Review: Singapore Airlines Business Class Lounge Singapore Airport

Review: Singapore Airlines Business Class Lounge Singapore Airport

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With my flight from Guangzhou arriving at around 12:30PM and my flight to Sydney departing at around 8:30PM, I had a very long layover. I could have gotten a day room at an airport hotel, though I had some work to do given that I had just gotten off of nearly 24 hours of flights without Wi-Fi. If I have to spend eight hours at an airport, there’s no place I’d rather do so than Changi Airport… at least if you take lounges out of the equation.

Upon arrival my first stop was the Singapore Airlines Business Class Lounge in Terminal 3. This is Singapore Airlines’ flagship business class lounge, and it had been a while since I’ve visited it, and even longer since I reviewed it (my last review of the lounge was in 2013). Terminal 3 is such a joy to walk around.


Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 3


Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 3

The Singapore Airlines Lounge is open 24 hours per day, and is located near one of the immigration checkpoints by the “A” gates. There’s an escalator leading up to the lounges, as there are several next to one another.


Escalator to Singapore Airlines Lounge Changi Airport

The lounge I was using was the Singapore Airlines Business Class Lounge. Singapore Airlines has four types of lounges here — there’s the nearby KrisFlyer Gold Lounge (for Star Alliance Gold members), and then inside the main SilverKris Lounge is a first class section (for those traveling in first class on Star Alliance partner airlines and those arriving in Singapore Airlines first class and connecting to business class), and then there’s The Private Room, which is the exclusive lounge for those departing in Singapore Airlines first class.


Singapore Airlines Terminal 3 Lounge entrance Changi Airport

At the entrance to the SilverKris Lounge the business class section is straight ahead and to the left, while the entrance to the first class section and The Private Room are to the right (The Private Room is inside the first class section of the lounge, making it a lounge within a lounge within a lounge).


Singapore Airlines Terminal 3 Lounge entryway Changi Airport


Singapore Airlines Business Class Lounge entryway

The business class section of the lounge is huge, and has ample seating. The early afternoon is generally a quiet time here, as the busiest times are early in the morning and late at night. The lounge has hundreds of seats, so I’ll let the pictures of the seating setups speak mostly for themselves.


Singapore Airlines Business Class Lounge seating


Singapore Airlines Business Class Lounge seating


Singapore Airlines Business Class Lounge seating


Singapore Airlines Business Class Lounge seating


Singapore Airlines Business Class Lounge seating


Singapore Airlines Business Class Lounge seating


Singapore Airlines Lounge Changi Terminal 3


Singapore Airlines Business Class Lounge seating


Singapore Airlines Business Class Lounge seating


Singapore Airlines Business Class Lounge seating


Singapore Airlines Business Class Lounge seating

As you can see, there are no shortage of seating options. What there is a shortage of, however, is outlets. It’s 2018, so you’d think every seat would have both a USB outlet and a power port, but that wasn’t the case. I got so frustrated trying to find an outlet that I decided to sit in the business center.

The dining area is towards the front right of the lounge, and has some communal tables, as well as dining tables with 2-4 seats each.


Singapore Airlines Business Class Lounge seating


Singapore Airlines Business Class Lounge seating

Back towards the entrance of the lounge is an area with some communal workstations. This is near the entrance to the first class section, and this is also where the ticketing help desk is, in case you need help with any reservations.


Singapore Airlines Business Class Lounge business center

One of my gripes about the lounge is the lack of natural light. Even though I was there in the middle of the day, it may as well have been midnight, because there was very limited light. That’s in contrast to the rest of the airport, which features tons of natural light.

In terms of the food and drink selection, there were a few different setups. While there was one main area with food, there were several drink stations throughout the lounge.

In the back of the lounge was a drink station with wine, liquor, beer, soft drinks, coffee, and tea.


Singapore Airlines Business Class Lounge drink selection


Singapore Airlines Business Lounge liquor selection


Singapore Airlines Business Lounge wine selection


Singapore Airlines Business Lounge beer


Singapore Airlines Business Lounge coffee machine


Singapore Airlines Business Lounge drink selection

There were also mixed nuts and chips, though nothing else in the way of food.


