After my recent visit to the Qantas Lounge in Hong Kong, I was really looking forward to visiting the Qantas International Business Lounge at Singapore Changi. Today I was flying oneworld partner, British Airways, to Sydney, so also had access to this airport lounge. There are four oneworld lounges at Singapore Changi, with three in the main international terminal, Terminal 1, also known as the Jewel.
The Qantas International Business Lounge at Singapore Changi has capacity for over 460 passengers. And today, this capacity was being used to the max for Qantas’ 5 daily evening flights to Australia, and daily evening QF1 flight to London. To Australia, Qantas has 2 daily flights to Melbourne, 2 daily flights to Sydney and 1 daily flight to Brisbane from Singapore. I was unfortunately flying in the evening (British Airways’ BA15 Sydney flight), but tried to schedule my visit as early as possible to avoid the crowds from these 6 flights. However by 6pm, the Qantas International Business Lounge was very crowded.
Something to note, at Singapore Changi, security checks are at the boarding gate, not with immigration. So make sure to leave the airport lounge early for your boarding gate. For the vast majority of flights (for full-service carriers), the boarding time on your boarding pass is just to get people to the gate, with boarding following. At Changi, the boarding time was when they actually board. The screens in the lounge were showing last call actually before the boarding time, so just be extra vigilant. The airport lounges can be a fair walk away from the gates, so just be very conscious about taking extra time to walk to your gate. Better early than late.
Where is the Qantas Lounge located at Singapore Changi?
Located on the mezzanine level above the departure level, the Qantas Business Lounge is accessible via the escalators between the C and D gates at Singapore Changi. Follow the signs for “Lounges”, as the Qantas International Business Lounge is located next to the British Airways Lounge and SATS Premier Lounge (accessible via Priority Pass). You will see a sign just after immigration, and another at the base of the escalators up to the mezzanine level.
Once on the mezzanine level, follow the signs for the Qantas International Business Lounge, located at the end of a long corridor past the British Airways Lounge.
Entrance and Check In
Upon entering this lounge, there are plenty of friendly staff on hand to check boarding passes. There were quite a few guests arriving at the same time, but the staff were quick and there was only two travelling parties in front of me when I arrived.
Upon entering the lounge, there is a trolley with your choice of three welcome drinks, which is a lovely touch. On offer today was a cocktail, mocktail or sparkling water. The cocktail was an English Garden, with Gin, Cloudy Apple Juice, Lime Juice and Cucumber. And the mocktail was an Orange Lychee Fizz, with Orange Juice, Lychee Syrup, Soda Water and Grenadine. Just a really nice touch and first impression.
Note, that just like the Qantas Lounge in Hong Kong, the Singapore Qantas International Business Lounge does not make boarding announcements for other oneworld airlines or partner airlines. Keep an eye on the screens and time if you aren’t flying Qantas. Especially because of the extra security time needed at the gate, as I mentioned above.
Seating Options
This lounge is massive. Truly massive. Plenty of different seating options are available, with couchettes and tables around the outside of the lounge, a massive area of coffee tables and armchairs, dining tables, communal tables and workstations. Something for every type of business or leisure traveller.
Unfortunately, because there are 6 evening Qantas flights, all of seats in the armchair area was completely full on my visit. I think possibly this is due to Qantas Club members, who cannot visit other oneworld lounges at Singapore Changi. I ended up perching at one of the communal tables near the dining area.
Window Views
The Qantas International Business Lounge at Singapore Changi faces the landside check in desks, so the lounge does not have any runway views. Large windows over this area let in plenty of natural light.
Food Options
The Qantas International Business Lounge at Singapore Changi has a range of food options for all types of travellers, and features Qantas’ signature lounge food offering. This is also found at their other international lounges including London Heathrow Terminal 3 and Hong Kong. The menu is updated monthly.
As you first enter the food area, there is the salad bar with various dessert options. On my visit, these options included:
- Vietnamese noodle salad with prawns, nuoc cham dressing and crispy garlic
- Iceberg Wedges salad with aioli and croutons
- Cucumber and red radish salad
- Asian slaw
- Tomato salad with chickpeas
- Green salad with Neil Perry’s Vinaigrette Dressing
Further along is the á la carté dining area where you can order hot made-to-order options, freshly prepared in front of you. On today’s menu were:
- Pasta with Meatball Sauce
- Qantas’ Signature Chicken Laksa
The last food station was the hot food buffet. As I was visiting in the evening, when all of Qantas’ Singapore flights take off, dinner was served. On today’s menu was:
- Pork Goulash with mushrooms
- Jasmine rice
- Eggplant parmigiana
- Herbed potatoes
- Cream of corn soup
And lastly, next to the salad bar was a selection of desserts to suit all tastes. Today’s selection was:
- Chocolate crunch
- Black sticky rice with mango and coconut cream
- Panna cotta with mixed berries
Qantas’ signature lounge food experience focuses on healthy eating, with careful thought for long haul journeys. Food options usually include vegan, vegetarian, nut free and gluten free options in Qantas airport lounge menus, to cater to travellers with all sorts of dietary requirements. But unfortunately on my visit, besides a few vegetarian options, the other options were severely lacking. After an amazing recent experience at the Qantas Hong Kong Lounge, the Singapore lounge just didn’t have the same variety.
