International Qantas Lounge Auckland Review

Before departing Auckland to Nadi flying Fiji Airways Business Class, we first visited the Qantas Lounge Auckland for International and Business class passengers.

In Auckland International Airport there are three lounges that are all located in one section, up the escalator after you pass security in the International Terminal. These include the Qantas Lounge, Strata Lounge (which we also visited), and the Emirates Lounge. 

Our hot tip: Make sure to read the Strata Lounge review to determine which lounge you should visit whilst in Auckland. The lounge is open daily from 8.30am to 8.00pm.

Access to the lounge varies, with Qantas welcoming Business Class passengers flying Qantas or oneworld, Qantas Club members, Gold frequent flyers, and even those with lounge passes from credit cards. You are also able to purchase a casual day pass from $49.

Qantas Lounge Layout and Seating

On arrival we were greeted at the entrance, where the receptionist checked our boarding pass and guided us through to the Qantas Lounge Auckland. 

Upon first impression, the lounge seemed mostly catered to passengers travelling in groups. The overall lounge felt very professional- with a range of plush leather armchairs accompanied by tables being the main type of seating. There were no couches or sofas in the lounge which were a bit inconvenient.  

To the right of this space are the shower facilities, bathrooms and a luggage storage area. There is also a Barista coffee station that is open all-day (in Strata Lounge it was closed even though it was 11.30am). In this area was also a high-top bar space with buffet style chairs.

To the left of the first entrance, the space opens up to a dining area with a buffet and further seating with armchairs and tables. We found there to be no private or dedicated workstations available, which was quite ironic considering the overall professional feel of the lounge. 

The lounge was considerably smaller compared to the one we had just visited in Sydney, with less seating options, smaller showers and a smaller buffet space. We felt it to be quite crammed with the same style of armchairs in mainly groups of four. As a solo traveller we felt that there was a lack of individual and pair seating, therefore feeling quite silly seated amongst a 4-person table. 

International Qantas Lounge Food and Beverage

We arrived at the lounge around midday, where the kitchen was serving lunch. There is one central buffet that has all food and beverage options, including a hot food selection. It was hard to find vegan/vegetarian or gluten free options as there was a lack of signage around the area. 

For lunch there was a selection of deli meats, freshly sliced vegetables, cheeses and relishes available as sandwich stuffers. There were little cake desserts that were available, however no signage for us to know what they actually were. 

Along the other side of the table were four different types of salads, more cheeses and also antipasto such as olives, capsicum, jalapenos and another carrot/cauliflower mix. On top of this was a small selection of crackers and lollies which looked a little bit out of place, but would definitely be a good addition for kids.

The Qantas lounge Auckland had two different types of hot food available, plus a soup that was accompanied by warm bread. These hot food options looked like curry and fried rice, however there was no signage to indicate what they actually were. This was very frustrating, especially after coming from the Strata Lounge where food was labelled accordingly. 

We absolutely loved the little ice cream freezer they had which was full of gourmet local Kapiti Ice Cream pots. 

In terms of beverages, the lounge had a nice range of alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks that would be expected of a lounge of this size. We were pleasantly surprised that they had a lot to offer considering the bar looked to be on the smaller side.  

Along the back wall behind the buffet is where guests will find all beverages. There is first a range of four teas available accompanied with milk and sugar, as well as a self-serve standard coffee machine. We opted for a Barista made coffee instead, which is located in the right corner of the lounge after entering. 

There is a spirits section that has a range of rum, gin, whiskey, vodka, brandy and bourbon accompanied with lemon wedges and an ice bucket. We really appreciated these small touches! 

Next to the spirits is a fridge with canned soft drinks, juices, beers and wine. The canned soft drinks were a great addition- it feels a bit more elevated compared to the standard soft drink on tap. Beers included different Heinekens and Steinlagers, and there were four different chilled local wines including from Kopiko Bay, Brancott Estate and Matua Wines. In the last section were three reds available from Penfolds, Kopiko Bay and Oyster Bay Wines.

International Qantas Lounge Showers

Guests will find the showers and bathrooms located in the right corner after the entrance, next to the luggage storage area. The shower cubicles were quite small but were readily available when we were there mid morning.

Inside the cubicle was the shower, a toilet, sink and a selection of amenities available for use. We appreciated the thick towel that was waiting inside as well as a full length mirror and another one above the sink. There was also an outdated, yet functional, hair dryer and extra storage and a stool underneath the sink which was handy. 

The showers were accompanied with Li’Tya body wash, conditioner and shampoo like they were in Sydney, but we missed out on finding any further amenities or toiletries. 

We liked that outside the showers there was luggage storage space to leave your bags in as well as a rack to hang clothes. Overall, the showers were clean and neat, despite being a little on the dated and smaller side.

International Qantas Lounge Auckland Summary

This international Business Class lounge is on the smaller side, however provides plenty of seating. It is a great space for groups travelling and wanting to sit, rather than relax on a sofa. Considering anyone is able to purchase a casual day pass for a reasonable price, the lounge loses a bit of an exclusive feel. Despite this, the lounge still provided a very clean and comfortable area to relax in pre-departure.

We would have liked a different range of sofas and couches available as well as more individual workspaces and areas. It would have been nice to have labels next to all food options to know what was actually available and the dietary restrictions. 

If you’re having a layover in Auckland, we would recommend visiting this lounge if you are looking for a quieter option. Otherwise, the Strata Lounge has a better selection of food and seating areas.  

With a range of Business Class deals available, get in touch with one of our airfare specialists who can talk you through options best suited to you.