Great news for Qantas, Emirates and oneworld passengers departing from Singapore, with the Australian carrier confirming to Executive Traveller that its fantastic First Class lounge will be reopening, to coincide with the return of ‘red roo’ Airbus A380 flights from Changi to Sydney and London next month.
This will be the second Qantas lounge to reopen at Changi since its facilities at the airport closed their doors in March 2020, with the Business lounge serving all eligible passengers since early December 2021.
This is great news for First Class passengers and eligible status holders, who will finally enjoy the à la carte dining experience and premium ambiance in the 240-seat facility, complete with nine swanky shower suites and a manned cocktail bar, from 18th June 2022.
The Qantas Singapore First Lounge had a painfully short existence pre-pandemic, open for only four months before being shuttered as the airline significantly reduced passenger services from the airport.
Currently all lounge-eligible Emirates, Qantas and oneworld passengers can use the Qantas Business Class Lounge at Changi T1 prior to their flights, but this reopening will allow the Business Class facility to return to its previous role.
Opening hours
Qantas has not confirmed the exact operating hours of its First Class lounge at Changi from 18th June, however we expect the schedule will mirror that at the nearby Business lounge, opening four hours prior to the first Qantas flight through to the final departure.
That would see an opening at approximately 3pm to 3.30pm, for QF2 A380 Sydney passengers, through to around midnight to coincide with the QF1 A380 service to London.
This will also allow eligible status holders travelling on the airline’s other flights, to Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth, to benefit from access.
The opening may also simply be restored to pre-COVID timings, which were 2.30pm to midnight.
Who is eligible?
Passengers flying on a Qantas or Emirates flight, or on a oneworld member operated flight:
- in First Class; or
- in Premium Economy or Economy Class and holding Qantas Platinum One or Platinum status, Emirates Platinum Skywards status* or oneworld Emerald status**
* Qantas or Emirates flights only
** Qantas or oneworld flights only
Passengers flying on a Jetstar flight (coded JQ or 3K):
- holding Qantas Platinum One or Platinum status.
Prior to COVID-19, the Qantas First lounge was also available to passengers flying on Air France or KLM:
- in First Class (Air France); or
- in Business Class, Premium Economy or Economy Class and holding Qantas Platinum One or Platinum status, when flying on a QF codeshare flight number.
We have not been able to confirm at the time of writing whether the Air France / KLM partnership will be re-established.
The Qantas Singapore First Lounge
The opening of the Qantas Singapore Lounge in mid-November 2019 had to come at one of the unluckiest times imaginable for the airline, with the shutters sadly coming down only four months later due to the pandemic.
Following the formal launch event we attended in early December 2019, where we were among the first to tour the lounge, sample the ambiance, and try out the à la carte food options in the restaurant, we visited later the same month for a full review as regular passengers.
The standout at the lounge is its restaurant, serving up a wide selection of local and international dishes.
The menu for the reopening may be slightly less extensive, but pre-COVID some fantastic dishes were being served including a grilled skate, signature laksa and the Qantas First Lounge staple – salt and pepper squid.
There are also fantastic shower suites, each of which include an impressive artificial skylight to help you adjust to a new time zone.
Video walkthrough
Here’s our short video walkthrough of the Qantas Singapore First Lounge, including some key highlights such as the shower suites and dining experience.
Oneworld and partner flights
Once the lounge reopens, there should be some nice options for those travelling with oneworld and Qantas partner airlines to experience it.
Eligible Emirates customers departing to Dubai and beyond on EK355 at 9.40pm or EK353 at 12.50am, both of which currently operate daily, will almost certainly benefit.
British Airways First Class passengers and those with oneworld Emerald status who are departing on the daily BA15 to Sydney at 7.25pm or BA16 to London at 10.35pm will also be able to visit this lounge.
Those flying on Jetstar evening departures, such as:
- Manila (3K765 at 5.15pm)
- Penang (3K677 at 5.45pm)
- Da Nang (3K541 at 6.55pm)
- Bangkok (3K513 at 7.10pm)
- Phnom Penh (3K591 at 7.25pm)
- Kuala Lumpur (3K687 at 7.30pm)
- Phuket (3K537 at 7.40pm)
- Jakarta (3K205 at 8.00pm)
- Melbourne (JQ8 at 9.25pm)
- Darwin (3K161 at 10.45pm)
who also hold Qantas Platinum One or Platinum status, will be in luck.
Summary
Arguably the nicest airline-operated lounge at Singapore Changi Airport, the Qantas First Class facility in Terminal 1, won rightful praise when it opened its doors in late 2019, only to have to close soon afterwards.
It’s great to see Qantas returning to its former glory at Changi, and this confirmed reopening of the First Class lounge is welcome news for travellers, many of whom hadn’t had the chance to experience it prior to COVID-19.
The timing will coincide with the carrier’s reinstatement of Airbus A380 services from the airport, including a First Class cabin, to both London and Sydney.
Selected passengers flying on Emirates, Jetstar and oneworld carriers like British Airways will also gain access, with lounge opening hours looking likely to coincide with a range of evening departure timings.
(Cover Photo: MainlyMiles)
Any idea when the Qatar lounge will reopen?
Nothing heard yet, but QR is increasing to 10 flights per week in June (currently 7/wk) and hopefully more than that soon, so fingers crossed!
Hope so, think I will miss it though. I have a BA flight (J) second week of June where I hoped to make use of. Still have access to BA and QF though, so not a major issue!