Day One:LAX & Air New Zealand

After a brief hop from YVR to LAX on Air Canada, we found ourselves in the Air New Zealand lounge at LAX. Walking to the frosted sliding glass entrance with the internationally recognizable aroma of the Starbucks rising up from below, we are greeted in the 2nd story lounge by three staff. The lounge itself is spacious - modernist angular club chairs are aplenty but of course, we head straight for the corian bar and open our laptops, connecting instantly to the lounge's WiFi. With complimentary drinks both alcoholic and non to fuel our 3-hour rest lounge-time, we are also presented with appetizer quesidillas by a roaming hostess. To our left, the wall of windows overlooks planes departing and arriving and bring an airy light to oblong space of the lounge. Across from us, a lovely gentleman chats on Skype to his wife while another passenger visits the food bar, picking up an assortman of cold cuts, cheeses, fresh fruit, and salad. I look to my right and can't help but eye the full-sized bottles of Marquis de la Tour brut champagne and various New Zealand wines. The lounge is a cool and comfortable place to relax and stretch out between flights.