Air New Zealand Business Class Lounge Sydney Review

With ample transit time at Sydney Airport, our Marketing Assistant Harriet took the opportunity to visit the Air New Zealand Business Class Lounge. As a member of Star Alliance, she could visit the AirNZ Lounge with her Singapore Airlines Business Class ticket. 

You can travel round the world on an Air New Zealand Business Class RTW ticket for under $10k! The airline aims to give customers simple, seamless Business Class round the world airfares from New Zealand. As a Star Alliance member, it has strong partnerships across key international markets. You can fly in to one destination and out of another while visiting multiple locations in Asia, Europe and North America.

For those looking to include a larger number of internal flights in Business Class, we would suggest booking a Star Alliance Business Class RTW fare. The 2-15 stop ticket offers flexible and tailored itineraries to global hubs and routes off the beaten track.

Flying on these airfares, you may stop in Sydney and have the opportunity to visit the Air New Zealand Business Class lounge.

The lounge is located on level 3 in Terminal 1 and is open two hours before the first AirNZ flight. Moving up the escalator, the first thing I noticed was the massive AirNZ light at the front. Entering the lounge, I was surprised by how big and open the main areas were. This is especially since visiting the newly refurbished SilverKris Lounge next door, which I found to be the smaller size. 

Air New Zealand Business Class Seating Areas

I visited the lounge in the morning, and while it was busy, thanks to cleverly zoned areas, it felt manageable. Moving through the lounge I passed office spaces, lounge areas, a kid’s room with TV, bar and dining areas. I appreciated how the lounge was designed, using purple glass walls at the lounge entrance to create working zones. This was done without losing any light or feeling boxed in. A similar technique was used in the relaxation area, a curtain of white fringe separated each pair of seats. This created privacy but did not close in the area and allowed light from the windows into the lounge. 

Closer to the buffet and bar was a range of shared dining tables and double tables. I like that these were all grouped together and away from the lounge areas, which helped keep the lounge quiet. Moving past the dining area were three lounge areas separated by a snack and drink station. The Air New Zealand Business Class lounge is long, and it would be annoying to walk  to the bar for a drink if you’re at the other end. These drink stations each included an automatic coffee machine, tea, soft drinks, beer, wine and a range of spirits. In each lounge area were three different seat types: small armchairs with charging ports, swivel lounge chairs in groups of four, and high wingback chairs facing the runway. It showed AirNZ has thought about the type of traveller moving through their lounge and individual needs.

Continuing from the last lounge area was a long shared working table with more charging ports. This maximised the space and had a great view of the runway. Tucked around a corner from the main lounge was the relaxation zone with couches and lounge chairs. Each area was separated by a white fringe, creating a semi-private area to unwind in before your flight. To the side of the lounge was the kid’s room, a glassed area with a TV, play area and high chairs. It was a good space and looked like a great place to keep the kids entertained while in the lounge.

Air New Zealand Business Class Shower Suites

Next to the kid’s room were the bathroom and shower suites. These were the size of a standard bathroom and were very neat and tidy. Below the large mirror was the vanity with bench space for personal items. In the cupboards below were more towels, a hair dryer and other essentials. I like that there was enough space for luggage and a coat hanger to hang clothes while showering. If you’re travelling round the world and stopping in Sydney, the Air New Zealand Business Class lounge must be on your list!

AirNZ Business Class Dining

I visited the lounge around 10:30 am and was happy to see a selection of breakfast and lunch options at the buffet. There were a wide variety of options, from sandwiches, muffins, sliced vegetables, dips, salad, and even jam and cream scones! As someone who doesn’t go for breakfast food, it was nice to see that there were a range of options. I chose some scones with jam and cream and a few chicken wrap bites – the scones were a little stale, while the wraps were a nice light snack before boarding.

At the bar, I could order my choice of beverage including cocktails made to order. They had some mimosas ready to go, or you could choose from wine, beer or soft drink. I was looking for a cup of tea, so after I got some food, I found a seat and made a cup from one of the beverage stations.  

Final Impressions

If travelling round the world and transiting through Sydney with a Star Alliance airline, I recommend visiting the AirNZ Business Class Lounge before your flight. The lounge is a good size and has plenty of seating options and a delicious range of food and beverages available. Or if you are just looking for a quiet spot to work or unwind, the lounge has that too.

To book your next round the world flight, contact our airfare specialists or take a look at our latest deals here.