Singapore Airlines Business Lounge snacks

Then back near the entrance was a pretty setup with tea, as well as more coffee machines, cereal, and wrapped sandwiches.


Singapore Airlines Business Class Lounge tea selection


Singapore Airlines Business Lounge coffee machines


Singapore Airlines Business Lounge food selection


Singapore Airlines Business Lounge food selection

Then there’s the main buffet area, which features both hot and cold options.


Singapore Airlines Business Lounge buffet

In my opinion the selection is just alright. It’s certainly not bad, though is completely unmemorable.


Singapore Airlines Business Lounge food selection


Singapore Airlines Business Lounge food selection


Singapore Airlines Business Lounge food selection


Singapore Airlines Business Lounge food selection

After spending a few hours in the lounge working I decided to take a shower to reenergize. Singapore Airlines has communal bathrooms in the lounge, and the showers are located inside the main bathroom facility. I don’t love this setup since you don’t have a toilet in the room, and the rooms are also on the small side.


Singapore Airlines Business Lounge shower room

The shower rooms have basic amenities, and then the bathroom has lots more amenities, should you need something else.


Singapore Airlines Business Lounge shower room

I ended up spending only a few hours in the lounge, and then decided to go into the terminal and sit there, as I found it was brighter and had a more pleasant atmosphere. I also decided to get a back massage at one of the airport spas, which helped pass the time.

My flight was scheduled to board from gate A2 at 8:10PM. The gate was just a short walk from the lounge.


Changi Airport departure gate

At Changi Airport security is at each individual gate, though since I headed to the gate over an hour before departure, and since no other flights were leaving from the set of gates, there was no wait. In general I don’t mind Changi having security at each individual gate, though do be aware that there’s no premium line for first & business class passengers, so you’ll be stuck waiting like everyone else.


Changi Airport departure gate

The gate area itself was beautiful and spacious, and boarding started right on time, at 8:10PM.


Changi Airport departure gate


Changi Airport departure gate

I was so excited to check out Singapore’s new A380 business class!

Singapore Airlines Business Class Lounge bottom line

Singapore Airlines’ flagship business class lounge isn’t bad. Unfortunately it’s nothing special either, which is a shame, since historically Singapore Airlines has been a real innovator and trendsetter.

What I didn’t love was the lack of outlets, the lack of natural light, the boring seating arrangements, and the lack of other amenities. The food isn’t noteworthy either.

Don’t get me wrong, no one will go to this lounge and say “how awful.” However, to me this isn’t a special lounge. We’ve seen airlines up their games when it comes to business class lounges by introducing things like spa treatments, a la carte dining, barista made drinks, live cooking stations, nap rooms, and much more, and Singapore Airlines has done none of that.

A decade ago this would have been considered one of the best airport lounges, though at this point I feel like the airline is just resting on their laurels. The good news is that the airline will shortly be renovating this lounge.

If you’ve visited Singapore Airlines’ business class lounge, what was your experience like?

Conversations (30)
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  1. Brian Reid Guest

    Here in the Singapore Airlines Business lounge typing this on a normal tues afternoon. Lounge is overcrowded and was very difficult to find seats together for family of 3
    Spike to staff at door asking about when it might be less crowded and they told me it gets worse later on - they offered to send me to gold lounge and said i might have more luck there. Very disappointing and disrespectful.

  2. Mini Guest

    Do Business class passengers with transit in Singapore get access to business class lounge at Changi Airport?

  3. Benji Guest

    There are no showers in T3 SQ Gold lounge, even the toilets are outside of lounge. OP must refer to First Class lounge. Inquired with agents and they confirmed it - must use Pay Lounges for showers.

    Traveled thru in Feb to JNB, what a huge decline over the past 6 yrs!
    A Hub should be their star. Staff looked sad and overworked.
    Overcrowded, full up, well worn furniture, no Gin only Vodka,...

    There are no showers in T3 SQ Gold lounge, even the toilets are outside of lounge. OP must refer to First Class lounge. Inquired with agents and they confirmed it - must use Pay Lounges for showers.

