Review: Singapore Airlines SilverKris first class lounge, T3 Changi Airport
By Chris C., February 2 2017
Country
Singapore
City
Singapore
Airport
Singapore - Changi
Alliance
Star Alliance
Airline
Singapore Airlines
Cabin-class
First
Notes
The Good
- Bartender service with vintage Champagne
- Cooked-to-order dishes brought to your seat
- Private shower suites
The Bad
- Service at counters only, not tables
- No USB power outlets
X-Factor
- A very private lounge, second only to 'The Private Room'
Introduction
Exclusively for Star Alliance first class passengers and Singapore Airlines' top-level Solitaire PPS Club flyers, the Singapore Airlines SilverKris first class lounge at Changi Airport's Terminal 3 can be an incredibly quiet and private space to await your flight.
With bartender service, vintage Champagne and a selection of cooked-to-order meals, it's a significant step above the neighbouring SilverKris business class lounge used by most other SQ passengers, as Australian Business Traveller observes in this review.
Location & Impressions
You'll find this lounge in Terminal 3's main departures zone, being after outbound passport control for passengers beginning their journey in Singapore.
Head towards the 'A' gates and keep your eyes peeled for an escalator up to the Singapore Airlines lounges. If you take the wrong escalator and see the 'KrisFlyer Gold' lounge on your right, continue walking along the corridor until spotting the 'SilverKris' lounge straight ahead.
Once there, eligible passengers are personally escorted from the business class reception desk through to the first class zone...
... which you'll find divided into various nooks, providing added privacy.
We visited this lounge twice on a return trip between Australia and Europe, and on both occasions found it particularly quiet with only a handful of passengers inside, including before the overnight flights departing for both destinations.
Access
- First class and Suites Class passengers of Singapore Airlines
- First class passengers of other Star Alliance airlines including ANA, Lufthansa, SWISS and United Airlines
- Singapore Airlines Solitaire PPS Club members both before and after Singapore Airlines and SilkAir flights
However, SQ's own first class and Suites Class travellers will see the 'first class lounge' only briefly while being escorted through to The Private Room.
That leaves the 'first class lounge' only for first class passengers of other Star Alliance airlines, plus Solitaire PPS Club members flying with Singapore Airlines or SilkAir in business class, premium economy and economy.
Dining
Once settled in, you'll find a staffed bar serving up beer, wine, spirits and selected cocktails, plus barista-made coffee for a caffeinated kick:
Being a notch above a regular business class lounge, premium selections here include Hennessy XO Cognac, Royal Salute 21y.o. Scotch Whisky and The Singleton of Glendullan 18y.o. Single Malt Scotch Whisky...
... plus, of course, top-shelf Champagne – in this case, the Piper-Heidsieck Rare Millesime '02 which typically sells for ~$275/bottle in Australia.
However, the dining options here aren't quite as 'first class' with most items self-served from the marble-clad buffet...
... plus a few select dishes which can be ordered at the counter and delivered to your seat:
We went for the marinated chicken with spicy garlic sauce and chicken rice, and while particularly tasty and just what we'd hoped for, the presentation of the dish could benefit from a dash more finesse:
Other made-to-order options include roti prata, tomato pilaff with rice in a lamb shank stew and a simple garden salad.
For more variety, you'll also find hot items at the buffet stations including fish noodles, tender braised pork ribs, chicken biryani, Indian curry, Indian mixed vegetable fritters and aloo bonda...
... along with sushi, yoghurts, fresh fruits and comfort foods like party pies...
... complemented by a range of tasty bite-sized desserts and Häagen-Dazs ice cream.
Beverages here are also self-service with a wider range of non-alcoholic drinks than you'll find over behind the manned bar, plus machine-made coffee for a quick espresso:
However, the dining area doesn't have a particularly 'premium' atmosphere with some tables rather close together...
... and others positioned directly adjacent to buffer serveries:
With Singapore Airlines planning a complete overhaul and redesign of its home hub lounges in the coming years, we'd love to see a better-planned dining area form part of those plans.
Being a first class lounge accessible only to first class passengers and the airline's highest-tier flyers – who must spend SGD$250,000+ on SQ business and first class flights in a five-year period to mint their Solitaire status – table service wouldn't go astray here, either.
Work
The atmosphere here definitely leans more toward relaxing than working, but if you must remain productive there's a business zone near the entrance with office tables and privacy wraps to keep any distractions at bay...
... plus a few computers for travellers lacking their own tech:
Most seats throughout the lounge also provide access to AC power, found either beside or behind seats...
... which clearly proves to be a popular amenity judging by the lounge's well-used power points, making it odd that USB power is absent which is also well-received in other lounges.
However, the WiFi met our expectations with download speeds ranging between 8.63Mbps and 10.76Mbps, complemented by uploads of 7.35-8.54Mbps during our connection tests: more than adequate for web browsing and sending and receiving larger email attachments.
