Cathay Pacific reopening Singapore Changi lounge in February 2023

Cathay Pacific resumed its tenancy at Changi Terminal 4 in September 2022, when CX739 from Hong Kong made the first commercial landing at T4 in more than two years. 

However, its highly-rated lounge remained closed, and understandably so. Prior to COVID, Cathay Pacific operated nine daily flights to Singapore; at the time of T4’s reopening, that figure had been cut to three times weekly.

But with Hong Kong finally casting off its COVID restrictions, Cathay is in an expansionary mood. A Cathay Pacific spokesperson has now confirmed that the Cathay Lounge will reopen at the end of February 2023.

We are targeting to reopen the Cathay Pacific Lounge in Singapore at the end of February. Members and eligible passengers are welcome to use the lounge 3 hours prior to departure

-Cathay Pacific

This is great news for Cathay Pacific passengers, who are currently directed to the much-inferior Blossom Lounge. 

Access and Operating Hours

From the end of February 2023 (the exact date has yet to be confirmed), the Cathay Lounge at Changi Terminal 4 will operate daily from 7 a.m till the last Cathay Pacific flight for the day. 

Based on current schedules, we can expect to see it open till about 1 a.m. 

There’s a very big gap between the departure of CX716 and CX714, so if you’re planning to lounge hop from a different terminal, that’d be the time to visit. Prior to COVID, it used to be necessary to have a boarding pass for a T4 airline to take the shuttle bus over from T1/2/3, but recent reports have said that’s not the case anymore. 

Access is available to:

• First or Business Class passengers departing on a Cathay Pacific or oneworld flight
• Cathay Silver, Gold or Diamond members departing on a Cathay Pacific flight in any cabin
• Cathay Gold or Diamond and oneworld Emerald or Sapphire members departing on a Cathay Pacific or oneworld flight in any cabin
• First or Business Class passengers arriving on a Cathay Pacifc or oneworld flight with a duration >5 hours and connecting to a same-day (or following day before 6 a.m) Cathay Pacific or oneworld flight in any cabin (retain your boarding pass from the inbound flight to gain access)

Cathay Diamond members are permitted to bring in two guests, while First Class, Cathay Gold, and oneworld Emerald or Sapphire members may bring one guest. All guests must be travelling on the same flight.

Cathay members may redeem 11,000 Asia Miles in exchange for a lounge pass, regardless of which airline they are flying on. This can be done in advance online, or instantly at the lounge reception. 

oneworld members flying from other terminals may visit T4 via shuttle bus. The journey takes about 6-18 minutes depending on terminal, and the bus schedule can be found here. 

Cathay Pacific T4 Lounge overview

Cathay Pacific’s Singapore lounge opened in October 2017 along with T4 itself. The interior design was overseen by Studioilse, Ilse Crawford’s design firm; you’ll recognise their work from other Cathay Pacific Lounges worldwide, including Hong Kong and London. 

The 849m²  lounge has a capacity for 210 guests, and features signature Cathay touches, like a noodle and dim sum bar (freshly prepared, of course- no heated closets here). 

Sadly, there’s no Long Bar in this lounge, unlike the flagship in Hong Kong. The alcohol selection is still solid enough, with Moet being the champagne of record. 

The toilets (which lack showers, unfortunately) were previously stocked with Aesop amenities, but that’s unlikely to be the case now that Cathay Pacific partners with Bamford instead. 

Rounding out the lounge are a couple of workstations, together with printing facilities. USB ports and power outlets (strangely, not universal) are in abundance, built into most of the furniture. 

I reviewed the lounge in 2017, and Matthew in 2019. 

Review: Cathay Pacific Lounge Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 4

I’d say it’s time for an updated review (with much better photos!).

oneworld back to full strength at Changi

With the reopening of Cathay Pacific’s Singapore lounge, oneworld is back to its full complement of facilities at Changi Airport. 

For reviews of the other oneworld lounges, refer to the posts below.

• British Airways Lounge
• Qantas First Lounge
• Qantas Business Lounge
• Qatar Airways Premium Lounge

Conclusion

At long last, Cathay Pacific will be reopening its lounge at Changi T4. This was undoubtedly the pick of the T4 lounges prior to COVID (not that there’s a lot to choose from!), and I’m excited to pay it a visit soon. 

That said, if you’re a First or Business Class passenger on a oneworld flight departing from T1, I wouldn’t consider a Cathay Lounge visit to be mandatory. The Qantas First and Qatar Premium Lounges do an excellent job, and it may not be worth a 30+ minute hike to T4.