    Traveled thru in Feb to JNB, what a huge decline over the past 6 yrs!
    A Hub should be their star. Staff looked sad and overworked.
    Overcrowded, full up, well worn furniture, no Gin only Vodka, no bubbly wine, 2 cheap wines, 1 small bench of chips & cookies, soup - no real food at 8 pm.
    This looks exactly like a UA lounge in the US - exhausted & wornout.

    New favourite airline is EVA - TPE lounges are modern and fully stocked, fantastic planes & happy staff all around. * Gold has access to both lounges.
    SQ planes are old, seats are small & squished and staff are grumpy now, big change.

  4. Carrie Gold

    Off topic, but I find even The Private Room no longer competes favourably with the standard of say Emirates F Lounge in Dubai which is why I am no longer PPS in favour of Oneworld status.

  5. Charles / Shanghai Diamond

    Unfortunately, I have to agree with this review of Singapore Airlines' business lounge in Changi Airport; I was there last July when I found the medicore food and lack of natural lighting gace this lounge an underwehlming feel

    The CX lounges in Hongkong and Malaysian Airlines in Kuala Lumpur were both more pleasant having barista-made coffess and plenty of natural lighting; appreciate your honest reviews

  6. Justin Guest

    The SilverKris Lounge in T2 is even less impressive. Decor, design and amenities are roughly the same but if I recall it felt even more like a basement. Neither lounge has natural light, but the T3 lounge at least has a row of dark windows over looking the shopping area of the terminal. I agree with others that the SQ lounges are especially disappointing when compared to CX's amazing HKG lounges. Talk about night and...

    The SilverKris Lounge in T2 is even less impressive. Decor, design and amenities are roughly the same but if I recall it felt even more like a basement. Neither lounge has natural light, but the T3 lounge at least has a row of dark windows over looking the shopping area of the terminal. I agree with others that the SQ lounges are especially disappointing when compared to CX's amazing HKG lounges. Talk about night and day difference between two airlines which are supposed to be very comparable.

  7. Azamaraal Diamond

    Used the silver kris lounge in Taipei last week. It was dismal but marginally better than the EVA Air lounge which was pitiful. At least the food in the SQ lounge was edible (Singaporean food is always edible). There were only two wines of marginal quality. Staff was friendly.

    Sounds like the Changi lounge is not much better. I remember the days when an SQ lounge was delightful.

  8. CR Member

    @Lucky - The "communal" A gates that you departed from should have had priority security lines on the far right lane. Flew out of that exact same gate area last year in Business Class and it had it. Also recently flew SQ to the US from one of the individual gates and that one had a priority line as well.

    Also, really glad to see they upgraded the coffee machines! Last year when I...

    @Lucky - The "communal" A gates that you departed from should have had priority security lines on the far right lane. Flew out of that exact same gate area last year in Business Class and it had it. Also recently flew SQ to the US from one of the individual gates and that one had a priority line as well.

    Also, really glad to see they upgraded the coffee machines! Last year when I visited they were terrible and one was busted.

    But yes, the lounge is otherwise a massive disappointment. SQ got complacent when they were regarded as "the best" and that complacency has caught up with them.

  9. Abe A Guest

    I like the carpeting throughout Changi. Soft, quiet on the luggage rollers.
    For the free Singapore tour, does SQ provide visa if needed?

  10. Glenn New Member

    Rather “meh” for a flagship lounge at homebase. CX does an excellent job with their homebase lounges at HKG, as does TK at IST though it seems overrun & chaotic at times.

  11. Bec Guest

    Wow. You visited the lounge during an empty time! Was there a few weeks ago and had to do laps around the lounge just to find a spare seat.

  12. Tony Guest

    Its depressing when even the AA flagship lounges are nicer. no wonder SQ is not making any profits and losing money, they've become complacent and just rely on their reputation and namesake to attract customers.

  13. Marty Guest

    @jubilee @dale was there Thursday night at 10pm, full, noisy, people and bags everywhere, a lot of people hunting for seats, did two laps, complained to front desk and wrote in formal complaint. Left. Complete joke that SQ terminal doesn’t have close to enough lounge space for their business pax.

