Which is the best Star Alliance lounge at Sydney Airport?

Nine Star Alliance airlines fly to Sydney, and two of those – Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines – maintain their own lounges, which in turn are available to any eligible Star Alliance passenger.

Thankfully, both the Air New Zealand Sydney International Lounge and Singapore Airlines Sydney SilverKris Business Class lounges are quite decent in their own right, as well as being very different – each is fairly cast in the brand image of its partner airline.

The Air New Zealand lounge is a spacious streamlined modern affair with a tended bar...

Air New Zealand's Sydney International Lounge.

... while the Singapore Airlines lounge is a smaller, more intimate space with a softer, more relaxing vibe.

The Singapore Airlines Sydney SilverKris business lounge.

Star Alliance lounge access at Sydney Airport

The following Star Alliance member airlines fly to Sydney:

• Air New Zealand
• Air india
• Air Canada
• Air China
• ANA
• Asiana Airlines
• Singapore Airlines
• Thai Airways
• United Airlines

Access to the Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines lounges is available to the following passengers on all of those Star Alliance airlines:

• first class travellers
• business class travellers
• Star Alliance Gold-grade frequent flyers in economy or (where available) premium economy 

Most Star Alliance member airlines which don’t have their own lounge at Sydney Airport’s T1 international terminal – such as ANA, Air Canada and United Airlines – will direct eligible flyers to the Air New Zealand lounge, which is large enough to easily accommodate all those travellers.

Most Star Alliance airlines flying from Sydney direct travellers to the Air New Zealand lounge.

(Note that Singapore Airlines also has a first class lounge, which is secreted away next to SQ’s business class lounge.) 

However, as savvy travellers including Executive Traveller readers are aware, you do have a choice.

Business class passengers and those with Gold status in the frequent flyer program of any Star Alliance member are entitled to use either lounge.

Business class passengers and Gold-grade frequent flyers on any Star Alliance member airline can visit either or both of the Sydney lounges.

Indeed, they can flit between both lounges if the mood takes them – this isn’t an either/or decision (the only caveat is the lounge’s respective opening hours: in pre-Covid times, the Air New Zealand lounge was open until very late evening).

It certainly helps that these lounges are located literally next door to one another at Sydney T1’s southwest pier, which is home to gates 51-63 – an the escalator to both the Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines lounges is just behind the Starbucks kiosk.

The SilverKris lounge is handily located right next to the Air New Zealand lounge.

Just show your boarding pass, and where relevant your airline’s frequent flyer membership card, at the lounge’s reception desk.

So how do these two Star Alliance lounges at Sydney Airport compare?

Food and drinks

Because food is such a subjective issue, we’re pleased to report that the Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines lounges have a very different take on pre-flight dining – and one of the two is certain to hit the spot.

This live cooking station is the centrepiece of Air New Zealand's lounge dining experience.

The Air New Zealand lounge sports a live cooking station where of a morning you’re likely to see anything from freshly-made breakfast quesadillas to waffles, alongside standbys such as scrambled eggs and Kransky sausages (they’re something of an AirNZ signature), cereal, yoghurt, pastries and salads. 

There’s a leaning towards lighter healthy meals, though still plenty of sweet options.

There’s a little less flair in the Singapore Airlines lounge, but the meals are heartier – especially in the mornings – and naturally nod towards Asian as well as Western palettes. This means you can choose between bacon, eggs and tomatoes, and an assortment of dim sum, chicken and sweetcorn soup, curries and more.

The Singapore lounge generally sports a wider variety of food than its AirNZ neighbour.

We also rate the extensive selection of salads, dips and cheeses as better for light snacking than at the neighbouring AirNZ lounge.

Plenty of light bite options at the Sydney SilverKris lounge.

But on the drinks front, you can’t beat Air New Zealand’s tender bar or its friendly, knowledge staff.

The bar at the Air New Zealand lounge is a hit with travellers.

This is a good example of why you might want to visit both lounges: enjoy a hearty meal at the Singapore Airlines lounge, then follow that with a drink or two at the Air New Zealand lounge. 

Coffee

Although Singapore Airlines recently added a barista cart to its dining area, we’d still say Air New Zealand had the edge when it comes to coffee.

Order up a barista-pulled coffee any way you like it at the Air New Zealand lounge.

A touchscreen tablet at the left side of the bar lets you order almost any style of coffee (bar an iced coffee, for some reason) with any type of milk, with the option of extra shots should you need an added kick.

WiFi

Internet access used to be the bane of the Singapore Airlines’ lounge, but a recent upgrade has resulted in a massive speed boost. When Executive Traveller visited both lounges last month we closed the following average download speeds

• Air New Zealand lounge 10Mbps
• Singapore Airlines lounge 260Mbps

Work

Head for the Singapore Airlines lounge if there’s work to be ploughed through before your flight. The ‘productivity pods’ offer a pleasing degree of privacy plus handy AC and USB outlets (plus there’s that super-fast WiFi on tap).

Grab one of these cosy 'productivity pods' at SQ's Sydney lounge.

Air New Zealand favourites longer communal workbenches with less privacy.

Relax

The Singapore Airlines lounge tends to be quieter than its Air New Zealand counterpart, despite being one largely open space – but if you really want to unwind, head to the far right corner of the Air New Zealand lounge, where you’ll find a small ‘quiet zone’ wing with some banquette couches.

The little-known 'quiet corner' of the Air New Zealand lounge.

So which is Sydney Airport’s best Star Alliance lounge?

We’d rate the Singapore Airlines lounge for food, work and WiFi, with the Air New Zealand lounge for drinks (including coffee) and relaxing.

Executive Traveller readers: Which of these two Star Alliance lounges do you prefer, and why?