Review: Singapore Airlines’ new SilverKris Perth business class lounge

Introduction

Singapore Airlines’ all-new SilverKris business class lounge at Perth Airport’s T1 international terminal will be a welcome sight for business class passengers and top-tier frequent flyers (including KrisFlyer Elite Gold and Star Alliance Gold card-holders).

Gone are the tired and cramped digs of old: Singapore Airlines has moved into the former Qantas International Business lounge with almost twice the size and, at long last, showers.

But it’s not just a take-over, it’s a make-over: visitors will relish in the refined contemporary look, the ‘live cooking station’ for freshly prepared dishes and the tended cocktail bar serving up wine, cocktails and Champagne.

Location & Impressions

Business class passengers and top-tier frequent flyers departing from Perth on Singapore Airlines will now make the proverbial turn left instead of right to access the beautiful new SilverKris lounge, located opposite Gate 52 after passing through duty free. 

This also makes it a next-door neighbour to the Air New Zealand lounge (as is the case in Sydney), which is handy if you want to sample the best of both lounges.

And Singapore Airlines’ new Perth SilverKris lounge is worth the visit, as it’s a confident step up from the previous lounge.

Colourful batik flower motifs etched on glass at the entrance provides a thematic link to other new-look SilverKris lounges such as the flagships at Singapore Changi T3.

There’s twice the space of the old lounge, with varied and comfortable seating for 135 passengers.

Fully half the seating is café-style, along with a high dining table adjacent to the kitchen; highlighting Singapore Airlines’ strong focus on food: expect to enjoy a taste of Singapore with a touch of home-style comfort food too.

And it looks nothing like the old Qantas International Business Lounge that previously occupied the space.

The SilverKris Perth lounge is presented in the latest iteration of the airline’s ‘home away from home’ concept. It’s stylish yet restrained, and a charming venue for commencing a Singapore-or-beyond journey.

Singapore Airlines even changed the orientation of the lounge to make best use of the footprint, and there’s plenty of circulation space for travellers wheeling cabin bags.

Smart café tables and chairs are ideal for pre-flight drinks and food, while elegant lounge chairs, separated by bespoke marble-topped tables crowned with designer lamps provide a more relaxed option.

Banquette booths along one wall are ideal for small groups to gather, while the four high wingback chairs in tan leather with batik flower motifs are sure to be popular for couples and Insta-shots.

Small but thoughtful touches include lighting that’s brighter in the dining area but more subdued and relaxing in the ‘lounge’ area, and handbag hooks under work benches and tables.

Somewhat surprisingly, there’s only one dedicated shower suite – the second doubles as an accessible bathroom with baby change table.

Still, it’s a huge improvement on the old lounge, which had no showers at all.

Access

In keeping with other SilverKris lounges in the Singapore Airlines’ network, the Perth lounge welcomes the following:

• business class and first class passengers on Singapore Airlines and all other Star Alliance airlines
• Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Elite Gold and PPS Club members, and Star Alliance Gold members
• Virgin Australia Velocity Gold, Platinum and Beyond members when flying with Singapore Airlines

The lounge’s opening hours are understandably chosen to suit SQ’s own schedule for flights from Perth:

• 3:50am – 6:20am
• 10:50am – 1.30pm (daily from March 31)
• 2:30pm – 5.10pm
• 10:10pm – 12.50am

Those hours will also cover visits ahead of the 4:20pm departure of Thai Airways’ TG482 to Bangkok, although there’ll be only a limited window for South African Airways ahead of the 2:40pm flight to Johannesburg.

(Nimble passengers on Air New Zealand’s daily 6:50pm to Auckland will also be able to sample the SilverKris Lounge before its 5:10pm closure, at which point they move to the perfectly adequate Air New Zealand lounge next door.)

Dining

Singapore Airlines has also boosted the f&b (food and beverage) at its new Perth lounge.

Between the buffet and the live cooking station, no visitor to the lounge is in any risk of going hungry.

During our visit in the middle of the day, the self-serve buffet included this sampler from the menu which travellers will see:

• Chimichurri chicken
• Char-grilled summer squash
• Pan-fried barramundi with ginger
• Oriental stir-fried vegetables
• Prawn and shitake mushroom fried rice
• Shepherd’s pie
• Spiced pumpkin soup
• Spring rolls

Meanwhile, the live cooking station was turning out on demand: 

• Singaporean chicken rice
• Spicy tomato and capsicum pasta
• Singapore-style carrot cake
• A selection of dumplings

Nearby is a wide range of sweet treats and a pastry and charcuterie selection.

The tended bar serves up everything from barista-pulled coffee to cocktails (with a local twist on the Singapore Sling incorporating Swan Valley Old Young’s SixSeasons Gin), wines and craft beer (again, with solid WA representation) and Champagne, launching with Piper Heidsieck Brut NV.

Work

A cluster of seven semi-private ‘productivity pod’ booths set the stage for conquering last-minute work on the ground (although Singapore Airlines also has free in-flight WiFi, so you can stay connected above the clouds during the five-hour flight from Perth to Singapore).

Each booth is equipped with a pair of AC and USB-A outlets, although Singapore Airlines tells Executive Traveller that high-power USB-C sockets will soon be added.

A long wooden bench sawn from an impressively large Western Australian Blackbutt tree, and a huge adjacent back marble table, provide additional workspace options, and again with AC/USB sockets within easy reach.

When Executive Traveller visited Singapore Airlines’ new Perth SilverKris Lounge on a special media preview last week, WiFi had not yet been commissioned – but the airline said it would flick the switch by the time the lounge opened to the travelling public, with a 250Mbps link which should provide ample speed for everyone.

Summary

Singapore Airlines has put extensive effort into its Perth lounge proposition, and it shows – this is arguably the most impressive Singapore Airlines business class lounge in Australia.