Back in June this year, we reported on the good news for many oneworld travellers that the Qantas Singapore Business Lounge at Changi Terminal 1 was opening every morning, for the first time.
Unfortunately, it didn’t last long. The Saturday morning session was dropped in July, and by August the Monday and Thursday early starts had switched to an 11am opening, leaving a decent morning session on just four days a week.
Now, from 25th October 2026, the start of the northern winter (NW26/27) schedule season, it’s been cut back further, to just three days a week.
That’s in contrast to Qatar Airways’ Singapore Premium Lounge in the same terminal, which has gone the other way, opening every morning again from the same date.
The difference is important because the Qantas lounge is also open to oneworld Sapphire and Emerald status holders flying in Economy, prior to departure on a oneworld-operated flight from any terminal at the airport.
The Qatar lounge isn’t (you have to be flying in Business or First Class to get in), so for many status holders the Qantas facility is the only decent morning option.
New opening hours
Here’s how the Business Lounge hours compare with those that applied until 24th October.
| Qantas Singapore International Business Lounge Opening Hours  |
||
| Day | Till 24 Oct 2026 |
From 25 Oct 2026 |
| Monday | 11am – 12.15am | 10.40am – 1am |
| Tuesday | 7.50am – 10.15am 2pm – 12.15am |
8am – 10am 2.30pm – 1am |
| Wednesday | 3.20am – 10.15am 2pm – 12.15am |
2.30pm – 1am |
| Thursday | 11am – 12.15am | 10.40am – 1am |
| Friday | 3.20am – 10.15am 2pm – 12.15am |
8am – 10am 2.30pm – 1am |
| Saturday | 2pm – 12.15am | 2.30pm – 1am |
| Sunday | 3.20am – 10.15am 2pm – 12.15am |
8am – 10am 2.30pm – 1am |
The main changes are:
- Wednesday mornings axed: The 3.20am – 10.15am session is gone, so the lounge now doesn’t open until 2.30pm.
- Shorter mornings elsewhere: Tuesday, Friday and Sunday mornings are now 8am – 10am, with the super-early 3.20am openings on Fridays and Sundays also gone.
- Monday and Thursday: Slightly better, with opening brought forward 20 minutes to 10.40am.
- Saturday: Still no morning opening, as before.
- Afternoon and evening: Every day the lounge now opens 30 minutes later, at 2.30pm, but closes 45 minutes later, at 1am.
That later 1am close is a small plus for those on Emirates’ 12.30am departure to Dubai, whose passengers previously had to leave when the lounge closed at 12.15am (though Emirates has its own lounge at Changi that does remain open).
Cathay Pacific’s 1.25am flight to Hong Kong also benefits.
Why the change?
It all comes down to Qantas’s Paris flights.
Until the end of the northern summer season, QF256 from Paris landed in Singapore at 4.25am three times a week, continuing to Sydney at 6.20am. That’s what the 3.20am openings on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays were there for.
For NW26/27 the routing has changed, with QF255 now operating Perth – Singapore – Paris – Perth. That means a three-times-weekly Singapore – Paris departure at 11.30pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, but no return flight through Singapore, and so no early-morning Qantas departure to support at all.
The remaining morning windows are now built around two partner airline flights:
- Tuesday, Friday and Sunday: Air France’s AF181 to Paris at 11am, with the lounge open from 8am to 10am.
- Monday and Thursday: Fiji Airways’ FJ362 to Nadi at 1.40pm, with the lounge opening at 10.40am and running straight through to 1am.
In both cases the lounge opens exactly three hours before departure.
As for the later closing time, that follows KLM’s late-night departure to Amsterdam, with this being KLM’s contract lounge at Changi. KL836 left at 12.55am during the northern summer season, hence the 12.15am close, but has moved to 1.40am for NW26/27, so the lounge now stays open until 1am.
As always, that doesn’t stop eligible travellers on other oneworld flights from using the lounge during these periods.
Which flights benefit?
