Singapore Changi airport has become a great airport for OneWorld premium travellers and frequent flyers. About five years ago both British Airways and Qantas opened two rather pleasant lounges in terminal 1. A few months ago Qantas also opened a First Class Lounge and in the beginning of 2020 Qatar Airways opened its new Premium Lounge.
The Qatar Airways Premium Lounge is located in terminal 1, just like the other three OneWorld lounges. After passing through passport control, make a left turn. The lounge is located in the same area as the Plaza Premium Lounge and the Emirates Lounge one floor above the main transit hall.
The Singapore Lounge is the fifth lounge in the Qatar Airways network after London Heathrow, Paris CDG, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi and of course Doha.
Just like the other Qatar Airways lounges you need a business class or first class ticket to get in. A OneWorld Sapphire or Emerald card travelling in economy class will not give you access. If you travel in Qatar Airways economy class you will be directed to the SATS Premier Lounge in terminal 1. On the other hand you do get in if you travel in business class or first class on another OneWorld carrier.
According to the webpage the lounge is open from 7.30 am until 2 am, i.e. during most of the day. However at least in March 2020 the reality was quite different. The lounge was only open in connection with the Qatar Airways departures from Singapore. From 8 am to 11 am in connection with the departure of QR 943. From 5.30 pm to 8 pm in connection with the departure of QR 947. And from 11 pm to 2 am in connection with the departure of QR 945.
So what does the lounge look like inside? Let’s have a look.
Straight after the entrance there is a rather spacious and elegant lobby and just like the other Qatar Airways lounges there is no real reception desk, instead a receptionist will approach you and use a handheld scanner to scan your boarding pass.
The lobby also has the signature Marhaba stand-stone with fresh white orchids. In this area there are also storage facilities for larger pieces of hand luggage.
As you pass through the lobby and a small corridor you enter the main lounge, or rather the first part of the main lounge.
In this area there are seating areas with comfortable sofas and armchairs in brown and orange as well as individual rather secluded cubicles.
Just around the corner from the entrance there is a small business centre with internet computers. In this area there is also a rack with newspapers and magazines.
There is also a small bar counter in here with soft drinks and cocktail snacks. Overall this is a beautiful part of the lounge, just like an elegant living room, which makes a wonderful first impression.
The Qatar Airways Premium Lounge basically has a layout in the shape of a T. As you continue straight ahead you reach the next room of the lounge with the manned bar. The circular-shaped bar has pretty much everything you may want such as wines and champagne, cocktails, mocktails and spirits.
In the same area there is a self-service buffet with all kinds of snacks, vegetables, sandwiches and cold cuts.
As you enter the bar and buffet area there is a small dining area on the left hand side. In this area you will also find the cool botanical wall.
On the right hand side of the bar and buffet area is the second dining area, a much larger one with nicely decorated tables. Perfect if you want to have a proper meal in the lounge.
And finally, right behind this dining area, there is a second seating area with sofas and armchairs in brown and orange. This is a more relaxed spaces with armchairs, bookshelves and a large TV. Right behind it you will also find an area with showers and restrooms.
The lounge measures 700 sqm with capacity for 85 guests. In the press release they mention that the lounge has seven different seating areas named the Principal Lounge, Quiet Pods, Garden Bistro, High Seating, Martini Bar, Brasserie and Private Lounge.
Although this may technically be true it does make the lounge sound larger than it really is. With 700 sqm it is still an average-sized lounge and although there may be seven different types of seating there are not really seven different seating areas in the lounge.
As you arrive and take a seat in the lounge a lounge attendant will offer you the signature welcome drink, which is a smoothie. I also ordered a glass of champagne from the manned bar where there were two to choose between.
There is a proper and rather extensive a la carte menu available on top of the items available for self service in the buffet area.
The selection varies depending on the time of the day with breakfast items in the morning and other dishes with appetisers, main courses an desserts for lunch and dinner. The selection is surprisingly extensive for such a small lounge given there are only three Qatar Airways departures per day.
There is also a rather extensive drink list and the wine list and the selection is definitely not bad for a business class lounge.
And full marks for both the selection and the presentation of the food. You can easily have a proper three-course lunch or dinner with wines, coffee and liqueurs served at the table.
Read a review of a dinner in the a la carte restaurant here!
The service in the lounge is phenomenal, very friendly and attentive. All the food available in the a la carte menu is made-to-order and served at the table, just like in a proper restaurant. And the staff really do it brilliantly and very elegantly.
Final impression
Overall this is a fabulous lounge which is well worth a visit and well worth arriving an hour earlier to visit. There is no access if you travel in economy class as Sapphire or Emerald but you do get in flying business class on for example British Airways or Malaysia Airlines.
The interior is very elegant and the selection of food from the a la carte menu and the selection of drinks from the drink list and wine list are both incredibly impressive, especially for a such a small lounge with only three flights per day. And not to forget, the staff in the lounge are fantastic.
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