Lounge in SYD?
Jul 24, 2022, 4:23 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Carmel Valley(was Hawaii)
Programs: United 1K 2.7 MM
Posts: 1,174
Lounge in SYD?
Is the Air Zealand lounge in SYD international open now? Flying SYD to SFO on United in November.The hot dogs were the best part of the return home.
Thanks
Thanks
Jul 24, 2022, 6:26 pm
#2
Join Date: Dec 2013
Programs: NZ Airpoints GE, Qantas Platinum, Accor Diamond, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,018
Yes, I was in there four weeks ago, though it wasn't open when I turned up from a very early arrival. Had to hang around until 06.00(?IIRC) but it was fully functioning even back then. I was on an 09.30 flight to AKL and it didn't get uncomfortably full.
Jul 24, 2022, 6:51 pm
#3
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 185
Yes, definitely open and I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the hot dog stand was dropped about 5-6 years ago (or maybe more) when they redesigned the new lounge.
Jul 25, 2022, 8:18 am
#4
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: NZ*G, MAR Titanium, HLT Diamond
Posts: 3,663
Suggest you arrive at the airport as early as possible though. A friend this morning checked in 3 hours before departure and the security lines took him 2 and a half hours. When he got past security it was final call. I experienced the same last Easter and looks like things aren't getting any better. There is no longer any Priority line.
Jul 25, 2022, 1:23 pm
#5
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: New Zealand (most of the time)
Programs: Air NZ Elite *G, Honors Gold, IHG Platinum Elite
Posts: 6,273
Suggest you arrive at the airport as early as possible though. A friend this morning checked in 3 hours before departure and the security lines took him 2 and a half hours. When he got past security it was final call. I experienced the same last Easter and looks like things aren't getting any better. There is no longer any Priority line.
When I flew out 3 weeks ago it was the Monday of school holidays and queues were crazy at the airport. As the queue now routinely extends out of the immigration area and into the check-in area when I was there they were pulling a lot of people of the queue at one point for selected flights and moving them to the priority lane. This resulted in a lot of grumpy people in the priority queue who were in business and first wondering why this was happening.
I know a few people who have flown through in recent weeks and queue times to get through immigration and security have been between 60-90 mins.
Jul 25, 2022, 1:55 pm
#6
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: New England
Programs: American Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Silver
Posts: 5,732
I was there last week. The food options were lackluster but the space was really nice. The Singapore SilverKris lounge next door had better food, but the space was smaller.
Jul 25, 2022, 4:26 pm
#8
Join Date: Dec 2013
Programs: NZ Airpoints GE, Qantas Platinum, Accor Diamond, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,018
It's weird. I flew a Qantas domestic to international connection through SYD about two weeks ago. My domestic flight circled a few times before landing and I felt sure I would miss my SYD-AKL connection. The bus dumped us at the bottom of the international stairs of the connections path. I walked briskly up stairs and entered the immigration hall for the e-gates: no pax at all. I then flowed through to security and was at the front of the queue to load my stuff through x-ray. This was about 09.30 in the morning. I went from fearing a missed connection to spending 30 minutes having a coffee in the QF F-lounge.
The unpredictability of processing is extreme.
The unpredictability of processing is extreme.
Jul 25, 2022, 8:53 pm
#9
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: SYD
Programs: Too many golds, no plat: OZ*G, AC*G, NZ*G, VA Gold, QF Gold, HH Gold, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 5,370
The SQ lounge also has champage (and generally better wine selections) if that's important to you. NZ coffee definitely better though.
Re SYD security processing time, I'm a bit anxious about my SYD-WLG this Friday, which is a 9.40am departure so right at the morning peak. The last two times I've flown out of there it's been a sh*t show and I've had no lounge time despite arriving in good time. I have an upgrade requested for this flight (I'm on QF as it happens) but odds of it clearing are very slim so I fear it's going to be a very early start for me.
Re SYD security processing time, I'm a bit anxious about my SYD-WLG this Friday, which is a 9.40am departure so right at the morning peak. The last two times I've flown out of there it's been a sh*t show and I've had no lounge time despite arriving in good time. I have an upgrade requested for this flight (I'm on QF as it happens) but odds of it clearing are very slim so I fear it's going to be a very early start for me.
Last edited by mad_atta; Jul 26, 2022 at 12:18 am
Jul 31, 2022, 11:09 pm
#11
Join Date: May 2014
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Ambassador
Posts: 201
Back in 2018, the lounge in Auckland had an ice cream stand (Appleby Farms) during the summer, and ever since then, I keep hoping to see it come back, but alas, I never saw it again. It sounds like your beloved hot dog stand!
My other love from the Air New Zealand lounges is the candy jars and marshmallows usually up near the barista or bartender. I'll be flying through both Auckland and Sydney next week, should be I prepared for disappointment? I loved the little licorice balls (BBs?)!
My other love from the Air New Zealand lounges is the candy jars and marshmallows usually up near the barista or bartender. I'll be flying through both Auckland and Sydney next week, should be I prepared for disappointment? I loved the little licorice balls (BBs?)!