Review: Singapore Airlines SilverKris Business Class Lounge Changi Terminal 2

After a hiatus of more than 30 months, the SilverKris Business Class Lounge at Changi Terminal 2 reopened on 11 October 2022, in conjunction with Singapore Airlines’ resumption of Terminal 2 departures. 

Singapore Airlines uses Terminal 2 for regional flights which max out at 3.5 hours. As such, the lounge here is much smaller and more basic than its Terminal 3 counterpart (the fact it’s been more than a decade since its last makeover doesn’t help either). Passengers might want to keep their expectations in check. 

While I’ve visited this lounge countless times in the past, I was keen to see what changes Singapore Airlines had made during the COVID period. 

Getting to the SilverKris Lounge

There are two SilverKris Lounges at Changi Airport, one in Terminal 2, and another in Terminal 3. This post deals with the former; for a review of the latter, refer to the post below. 

Review: Singapore Airlines SilverKris Business Class Lounge, Changi Terminal 3

After clearing immigration, turn left and head towards the E Gates. There’ll be signage pointing you in the correct direction. 

The route to the lounge isn’t particularly scenic. Terminal 2 is still undergoing renovations, and the handful of shops and amenities in operation are at the F Gates. The walk to the E Gates is almost entirely hoardings on both sides. In fact, the E Gates aren’t even being used for departures yet, so you’ll need to budget a bit more time to cross back to the F Gates to catch your flight.

On the flip side, the featureless walk means it’s almost impossible to miss the lounge. Signage is abundant, and you’ll find an escalator on the right at the end of a long corridor. Head up to the third floor…

…and you’ll see the KrisFlyer Gold Lounge on the left, with the SilverKris Lounge down the corridor. Fun fact: the space the KrisFlyer Gold Lounge occupies used to be part of the SilverKris Lounge, but was carved out in 2011 as a separate facility. That also explains why the KrisFlyer Gold Lounge has no toilets or showers of its own; those stayed in the SilverKris Lounge!

Access and Operating Hours

The SilverKris Lounge at Changi Terminal 2 is open 24 hours daily.

Access is available to passengers departing on a Singapore Airlines flight in:

• First Class (+1 guest)
• Business Class
• Premium Economy or Economy Class, with Solitaire PPS Club or PPS Club status (+1 guest)

Access is also available to passengers departing on a Star Alliance flight in:

• First Class (+1 guest)
• Business Class

All guests must be travelling on the same flight as the eligible passenger, per Star Alliance policy.

First Class passengers and Solitaire PPS Club members arriving in Singapore on a Singapore Airlines flight may also visit the lounge, together with one guest on the same flight.

Do note that KrisFlyer Gold and Star Gold members flying in Premium Economy or Economy Class do not get access to the SilverKris Lounge in Singapore. They’ll instead be directed to the KrisFlyer Gold Lounge.

Review: Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Gold Lounge Changi Terminal 2

Overview: SilverKris Lounge Singapore T2

The SilverKris Lounge in Terminal 2 was Singapore Airlines’ flagship lounge until Terminal 3 opened in 2008. While the lounge received some minor touch ups during its COVID closure, the last major overhaul came in 2011, so it’s not what you’d call factory fresh. 

Separate First and Business Class sections are available. Business Class seats a total of 246 guests; less of an issue now that the massive Terminal 3 facility takes 1,150. 

Immediately inside the lounge is a small seating alcove. 

Prior to COVID there was a business centre located here with printing facilities and desktop computers, but since most people don’t need that anymore, the area has been converted into additional seating. The carpet has also been replaced to closer match the Terminal 3 design language. 

Frankly, I’d have preferred they removed the desktop computers and left the workstations, since office chairs and cubicles are much more conducive to laptop use. As it is, the lounge has no productivity pods, so it’s not very work-friendly.

Next is the dining area, featuring five sets of two-tops and two long marble communal tables. 

Beyond that is the lounge proper, which is basically numerous rows of low-height armchairs. It looks like the seat cushions have been replaced, and the lighting turned up a bit. Still, the overall tone of the lounge is dark, and with no natural lighting it feels much smaller than it really is. 

Moreover, there is hardly any seating variety. It’s not nearly as bad as the KrisFlyer Gold Lounge down the hall, but the lack of slumberettes, sofas and productivity pods limit the activities you can comfortably do here. Privacy is also lacking, due to the absence of partitions. 

Some seats are pushed together for the benefit of couples, though you’ll be sitting next to each other as opposed to facing each other (all the better to prepare you for the flight, I suppose).

The vast majority of seats are either dark leather or with red cushions, though a smattering of beige and grey armchairs run along the lounge’s perimeter. 

