The small Auckland International Airport offers several business class lounges, but only one non airline affiliated lounge. The Strata Lounge Auckland is the only Priority Pass lounge in the Auckland airport. The lounge welcomes Priority Pass and Dragon Pass card holders plus several airlines’ premium passengers including Hawaiian Airlines, Qatar Airways, LATAM, China Eastern, China Southern and others who operate in the international terminal. The lounge is fairly basic, but has all the offerings required in a lounge.
The Strata lounge is open daily 4.30am to 12.30am in the main terminal past security. Day passes start at just $66 (NZD) but can go up to $342 for extended stays with access to the relaxation room. Be sure to book online to save a few dollars. It’s more expensive in person at the door.
Dining Options and Bar
The Strata Lounge Auckland offers a self serve buffet and bar. The kitchen has a large window where interested parties can watch the staff prepare food for the loungers. I always love an open kitchen concept. Usually a concept seen in nice restaurants, now more commonly being brought to the airport lounge.
On the buffet there are both cold food and hot food options. My visit was around 3 in the afternoon. There were types of pasta and sandwiches along with a curry. Cheese and desserts are also available.
The buffet is the first part of the lounge everyone encounters when entering. Being a large grand L shape buffet, there are also several seating options around the buffet to make dining easier.
Then, tucked behind the bar is a self-serve bar. The bar features hard alcohol, beer, and local wines. Overall, I was very surprise to see a self-serve bar in New Zealand. With the strict service laws and measuring done in nearly every bar and club in the country, to see the ability to pour a double or a triple was mind boggling.
On the opposite side of the buffet is the coffee, juice, and soda station. Those needing a mixer have to walk across the dining area to finish their cocktails. There is also snacks near the coffee, including my favorite, gummies!
Strata Lounge Seats
The rest of the lounge is another large L which lines the buffet. When visiting before my Air Tahiti Nui flight, the lounge was very busy. We were able to find a seat, but you can see people in every photo, sitting all over. Some people even laying and napping on the couches. After all, it was New Years day. The luonge does have some false walls and a conference room in the middle to help divide the space up
The conference room is made up of a round table and a TV. There’s also a printer just outside the conference room. If not in use, this a great place to take a call or work on your computer. Away from the hustle of the lounge.
In the far corner of the lounge there is also a kids area. It didn’t’ seem to have many toys. But instead just a glass enclosed room. There was a TV in the Strata lounge kids area, but it was off during my visit.
Auckland Lounge Bottom line
The Strata lounge offers everything travelers need to relax before one of the many flights out of Auckland airport. Business class passengers from several airlines can use the lounge or buy your way in with a day pass or a swipe of your Priority pass card. Wifi was reliable and the food and drink options were decent. The lounge is located on the second floor of the main terminal and overlooks the airport below. High windows also allow peekaboo views of the tarmac when looking across the central terminal.
Other Airline lounges included the Qantas Lounge and Air New Zealand lounges. Neither of these except Priority Pass.
