The only time I tried to use this lounge was this past Sunday, flying back to SFO. I went in to have my BMI # added in, and all I got was snapped at by the agent. After getting the I'm-doing-you-a-favor attitude that I've come to expect from UA agents, I had no desire to even peak inside or stay there for a second. Of course, even adding a blasted FF # was done incorrectly, and the miles posted to the UA account instead of BD.
This will not bode well for the quality of the NZ lounge. It will get really packed. In the morning, there's also a KE flight that leaves around the time of the MEL leg, so its crowded.
I wonder if they'll do a switcharoo ala at LAX for AF and VS, whereby the food gets noticeably better after the rif-raf leaves? It seems that least at SYD, the other airlines are willing to pay for the good stuff