Agreed, this point is very much overlooked by those who fly very frequently or always in more premium classes. What feels distinctly average to those used to the premium experiences might feel like total luxury and a real indulgence to those who fly infrequently or only on budget airlines/options. In that manner, I can see how something like the Auckland lounge (particularly if you're going in when it's not too crowded e.g. late at night) feels special.

My wife, for example, doesn't fly all that often and I can still remember her face when I took her into the 'Koru lounge' for the first time as we headed out of Chch to Akl at the start of our honeymoon ... what was mundane for me as I was flying 2-3x weekly domestically at that point was the height of luxury to her, and don't forget the free-flowing sparkling wine! So you should have seen her face when I splashed for Emirates business class on a trip to Sydney one time ...

I have some family on my wife's side who came up from very little to having quite prominent, well-paid jobs that involve lots of domestic, Pacific and Trans-Tasman travel. To them, having access to 'Koru' is still a true status symbol with genuine cachet - a sign that you've "made it" and they love nothing more than getting to the airport hours early just to make the most of it (and very overtly dropping into any conversation relating to their travel plans that they will be 'having dinner in the Koru lounge' or whatever). To them, even an overcrowded Air NZ lounge is something special.

I'd go so far as to say that there's probably more people in the average Air NZ lounge who think the experience is great than poor, at any given point in time - as long as the free booze flows and there's a bite to eat, and there's some feeling of exclusivity versus the have-nots out in the main terminal.

For me, my main complaint is the lack of suitable business facilities in the lounges for private phone calls etc. I refuse to be one of those people (there are too many of them) who do things like put on their VOIP headset and participate in group Teams meetings on video in the lounge. Heck I know a guy who proudly boasts on LinkedIn about running his sales coaching workshops in the Air NZ lounge.