A solitary TV set playing a muted World Cup game was the only source of entertainment in the lounge. 

Newspaper and magazine racks are still empty presumably because of COVID, but shouldn’t we be past that by now? It does make the lounge look a bit odd, and if physical newspapers and magazines are never coming back then I’d rather they replace the racks with something else.

The area that used to hold a series of phone booths has been converted into a kids’ room. Apart from a TV playing cartoons, however, there were no toys or other amenities. I assume these are available on request, just like at the Terminal 3 lounges. 

Prior to COVID, this area was used for a trio of phone booths. 

Food & Beverage

The SilverKris Lounge’s buffet spread is found inside the dining area, laid out across several marble top tables. As this is a much smaller space than the Terminal 3 lounge, there’s no room for permanent live cooking stations. In the past there’d occasionally be a single push cart with a pop-up laksa or fishball noodle station, but that’s yet to make a return. 

Cold items include a rather sparse salad bar, cut fruits and sandwiches. 

My visit coincided with breakfast, so the hot items consisted of scrambled eggs, baked beans, ham, various dim sum, chwee kueh, mixed grain fried rice, and a couple of Indian options.  

Under the heat lamps were hash browns, croissants, waffles and vada. This selection rotates during the day, with french fries and chicken nuggets brought out later. 

Those who need a caffeine fix can make use of two Boncafe machines serving up coffee from freshly-ground beans, or TWG teabags. 

The drinks chiller had Coca Cola (Original, Diet and Zero), Sprite, Marigold apple and orange juice, tomato juice, Tiger and Heineken beer, canned Perrier, soda and tonic water. 

A Tiger Beer draft tap, liquors and wines were next to the fridge.

The liquor selection included: 

• Absolut Vodka
• Bacardi White Rum
• Bombay Sapphire Gin
• Bowmore 10 Years Scotch Whisky
• Chivas Regal Scotch Whisky
• Courvoisier XO Cognac
• Jack Daniels Whisky

As for wines, one red, one white and one champagne were available. There was a period before COVID where Singapore Airlines removed the self-pour champagne and replaced it with a sign saying “champagne is available on request”, but thankfully that’s no longer the case. I do like that they serve an extra brut champagne, which has minimal sugar and a sharper, more acidic flavour profile. 

Veterans will know that the SilverKris Lounge in Terminal 2 used to have a manned bar, but it was removed in during the renovations in 2011. If you desire a cocktail or barista-made coffee, you’ll need to head to Terminal 3. 

Power & Productivity

The SilverKris Lounge’s Wi-Fi network clocked in at 25 Mbps down and 20 Mbps up, based on a lounge at 50% occupancy.

Power outlets aren’t as abundant in this SilverKris Lounge as they are at the Terminal 3 location. You’ll find universal power plugs with Type-A & C USB charging outlets sandwiched between some armchairs, but not all of them have it. 

Prior to COVID, most of the power outlets only accepted Singapore-style plugs, so it’s good to see they’ve all been upgraded to universal outlets. 

Restrooms & Showers

Unlike the KrisFlyer Gold Lounge, the SilverKris Lounge has male and female restrooms and showers (I know, right!), located at the rear of the dining area. 

Each toilet has four shower rooms, but they’re not very private. You’re bathing inside the restroom, which feels more locker room than luxury lounge. What’s more, there’s no attached toilet in any of the shower rooms, so you’ll have to relieve yourself outside. 

All four shower rooms are cramped, and if you have a carry on bag there won’t be much space to open it, much less move around.

And while I’ve criticised the new SilverKris Lounge in Terminal 3 for using unbranded shower amenities, those look positively luxurious compared to the wall-mounted white pump dispensers here! 

Amenities like toothbrushes, shaving kits, and Penhaligon’s Quercus toiletries are provided.

Conclusion

Here’s a quick rundown of how the SilverKris Lounges in Terminals 2 and 3 measure up.

Simply put, the Terminal 3 lounge is superior in virtually every aspect you could think of. That shouldn’t come as a surprise, really, given its newer vintage, bigger audience, and the fact that it’s meant to cater to long-haul departures. 

It means there’s little reason to spend time in the Terminal 2 lounge, unless you don’t really care about frills, or want a less crowded venue (of course, there will always be those who don’t know they can visit the Terminal 3 lounge, and my heart goes out to them).

What’s clear to me is that the Terminal 2 lounge needs some love, since there’s no way it can hold the fort until Terminal 5 arrives in the mid-2030s. Until then, I’d head to Terminal 3 for a much better experience.

What’s your take on the SilverKris Lounge in Terminal 2?