Hi!

I'll be flying out of SYD on first class awards ticket.

Which is the preferred lounge for drinks, quality of food, etc. (No need for a shower this time though!)

Air New Zealand Koru
Air New Zealand 1st class lounge
SQ 1st class lounge.

Would appreciate any input!

Andy

NZ international lounge (there is no first class lounge) is as good as SQ first class lounge.

The NZ lounge is a bit overused and worn - but benefits from lots of well designed elements and lots of glass/stone etc that looks quite modern and somehow 'natural'.

The SQ 1st lounge feels like its all the furniture they WOULD have put into a lounge 15 years ago - lots of tan leather bucket seats. Its rather a small lounge so you feel rather conspicuous.

From memory it was a rather sorry champagne/sparkling wine offering in the SQ lounge too.

But remember - you can take your boarding card and go visit both!

Whilst technically correct, the SQ lounge at SYD is fiercely guarded and those guardians at the gate do as much as they can to deter "visitors".
A simple search in this forum will throw up countless personal experiences and anecdotes reflecting the same.

The guardians are particularly energetic at the practice if your flight departs close to the A380 departure of SQ - there's just not much room in the SQ lounge and they will try to keep space to be able to accomodate their own members.
I concur with other remarks that the NZ lounge is as good as it gets in SYD anyway, so just head straight there and enjoy.
Cheers.

In my opinion, as I was there for the A380's SQ flight, the SQ business lounge is rather small and overcrowded and the NZ's lounge has better food choice and is more pleasant.

I enjoyed the NZ lounge much, much, much more than the SQ J lounge; I didn't get in to the F lounge. And both are way better than the UA option was before it closed up.

here is a short description that I wrote in another thread, hope it is helpful:

I visited the SYD NZ lounge yesterday -- I always used this one anyway even when the RCC was open in the past (why would anyone use the RCC if they knew otherwise!). It seems as good as it always was, I didn't notice any decrease in atmosphere or service just because UA is there now, just more Americans wandering around... It did feel more energetic or lively compared to before UA, when it would always be practically deserted.

Lunch offerings: nice caesar salad with egg/bacon bits, sandwiches, small bowls of very tender chicken curry over rice, small bowls of fried fish (as in fish+chips kind) with chili/tomato/tartar sauces, addictive dense chocolate cake slices with fresh strawberry, plus all the other usual lounge food/drink items.

excellent, as always. I was going to try the SQ lounge for a change, but I'm happy enough with this!

The NZ lounge also has the nicer Shower Facilities (which you won't need most probably).

Hi!

Thanks for all the responses! very helpful.

I'll stick with the NZ lounge and have a great time!

Andy

The one advantage we found with the SQ lounge was that we were the only people there.