Kia now. Here is Air New Zealand's lounge in Auckland.

The beauty of having status in an airline loyalty program is that you can take advantage of the benefits worldwide thanks to aviation alliances, allows, even when traveling economy class, to be treated as, if not better than, a business class passenger. At least until you set foot on the plane. Such is the case with my visit to the Air New Zealand lounge in Auckland airport, one of the stops on my round-the-world tour and Starting point of my first time travel.

Location

This is Air New Zealand's main lounge at its main hub. The hall is found by turning left immediately after exiting duty free, just as the shopping lane begins. You go up the escalator to the upper floor and find yourself in front of the reception desk

Access

These lounges are entered according to ticket class, at least business class with the New Zealand carrier and other members of the same alliance, That is Star Alliance.

If you travel in economy, you can enter if you have at least the Gold Star Alliance level in any of the partner airlines.

The hall

I had liked the one in Sydney, I couldn't help but like this one from Auckland. It is like its big sister, rightly so. The architectural style is identical, the stylistic choices ditto. The furniture elements are the same only everything is bigger here.

Larger obviously the hall. Bigger the buffet, maybe only the bar counter is smaller, but it is still big compared to European standards.

The first thing that amazed me was the amount of passengers in the lounge: considering that the airport was practically deserted, there were so many people here.

The first thing one appreciates, again, is the bar counter and the huge glass wall directly overlooking the runway.

There are various rooms, there is also a kind of conservatory that probably becomes a terrace on the runway in summer.

I sat right in front of the window and enjoyed the free show.

Quieter relaxation area, cinema/TV area where there was a live broadcast of the rugby Champions League final or something like that. It's just too bad that the track movements are not yet at pre-crisis levels, otherwise it's a space view.

Food & Beverage

If in Sydney I had come by at breakfast time, here I arrived at dinner time, and the buffet was really rich and varied.

An offer that ranged from hot to cold, products with Asian flavors and others more Western. Same with the drinks, lots of choice at self-service and excellent bar service with a virtually endless list of mixed drinks and spirits.

In conclusion

Air New Zealand's lounges are of the highest quality, compared to those of European carriers such as Air France or Lufthansa do not disfigure at all, in fact on a gastronomic level they are superior. Perhaps from this one, being the most important of all, I would have expected something better.

• round the world tour

The verdict

The style of Air New Zealand's lounges is similar to that of an Apple Store, all very clean and essential. Glossy white and black as colors, which a Juventus fan like me can only like. The lounge is large and has immense walls of glass overlooking the runway. Perhaps it lacks that something different that you expect from such a lounge.

7

Rated Location

7.5

F&B

7

Services

6.5

Pro

• The view
• The furniture
• The gastronomic offerings

Against

• It has nothing special
• Lacked a little bit of personnel