Emirates reopens Auckland lounge
Emirates’ business class lounge will now become the new home for Qantas flyers.
By staff, March 23 2025
Emirates has reopened its lounge at Auckland Airport, revealing a fresh new look along similar lines as the Gulf carrier’s recently-revamped Brisbane lounge.
This includes amply-padded chairs, a snazzier dining room, fresh tiling and carpet across the 1,219m2 space, which has room for 220 travellers.
Visitors can dine on reassuringly standout fare at the buffet, sample the selection of pre-plated bites, and indulge in the self-pour bar of wine, spirits and Champagne (including Moët and Veuve Clicquot).
The improvements are made all the more welcome when you consider that Emirates’ Auckland lounge first swung open its doors two decades ago, back in 2004, and was only the airline’s second international lounge outside of its Dubai hub.
Given that Emirates’ Auckland lounge lounge pulls double duty for both first and business class travellers, the food and beverage offering is more elevated than you’d typically find in a straight business lounge.
Of course, frequent flyers are also welcome, including Platinum and Gold members of the Emirates Skywards and Qantas Frequent Flyer rewards programs.
And Qantas passengers can expect to see a lot more of the Emirates Auckland lounge this year, with Qantas planning to close its Auckland business class and first class lounges to accelerate construction of the long-promised and long-awaited new Qantas Auckland International Lounge.
“It’s going to be fantastic, it’s going to be much larger (and) it’s going to have a new food experience,” Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson has told Executive Traveller.
“We want to bring that around as quickly as possible, and to do that we are going to close the lounge,” Hudson said, adding that all lounge-worthy flyers will be redirected to the Emirates lounge until the all-new Qantas Auckland International Lounge opens “at the beginning of 2026.”
Qantas will close the Auckland lounge on 23 April 2025, so that work can begin.
Emirates will be extending the opening hours of its Auckland lounge to suit Qantas' flight timetable, which spans from 6am to 9pm.
Also read: New Emirates 777X business class suites and “game-changer” economy seat
05 Sep 2023
Total posts 6
The issue however of the extended hours doesn't factor in the flights that leave around 6am from Auckland sadly.
28 Mar 2018
Total posts 41
I think the article is simply highlighting the flights hours and not the lounge opening hours. I am sure the lounge will be open for Qantas's busiest departure banks and to get the JFK arrival. An e-mail today advised that the QF lounge will be closed from 23 April.
I'd be keen to know if this will be used by other oneworld carriers while the QF Lounge is closed.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
20 Aug 2014
Total posts 184
The article says lounge hours will suit flights from 6am to 9pm. Not saying that they are the lounge opening hours. So the way I read it the lounge would be open from 5am.
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