Review: Cathay Pacific Lounge Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 4

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Cathay Pacific flies out from Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 4. Personally, I find that Terminal 4 isn’t as grand as Terminals 1, 2, or 3 as everything is automated and the human touch is severely lacking.

Cathay Pacific’s check-in area in Terminal 4 is located at Row 6. Check-in was a fairly quick affair and Business Class customers have to use the automated self-check-in machines as well and print out their own bag tags. Priority tags are not included for some reason and it is just shown as “PRIORITY” on the baggage tag itself.

Immigration was also fully automated (for Singaporeans at least) and I was through immigration and transit security in less than 5 minutes. In Terminal 4, for those of you who don’t already know, you clear security screening before entering the main transit hall. Unlike in Terminals 1,2, and 3 where security screening is done at the individual gates. I’m not allowed to take photos within that area so here’s a stock photo from Changi Airport:

Since its move to Terminal 4, Cathay Pacific has a dedicated lounge for its premium passengers and elites who are flying with them throughout the day. With 8-flights a day between Singapore and Hong Kong, there was definitely no excuse for Cathay Pacific to finally have a dedicated lounge facility in Terminal 4.

The Cathay Pacific Lounge is located close to the end of the transit area, right before where the gates are located. Just follow the signs towards the food court and you will find the Cathay Pacific Lounge. The Cathay Pacific Lounge is also located right opposite the Blossom/Plaza Premium Lounge and you can have a read of the review here.

Much like its outstation lounges and its newer lounge, The Deck in Hong Kong, the Cathay Pacific Lounge in Terminal 4 features Cathay’s new lounge design philosophy. Most of the lounge is decked out in brown, giving it a very warm feeling. The entrance to the lounge is very classy in my opinion.

The lounge is open from 4:00 am to 1:00 am daily and since no other oneworld airline operates out of Terminal 4, the Cathay Pacific lounge is purely for oneworld elites, Cathay Pacific Marco Polo Club elites, as well as their Business and First Class passengers only. If you are flying out from Changi Airport on a oneworld airline in another terminal, you are not allowed to enter Terminal 4.

To refresh your memory, these passengers are allowed access to the Cathay Pacific lounge:

• Passengers flying in Business Class
• Passengers in First Class (with a guest)
• Passengers in any cabin holding oneworld Sapphire/Emerald status (with a guest)
• Marco Polo Club Silver members flying in any cabin

The lounge attendant scanned my boarding pass and informed me that boarding calls will be made. Entering the lounge, you will first see the dining area where Cathay Pacific’s signature Noodle Bar is located.

Washrooms are present in the lounge and are located to the right of the Noodle Bar when you first enter the lounge. Of course, these are stocked with Aesop toiletries. There are no showers present here.

Aesop Hand Wash/Hand Lotion, Cathay Pacific Lounge Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 4

Washroom, Cathay Pacific Lounge Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 4

The dining area in front of the Noodle Bar had individual booths with power plugs and USB ports located under the tables. When I was there at about 1 pm, it wasn’t very crowded and ample seating was available. If you had ordered something from the Noodle Bar, you can either choose to sit at the counter or anywhere else in the lounge as you are given a buzzer to inform you when your order was ready.

Dining Area, Cathay Pacific Lounge Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 4

As mentioned, you can find USB-A ports and an international power socket under the table.

Since it was my first time flying on Cathay Pacific and experiencing their lounges, I had to try out the dishes from the Noodle Bar. Wanton Noodles, Dan Dan Noodles, and a small selection of Dim Sum were available. The WiFi password can also be found here.

I apologize for the blurry picture. In case you are unable to read the menu, here’s what was on offer:

• Chicken Laksa
• Wanton Noodle
• Dan Dan Noodle
• Minced Pork Mee Tai Bak
• Vegetarian Noodle Soup
• Singapore Chicken Curry
• BBQ Pork Bun
• Chicken & Prawn Siew Mai
• Vegetable Dumplings

I ordered a bowl of Wanton Noodles and a basket of Siew Mai and personally, I found the Siew Mai to be terribly disappointing but the Wanton Noodles were passable. The one I had in Hong Kong at The Pier was much better than the one in Changi (duh).

If you needed a drink, coffee machines and soft drink dispensers along with small bites (biscuits) are also available in the dining area beside the Noodle Bar. Oh and, fruits are also available in the lounge if you feel like being healthy before your flight.

Espresso Machine and JING Tea selection, Cathay Pacific Lounge Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 4

Fruits and snacks

If noodles ain’t your thang (we’re not friends anymore), there is a selection of cooked food located at the back of the lounge in an area called “Food Hall”.

Bar Stools, Cathay Pacific Lounge Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 4

Again at the high tables, there are USB and power sockets located below the tables.

Sofas, Cathay Pacific Lounge Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 4

Cold cuts, salads, cooked food, juices, more soft drinks, and of course alcoholic beverages were available here too. Cathay Pacific serves Moet&Chandon in the lounge which was…okay. I much prefer the Charles Heidsieck/Tattinger that Singapore Airlines has in their SilverKris lounges. If you wanted 500mls Dasani water bottles to bring onboard your  flight, they can be found in the drinks fridge located near the Noodle Bar.

Buffet, Cathay Pacific Lounge Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 4

Dishes, Cathay Pacific Lounge Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 4

Juices, Wine, Water (Still & Sparkling), Cathay Pacific Lounge Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 4

Champagne, Wine, Sparkling & Still Water, Cathay Pacific Lounge Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 4

I didn’t sample the food options that were available as I was saving space for my onboard meal. They looked appetizing enough to eat and the curry dish was quite fragrant.

Seating Area, Cathay Pacific Lounge Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 4

After a glass of Moet, I headed over to the Blossom lounge for a quick laksa fix and went off to my gate to board my very first Cathay Pacific flight. I did not manage to test the WiFi in the lounge as I was connected to the terminal’s WiFi which was fast enough.

Concluding Thoughts

Cathay Pacific’s lounge in Singapore’s Changi Airport Terminal 4 is a pretty decent lounge in my opinion. As the only oneworld airline operating out of Terminal 4, my guess is that the lounge will never be as crowded as what the SilverKris or even Qantas Lounge sees during peak hour given that they purely service Cathay Pacific passengers.

The Noodle Bar is definitely the main highlight of the lounge although the quality could have been slightly better. With a great selection of drinks and cooked food as well, this is a place I wouldn’t mind spending a few hours working/relaxing in before my flight.