Air New Zealand's new $14 million Auckland international lounge

The lounge features a cocktail bar, a two storey childrens' play room, an outdoor terrace with a growing wall, seven showers, a media room and large windows offering plenty of natural light and sweeping views of the airport and runway - a feature lacking in the old lounge. Air New Zealand Chief Executive Officer Christopher Luxon said as the airline opened new routes to Singapore, Beijing, Buenos Aires and Houston it was attracting a lot more higher value travellers.

"With a growing network and customer base, the number of high value customers using our lounge has grown and one of the most common pieces of feedback we receive on our Auckland International Lounge is around space," Luxon said

Air NZ lounge

Air New Zealand has posted a record profit for the past two years and the airline was investing in the customer experience to ensure future competitiveness, he said.

"This is a big investment in the customer proposition."

Last year Air New Zealand grew about 7 per cent and over the next 12 months it would grow about 11 per cent, Luxon said.

"We're in high growth mode at at the moment."

The opening of the new lounge was part of a wider $100 million investment Air New Zealand was pumping into its lounge network over four years.

Air New Zealand had already upgraded its international lounges in Los Angeles and Sydney, and its regional lounge at Auckland Airport.

"We're going to work our way through the whole network, that's our intention."

Air New Zealand lounges in Queenstown, Brisbane and other regional and domestic airports including Invercargill were scheduled to undergo refurbishment.

The new Auckland Airport international lounge was similar in look and feel to Air New Zealand's lounge in Sydney Airport, which opened in May, featuring a full cocktail bar, resident chef and, on occasion, fresh oysters.

Luxton in lounge

READ MORE: Cocktails and oysters in Air New Zealand's new Sydney Airport lounge

The airline would also be improving its premium check at Auckland Airport and introducing new bag drop off technology, Luxon said.

The Auckland International Lounge is located on level one of the international terminal and will be open to eligible customers from Tuesday.

One of the 24 different styles of seating on offer in the lounge. Photo: BEVAN READ/STUFF.CO.NZ

Air NZ lounge chairsNew features include:

- 24 different styles of seating.

- A new food theatre with cuisine cooked by the lounge's resident chef as well as a buffet

- A bar offering barista-made coffee, premium New Zealand wines and signature cocktails.

- A kids' area modelled on a Kiwi tree house with books, interactive toys and children's programmes.

- A business zone with charging, Wi-Fi and printing facilities.

- More than 300 powerpoints and more than 300 USB outlets.

What do you think of the new lounge? Let us know in the comments.

 - Stuff

JOHN ANTHONY