Here are the oneworld and partner departures from Changi whose eligible passengers can use the Qantas Business Lounge during its morning and late-morning opening periods, and on which days.
oneworld & partner departures from SIN
NW26/27 season
Qantas lounge morning / late morning opening
| Flight | Dep | To | Access QF Business Lounge on: | |||||||
 |
UL307 | 09:40 | CMB | – | – | – | – | – | – | S |
 |
MH604 | 09:55 | KUL | – | T | – | – | F | – | S |
 |
CX658* | 10:00 | HKG | – | T | – | – | F | – | S |
 |
QR943 | 10:15 | DOH | – | T | – | – | F | – | S |
 |
EK315 | 10:30 | DXB | – | T | – | – | F | – | S |
 |
AF181 | 11:00 | CDG | – | T | – | – | F | – | S |
|
MH614 | 11:15 | KUL | – | T | – | – | F | – | S |
|
MH628 | 12:55 | KUL | M | – | – | – | – | – | – |
|
CX690 | 12:55 | HKG | M | – | – | T | – | – | – |
|
MH606 | 13:40 | KUL | M | – | – | T | – | – | – |
 |
FJ362 | 13:40 | NAN | M | – | – | T | – | – | – |
|
CX758 | 14:05 | HKG | M | – | – | – | – | – | – |
|
EK348^ | 15:30 | KTI | M | – | – | T | – | – | – |
* T4 check-in only, so limited lounge time
^ Lounge opens only one hour before departure on other days
JAL’s 8.15am departure to Tokyo Narita misses out entirely, with the lounge opening only 15 minutes before it leaves, and then only on three days a week.
Mondays and Thursdays are the pick for midday departures, with the 10.40am opening covering Malaysia Airlines and Cathay Pacific flights through to Fiji Airways’ 1.40pm departure to Nadi.
On the other five days there’s a midday gap. Anyone departing on Malaysia Airlines’ 12.55pm or 1.40pm flights to Kuala Lumpur, or Cathay Pacific’s 12.55pm or 2.05pm services to Hong Kong, has no Qantas lounge access at all, and the Qatar lounge has closed by then too.
From 2.30pm daily the lounge then serves the full afternoon and evening bank of departures, as follows.
oneworld & partner departures from SIN
NW26/27 season
Qantas lounge afternoon / evening opening
| Flight | Dep | To | Access QF Business Lounge on: | |||||||
|
MH620 | 16:35 | KUL | M | – | – | – | F | – | S |
|
CX734 | 16:45 | HKG | M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
|
MH608 | 17:25 | KUL | M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
 |
KL835 | 17:35 | DPS | M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
|
CX716 | 18:00 | HKG | M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
 |
QF72 | 18:45 | PER | M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
|
MH616 | 19:30 | KUL | M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
|
QF2 | 19:40 | SYD | M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
|
QF36 | 19:40 | MEL | M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
|
UL309 | 19:50 | CMB | M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
|
QF52 | 19:55 | BNE | M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
 |
BA15 | 20:05 | SYD | M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
|
QR947 | 20:15 | DOH | M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
|
CX636 | 20:20 | HKG | M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
|
QF82 | 20:40 | SYD | M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
 |
WY892 | 20:50 | MCT | – | – | – | T | – | S | S |
|
EK355 | 21:00 | DXB | M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
|
MH610 | 21:20 | KUL | M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
 |
AY132 | 22:05 | HEL | M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
 |
JL36 | 22:25 | HND | M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
|
AF257 | 22:50 | CDG | M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
|
BA16 | 23:05 | LHR | M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
|
QF219 | 23:10 | LHR | M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
|
BA12 | 23:15 | LHR | M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
|
QF255 | 23:30 | CDG | M | – | W | – | F | – | – |
|
QF1 | 23:35 | LHR | M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
|
QF38 | 23:40 | MEL | M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
|
EK353 | 00:30 | DXB | M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
|
CX714 | 01:25 | HKG | M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
|
KL836 | 01:40 | AMS | M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
|
JL38† | 02:20 | HND | M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
|
EK349† | 02:30 | DXB | M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
|
QR945† | 03:15 | DOH | M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
† Lounge closes at 1am, before departure
The later 2.30pm opening, 30 minutes behind the 2pm start that applied until 24th October, does trim the time available before afternoon departures, such as Cathay Pacific’s 4.45pm flight to Hong Kong, which once you allow for the T4 bus transfer now leaves only around an hour in the lounge.
Status holders in Economy lose out most
If you’re flying Business Class on a oneworld carrier, the Qatar Airways lounge is now open from 7.15am to 10.15am every day, so there’s a good alternative (and arguably a better breakfast) available to you on the days the Qantas lounge stays shut.
oneworld Sapphire and Emerald members flying Economy don’t have that option, since the Qatar lounge restricts access to those flying in First or Business Class.
For them, on Mondays and Thursdays the Qantas lounge isn’t an option until 10.40am, and on Wednesdays and Saturdays not until 2.30pm.
