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My two weeks in New Zealand were finished, and I was sad to be leaving. It was time to begin my long return journey home, again through Kuala Lumpur on Malaysia Airlines. Since I was flying in business class, I had access to the Malaysia Airlines Emperor Lounge before my flight. Had I not been in business class, I still would have had access since it is a Priority Pass Lounge. The lounge is actually the lounge for several other airlines as well, including China Eastern, China Airlines, China Southern, Hawaiian Airlines, Korean Air, Philippine Airlines, and Virgin Australia.
Thanks to a mid-afternoon departure time, having to check out of my hotel by 11, and a much speedier bus to the airport than I expected, I arrived at Auckland International Airport with plenty of time to kill in the lounge.
Although I arrived just before 11, when the staff were about to put the hot breakfast away, they asked me if I wanted any first, which was nice. There are plenty of lounges where the food disappears and you’re stuck with no hot meals for a while during the transition. The staff were super friendly throughout my visit. They were one of the better lounge staffs I have encountered.
As far as the lounge itself, it was clean & had a modern decor. It was standard-level for Priority Pass, and nothing impressive at all for a business class airline lounge.
There were a few computers available in the business center.
It was nice that they left the hot breakfast out for me, but aside from the eggs, there was nothing that was of any interest to me, or that was really breakfast at all.
They also had cheese, bread, yogurt & cereal.
The bar had a mediocre selection. To their credit, they also had local Speights beer in addition to the macro international selection.
The lounge was almost empty when I arrived, but it got a bit more crowded as my flight time approached. Even though lots of airlines use the lounge, they still must not have a large number of combined flights. Since the lounge also isn’t particularly visible at the airport, it’s overlooked by most.
On the other side of the lounge from the main food area, there is a second back area that is a bit quieter. There is a second bar here as well, along with a kids area.
The Golden Lounge could use more power outlets, as a lot of the seating area does not have them. The WiFi was great, though.
More hot food went out for lunch. Most of it was noodles & other Asian dishes.
They also put out more cold snacks, salads, and desserts.
After a few hours killed, it was time to head to the gate to catch my flight to Kuala Lumpur.
While the Golden Lounge in Auckland is nothing special, it’s not an unpleasant place to wait for a flight. The services & amenities are average, but there’s plenty of space, good WiFi, and friendly staff.
Read below for all of my posts about my trip around the Pacific Rim!
A trip around the Pacific Rim – Introduction
OneWorld Business Lounge Los Angeles LAX review
Cathay Pacific Business Class Boeing 777-300ER Los Angeles LAX to Hong Kong HKG review
Cathay Pacific Business Class Airbus A330 Hong Kong HKG to Kuala Lumpur KUL review
Aloft Kuala Lumpur Sentral review
A layover in Kuala Lumpur – Street markets & Petronas Towers
Cathay Pacific Lounge Kuala Lumpur KUL satellite review
Plaza Premium Lounge Kuala Lumpur KUL review
Malaysia Airlines Golden Lounge Kuala Lumpur KUL satellite review
Malaysia Airlines Business Class Airbus A330-300 Kuala Lumpur KUL to Auckland AKL review
Air New Zealand Economy Class Airbus A320 Auckland AKL to Queenstown ZQN review
Queenstown Motel Apartments – Queenstown, New Zealand review
Queenstown, New Zealand – A Lord of the Rings tour
Day trip from Queenstown, New Zealand – Milford Sound
Queenstown, New Zealand – Skyline Queenstown
Craft beer in Queenstown, New Zealand
Queenstown to Franz Josef, New Zealand by bus
Hiking to Franz Josef Glacier, New Zealand
Franz Josef to Nelson, New Zealand by bus
Fellworth House – Nelson, New Zealand review
A beer & wine tour through Nelson, New Zealand
The best craft beer in Nelson, New Zealand
Nelson to Wellington, New Zealand by bus and ferry via Picton
A nerdy day at Weta Workshop in Wellington, New Zealand
Exploring the museums & parks of Wellington, New Zealand
The best craft beer in Wellington, New Zealand
Wellington to Auckland, New Zealand by bus
New Year’s Eve in Auckland, New Zealand
A rainy New Year’s Day at the Auckland War Memorial Museum
A rainy day at the Auckland Art Gallery & New Zealand Maritime Museum
The best craft beer in Auckland, New Zealand
Emperor Lounge Auckland AKL review
Malaysia Airlines Business Class Airbus A330-300 Auckland AKL to Kuala Lumpur KUL review
Le Meridien Kuala Lumpur review
A layover in Kuala Lumpur – Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia & Jalan Alor
Malaysia Airlines Golden Regional Lounge Kuala Lumpur KUL review
Malaysia Airlines Business Class Boeing 737-800 Kuala Lumpur KUL to Hong Kong HKG review
A visit to Tim Ho Wan in Hong Kong for dim sum
A rainy day in Hong Kong – Science Museum & Kau Kee noodles
Hong Kong – Victoria Peak & more great food
More dim sum in Hong Kong – Din Tai Fung & Dim Sum Square
A day trip to Macau from Hong Kong
Grand City Hotel Hong Kong review
The best craft beer in Hong Kong
Cathay Pacific The Cabin Business Class Lounge Hong Kong review
Cathay Pacific The Bridge Business Class Lounge Hong Kong review
Cathay Pacific Business Class Airbus A330-300 Hong Kong HKG to Osaka KIX via Taipei review
A layover in Osaka – Ramen, sushi, & exploring the city
JAL Sakura Lounge Osaka KIX review
JAL Business Class Boeing 787 Osaka KIX to Los Angeles LAX review
