oneworld travellers out of Changi Terminal 1 will soon be able to enjoy the full complement of pre-COVID lounges, with Qatar Airways set to reopen its highly-popular Premium Lounge from 15 June 2022.
British Airways and Qantas have already reopened their Singapore lounges (with the Qantas First Lounge due to follow on 18 June), which leaves Cathay Pacific as the only oneworld carrier yet to do so- not that it’s likely to happen anytime soon, with Terminal 4 still closed and CX operating just three flights to Singapore this month.
| 🍸 oneworld Lounges at Changi Airport | ||
| Lounge | Terminal | Current Status |
| British Airways Lounge | T1 | Open |
| Qantas Business Lounge | T1 | Open |
| Qatar Premium Lounge | T1 | Opening 15 June |
| Qantas First Lounge | T1 | Opening 18 June |
| Cathay Pacific Lounge | T4 | Closed |
The Qatar Premium Lounge opened in February 2020 (on Valentine’s Day, no less). While it only had a month to shine before running head-on into COVID, I still rate it as the best Business Class lounge anywhere in Changi (yes, I’m including Terminal 3 in that assessment!), and can’t wait to visit again.
Operating Hours
I’ve confirmed with Qatar Airways that the operating hours of the Singapore Premium Lounge will be as follows:
| Period | Operating Hours |
| 15-30 June 2022 |
|
| 1 July 2022 onwards |
|
The lounge will initially open in the evenings only, from 6 p.m to 2.40 a.m daily (even on days when the only flight is QR945 at 2.40 a.m).
From 1 July 2022, the lounge will add morning operations from 7.25 a.m to 10.25 a.m on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, to tie in with QR947’s 10.25 a.m departure slot. The evening schedule will remain the same.
Do note that the above schedule is subject to change, based on operational requirements.
Access Rules
Access to the Qatar Premium Lounge is available to passengers departing on a Qatar Airways or oneworld operated flight:
- in First Class (+1 guest)
- in Business Class
- in any cabin of travel, provided they are connecting from a oneworld First or Business Class flight of at least 5 hours on the same day, or before 6 a.m the following day. The boarding pass from the arriving long-haul flight will be required for entry (This is the rule that oneworld lounge agents are least familiar with, so be sure to bookmark this page)
Qatar Airways does not provide lounge access to passengers who have upgraded their Economy Class tickets to Business Class using miles. However, passengers who have redeemed their tickets with miles outright are entitled to visit the lounge (if you’re into cheap thrills like me, you could redeem a Business Class ticket to KUL on Malaysia Airlines using 12,500 British Airways Avios).
The Qatar Premium Lounge is slightly unique in that you cannot access it as a oneworld Sapphire or Emerald member flying in Economy Class. Emerald members will probably want to visit the Qantas First Lounge anyway, once it reopens on 18 June, and Sapphire members can visit the British Airways or Qantas Business Lounge.
What to expect at the Qatar Premium Lounge
I visited the Qatar Premium Lounge in March 2020, just hours before the mandatory SHN for returnees from ASEAN countries was announced (what a fun night that turned out to be!).
The evening is mostly a blur, but that’s probably because of all the good wining and dining that took place at the Qatar lounge.
With a capacity for just 85 guests, it’s the smallest oneworld lounge at Changi. And yet it didn’t feel crowded thanks to the low-density seating and well-designed interiors.
Service was fantastic throughout, and on par with what you’d expect from a First Class lounge. Staff were cheerful and attentive, and the friendly bartender was eager to impress- he looked genuinely disappointed when I asked for just champagne (I later got a mojito, which was excellent).
The dining experience was likewise amazing, far beyond anything I’d have expected from a Business Class lounge. In addition to the standard buffet, guests can order from a dine-on-demand menu featuring a wide selection of items.
The lounge also has five shower suites (though only some have attached toilets) with Rituals bath amenities.
It felt almost criminal that I was assessing the lounge by virtue of a cheap Malaysia Airlines ticket, but I’m not about to gift horse mouth gaze.
Conclusion
The Qatar Airways Premium Lounge at Changi Terminal 1 will reopen from 15 June, and if it’s anything like how I remember it from before, it’ll easily take the title of best Business Class lounge in Singapore.
Qatar hasn’t returned to its pre-COVID schedule of 3X daily flights to Singapore, but it’s surely only a matter of time. When that happens, we can expect extended opening hours, with the afternoon session opening as early as 2.30 p.m.
If you haven’t visited this lounge yet- what are you waiting for? When the first thing the staff bring is a choice of San Pellegrino or Acqua Panna, you know you’re in for a good time…
