, a gelato station, and a cocktail bar serving up premium beverages and barista coffee.
In terms of design, the lounge is intended to bring the outdoors inside, with living green walls throughout, and with travertine tiles and terrazzo tabletops creating a natural and relaxed atmosphere.
To help passengers stay connected, 70% of seating offers direct access to a charging port. The lounge also has an impressive 15 shower suites, allowing customers to freshen up before or during their journeys.
Here’s how Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace describes this new lounge facility:
“Our customers tell us the lounge experience is an important part of their journey, which is why we’re investing in our award-winning lounge network around the globe. Auckland is a key hub connecting our customers across the Tasman and around the world, and this new lounge gives them more space and premium facilities to enjoy ahead of the holidays.”
“The new Auckland lounge celebrates the best of New Zealand and has been thoughtfully designed for how our customers want to use the space, whether that’s working, relaxing over a meal, or freshening up during transit.”
This looks like a great new lounge facility!
Obviously there are close ties between Australia and New Zealand, making Auckland an important market for Qantas. Beyond that, though, keep in mind that Qantas operates its flight to New York (JFK) via Auckland nowadays, so that makes this a crucially important market.
Even when Qantas starts operating its Project Sunrise flights (the world’s longest nonstop flights), the plan is still to maintain this route via Auckland.
The old Qantas Lounge Auckland was definitely in need of a refresh, so it’s great to see the gorgeous design of the lounge, as lounge design is something Qantas does a great job with. At first I was sad to see that Qantas would no longer have a dedicated first class lounge in Auckland, but it was kind of lackluster, and the special section for oneworld Emerald members makes up for it.
Bottom line
The all-new Qantas Lounge Auckland will be opening shortly, and it should be a massive improvement over the old lounge. It’ll have an updated design, a significant increase in seating, and a dedicated dining area for oneworld Emerald members. This looks like a very nice passenger experience improvement at one of Qantas’ bigger foreign stations.
What do you make of the new Qantas Lounge Auckland?
It's at least an improvement over the old lounge, which was dreadful. Tbh, I've really enjoyed the Emirates lounge that we've been diverted to while the QF lounge has been closed - I was hoping Qantas would just abandon their AKL lounge altogether and carry on contracting to Emirates.
If you fly Qantas and have lounge access via status or class of travel, you can still use the Emirates lounge, at any airport. It's part of the agreement between the two airlines.
@Long Way Around - not quite as simple as you suggest. What you say (above) is certainly true for US travellers to Australia and New Zealand - with some limitations:
1. I'd suggest you have a look at the QF website T&C's for access to EK Lounges, when travelling under this EK/QF partnership.
2. EK Lounges in the USA / Canada / Mexico are specifically excluded, from the QF / EK codeshare / joint partnership...
@Long Way Around - not quite as simple as you suggest. What you say (above) is certainly true for US travellers to Australia and New Zealand - with some limitations:
1. I'd suggest you have a look at the QF website T&C's for access to EK Lounges, when travelling under this EK/QF partnership.
2. EK Lounges in the USA / Canada / Mexico are specifically excluded, from the QF / EK codeshare / joint partnership agreement. EK is NOT a oneworld member or affiliate, irrespective of whether you are travelling on an EK or QF codeshare ticket.
3. Whilst travelling on EK / QF ticket stock, you are granted access to EK lounges in Australia / New Zealand and DXB, provided the QF *codeshare* flight number is specifically booked on the ticket. I believe that access to the EK Lounge in LHR is permissable, should you be travelling on EK routes from Australia to the UK, via DXB.
4. Similarly, the same QF conditions apply to most EK European / worldwide destinations, so your claim that this works globally is incorrect. If you are travelling on EK ticket stock, the QF ^codeshare' flight number - must - be displayed or you will be denied access - even within Australia.
Can you enter on arrival from LAX J on American?
Looks like an Outback Cafeteria......... hideous.
lol I'd love to see what you consider good design.
The windows... where the windows? I hate fully enclosed airport lounges.
Then you'd prefer Soho over Chelsea at JFK T8.
I use Mac. Their fully enclosed app store ecosystem is the best legalized monopoly.
@justindev - looks like a view of the runway in the first photo of the entrance.
QF has been knocking it out of the park with their updated lounges. Recently experienced their Business Class lounge at ADL, and was blown away. Well done, Qantas.
Is the OWE access confirmed as the QF press release just mentions QF Platinum and Platinum One?
It's not clear if this is an actual first space where QF allows other OW carriers access to dining or if it's just for their own.
OWE access is basically confirmed.
Hmm new Gelato station?
I'm gonna miss the self serve NZ ice cream. Those are quite good.
If flying Qatar Business from Auckland, can I use the Lounge also?
@ JJ -- It's a standard oneworld Sapphire and business class lounge, so as long as the lounge is open and there aren't capacity restrictions over certain hours, you should be able to.
Unlikely not. Qatar's flight departs at 11.45pm, the lounge is likely not open then.