I arrived in Singapore on KLM not quite sure how I would get to California, but ended up booking flights on Malaysia Airlines to Tokyo via Kuala Lumpur. That gave me a chance to lounge hop at Singapore Changi Airport (SIN), including at the Qatar Airways Premium Lounge, a lounge which greatly exceeded my expectations.
Qatar Airways Lounge Singapore
I’ve raved about the Qatar Airways lounges in Doha before, including the Al Mourjan Business Class Lounge and the Al Safwa First Class Lounge. Not only is Qatar Airways excellent onboard, but offers a superb ground product as well. This, however, was my first visit to an outstation lounge. How would it measure up?
My first question was why Qatar Airways even has a lounge. After all, SIN has three other oneworld lounges including a British Airways, Cathay Pacific, and Qantas lounges. But whatever the reason (and I would wager it is to control the ground product at a sprawling airport…the same reason Emirates has outstation lounges too), this lounge is a hidden gem.
Access rules require that you be on a same-day oneworld flight in business or first class. Thus, unlike the lovely Qantas First lounge, this is not a oneworld Emerald lounge. My flight from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur was only about an hour long, but I splurged for business class specifically to access this lounge.
The seating area is comfortable, with seats near the entrance and in the rear of the L-shaped lounge.
In the middle, is a dining room and bar.
In the very rear, restrooms and showers.
There’s a small buffet, though if you want to eat something heartier I recommend you sit down in the restaurant.
I enjoyed a dinner in the lounge that really surprised me: I found it exceeded the quality of food even in the Singapore Private Room and Qantas First Class Lounge. Of course, that could be because I have a major soft spot for lamb…
But it really felt like being in Doha, with a full menu of food and drinks and superb attentive service by the lounge staff. I began with buffalo mozzarella (drizzled in balsamic vinegar and topped in strawberries) which was light and the perfect mashing of flavors.
For the main course, lamb cutlets which were perfectly prepared medium rare.
Finally, fresh berries to conclude the meal.
While flight catering ex-Singapore is usually above average, stopping by this lounge prior to your flight is an even better option.
CONCLUSION
I took hundreds to pictures and will post a full review when the trip report kicks off, but I wanted to post these brief first impressions primarily because this lounge surprised me in such a positive way. The Qantas First Lounge has superior coffee, but I found the food and service in the Qatar Premium Lounge to be even better.
Looks like a really nice lounge.
Sadly this lounge only opens 1800 to 0300 to cater to QR947 and 945. I was on QR943 in business and couldn’t use this lounge, and the only other lounge open at the time that I could use, the SATS lounge, was at full capacity. Such a shame.
You’re right. I used it at 1am…the hours are not ideal.
As of July 1 2023, the lounge is open for morning service as well (QR943)
But since when does this lounge allow oneworld access? It used to be Qatar ticketed pax only.
I got in on Malaysia Airlines ticket.
I’ll be flying JAL in J (10pm flight) in a few months. I was planning to visit the Qantas First lounge (have OW Emerald status). If I can avoid eating earlier that day in Singapore (ha!), I could try both lounges. If I needed to choose one, which should it be based on dining and atmosphere?
From his own words in the conclusion:
“The Qantas First Lounge has superior coffee, but I found the food and service in the Qatar Premium Lounge to be even better.”
I used it recently before a BA flight- not sure if something was broken but it was very warm/stuffy and they had no chef as it was between their two flights (though I think that isn’t a usual problem – labour shortages plague many businesses in Singapore currently). So I was a little disappointed!
But beautiful lounge and I was the only one in there which was a change vs the BA lounge which can be pretty much standing room only
Cathay lounge is in T4 which unlike T1-3 isn’t connected airside to any other terminal. So in effect the Cathay lounge really only serves CX passengers.
Well, you’re right it is not convenient, but I used it too. Had some great lakhsa.
I think QR had no other choice but the open their own lounge in SIN because other OW lounge just cannot fit their operation needs. While many believe LAX might be QFs main overseas base, many are wrong, SIN functions as a secondary hub to QF with destinations to PER, SYD, ADE, MEL, BNE, LHR meaning to say their lounges will be filled to the brim during rush hours, BA lounge operates at hours where no one else flies, CX like someone else says is in another terminal that is not connected. Worst still OW has no lounge operating beyond mid night, hence QRs decision.