Back in May 2021, Star Alliance tightened its lounge access policy by requiring guests to depart on the same flight as the hosting First Class or Star Gold member (Business Class passengers do not have guesting privileges). Prior to this, guests were only required to depart on a same-day Star Alliance flight.
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While Singapore Airlines updated its rules for Star Alliance passengers accordingly, it retained its existing policy allowing Singapore Airlines Suites/First Class, Solitaire PPS Club, PPS Club and KrisFlyer Elite Gold members to continue guesting passengers travelling on a same-day Singapore Airlines flight.
Or did it?
Yes and no. Singapore Airlines has now clarified that its lounge guest policy mirrors that of Star Alliance, in that all guests must be travelling on the same flight as the host. But itโs a clarification that raises more questions than answersโฆ
Singapore Airlines lounge guest policy tightened
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First, the context.
Yesterday came a report that Singapore Airlines had tightened its lounge access policy such that guests of Suites/First Class passengers, Solitaire PPS Club, PPS Club and KrisFlyer Elite Gold members flying on Singapore Airlines were required to depart on the same Singapore Airlines flight.
This was based on an update to the Singapore Airlines website, can be seen in the Wayback Machine screenshot below:
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โ Website Inconsistencies |
While the KrisFlyer Gold and Solitaire PPS Club pages have been updated, the PPS Club page continues to reflect the previous policy, as at the time of writing. |
I reached out to Singapore Airlines for further information, and they confirmed that their lounge access policy indeed required guests to travel on the same flight as the host.
However, they added an interesting caveat: this wasnโt a new policy. Rather, they said it had been in effect ever since the Star Alliance policy change in May 2021, and the website was only being updated now.
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I found that confusing, because up till now, Iโd been successfully guesting in passengers flying on other same-day Singapore Airlines flights. In fact, just last week I guested in a MileLion reader to the First Class Lounge by virtue of my Solitaire PPS Club status. I canโt have been the only one doing this, so it appears that the policy may not have filtered down to the rank and file for whatever reason.
That said, I would assume that the website update codifies the policy change into โlawโ, so you certainly shouldnโt expect things to be the same going forward (and please, donโt give the lounge dragons grief for it- itโs not their call to make).
Why the change?
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If this was always the policy since May 2021, perhaps a better question would be: why change now?
Well, when the Star Alliance guest policy changed, Singaporeโs borders were still closed and passenger volumes through Changi were less than 10% of what they are currently. Crowding simply wasnโt an issue for Singapore Airlines.
But with the faster-than-expected recovery in air traffic, Singapore Airlinesโ lounges are bursting at the seams once again- just witness the chaos in the Business Class lounge before the new The Private Room, First Class Lounge and KrisFlyer Gold Lounge came online.
Hereโs the thing though: Iโm not really convinced that the policy change will reduce overcrowding in any meaningful way. Itโs not like there was an active secondary market for selling oneโs guest spot, and most of the scenarios Iโm aware of involve someone guesting a passenger they run into on the day itself, or met via a channel like The MileLionโs Lounge Request Group. Itโs hardly high volume stuff.
I suppose you could argue that every little bit helps, and requiring the guest to be on the same flight as the host would certainly be more in line with the spirit of the rule, which is to allow passengers to guest a travel companion (as opposed to any random person).
At the same time, it certainly kills off opportunities to experience the kindness of strangers. As a long time KrisFlyer Elite Gold well-versed with the horrors of the KrisFlyer Gold Lounge (at least pre-renovation), Iโll never forget the handful of times a passer-by asked if I wanted to be his/her +1 for the SilverKris Lounge!
SilverKris lounge access policy
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Singapore Airlines has provided a table summarising its SilverKris Lounge access policy in Singapore and overseas.
Iโve modified it slightly to show the full range of lounges available to each type of passenger, as well as guest entitlements.
