Where is the Strata Lounge Located?

The Strata International Lounge as the name entails is located airside in Auckland Airport’s International Terminal. After clearing security and immigration and walking through the myriad of duty free shopping opportunities proceed up the escalators to Level 2 above the main concourse where you will be met by the entrance to the lounge. The Lounge is also located nearby the Qantas Lounge.

Who Can Access the Lounge and When is it Open?

Unlike traditional lounges which are generally operated by the airlines themselves, the Strata Lounge is a general purpose facility which is open to the public through a variety of access schemes such as Priority Pass and Lounge Key or on pay-per use basis (subject to availability). Membership is really well suited to intermediate level travelers with no particular airline loyalty. Now is a great time to join with up to 50% discount on memberships available here.

The lounge is also contracted by a variety of airlines whom don’t have their own dedicated lounges in Auckland for the use of their premium passengers. For those wishing to purchase access a slightly discounted rate can be obtained when booking online a minimum of 24 hours in advance ($66NZD).

Airlines that currently use they lounge for premium passengers include China Airlines, China Eastern, China Southern, Hainan Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines, Korean Air, Malaysia Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Samoa Airways, Sichuan Airlines, Tianjin Airlines and Virgin Australia.

The opening hours of the lounge are very good and cater to access for the vast majority of flights out of Auckland. The opening hours are currently 4.30am to 11pm every day.

Lounge Design and Seating

The Strata Lounge is the largest public access lounge in New Zealand and being owned and ran by Auckland Airport itself it is one of the most important amenities in Auckland’s International terminal. As a general access lounge it serves passengers bound predominately for short hops across the Tasman and leisurely trips to South and North East Asia and the Pacific Islands.

Having been closed for over 2 years during the height of the Covid-19 Pandemic, it is pleasing to see that during this time the lounge has undergone an extensive revamp of its seating and amenities. The Lounge offers a variety of seating options ranging from long wooden tables with bar stools which cater to larger groups, comfy lounge and arm chairs with low lying tables and bar stools situated along benches along the exterior windows and also behind the non alcoholic drinks stand.

The lounge is unique in that although it doesn’t have any direct views of the tarmac it does however offer a view out over the departures concourse below. Whilst you won’t be easily plane spotting in this lounge you certainly will have the opportunity to relax, unwind and see all the hustle and bustle of passenger activity below. Natural lighting in any sense isn’t overly great in this lounge. All in all however, this lounge is quite well designed and is certainly comfortable enough for an airport operated facility.

Food & Drink

Self Service Buffet

The Strata Lounge in Auckland provides a solid offering of food options that will be sure to appeal to both Western and International, particularly Asian tastes. All food and beverage in the lounge is self service. During our visit early on a Wednesday morning breakfast options were substantial with an extensive range of English, Continental and Asian offerings. Both hot and cold options are available in addition to a range of teas, coffee and juices. During lunch and dinner periods a range of hot and cold foods, pastries and deserts are also available.

Self Service Bars

The lounge has two main drinks stations, one that acts as the self serve bar for mainly alcoholic beverages whilst the other caters to non alcoholic options including a soft drink fountain, filtered hot, cold and sparkling water dispensers. There is also two juice dispenser’s and two self service coffee machine that brew a relatively descent cupper for what it is.

Alcohol is available at any time the lounge is open which is complimentary and predominately mid range beers, wines and spirits. Expect several beers to be available including local classics such as SteinLager and Speights and international brews such as Heineken. Mid range white, red and sparkling wine is also available as per some of the most common spirits sold in New Zealand.

Lounge Amenities

The Strata Lounge particularly impresses with its amenity options which clearly look like they have benefit from the recent upgrades to the lounge during the 2+ year long Covid shutdown. The lounge offers 5 dedicated shower en-suites which are inclusive of a toilet which are clean, spacious and well maintained. Ask reception for assistance with a towel if planning on using. There is also a separate standalone rest room which is well kept.

Fast and free WIFI is also located in the lounge which should suffice for the needs of most travelers. For those travelling for work or business purposes can benefit from the lounge’s business center which has 3 computers and also vacant desk space if using your own laptop. Wireless printing is also available. There is also a meeting room which could be used for work purposes.

AC charging outlets are also located at various points in the lounge, be sure to find one first before getting comfortable if needing to charge that device. Reception can also lend chargers and cables if necessary.

The lounge also has a small Children’s area which is thoughtfully isolated with glass partitions from the rest of the lounge so the young ones can play and watch tv without too much disrupting other users.

A range of reading material is also available from the book stand including a variety of newspapers and magazines.

Service and Staff

Due to the largely self service nature of the lounge don’t expect the same high staffing levels of some of the airline operated legacy lounges. Upon arrival expect to be greeted by reception staff who will efficiently confirm your eligibility to access the lounge. It pays to have your boarding pass, passport, membership or credit cards or any other documentation which might prove your access eligibility.

If entering through the Lounge Key or Priority Pass programs be sure to have both the physical card on hand that offers access and the lounge program digital pass to ensure easy access. If using a prepaid debit card such as those offered by Crypto.com which afford access also be sure to have a small amount of funds available on the card to cover for a refundable pre-authorization charge.

Customer facing staffing is largely limited to the reception area and also the barista station. Service staff did well to regularly replenish the food and drinks options whilst cleaning staff were spotted often sanitizing and clearing tables and keeping the amenities in good condition. Good work to the folk at the Strata Lounge here!

Summing Up: Is the Lounge Fit For Purpose?

The Strata Lounge Auckland Airport is a polished, well serviced and comfortable lounge for the wide range of different travelers on a plethora of different flights it services everyday. Whether its a short pitstop for a quick coffee or spending several hours before a flight the lounge excels in comfortably handling the needs of its diverse traveler base. We think it is of a high standard particularly for a lounge offering public access through paid access and various lounge access schemes.

It is certainly worth dropping by this lounge if you don’t have access to a dedicated airline lounge with the airline your flying and a worthy redemption option for paid up LoungeKey and Priority Pass Members and a no brainer if you have complimentary free access through the programs. Whilst we generally think it can be hard to get the full value out of many paid up lounge entries, we think with the Strata Lounge it is certainly possible to get your moneys worth if having a substantial meal and several drinks was already on the agenda at the Auckland Airport before your flight! Overall a very pleasant and professional lounge!