I was flying from Singapore to Hong Kong on Cathay Pacific shortly after 8PM, so my goal was to check out both the Cathay Pacific Lounge and Qantas Lounge. Since the Qantas Lounge opens at 2:30PM, my initial plan was to go there first and then later go to the Cathay Pacific Lounge.
However, due to Changi Airport’s absurd boarding pass rules, I ended up visiting the Cathay Pacific Lounge briefly during the day, which is what this review is based on.
In this post I’m not just going to review the Cathay Pacific Lounge, but will also share my thoughts on Changi Terminal 4.
Singapore Changi Terminal 4 Review
Terminal 4 is the newest addition to Changi Airport, as it opened in late 2017. Changi is known as being one of the best airports in the world, and Terminal 4 was supposed to be an extension of that.
Terminal 4 is used largely by low cost carriers, like AirAsia and Cebu Pacific, though also by some full service airlines, including Cathay Pacific and Korean Air.
Let’s start with the negatives. What’s awful about Terminal 4 is the location. While the other terminals are connected airside (meaning you can easily travel between terminals by frequent train service), Terminal 4 is completely disconnected.
The only way to get between Terminal 4 and the other terminals is by bus, and it’s a rather unpleasant bus ride at that.
Another thing that makes Terminal 4 different is that there’s a central security checkpoint, so as soon as you check in you go through security. This is in stark contrast to the rest of the airport, where security is at each individual gate.
With that out of the way, how is the terminal as such? Really pretty.
The check-in hall is gorgeous…
Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 4 check-in hall
Security at the central checkpoint was quick, though they do now force you to go through a duty free “maze,” which isn’t the case in any of the other terminals (then again, the other terminals are basically just shopping malls that happen to have gates as well).
Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 4 duty free
Aesthetically I’d say this is the prettiest terminal at the airport, thanks to the amount of natural light, the high ceilings, and the design elements.
Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 4 airside
Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 4 airside
Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 4 airside
Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 4 airside
So yeah, Terminal 4 is really pretty, but also really inconvenient, whether you’re connecting, coming from the Jewel, or whatever else, given how far it is from the other terminals.
Cathay Pacific Lounge Singapore Changi Review
Cathay Pacific operates their own lounge at Changi Airport Terminal 4, so let’s talk about the location, hours, access requirements, layout, food & drinks, and other amenities.
Cathay Pacific Lounge Singapore Location
The Cathay Pacific Lounge is located in Terminal 4. Once you pass through security, just keep walking for a bit, and you’ll see escalators around the middle of the terminal leading up a level.
Changi Terminal 4 escalators to lounges
Take those up, and then walk straight ahead and to the right, and you’ll see the Cathay Pacific Lounge’s sleek exterior on the right.
Cathay Pacific Lounge Singapore signage
Cathay Pacific Lounge Singapore exterior
Cathay Pacific Lounge Singapore Hours
The Cathay Pacific Lounge is open daily from 4AM until 1AM, so covers all Cathay Pacific departures. Singapore is a huge station for Cathay Pacific, between their frequent flights to Hong Kong, as well as their daily flight to Bangkok.
Cathay Pacific Lounge Singapore Access Requirements
The Cathay Pacific Lounge is open to all business class passengers, as well as oneworld Emerald and Sapphire members.
Note that in theory passengers on other oneworld airlines could use the lounge as well, but due to Terminal 4 being removed from the other terminals, that’s not really practical.
For what it’s worth, this lounge doesn’t have a separate first class or oneworld Emerald section, as the Cathay Pacific lounges in Hong Kong and London have.
Cathay Pacific Lounge Singapore Layout & Seating
The Cathay Pacific Lounge Singapore has seating for just over 200 guests, and is about 850 square meters (~9,150 square feet).
The lounge features Cathay Pacific’s new-style lounge decor, which I love.
Just inside the lounge there was a hallway running the length of the dining area, and leading to the business center and bathrooms on one end, and the lounge’s main seating area on the other end.
Cathay Pacific Lounge Singapore entryway
Cathay Pacific Lounge Singapore entryway
The lounge has a huge dining area, which includes booths, communal tables, and even the signature Cathay Pacific noodle bar.
Cathay Pacific Lounge Singapore dining area
Cathay Pacific Lounge Singapore noodle bar
Cathay Pacific Lounge Singapore noodle bar
Cathay Pacific Lounge Singapore dining area
Further into the lounge there’s some high-top seating, as well as a table that looks more decorative than anything else.
Cathay Pacific Lounge Singapore dining area
Cathay Pacific Lounge Singapore dining area
Past that is the non-dining area of the lounge, which features a bunch of cozy couches and chairs.
Cathay Pacific Lounge Changi seating
Cathay Pacific Lounge Changi seating
Cathay Pacific Lounge Changi seating
Cathay Pacific Lounge Changi seating
Cathay Pacific Lounge Changi seating
Cathay Pacific Lounge Changi seating
One downside of the lounge is that most of the views are of the interior of the terminal, rather than having views of the apron.
Cathay Pacific Lounge Changi view
On the far other end of the lounge is a small business center with a couple of iMacs.
Cathay Pacific Lounge Changi business center
Near the business center are the bathrooms, which are nice. However, the Cathay Pacific Lounge Singapore doesn’t have showers.
Cathay Pacific Lounge Singapore bathrooms
Cathay Pacific Lounge Singapore Food & Drinks
The lounge has a couple of different self serve food and drink areas, in addition to the noodle bar.
Cathay Pacific Lounge Singapore buffet
The self serve food selection looked alright, though hardly that appealing. There was cheese, a few types of salad, and veggies.
Cathay Pacific Lounge Changi buffet
Then there were about half a dozen hot dishes.
Cathay Pacific Lounge Changi buffet
Cathay Pacific Lounge Changi buffet
Cathay Pacific Lounge Changi buffet
Cathay Pacific Lounge Changi buffet
Cathay Pacific Lounge Singapore buffet
Dessert options were limited to some pandan cake and cookies, and there was also some snack mix.
Cathay Pacific Lounge Singapore buffet
Cathay Pacific Lounge Singapore buffet
As far as I’m concerned they could just drop the self serve food altogether, because of the excellent noodle bar, which has a variety of dishes, including:
- Wonton noodles
- Chicken laksa
- Pork noodles
- Hainan chicken rice
- Vegetarian noodles
- Dim Sum
Cathay Pacific Lounge Changi noodle bar
I had some dim sum, which was excellent.
Cathay Pacific Lounge Singapore dim sum
As far as drinks go, there was a self serve coffee machine (I wish they’d have barista coffee), juice, water, wine, beer, and liquor.
Cathay Pacific Lounge Changi coffee machine
Cathay Pacific Lounge Changi drinks
Cathay Pacific Lounge Changi wine & liquor
Cathay Pacific Lounge Changi drinks
The drink selection seemed fairly modest, though the Moet champagne stood out.
Cathay Pacific Lounge Singapore Bottom Line
The Cathay Pacific Lounge Singapore is an excellent outstation lounge. This lounge has beautiful decor, and the noodle bar is always a treat. The one thing worth being aware of is that this lounge doesn’t have showers, so if you need a shower you’ll want to visit another lounge.
As far as Terminal 4 goes, I found the terminal to be beautiful, the nicest of any at Changi Airport. However, the fact that it’s disconnected from the rest of the airport makes this rather inconvenient, especially if you’re connecting.
If you’ve visited Cathay Pacific’s Changi Lounge, what was your experience like?
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