Relax
There are no shortage of places to unwind here, although your seating choice may be influenced by how you plan to achieve that.
You could pull up a chair and catch the day's news in one of many TV nooks...
... head to the opposite end of the lounge for a little more quiet...
... or socialise with fellow travellers in more communal areas:
Some seats also line the walkways...
... but we prefer to avoid them when other choices are available, as you feel somewhat 'in the way' when sitting here:
Wherever you decide upon, a selection of magazines and newspapers are at your disposal...
... as are private shower suites with all amenities provided:
Overall, a very restrictive guest list keeps this lounge quiet and enjoyable for those on the inside, and serves as good motivation for seriously high flyers to reach SQ's elusive Solitaire PPS Club tier.
In saying that, we'd still love to see an improved dining experience with proper table service and less reliance on buffet fare, to keep this first class lounge in-line with its name.
Also read: Singapore Airlines SilverKris business class lounge review, Singapore Changi T3
Chris Chamberlin travelled to Singapore as a guest of Singapore Airlines.
Connect with other business travellers in our Singapore Airlines discussion group
Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.
13 Aug 2015
Total posts 40
Sure LH and LX F pax can use this lounge, but their flights depart from T2 so it's completely impractical for them to use this lounge. Always makes me wonder why this lounge gets so busy at certain times of the day..!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer Platinum
07 Feb 2013
Total posts 548
a 5 minute internal train trip making it completely impractical? Hardly
13 Aug 2015
Total posts 40
Why would you bother when there is another SQ First Class lounge nearer the gate, which is where LH and LX pax are directed to? This lounge isn't amazing enough to be worth leaving early to make sure you get to the gate on time..
25 Sep 2013
Total posts 1245
You do realise it's possible to move freely between terminals airside, right? A quick 2-3min airtrain that runs every 5 or so minutes is hardly a hardship.
21 Apr 2012
Total posts 3012
So you fly exclusively on SQ Business and First class to allow attaining and retaining PPS Club, yet you are not entitled to access The Private Room, unless you fly First class or in a Suite.
Subtext: Your loyalty on its own is not good enough for you to get the best possible treatment on the ground.
25 Sep 2013
Total posts 1245
That is correct and indeed the "mystique" SQ has decided to cultivate for TPR.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
18 Apr 2014
Total posts 19
Dropped in on the Private Room last week. No loyalty, no status, just good old fashion points play. Very nice. And yes, Chris, unlike the FC lounge, this one has table service. I had the lobster with noodles. In my opinion, it was better than the Boston lobster Thermidor that I had on the flight.
19 Aug 2011
Total posts 54
Good description of the lounge. As your other readers have commented not really the "First Class lounge" more the PPS lounge as the real First Class passengers go to a different place.
21 Apr 2012
Total posts 3012
True, but you can still order from the menu but will have to consume it from one of the tables outside, due to a limited space in the restaurant. During non-peak times however I belief Emeralds not flying Budiness/First are allowed. At T5 Galleries First, there are no restrictions; then again there isn't a proper restaurant there, just a very casual looking dining area that reminds me of a food court.
19 Aug 2011
Total posts 54
I think that says it all, Yes your welcome to come in the lounge but by the way your a blow in from Business class so go in the corner and eat your dinner.
21 Apr 2012
Total posts 3012
True, but volume is a factor for consideration at places like LHR. With QF it's not surprising given the volumes to cater for (SYD & MEL are not hubs like DXB, LHR, SIN etc.)
For airlines with proper hubs like CX (HKG) and EK (DXB), it is truly commendable that they cater so well and FAIRLY for their top tier and partner's top tier flyers.
Singapore Airlines - The PPS Club
14 Nov 2013
Total posts 40
Good review Chris, I frequent the private room almost monthly, a few times I've been in the first lounge. It's very comfortable and apart from the lack of USB chargers I find it one of the better lounges. I do believe it's due for a make over as it hasn't changed in the last 5 years that I've been traveling to Singapore.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
06 Mar 2015
Total posts 232
It would seem that the best option is to enter to the First Class Lounge , have a few great drinks then nick into the Business Class lounge where the food is so much better and when you are satiated back to the FC Lounge for a rest and a top up of champagne or whatever your fancy is.. That way you get the best of both worlds!!!
United Airlines - Mileage Plus
17 Feb 2016
Total posts 45
I jagged a couple of invites to the Private Room late last year and a word of warning...as it's really quiet there you can be forgotten.(nice if you want to work or real) I came within 3 mins of missing my flight as no boarding calls and few screens etc and I wasn't conscious of time and no one came and got me. Lucky for me they had a spare buggy and whisked me down to the C gates just in time..
Singapore Airlines - The PPS Club
19 Mar 2016
Total posts 30
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