Air NZ Sydney lounge closes for refurb: where to unwind before your next flight

With renovations in full swing to bring a fresh new look to Air New Zealand’s Sydney lounge, the space is now closed to frequent flyers and business and first class passengers until late April next year.

During the refurb, travellers on Virgin Australia flight VA1 to Los Angeles are the real winners, with business class guests plus Gold and Platinum members of Velocity instead invited to use the new Etihad lounge at Sydney Airport:

But don't get too comfortable – it's back to the Air NZ lounge when it re-opens...

There they join passengers on VA29 to Abu Dhabi, who already have Etihad lounge access before jetting to the UAE.

Guests on Virgin Australia’s shorter international flights to destinations including New Zealand, Fiji and Indonesia, along with eligible Velocity members flying with Air New Zealand, Delta and Hawaiian Airlines can instead use a temporary Air NZ lounge during the construction period.

Setting up camp in the space previously occupied by the old Malaysia Airlines lounge, you’ll find the temporary facility in Pier C on Level 1 of the international terminal, situated between gates 50 and 63.

That’s also where you’ll be headed when flying with Thai Airways to Bangkok, Air Canada to Vancouver, Air China to Beijing and Shanghai, Air India to Delhi, Asiana Airlines to Seoul, and of course, Air New Zealand.

And not forgetting United Airlines to both Los Angeles and San Francisco, with UA recently telling Australian Business Traveller that it has no plans to open its own lounge in Australia’s business hub.

Singapore Airlines’ business and first class passengers, KrisFlyer Gold and PPS Club members, plus Velocity Gold and Platinum flyers can continue to use SQ’s SilverKris lounge in Sydney when bound for the Lion City.

A little tip: If you’re booked in business or first class out of Sydney with any Star Alliance airline or have Star Alliance Gold status and are stuck in economy on the same, you’re also able to visit the Singapore Airlines lounge in lieu of the temporary Air NZ facility.

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Chris C.

Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.