The Air New Zealand International Lounge in Wellington had a soft-refurbishment in late 2017. The lounge provides eligible Air New Zealand and Star Alliance status members, along with Singapore Airlines Business Class guests, a modern albeit basic lounge to unwind in prior to their international flight either to Australia or Fiji.
I was able to revisit this lounge prior to flying with Singapore Airlines to Australia, as part of my trip to Japan with the Point Hacks team in 2018.
Lounge details & location
The lounge opens 90 minutes prior to the departure of any international Star Alliance flight, which from Wellington only includes Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines. Should you happen to arrive at the airport earlier than this, you may like to visit either the domestic or regional Air New Zealand lounge instead.
After completing international customs and security checks, walk past duty free, and turn right. You will find that the lounge is located in the area circled in red below.
Lounge seating
The lounge is on the small side, with 118 seats available. The lounge includes a buffet and dining area, but no barista like some of Air New Zealand’s larger lounges.
The dining area is furnished with round tables, some high and low, suitable either for having a drink or bite to eat.
Most Air New Zealand lounges feature a low-lying long white table in the dining area, conveniently equipped with many power outlets. This lounge is no exception.
The remainder of the lounge is occupied by a mixture of lounge seating, and seats with small tables along the rear of the room, next to the faux windows.
Most seats feature easy access to power/USB outlets. This makes charging your portable devices easy while waiting for your flight.
There is no kids zone in this lounge, which may not please parents wishing to relax before their flight!
There are a few newspaper and magazine stands for those looking for something to read.
Food & drink
The dining is buffet style with no a la carte options.
I visited this lounge during lunch, with the offering being a variety of wrap and salad options, along with scones, and a selection of cheeses.
Cookies, Bhuja and pretzels await those looking for a quick snack, along with some healthy fruit.
This lounge only offers self-serve coffee from a machine, with no barista option available. This will be somewhat disappointing, especially for a Kiwi, with barista coffee being offered at the regional and domestic lounges in the terminal, and even at smaller airports like Queenstown.
A variety of soft and alcoholic drinks are also on offer, with a natural homage to New Zealand on display with Mac’s and Speight’s.
Amenities
Most Air New Zealand lounges have shelved computer workstations, with wireless printing offered as an alternative – which makes sense given the number of people who tend to carry their own devices.
However, this lounge bucks the trend, where two laptops remain available for guest use.
The lounge also features one shower. The bathrooms were modern and clean, with Antipodes body and hand care products.
Lounge access options
- By class of travel: Business Class guests travelling on Singapore Airlines
- By airline frequent flyer status: Air New Zealand Gold and above, including Elite Partners
- By alliance frequent flyer status: Gold members of Star Alliance partners*
- By Lounge membership: Koru Club Members prior to any same day Air NZ ticketed and operated flight departing from Wellington, in any cabin class
- By day passes: Get 2 lounge passes when you reach silver status with Air New Zealand Airpoints
*Effective 1 January 2020, United MileagePlus Gold and above elite status members cannot enter partner lounges like this one unless they are flying Business or First Class.
Airpoints Elite members can bring up to five guests when travelling with Air New Zealand, and one guest when travelling with Singapore Airlines.
Airpoints Gold, Elite Partner and Koru members, plus Star Alliance Gold members with other partners can bring one guest.
Summing up
The Air New Zealand Wellington International Lounge is a simple offering available to eligible Air New Zealand and Star Alliance members travelling on the few international Star Alliance flights offered from Wellington.
The lounge is missing some elements of basic lounges–such as windows–and obviously elements of top-tier lounges such as a la carte dining.
The omission of any form of bar or even barista coffee is especially disappointing, especially for the international lounge of our national airline, located in our capital city.
If you have access before your flight–great–but this is definitely not a lounge to get too excited about and arriving early for.
What is great
- Clean and modern
- Plenty of AC and USB charging ports
- Space to relax after customs before an international flight
What is not great
- No bar or barista coffee available
- No windows
- No children’s play area
Featured image courtesy of Air New Zealand.
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