Koru Lounge Quality - Impressed

[albatross710]

Last year Mrs Albatross and I visited the Auckland Koru lounge on our way back to Oz. We were very impressed with the range of food on offer and the general condition of the lounge. In some regards we felt it retained an exclusive feel.

Early last Saturday morning we were in the Christchurch lounge. Once again very impressed. The furnishings and seating styles creating a feeling of warmth and choice. We could move around to eat with 4 of us sharing breakfast at an oval table. After breakfast we moved to the lounges for reading papers and novels.

On offer for breakfast were some delicious bacon & egg scrolls, very fresh croissants, rich boysenberry jam, breads and other spreads. The usual selection of fruits. The bircher muesli was fresh (not too soggy). I am told that the greek yogurt on offer was one of the best that had been tasted by Mrs Albatross.

The furnishings in the CHC lounge create quite different characters in various areas. There is a sound proof children's area. TV area, tables and bar area. We felt that we could choose an area to suit our mood.

In the corner we saw this nice area with a table for 4 which can be closed off using the aerofoil shaped swinging doors. A nice aeronautical touch. We felt that the lounge was made for people to be sociable.

After the lounge we were on our way back to BNE. Two thirds of the way across the ditch we enjoyed this view of the approaching sunrise.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Agree, I like the kiwi approach to quality and detail. Professional and unhurried.

great photo.

 

[anat0l]

Another in agreement here. The Koru Clubs are very calming and relaxing. Their food offering is also very good, both in the morning and in the evening as well.

 

[Grooba]

Can't say i've ever experienced the Koru lounge but the approaching sunrise certainly looks spectacular!

 

[markis10]

Could that be a frequent flyers nirvana, a quiet lounge, hot food of a reasonable quality and different areas to suit your mood?

 

[anat0l]

Could that be a frequent flyers nirvana, a quiet lounge, hot food of a reasonable quality and different areas to suit your mood?

At night during the rush hours (and even a bit beyond that) it's not very very quiet. AKL KC is at most 80% the size of the J Lounge or QP in MEL (except without the high ceiling). CHC is slightly smaller than that.

AKL or CHC won't have the domestic traffic to that of SYD or MEL, but I could say CHC at night has traffic similar to BNE in the evening (bar Friday or Sunday). It's not crazy mad like in Australia, but it isn't quiet either.

Most other times, you can expect a fairly quiet lounge (just like most other lounges).

Different areas to suit the mood - yes. And yes hot food is of fairly good quality - IIRC each full KC is catered by a select restaurant in that city.

 

[markis10]

i did not say its a nirvana all the time, if it was then I would imagine the economics of the place would not see it last long

 

[Flying Fox]

Many moons ago when I was an Ansett Golden Wing member, I used to regularly visit the Koru Lounges. I was always impressed with food & facilities.

Good to know that they are keeping up their standards!

 

[serfty]

Another in agreement here. The Koru Clubs are very calming and relaxing. Their food offering is also very good, both in the morning and in the evening as well.

Could that be a frequent flyers nirvana, a quiet lounge, hot food of a reasonable quality and different areas to suit your mood?

At night during the rush hours (and even a bit beyond that) it's not very very quiet. AKL KC is at most 80% the size of the J Lounge or QP in MEL (except without the high ceiling). CHC is slightly smaller than that.

AKL or CHC won't have the domestic traffic to that of SYD or MEL, but I could say CHC at night has traffic similar to BNE in the evening (bar Friday or Sunday). It's not crazy mad like in Australia, but it isn't quiet either.

Most other times, you can expect a fairly quiet lounge (just like most other lounges).

Different areas to suit the mood - yes. And yes hot food is of fairly good quality - IIRC each full KC is catered by a select restaurant in that city.

Like QP's KC's can have their moments.

I have seen the AKL lounges bursting (both Int and Dom);also I have seem them nearly empty.

The MEL lounge frequently gets very busy on Friday evenings. I've seen no seating available at all and even people using the pool table area for standing room. From MEL there are Auckland, Christchurch & Wellington departures at 6:30pm, 6:35pm and 6:40pm respectively. (Quite often the AKL flight is a 767.)

 

[albatross710]

and even people using the pool table area for standing room.

I didn't know they even had pool tables in any airline lounges. That is interesting.

Also conjuring up the issue of how to get personal pool queues through security.

 

[anat0l]

O/T:

I didn't know they even had pool tables in any airline lounges. That is interesting.

Also conjuring up the issue of how to get personal pool queues through security.

You must mean 'personal pool cues'.

My idea of a 'pool queue' is a bunch of hot ladies in bikinis and the 'personal'....oh, never mind. :mrgreen:

 

[yohy?!]

Seems like NZ's service offering in general is superior to QF, there staff have certainly been more friendly and professional in my experience.

 

[haydensydney]

The couple of times i've had to use the AKL International lounge I must say we were disappointed. Both times were outside of "peak" travel times and the food offering was abysmal i.e. crackers with ham and some cheddar cheese and from memory only beer and wine were on offer. I guess I have been spoilt by the offerrings in the EK lounges in SYD & AKL and the NZ options weren't as extensive.

I must say though that the SYD NZ lounge has always had a good spread, and remains to be my favourite NZ lounge on the network.

 

[dajop]

NZ lounge at MEL, IMHO, used to be the best lounge at MEL when it first opened, better than the old QF FCL. It was relegated to No 3. when the upstairs lounges opened (EK & QF First). Still pretty good though, and if travelling on SQ in J or as a star gold, is the only choice, as the two SQ lounges (F & J) remind me of ... hmm .... the LST QP.