Singapore Airlines has reopened its first overseas SilverKris Lounge, with news that the carrier’s facility at London Heathrow Airport Terminal 2 is once again accepting eligible frequent flyers and those travelling in premium cabins with SIA and Star Alliance partners.
The lounge is located in the Terminal 2B pier, where most long-haul flights depart, one level above the main departure concourse, accessed via a lift lobby next to the World Duty Free store.
The lounge was first opened in April 2015 as the carrier’s third to embrace the new ‘Home away from home’ concept by interior design firm ONG&ONG.
Both the First Class and Business Class sections of this lounge are now open, making this the only SIA-managed lounge on the network with a dedicated First Class section in operation.
Opening hours
The Heathrow SilverKris lounge is now open from 6am to 9pm daily. This caters for up to two Singapore Airlines Airbus A350 services to Changi, which depart from the UK capital five days per week at 10.55am (SQ317) and daily at 8.35pm (SQ319).
| Singapore ⇄ London |
||||||||
| Days | Acft | |||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | ||
| SIN ➔ LHR SQ308 09:00-15:20 |
359 | |||||||
| SIN ➔ LHR SQ322 23:45-05:55 |
359 | |||||||
| LHR ➔ SIN SQ317 10:55-07:50 |
359 | |||||||
| LHR ➔ SIN SQ319 20:35-17:30 |
359 | |||||||
In addition to those flights, the facility welcomes eligible travellers flying on fellow Star Alliance carriers throughout the day, including ANA, Air Canada and United Airlines.
Access (Business Class section)
The following passengers are able to access the Heathrow SilverKris lounge, when departing on a Singapore Airlines or Star Alliance member operated flight:
- in Suites Class or First Class (+1 guest)
- in Business Class (passenger only)
- in Premium Economy or Economy class and holding KrisFlyer Elite Gold, PPS or PPS Solitaire status (+1 guest)
- in Premium Economy or Economy class and holding Star Alliance Gold status (+1 guest)
- in any class holding paid membership to United Club or Air Canada Maple Leaf Club Worldwide (+1 guest)
Additionally, only when flying on a Singapore Airlines flight:
- Virgin Australia Velocity Platinum and Gold status members, in any cabin class (+1 guest)
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Gold status members, in any cabin class (passenger only)
In all cases your guest (where permitted) must be travelling on a Singapore Airlines or Star Alliance member operated flight, with the exception of Virgin Australia Velocity members’ guests, who must be travelling on a Singapore Airlines flight.
Access (First Class section)
Additionally, the following passengers are entitled to access the First Class section of the Heathrow SilverKris lounge:
- Singapore Airlines and Star Alliance First Class (or Suites) travellers
- Solitaire PPS Club members travelling on Singapore Airlines
Currently, Singapore Airlines is not operating any First Class or Suites cabins on its network.
Facilities
SIA’s Heathrow SilverKris Lounge is well equipped, however there are two regular facilities which will not be available for the time being:
- Shower suites
- Bartender service
Additionally, food and beverage service has been amended due to COVID-19 precautions, as it has at the carrier’s Singapore lounge.
Please note that we have suspended self-service buffet meal services and reduced all other food and beverage offerings at our lounges with the welfare of our customers and staff in mind.
Singapore Airlines
Other Heathrow T2 lounges
Singapore Airlines passengers in London have been directed to the Lufthansa Business Lounge in Terminal 2 while the SilverKris facility has been shuttered. That remains the only other Star Alliance lounge open in the terminal, and eligible SIA passengers remain entitled to use the Lufthansa space if they wish, though it is a long walk from the long-haul T2B departure gates when it comes time to board.
Unfortunately, the Air Canada and United lounges, both adjacent to the SIA facility in T2B, remain closed.
Both were our ‘go-to’ lounges at Heathrow prior to Singapore Airlines flights, since we preferred them to the SKL.
For those without access to one of the two operating Star Alliance lounges, the Plaza Premium Lounge in Terminal 2 is open from 5am to 9pm daily and accepts Priority Pass in addition to offering paid access packages. Shower facilities are available.
Some SKLs aren’t coming back
In September we reported how three of SIA’s 13 overseas SilverKris lounges would not be reopening after COVID-19, with the airline taking the decision to seek alternative arrangements for eligible passengers in Delhi, Kuala Lumpur and Adelaide.
Here’s a summary of SIA’s overseas SilverKris lounges, including which have been revamped with the latest design.
| Older concept |
‘Home away from home’ concept |
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Singapore lounges
The SilverKris Business Class Lounge in Terminal 3 is the sole option for Singapore Airlines passengers departing Changi, and indeed remains the only other SIA lounge open globally.
It is operating from 5.30am to 2.30am each day. Unlike at the London lounge, showers are available in this case.
Unfortunately the lounge is not currently available to transit passengers, who instead are offered a designated section of the segregated transit holding area, with complimentary drinks and refreshments.
Summary
It’s encouraging to see some reopening of the overseas SilverKris Lounges, with recent news that three of the airline’s similar facilities in Adelaide, Delhi and Kuala Lumpur would be permanently closing, leaving only 10 SKLs outside Singapore.
We generally prefer both the United Club and Air Canada Maple Leaf lounges at Heathrow Terminal 2 when departing on Singapore Airlines, however with both of those facilities closed the SilverKris lounge is clearly now the best option currently available for those travelling during this period.
While SilverKris lounges at other frequently served cities including Sydney and Seoul remain closed, we wouldn’t be surprised to see Hong Kong as the next reinstatement, provided the upcoming Air Travel Bubble between the two cities proves to be a success.
Currently, eligible Singapore Airlines passengers departing from Hong Kong are directed to the Plaza Premium Lounge near Gate 1.
Overall, only ten SilverKris lounges outside Singapore will be reopening after COVID-19, with just three of these yet to receive the ‘home away from home’ facelift; in Melbourne, Perth and Taipei.
(Cover Photo: Singapore Airlines)