Strata Lounge - Auckland Airport

Coming live to you from the Strata Lounge at Auckland Airport with a glass of Rose before getting on my very first A350 flight to Taipei with China Airlines. I am going to talk about this independently operated lounge within the Auckland International terminal and why it may be one of the best lounge I have ever been in.

This is my 3rd visit to this lounge this year, I am going to tell you the reason that kept bringing me here. The staff here have always been very helpful and attentive, a very welcoming image after a stressful time through security. This lounge accepts Priority Pass or Dragon Pass if you possess any of those, in the event that you do not, you can pay cash which you can find the rate on a big monitor right in front of the lounge. You can also pre purchase a lounge pass online on Auckland Airport website for a discount rate.

The food here is consistent overall, and the hot food section has always changed for the 3 times I have been here, and they are mostly good (except that one that where the food was spicy so I couldn't eat much of it). They have a good range of bakery, desert and 4 hot food with a mixture of Western and Asian styles. There are 2 hot soup choice that gets changed up regularly as well. As for drinks, it is mainly the same, the self serves soft drink, juices and alcohol. If you are wondering what is in their bar, they have a good selection of beer, wine and hard liquor.

Out of the 3 times I have been into this lounge, once has been nearly packed while the other 2 times including today has been moderate which is a good way to relax and get some work done or talk with family/friends or just chill. Although one Asian middle age guy had his shirt up half way up scratching his stomach the whole time he sat there while I was eating, not a good sight for a lounge or anywhere in public. People need to learn some decency and act accordingly.

The other facilities that are offered in this lounge include shower, children play area and a work area. The view isn't great out of this lounge, looking down towards the shopping strip with a small distant view of the tarmac.

So should you come to this lounge? If you are not an elite member of other airlines, this may be the lounge you would want to come for an hour or 2 before your flight to eat up just in case you get bad plane food, or cramp in a shower before your flight. This lounge also serves as a business class lounge for a number of airlines such as Hawaiian, HK Airlines, Korean Air, Malaysia Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Somoa Airways, Virgin Australia and a large number of Chinese airlines. I have visited a few lounges and I have not found any walk in lounge that offers such a wide variety of amenities and food choices (shame on you airline lounges!). Since Auckland Airport have just completed their renovation on the International Departure, you can find a good selection of restaurant and bars on the airside if that is how you want to spend your money instead of entering a lounge.