When it comes to oneworld lounges in Singapore Changi Terminal 1, discerning travellers are spoiled for choice. With the reliable Qantas Business and British Airways lounges already on offer, the Qantas International First Class Lounge emerges as the pinnacle, delivering an even more exclusive and refined experience for those in First Class or holding top-tier status. This review will explore why this lounge is widely considered one of the best.
Location and Access
The Qantas International First Lounge is conveniently located in Terminal 1 of Singapore Changi Airport. After clearing passport control, turn right and head towards the D and E gates. You'll find an elevator to Level 3, which takes you directly to the lounge entrance, marked by distinctive white marble walls.
Opening Hours: The lounge operates daily from 3:15 PM to 11:00 PM, perfectly catering to the evening wave of Qantas flights departing for Australia and London.
Access to the lounge is granted to the following eligible passengers:
- Qantas or Emirates First Class passengers
- oneWorld Emerald members, Qantas Platinum, Qantas Platinum One, and Qantas Chairman’s Lounge members travelling on a oneWorld marketed flight (plus one guest)
- Emirates Skywards Platinum members travelling on a Qantas or Emirates flight (plus one guest)
First Impressions
I arrived at approximately 5:30 PM, and the lounge was already quite lively due to the peak departure hours for Qantas flights. Despite the crowd, the lounge's expansive layout ensured there was ample seating available. The lounge extends quite deeply, beginning with various sofa seating areas before leading into the dedicated dining area, which was bustling with guests enjoying the à la carte menu. I was informed by staff that this wasn't even their busiest day, which speaks to the lounge's capacity.
Dining Experience (Dinner)
The dining experience at the Qantas First Lounge in Singapore totally deserves the spotlight. The dinner menu is extensive, even more so than what I've encountered at the Melbourne First Lounge. Upon being seated, I was welcomed with a refreshing wet towel and a small plate of olives.
For starters, I sampled the renowned salt and pepper squid and the prawn wontons. The squid was perfectly crispy and tender, and most importantly not rubbery. The wontons had a delightful "bouncy" texture, and despite their vibrant red appearance, they weren't overly spicy.
For my main course, I opted for the crayfish laksa. The soup base was rich and flavourful, and the crayfish was fresh.
To conclude the meal, I chose the mango and coconut sorbet with palm sugar. The sorbet had a pleasant tartness, beautifully balanced by the sweetness and oriental notes of the palm sugar.
The service during dinner was exceptional. My server, who also happened to speak Cantonese, provided incredibly attentive and friendly service. He demonstrated excellent knowledge, offering thoughtful suggestions for beverages, such as a perfect ginger and lemongrass tea to accompany my dessert. Overall, the food was superb in terms of both flavour and presentation, leaving me thoroughly satisfied.
Facilities and Amenities
The lounge offers a range of convenient facilities and amenities for travellers:
- Free Wi-Fi: Reliable and fast internet access is available throughout the lounge.
- Charging Ports: Ample USB charging ports and power outlets are conveniently located for electronic devices.
- Shower Suites: The shower suites feature unique mood lighting that can simulate different times of day, designed to help with time zone adjustment. Dental kits, shaving kits, and other essential amenities are provided, along with LUE brand products. However, a notable drawback was the low water pressure, which unfortunately detracted from an otherwise refreshing shower experience.
Verdict
The Qantas International First Lounge in Singapore undoubtedly offers one of the best lounge dining experiences, arguably surpassing even the First Lounge in Melbourne. It boasts sufficient seating to comfortably accommodate a large number of passengers awaiting evening Qantas flights, though it can become quite busy during peak departure hours.
However, there are a couple of minor drawbacks. The lounge lacks natural light and tarmac views, which some travellers might miss. More importantly, the water pressure in the shower suites needs improvement to enhance the overall comfort and refreshment. Unlike the First Lounges in Australia, the Singapore lounge does not offer spa services; even if it did, given how busy the lounge can get, I would imagine it's highly unlikely that non-First Class passengers would be able to secure a booking.
Despite these minor points, the exceptional dining and generally comfortable environment make it a highly desirable lounge experience.
0 Comments