Air New Zealand Perth Lounge
The best way of describing the Air New Zealand lounge in Perth is that it is a bit of an oddity. It is a pleasant, if relatively small lounge, tucked away in the new extension of the International Terminal. A self-service food buffet and drinks station is also on offer.
The catering is great, with some great food, particularly in the evenings, when the lounge is also the Perth Qatar lounge. The bar is equally top notch, with decent Kiwi wines. However the seating can be a little formulaic, and there is no outside view.
Perth Air New Zealand lounge review
The new Perth Air New Zealand lounge is located on what was once the viewing gallery, past the Duty Free maze, and just before the escalators heading down to the new Emirates lounge and the extended part of the airport, with windows overlooking an internal departure hall.
There is space for 110 passengers, with a 440 square meter area. Alas there seems to have been little effort to divide the lounge into well-defined areas, despite the design by the award-winning global architectural firm Gensler and Australian based design firm Marsden Collective.
The design follows that already seen in Air New Zealand lounges in Australia, and it is both a delight, and unusual having an outstation lounge for the few flights daily Air New Zealand operate.
You first enter - or having fought your way in, depending on Frequent Flyer card - and see the large white dining bench heading the buffet area, as is typical of Air New Zealand. The bar is behind the buffet, and it is well worth having a look, as it is quite good.
Further on into the lounge, and overlooking the atrium, is the main 'loungy' part of the lounge, with typical brown seats and brown carpet, plus occasional purple feature seats. A lot of the seats seem just way too close to each other: you'll soon be very close friends with the other passengers on your flight.
In the wall here there are a few private nooks, and it is well worth while grabbing one of these if you arrive early, as they are quite private.
Further around is a long purple bench - which is anything but private.
A design feature includes a 'wave rock' inspired lighting feature complementing images of the New Zealand landscape: it is locally known as the walking stick light, for obvious reasons.
Food
The food in the Air New Zealand Perth Lounge is great, really top notch, with some great hot food. The noodles are exceptionally good, along with some of the more traditional curries and stews. Pasta as well is very good.There is a very good cheese selection, but it is the selection of desserts that really stands out.
Notable is that when the lounge is operating as the Qatar Airways Perth lounge, the food actually seems to get better.
Bar
There is a great bar, with some excellent Kiwi wine and beer.A small selection of spirits are also on the shelf, all self serve.
The lounge also serves up Christchurch's home pride Hummingbird Coffee.
Business Facilities
Free wifi. Speed is no slouch, but it isn't the fastest.Mains power and USB power sockets are liberally sprinkled throughout the lounge, plus wireless charging points.
Bathrooms
In lounge, but quite small. Door beside the white bench.There are really very good shower suites, which boast Antipodes amenities.
Access
Entry rules are toughly enforced, and there is little leeway about who gets in the door.
Air New Zealand Business Class passengers, Airpoints Elite Gold, Koru Club, and Star Alliance Gold in economy on a Star Alliance Flight.
All passengers departing on a same-day Air New Zealand flight, are permitted access too, for a fee: up to 4 hours $35; 4 hours or more $55.
It is when the lounge is used for the Qatar Airways flight, as the Qatar Perth Business Class lounge for Business Class passengers that things become tricky. A Business Class boarding card, or a lounge invite, generally does the trick. But if you don't have these, and try to use a oneworld Frequent Flyer card, you may have problems accessing the lounge.
Do note that Air New Zealand continue to rigorously police their no photos of any kind in the lounge. If you are seen with a camera you will be asked to show what photos you have taken, and then delete them.
Video: Air New Zealand Lounge
Decent bar
Tough entry checks