Singapore Airlines has now completed the reopening of all overseas SilverKris lounges on its network, with today’s announcement that its dedicated Taipei lounge has returned, with an afternoon opening window covering both of the carrier’s daily departures to Singapore.
While the Taipei SKL has been closed, eligible Singapore Airlines passengers have been directed to the Plaza Premium lounge at the airport, though this is no longer necessary.
The reopening marks the 10th and final overseas SilverKris lounge to return to operation on the network, while three pre-COVID facilities in Adelaide, Delhi and Kuala Lumpur were permanently shuttered during the pandemic, and will not be making a return.
Opening hours
Prior to COVID-19, the Singapore Airlines SilverKris lounge in Taipei was open from 5.30am to 5.45pm, however the reopening will see the facility initially having a more limited afternoon operating window, effective from 4th September 2023:
- 11.30am to 5.45pm daily
Nonetheless, this will see travellers departing on both of the airline’s non-stop flights to Singapore each day able to use the facility.
Taipei Singapore
SIA Schedule
| Days | |||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
 |
SQ877 787-10 |
||||||||
| TPE 14:20 |
SIN 18:55 |
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|
SQ875 787-10 |
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| TPE 17:45 |
SIN 22:15 |
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The lounge will also cater for those departing on other Star Alliance carriers during the afternoon and early evening from Taipei, while SIA passengers are also eligible to use the facilities of fellow Star Alliance carrier EVA Air in Taipei, if they prefer.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Singapore Airlines was also operating “fifth freedom” flights between Taipei and Los Angeles, using Airbus A350 Long Haul aircraft, but these have since been discontinued.
Access
The following passengers are able to access SIA’s SilverKris Lounge in Taipei, 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 any cabin class when holding KrisFlyer Elite Gold, PPS or PPS Solitaire status (+1 guest)
- in any cabin class when holding Star Alliance Gold status (+1 guest)
In all cases your guest (where permitted) must be departing on the same flight as you, as part of a policy that was tightened last year.
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)
Again your guest (where permitted) must be travelling on the same Singapore Airlines or Star Alliance member operated flight as you.
About the lounge
The SilverKris lounge in Taipei is located on Level 4, one level up from the check-in and departure level, after passing through immigration and security.
The lounge itself is nothing special, as you can see from this pre-COVID review, and does not appear to have received any significant makeover during its three-year closure.
Hopefully there have been at least some minor upgrades in the meantime, since the furniture and finish was rather dated, and multi-standard power outlets were lacking.
The lounge sadly never received the carrier’s ‘home away from home’ refresh, originally planned to be rolled out to all overseas SKLs by 2018, but quietly dropped after only seven of the 13 were completed.
Nonetheless, there are restrooms and shower facilities inside the small facility, which takes the form of a long rectangular room. Champagne is not available, but there’s sparkling wine and a decent F&B selection, usually including dumplings.
The lounge also benefits from natural light, unlike the recently-reopened Hong Kong SKL.
Taipei redemption rates
These are the KrisFlyer miles needed for the Singapore – Taipei route.
| KrisFlyer Redemption (one-way) Singapore ⇄ Taipei |
||
| Saver | Advantage | |
| Economy | 16,500 | 30,000 |
| Business | 34,000 | 50,000 |
All overseas SKLs have now reopened
The Taipei SilverKris lounge is the 10th and final SKL outside Singapore to reopen its doors since the pandemic, with nine other reopenings since September 2021, as shown below.
| Overseas SilverKris Lounge Reopening post-COVID | |
| SilverKris Lounge | Reopened |
| London | September 2021 (having briefly reopened in late 2020) |
| Sydney | October 2021 |
| Melbourne | October 2021 |
| Brisbane | March 2022 |
| Perth | April 2022 |
| Manila | May 2022 |
| Bangkok | September 2022 |
| Seoul | June 2023 |
| Hong Kong | August 2023 |
Some SKLs aren’t coming back
In September 2020 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 ‘home away from home’ design.
| Older concept |
‘Home away from home’ concept |
 |
 |
|
|
Some overseas lounges are in line for a refit
While it seems that there has been no renovation to date for the Taipei SilverKris lounge, there’s still reason to be optimistic.
Singapore Airlines has commenced a new project to renovate selected SilverKris lounges on its overseas network.
Perth is the first lounge to go under the knife, with a brand new SKL in a new location occupying the former Qantas Business Class lounge, due to open by the end of 2023.
That lounge will boast double the seating capacity of the old one, and will offer both shower facilities and specially designed productivity pods for the first time.
Let’s hope the dated Taipei lounge isn’t too far down the revamp list.
Summary
The Singapore Airlines SilverKris lounge in Taipei has reopened its doors this week, for the first time since the pandemic hit in March 2020.
This will provide eligible travellers an alternative Star Alliance option to the EVA Air lounges at the airport, and the opening window covers both daily Singapore Airlines flights departing at 2.20pm and 5.45pm.
Importantly, this represents the final overseas SilverKris lounge on the network to rejoin the fold, following a reopening of the popular (and long-awaited) Hong Kong SKL last week.
(Cover Photo: Prince of Travel)
Having a flight departing from TPE in the next few days. Which lounge would you recommend between Silverkris and EVA’s lounge?