Let me start by saying that I’ve already reviewed The Private Room a few times before, so feel free to check out my previous reviews here, here, and here.
We took a taxi to Changi Airport, and arrived at around 8AM for our 10:45AM departure. Usually Singapore cabbies speak great English (or else they wouldn’t be able to consistently tell stories with not-so-subtle racist overtones), but this one didn’t. We damn near got into an accident in trying to direct him to make the left turn towards the first class check-in area, since it’s in a totally different wing of the terminal.
Singapore Airlines first class check-in driveway
In the past when I’ve used first class check-in it has been mostly empty, though in this case it was packed. I took the below pictures after most people left, but when we first arrived there were about two dozen people in the first class check-in area.
Singapore Airlines first class check-in
Singapore Airlines first class check-in
An agent took our passports, and we were invited to take a seat. She returned about 15 minutes later with our boarding passes, immigration form, and “golden tickets” (aka invitations to The Private Room).
Singapore Airlines first class check-in
Singapore Airlines first class boarding passes
Singapore Airlines has a dedicated immigration queue for first class passengers. There were a couple of people ahead of us, and one of them took about 10 minutes to be processed. Changi Airport also has e-gates, and someone tried to use them, though for whatever reason it was rejected. He tried to cut everyone else in line, though the immigration officer told him he needed to wait in line with everyone else. He lost it and started yelling at the immigration officer. Now, I try not to yell at anyone, but I sure as hell wouldn’t yell at an immigration officer. 😉
Singapore Changi Airport terminal
Soon enough we were through immigration, which leads down a short hallway and into the terminal.
Singapore Changi Airport first class immigration hallway
The Changi terminal is gorgeous, arguably the nicest in the world.
Changi Airport terminal
The SilverKris Lounge is located at the top of the escalator, just a short walk from immigration.
Escalator to SilverKris Lounge
We handed the agent our invitation to The Private Room, and she escorted us there. The hilarious thing is that The Private Room is inside the first class lounge, and the first class lounge is inside the business class lounge. So purely in terms of the physical exclusivity of accessing the lounge, I don’t think anything can top The Private Room.
SilverKris Lounge Singapore entrance
So who gets access to The Private Room? Those flying outbound in Singapore Airlines first class. The first class lounge, on the other hand, is for those connecting from first class on Singapore Airlines, those flying first class on Star Alliance partners, PPS members, etc.
The Private Room isn’t huge, though it is beautifully decorated. Thanks to lots of partitions between seating areas, it feels much bigger than it actually is.
Singapore Airlines Private Room Singapore
While there are a couple of peak times during the day, I find that it’s rarely overcrowded.
Singapore Airlines Private Room Singapore
Singapore Airlines Private Room Singapore
Singapore Airlines Private Room Singapore
Singapore Airlines Private Room Singapore
Singapore Airlines Private Room Singapore
In the back of The Private Room are a couple of small private rooms, each with a chair with ottoman and side table. They have a door that closes, which is convenient if you want to make a phone call, join the zero mile high club, etc.
Singapore Airlines Private Room Singapore
Across from those rooms are a couple of iMacs.
Singapore Airlines Private Room business center Singapore
And then in the very back of the lounge is a family room.
Singapore Airlines Private Room family room Singapore
The bathroom is near the entrance, which is also where the showers are. Personally I’m not a huge fan of it, since the shower rooms are inside the bathroom, so they’re not as private as in other lounges.
Singapore Airlines Private Room bathroom Singapore
Singapore Airlines Private Room shower Singapore
Singapore Airlines Private Room shower Singapore
Arguably the most elegant part of the lounge is the dining area, which is triangular in shape.
Singapore Airlines Private Room dining area Singapore
Singapore Airlines Private Room dining area Singapore
Singapore Airlines Private Room breakfast Singapore
To me the dining concept is a bit confusing. There’s an a la carte menu, and then possibly the least extensive buffet I’ve seen in my life.
Singapore Airlines Private Room buffet Singapore
We were there at breakfast time, so the buffet just had toast, yogurt, finger sandwiches, and cold cuts. Very, very odd, in my opinion…
Singapore Airlines Private Room buffet Singapore
Singapore Airlines Private Room buffet Singapore
Singapore Airlines Private Room buffet Singapore
Singapore Airlines Private Room buffet Singapore
Singapore Airlines Private Room buffet Singapore
Singapore Airlines Private Room buffet Singapore
Singapore Airlines Private Room buffet Singapore
Then there’s also a menu, which isn’t huge, but is top notch in quality.
The breakfast menu read as follows:
I ordered a cappuccino to start.
Singapore Airlines Private Room cappuccino Singapore
Then I ordered roti prata for breakfast, which was delicious though outrageously spicy.
Singapore Airlines Private Room roti prata Singapore
Meanwhile my dad ordered cooked to order eggs.
Singapore Airlines Private Room eggs Singapore
We also ordered a side of dim sum to share.
Singapore Airlines Private Room dim sum Singapore
Service in The Private Room is attentive, both in the dining area and in the rest of the lounge. After breakfast we took a seat in the main lounge area, and servers stopped by every so often to check on us. I tried to get some work done, though Wi-Fi in the lounge is excruciatingly slow.
Singapore Airlines Private Room champagne Singapore
Lastly, it’s worth noting that The Private Room features tarmac and runway views, though they’re somewhat obstructed due to the way the windows are designed.
Singapore Airlines Private Room view Singapore
Our flight was departing at 10:45AM, so we left the lounge at around 9:45AM, since at Changi Airport security is at the individual gates.
Changi terminal
Changi terminal
Changi terminal
We were departing from gate A14, which was maybe a 10 minute walk away.
Garuda A330 Changi Airport
Security took about 15 minutes, as they unfortunately don’t have a priority queue. That’s why in general I recommend arriving last minute as a first class passenger. The flight won’t leave if someone is queuing at that exact checkpoint, and that way you can enjoy the lounge longer and not wait in line.
Departure gate Changi Airport
Boarding was eventually called at 10:15AM, starting with first and business class.
Singapore Airlines 777 Changi Airport
Departure gate Changi Airport
My dad was excited for his first visit to Australia!
Singapore Airlines Private Room bottom line
The Private Room feels really exclusive, possibly among the most exclusive lounges out there. The fact that it’s a lounge within a lounge within a lounge alone conveys that feeling.
That being said, I’d rank this lounge one grade below the world’s top first class lounges, which to me include the Air France First Class Lounge Paris, Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai, Lufthansa First Class Terminal in Frankfurt, and Thai Airways First Class Lounge & Spa in Bangkok.
The service in The Private Room is excellent, and the quality of the food is very good. That being said, I find the food concept a bit confusing, and there aren’t really any amenities in the lounge outside of the restaurant. There are no gorgeous shower suites, a spa, nap rooms, entertainment rooms, etc.
If you’ve visited The Private Room, what was your experience like?
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