  14. CT Guest

    @CS - A 3 star Airline...really

    I would love to hear your top 3 airlines in the world...your probably another brainwashed American so I would guess the big 2 and Trump Airlines...

    Comments are like A-holes everybody's got one..... big or small and only good for dumping s&*$

  15. Mark Guest

    ditto eagerflyer:
    for singapore airlines, and for all the hype, id really expect a better lounge than this… cathay bz lounge beats it
    ditto david: Over the years SQ has deteriorated to a level that most certainly does not reflect the perception of glamour it still attempts to portray .Once a beacon of exemplary service ,innovation and customer focused experience now simply a lackluster airline with a uncompetitive loyalty program ,inconsistent on board...

    ditto eagerflyer:
    for singapore airlines, and for all the hype, id really expect a better lounge than this… cathay bz lounge beats it
    ditto david: Over the years SQ has deteriorated to a level that most certainly does not reflect the perception of glamour it still attempts to portray .Once a beacon of exemplary service ,innovation and customer focused experience now simply a lackluster airline with a uncompetitive loyalty program ,inconsistent on board service both soft and hard product and dated lounges as confirmed in the review. Once a avid elite level supporter now no longer, the competition just offers so much more. An airline that has lost its way and offers very little to reignite my support .

    the world's most sexist airline needs a makeover. spare us the ads and marketing media.

  16. Justin Guest

    Couldn't agree more with Lucky's assessment of SQ's flagship lounge. It's alright, but does not at all live up to the expectations one would have for one of the world's most lauded airlines. As Lucky pointed out, the poor showers, lack of natural light, mediocre food and limited amenities relative to newer and more innovative lounges are disappointing. I've tried SQ's lounges at TPE, SIN (both T2 and T3) and LHR T2 and none have...

    Couldn't agree more with Lucky's assessment of SQ's flagship lounge. It's alright, but does not at all live up to the expectations one would have for one of the world's most lauded airlines. As Lucky pointed out, the poor showers, lack of natural light, mediocre food and limited amenities relative to newer and more innovative lounges are disappointing. I've tried SQ's lounges at TPE, SIN (both T2 and T3) and LHR T2 and none have impressed. None can compare to any of the world's really great lounges.

  17. dale Guest

    8 pm not a seat in the house, and lots of rude behavior with otherwise empty chairs piled up with extra bags. I asked if there was a place to leave a bag for a little while, even just a corner or some shelves, and reps were unpleasantly firm there was no such thing and very definitely not their policy to accommodate such a request.

    5 am staff is much nicer and you'll have it all to yourself (duh).

  18. Rona Guest

    Agree about the “Gold” lounge - very mediocre with very limited choices. The only toilets are the public ones outside the lounge and the staff were miserable - not the usual SQ smiley faces. Felt like a second class citizen.

  19. Matthewsf Guest

    Agree with most that the quality is pretty sub-par considering the image the airline tries to convey. On my last few times flying out of there as a Star Alliance Gold visiting the ‘regular’ Kris Flyer lounge for Golds, I was really unimpressed with the offerings.

    Ben, with such a long layover, why not hop on the metro/subway (or taxi) and go into town to walk around and get something to eat? Seems like a long time to be stuck out there. :)

  20. Jubilee777 Guest

    Unfortunately the SilverKris business lounge gets very full during peak hours. Was there on Saturday night but no seats available at all.

  21. David Guest

    Over the years SQ has deteriorated to a level that most certainly does not reflect the perception of glamour it still attempts to portray .Once a beacon of exemplary service ,innovation and customer focused experience now simply a lackluster airline with a uncompetitive loyalty program ,inconsistent on board service both soft and hard product and dated lounges as confirmed in the review. Once a avid elite level supporter now no longer, the competition just offers...

    Over the years SQ has deteriorated to a level that most certainly does not reflect the perception of glamour it still attempts to portray .Once a beacon of exemplary service ,innovation and customer focused experience now simply a lackluster airline with a uncompetitive loyalty program ,inconsistent on board service both soft and hard product and dated lounges as confirmed in the review. Once a avid elite level supporter now no longer, the competition just offers so much more. An airline that has lost its way and offers very little to reignite my support .

