On my recent return trip from Auckland to Perth, I got the opportunity to sample the Qantas Business Class lounge at AKL airport. All this at 4.40AM in the morning (this is when the airport transit area opens). Needless to say I was the first one in there which made the place feel rather empty and cold. I’m not entirely sure if this lounge has any view onto the tarmac but at this time in the morning the blinds where closed and it was pitch black outside.
Once you enter trough the check-in area there is a magazine rack on one side and two seating areas with a frosted glass divider. Both seatings nooks are like a mini lounge and have a tv, one playing movies the other is tuned to a news channel. Since it was so early the food available was minimal at the most, all I could find was pancakes, scrambled eggs and averages looking sausages. The bar selection is pretty standard with beers wines and spirits all available.
I had one espresso from the automatic coffee machine – nasty. Unlike the newer Qantas lounges and especially the Koru Club, this lounge does not have a dedicated barista on hand to make you a drinkable coffee. Instead, you are stuck with a super-automatic pumping out nuclear beverages.
I assume they were still preparing more food since 4.40 Am is just ridiculously early for anyone to hang out at the airport. Unless of course, you have a super cheap Business Class ticket with LAN airways to SYD that is!
On to the bathrooms, nothing crazy there. All are clean and tidy with black and wooden veneer finish (standard Qantas) with Aurora Spa Rituals hand wash and hand moisturiser. The Qantas lounge bathrooms at AKL are also stocked with real linen towels and showers are also available with bath towels provided to guests and available from reception.