Singapore Lounges
โ๏ธ Departing on SIA Flight |
|
Cabin or Status | Lounge (Guest) |
Suites and First Class |
|
Business Class |
|
Solitaire PPS Club (in Business, Premium Economy or Economy Class) |
|
PPS Club members (in Business, Premium Economy or Economy Class) |
|
KrisFlyer Elite Gold or Star Gold members (in Business Class) |
|
KrisFlyer Elite Gold or Star Gold members (in Premium Economy or Economy Class) |
|
โ๏ธ Departing on Star Alliance Flight |
|
Cabin or Status | Lounge (Guest) |
First Class |
|
Business Class |
|
Solitaire PPS Club, PPS Club, KrisFlyer Elite Gold or Star Gold (in Business Class) |
|
Solitaire PPS Club, PPS Club, KrisFlyer Elite Gold or Star Gold (in Premium Economy or Economy Class) |
|
Overseas Lounges
โ๏ธ Departing on SIA Flight |
|
Cabin or Status | Lounge (Guest) |
Suites and First Class |
|
Business Class |
|
Solitaire PPS Club (in Business, Premium Economy or Economy Class) |
|
PPS Club members (in Business, Premium Economy or Economy Class) |
|
KrisFlyer Elite Gold or Star Gold members (in Business Class) |
|
KrisFlyer Elite Gold or Star Gold members (in Premium Economy or Economy Class) |
|
โ๏ธ Departing on Star Alliance Flight |
|
Cabin or Status | Lounge (Guest) |
First Class |
|
Business Class |
|
Solitaire PPS Club, PPS Club, KrisFlyer Elite Gold or Star Gold (in Business, Premium Economy or Economy Class) |
|
Do note that guest privileges do not stack; for example, a Solitaire PPS Club member flying in First Class is still limited to one guest.
While itโs not widely publicised, the following passengers may access the First Class SilverKris Lounge on arrival in Singapore:
- Solitaire PPS Club members arriving on a Singapore Airlines flight in any cabin (+1 guest)
- Passengers arriving on a Singapore Airlines flight in First Class and Suites (+1 guest)
Just like departure, guests for arrival access must be on the same flight as the host.
Suites and First Class passengers have the further option of visiting The Private Room on arrival. However, they will not be permitted to bring a guest.
Which SilverKris Lounges are open?
In addition to the SilverKris Lounges at Singapore Changi Terminal 3, hereโs a brief rundown of which overseas Silverkris Lounges have reopened.
SilverKris Lounge | Current Status |
Bangkok | Closed |
Brisbane | Open |
Hong Kong* | Closed |
London* | Open |
Manila | Open |
Melbourne* | Open |
Perth | Open |
Seoul (Incheon) | Closed |
Sydney* | Open |
Taipei | Closed |
*With separate First Class section |
While I doubt weโll see Hong Kong or Taipei anytime soon, Iโm hoping that Bangkok and Seoul see fit to open their doors again given the pick up in demand.
Conclusion
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Singapore Airlines has updated its website with a tighter lounge access policy, requiring guests to be on the same flight as the host. It remains to be seen if this has any meaningful impact on crowding at the Changi lounges, but in any case, is in line with Star Allianceโs broader access rules.
While itโd be difficult to run into someone on the same flight when departing from Changi, itโs much more likely overseas where thereโs only one flight to Singapore departing at a time. In those cases, guesting in a stranger remains an option, should you wish to do so.
Where do you stand on guesting in strangers?
Aaron, your table seems to indicate that a KFEG member traveling in J class can bring a guest traveling in Y class on same flight to SKL Business Class Section, correct?
Correct.
How about 3rd party lounges like in Adelaide? Business/KFEG use the Virgin Australia lounge. Can I bring in a guest when I depart on a SIA flight?
Generally speaking, only if the lounge is designated as a star biz or star alliance lounge. Otherwise itโs up to the airline โ likely no.
How does the arrival lounge access work when there are checked bags waiting? Can imagine a TPR meal + shower taking more than an hour for sure.
if your bag waits on the carousel too long, it will be collected and sent to lost and found. so either dont check a bag or dont take too long.
I think itโs a shame โ I used it once to help a colleague who was doing a stopover/long connection in Changi instead of flying straight through. Gave him the chance to get a coffee and a bite to eat in a more civilised environment (well, it was the Krisflyer Gold lounge, so not that civilised).
Hi Aaron, arriving Business Class to SG able to access to the SilverKris Business Class lounge?
No not allow only first / suite class or solitaire pps allowed
Was just told by SQ staff at first class lounge this isnโt the case on Fri ie., Was never a policy to allow Solitaire to use 1st class on arrival โฆ