Singapore Airlines has announced a welcome development for its Solitaire PPS Club members, with lounge access now extended to these top-tier fliers even when departing on the carrier’s budget subsidiary Scoot out of Changi Airport, and from some overseas stations.
This is a positive indication that the carrier is starting to follow in the footsteps of carriers like Qantas, which affords lounge access to its frequent flyer members even when flying on low-cost subsidiary Jetstar, including in Singapore.
Solitaire’s now get SKL access when flying on Scoot
With immediate effect, Solitaire PPS Club members along with one guest departing on the same flight can benefit from SilverKris lounge access, even when departing on a Scoot flight.
“If you’re departing from Singapore on Scoot, you can also enjoy access to our Changi Airport Terminal 2 SilverKris Lounge.”
Singapore Airlines
This includes travel in Scoot Economy or ScootPlus cabins.
It’s perhaps a logical progression, since Scoot has taken over many ex-SilkAir routes over recent years, but the offer is not quite as generous as it first sounds.
Only the T2 lounges are included at Changi
The major downside of this new generosity for Solitaire PPS Club members is that the latest refurbished lounges at Changi Airport Terminal 3 are not included in the lineup when you’re departing on a Scoot flight.
Only the T2 SilverKris lounges are accessible in the Solitaire flying Scoot case.
We have recent reviews of the refreshed T2 KrisFlyer Gold and SilverKris Business Class lounges since they reopened back in October 2022, with some minor enhancements but more or less with the same format they had pre-pandemic.
We’re not in Cathay Pacific territory here – as most of our readers will know, the “spruced-up” T2 SilverKris lounges are very lacklustre and not really up to scratch in 2023 – so this will be a disappointing aspect of the new allowance for many Solitaire members.
Scoot operates from Terminal 1 at Singapore Changi Airport, so after your lounge visit a SkyTrain ride via the E to D gates transit shuttle will be needed in order to reach your departing gate, which on Scoot is typically a ‘C’, ‘D’ or ‘E’ gate.
In some cases (e.g. C19) this will be a very long journey indeed – and even further than it would be from the T3 lounges!
Added to that, you still have to check in for a Scoot flight in T1 – necessitating a SkyTrain ride to T2 for lounge benefits in the first instance.
Overseas SKLs are also included
One nice aspect of this news is that Solitaire PPS Club members departing from selected overseas locations will also benefit from SilverKris lounge access when flying on a Scoot flight.
SIA’s overseas SKL’s that are currently operating and also operate at airports that have Scoot departures are:
- Bangkok
- Manila
- Melbourne
- Perth
- Seoul
- Sydney
Sadly these lounges don’t operate with Scoot flights in mind – you’ll have to be departing in a regular lounge opening hours to take advantage.
The current operating hours for SIA’s overseas SKLs can be found here.
SIA Singapore lounge access
Here’s a summary of the latest pre-departure access policies for Singapore Airlines’ own lounges, following this change for Solitaire PPS Club members.
At Singapore Changi Airport
| Departing on a Singapore Airlines flight | ||
| Cabin Class / Membership Tier | Lounge Eligibility | Guests |
| Suites or First Class | The Private Room |  |
| SKL First Class |  |
|
| Business Class | SKL Business Class | |
| Solitaire PPS Club in Business, Premium Economy or Economy |
SKL First Class | |
| PPS Club in Business, Premium Economy or Economy |
SKL Business Class | |
| KrisFlyer Elite Gold in Business |
SKL Business Class | |
| KrisFlyer Elite Gold in Premium Economy or Economy |
KrisFlyer Gold | |
| Departing on a Star Alliance flight | ||
| Cabin Class / Membership Tier | Lounge Eligibility | Guests |
| First Class | SKL First Class | |
| Business Class | SKL Business Class | |
| Star Alliance Gold (including KFEG and PPS Club) in Business |
SKL Business Class | |
| Star Alliance Gold (including KFEG and PPS Club) in Premium Economy or Economy |
KrisFlyer Gold | |
Departing on a Scoot flight  |
||
| Cabin Class / Membership Tier | Lounge Eligibility | Guests |
| Solitaire PPS Club |
SKL First Class (T2) | |
Your guest must be departing on the same day and same flight as you, even if you’re flying Scoot.
Here’s the access policy for the 10 SilverKris lounges located overseas, in Bangkok, Brisbane, Hong Kong, London, Manila, Melbourne, Perth, Seoul, Sydney, and Taipei.
Outside Singapore
| Departing on a Singapore Airlines flight | ||
| Cabin Class / Membership Tier | Lounge Eligibility | Guests |
| Suites or First Class | SKL First Class* | |
| Business Class | SKL Business Class | |
| Solitaire PPS Club in Business, Premium Economy or Economy |
SKL First Class* | |
| PPS Club in Premium Economy or Economy |
SKL Business Class | |
| KrisFlyer Elite Gold in Business, Premium Economy or Economy |
SKL Business Class | |
| Departing on a Star Alliance flight | ||
| Cabin Class / Membership Tier | Lounge Eligibility | Guests |
| First Class | SKL First Class* | |
| Business Class | SKL Business Class | |
| Star Alliance Gold (including KFEG and PPS Club) in Business, Premium Economy or Economy |
SKL Business Class | |
| Departing on a Scoot flight |
||
| Cabin Class / Membership Tier | Lounge Eligibility | Guests |
| Solitaire PPS Club |
SKL First Class* | |
* In Hong Kong, London, Melbourne and Sydney, otherwise SKL Business Class (no First Class section at other SKLs)
Note that at the time of writing, two overseas SKLs remain closed following the COVID-19; Hong Kong and Taipei, while those in Adelaide, Delhi and Kuala Lumpur were permanent casualties of the pandemic.
Summary
It’s great to see Singapore Airlines follow in the footsteps of Qantas by offering top-tier frequent flyers access to its lounges even when jetting off on the carrier’s low-cost subsidiary – a further sign that some ‘group mentality’ is setting in, particularly important now that Scoot has taken over many ex-SilkAir routes.
Sadly only the inferior T2 lounges are included in the offering when departing from Changi – which aren’t exactly ‘flash’, even on the First Class side, and may necessitate a very long journey to a ‘C’ gate in T1 for a Scoot departure.
Nonetheless it’s a step in the right direction, particularly as Scoot spreads its wings to more regional destinations with a sub-fleet of Embraer E190-E2 aircraft joining the fold from late 2024.
(Cover Photo: MainlyMiles)