Beer, Wine and Spirits Selection
As you enter the lounge, there is a bar located on the right. The range I thought was fairly limited compared to the Hong Kong Lounge. The London lounge is known for their gin bar, and the Hong Kong lounge has an fairly good gin collection too, so it was disappointing to see only one option available: Beefeater.
There were also a selection of Australian wines and various beers available. No champagne, only Australian Sparking Wine. There is also a selection of cocktails and mocktails available.
Highlights from the bar menu include:
- Rothbury Estate, Hunter Valley, New South Wales (Sparkling Wine option)
- Leo Buring Riesling 2019, Clare Valley, South Australia
- Matua Sauvignon Blanc 2022, Marlborough, New Zealand
- Wolf Blass Private Reserve Chardonnay 2021, South Eastern Australia
- Matua Rosé Elegant & Dry 2021, New Zealand
- Barramundi Pinot Noir 2020, South Eastern Australia
- Killibinbin Sneaky Shiraz 2019, Langhorne Creek, Australia
- Woolshed Cabernet Sauvignon 2021, Murray Darling, Australia
- Brown Brothers Moscato Gold 2020, Victoria, Australia
- Merlion Blush – vodka, cranberry and grapefruit
- East Side Garden – gin, apple and cucumber
- Limoncello Spritz – limoncello, elderflower, soda and sparkling wine
- Passionfruit Mai Tai – dark rum, passionfruit pureé infused with citrus juice and soda
The bar selection was okay, but could be better. Qantas serves Australian sparkling wine in its airport lounges, so no champagne. The wine selection is okay, and it’s great to see Rockpool cocktails on the menu, but there could be more mid shelf or top shelf spirits on offer.
Showers
There are numerous shower suites at the Qantas International Business Lounge at Singapore Changi, that all feature fluffy towels, rain showers and Li’Tya toiletries. Unfortunately, on my visit there was a long line, that was there for the duration of my time in this lounge. Instead, if you are flying Qantas or another oneworld carrier in business class or first class, or hold oneworld Sapphire or Emerald elite status, you should instead head to the British Airways Lounge next door as it is much quieter, and in my opinion, the showers are better. The showers at the British Airways Lounge feature Elemis toiletries, which I prefer.
Accessing the Qantas Lounge at Singapore Changi
Qantas operates a strict lounge access policy. However on this visit, this lounge was fairly full. I assume this was due to passengers with Qantas Club memberships on Qantas’ five daily evening flights out of Singapore to Australia and their daily flight to London. Qantas Club members cannot access other oneworld airport lounges, so are limited to this Qantas International Business Lounge only at Singapore Changi.
Access to the Singapore Changi Qantas International Business Lounge is limited to:
- Qantas First Class Passengers (who can access the International First Lounge instead)
- Qantas Business Class Passengers
- oneworld First Class Passengers (who can also access the International First Lounge)
- oneworld Business Class Passengers
- Qantas Club members
- oneworld Sapphire elite status holders (+1 guest)
- oneworld Emerald elite status holders (+1 guest) (International First Lounge access too)
- Qantas Gold elite status holders (+1 guest)
- Qantas Platinum elite status holders (+1 guest) (International First Lounge access too)
- Qantas Platinum One elite status holders (+1 guest) (International First Lounge access too)
- Emirates Platinum Skywards elite status holders (flying Qantas or Emirates)
- Emirates Gold Skywards elite status holders (flying Qantas or Emirates)
- Complimentary Lounge Invitation holders
Conclusion
In all, a disappointing experience compared to the London Heathrow and Hong Kong Qantas Lounges. However, still miles better than the Qantas International Business Lounges in Australia. I’m sure this lounge would be better earlier in the day before the evening peak.
The Qantas Lounge at Singapore Changi is huge, but was incredibly full and so finding seating was difficult. The food was underwhelming, with limited food options for those with dietary restrictions. The bar was fine, albeit more restricted than the Hong Kong or Singapore Qantas Lounges.
With a little more investment here, this could be a great lounge. The service, provided by Sofitel, was excellent. The welcome drink was a great touch. The food had promise, but could be better.
If you have access to the other oneworld lounges at Singapore Changi, either through flying Qantas or oneworld business or first class, I would suggesting visiting the amazing Qatar Premium Lounge instead. If you hold Qantas or oneworld elite status, you should visit the Qantas Lounge at Singapore Changi, alongside the British Airways Lounge next door if you are flying from Terminal 1.