  22. leo Guest

    USA shot down many of these planes too.
    for example https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran_Air_Flight_655
    so what?

  23. N Guest

    @Lucky I don’t think your lounge access rules are quite right - you can enter the Private Room if you are arriving first departing another class of service *as long as the next flight is an SQ/MI flight*

  24. CS Guest

    Overhyped airline that is really a mediocre 3 star but people talk it up like it got 5+. The lounges really are all bad. Cheap food. No light. No USB. I tried to get a blanket once and got blank stares back. Nothing but a simple coffee machine that was broken last time. No barista like Cathay or Turkish have (airlines that are way less hyped).
    On board - no amenity kit in business...

    Overhyped airline that is really a mediocre 3 star but people talk it up like it got 5+. The lounges really are all bad. Cheap food. No light. No USB. I tried to get a blanket once and got blank stares back. Nothing but a simple coffee machine that was broken last time. No barista like Cathay or Turkish have (airlines that are way less hyped).
    On board - no amenity kit in business ever. Sits that are wider than they're long. Impossible to sleep on, bad to sit on. Service that immediately breaks down if you want to meander from the studied-in assembly line approach. On many routes (such as to Perth) they still fly almost 20 year old seats 'Spacebed' in their 777-200s.
    Prices on Krisflyer got increased by quite a lot last year. Stopovers are not permitted anymore on 'Saver' awards. Etc etc. i could name numerous more things.

  25. Tabea Guest

    @John - of course you can stay at the lounge until almost the last minute. Because security is at the gate, once you reach the gate, everybody still in the queue will be other pax getting on the exact same flight. So there is no issue of being delayed by pax joining other flights. And once you are at the gate, the staff can see that you are there so even if you are a little late, it would be a really mean person who would not let you through.

  26. John Guest

    I used this lounge back in January on my way back from Australia. While it was a large lounge, there was not enough seating for everyone. Which is pretty poor. There was also a queue for showers. And I wasn't impressed by the food selection.

    Also, because Changi does security at the gate, it's not possible to stay at the lounge until the last possible minute as you might do in other airports.

  27. Endre Guest

    I used to be a frequent visitor of the first class section of SilverKris Lounge and also the Private Room (flying 70% of my time in First Class ). They are decent but I prefer Cathay (the wing cabannas and the Pier First) and JAL these days.

  28. eagerflyer Guest

    for singapore airlines, and for all the hype, id really expect a better lounge than this... cathay bz lounge beats it

  29. UGC New Member

    Could not agree more. There are plenty of lounges around the world, including SQ's, which are way better than those in SIN. What a shame...

  30. Paolo Diamond

    I used to fly SQ a lot but stopped around 10 years ago. As far as I can tell that lounge is the same as it was late 90s, early 00s...so it's rising 20 without a major reno. Clearly overdue but also testament to just how good it was back then.

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Brian Reid Guest

Here in the Singapore Airlines Business lounge typing this on a normal tues afternoon. Lounge is overcrowded and was very difficult to find seats together for family of 3 Spike to staff at door asking about when it might be less crowded and they told me it gets worse later on - they offered to send me to gold lounge and said i might have more luck there. Very disappointing and disrespectful.

0
Mini Guest

Do Business class passengers with transit in Singapore get access to business class lounge at Changi Airport?

0
Benji Guest

There are no showers in T3 SQ Gold lounge, even the toilets are outside of lounge. OP must refer to First Class lounge. Inquired with agents and they confirmed it - must use Pay Lounges for showers. Traveled thru in Feb to JNB, what a huge decline over the past 6 yrs! A Hub should be their star. Staff looked sad and overworked. Overcrowded, full up, well worn furniture, no Gin only Vodka, no bubbly wine, 2 cheap wines, 1 small bench of chips & cookies, soup - no real food at 8 pm. This looks exactly like a UA lounge in the US - exhausted & wornout. New favourite airline is EVA - TPE lounges are modern and fully stocked, fantastic planes & happy staff all around. * Gold has access to both lounges. SQ planes are old, seats are small & squished and staff are grumpy now, big change.

0
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