Otherwise you’re left with whichever lounge your airline uses for its own premium passengers, which in some cases is a big step down:
- Malaysia Airlines: SATS Premier Lounge, T2
- Qatar Airways: SATS Premier Lounge, T1
- SriLankan Airlines: Marhaba Lounge, T3
Cathay Pacific flyers fare better, with the airline’s own dedicated lounge at T4.
For Qatar Airways Economy passengers with Privilege Club Gold or Platinum status on QR943 at 10.15am, that now means the SATS lounge on four days of the week, despite the flight itself going daily again from 25th October.
When the Qantas lounge is open, it’s well worth the trek for status holders on these airlines, including Oman Air’s evening flight to Muscat, whose passengers would otherwise be sent to the SATS Premier Lounge in T2.
What about the First Lounge?
There’s some good news at the Qantas Singapore First Lounge, which now opens at 3.45pm daily, still closing at 11pm.
That’s 45 minutes earlier than the 4.30pm opening it moved to at the start of October, though still 15 minutes later than the 3.30pm start it offered from June through September.
(Photo: MainlyMiles)
Lounge access
The access rules are unchanged. In short, the Business Lounge is open to those flying on a Qantas, Emirates, Air France, KLM or oneworld-operated flight in First or Business Class, or in a lower cabin while holding sufficient Qantas, Emirates, Flying Blue / SkyTeam or oneworld status.
Here’s the detailed breakdown.
 |
 |
 |
Passengers flying on a Qantas or Emirates flight, or on a oneworld member operated flight:
- in First Class or Business Class; or
- in Premium Economy or Economy Class and holding Qantas Platinum One, Platinum or Gold status, Emirates Platinum or Gold Skywards status* or oneworld Emerald or Sapphire status**
* Qantas or Emirates flights only
** Qantas or oneworld flights only
Passengers flying on Air France or KLM:
- in Business Class or First Class (Air France); or
- in Premium Economy or Economy Class and holding Flying Blue Gold or Platinum status, or SkyTeam Elite Plus status.
- in Premium Economy or Economy Class and holding Qantas Platinum One or Platinum status, when flying on a QF codeshare flight number.
Passengers flying on a Jetstar flight:
- on a Jetstar Business Max fare; or
- holding Qantas Platinum One status.
Note: Jetstar flights from Singapore Changi Airport depart from Terminal 2.
Qantas Club members flying on a Qantas (QF) or Jetstar (JQ) flight number are permitted access.
Early check-in
Qantas participates in Changi’s Early Check-In programme at Jewel, with check-in available there from 8am to 4.15pm, while its regular T1 check-in desks (Row 8) open four hours before each departure.
That lets those on the evening Qantas bank clear into the transit area early, though on most days there’s now a gap between the morning session ending (or not happening at all) and the lounge reopening at 2.30pm.
Most of the partner airlines whose passengers can use this lounge also offer Jewel Early Check-In, including Air France, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Fiji Airways, JAL, KLM, Malaysia Airlines and Qatar Airways, though the timings vary by carrier.
See our early check-in guide for all the latest options.
About the Qantas Singapore Business Lounge
The Qantas Singapore International Lounge is one of the best Business Class lounges at Singapore Changi Airport, including a manned bar, ample shower suites and excellent food options.
The facility has a huge 600-seat capacity, which is much-needed during the evening peak of Qantas departures that includes Airbus A380 services to London and Australia.
(Photo: MainlyMiles)
On the other hand, that makes it an enormous space for only a handful of morning oneworld and partner airline departures, which is the case for some of its opening periods.
The lounge even offers a made-to-order food menu, in addition to a self-serve buffet selection.
(Photo: MainlyMiles)
Shower facilities are available for those who want to freshen up before their flight, with 20 private shower suites offered in this huge lounge.
(Photos: MainlyMiles)
There’s also super fast Wi-Fi, clocking in at 62 Mbps during our last visit.
Despite the lack of champagne, this lounge also boasts a full bar, including Little Creatures beer on tap.
(Photo: MainlyMiles)
We reviewed the lounge in September 2019, shortly before it was forced to close due to the pandemic, and aside from a lack of champagne (sparkling wine is offered), we rate it as among the better Business Class lounges out there.
Summary
Just over four months after it began opening every morning, the Qantas Singapore Business Lounge has cut back to a morning session on only three days a week: 8am – 10am on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays, plus a 10.40am start on Mondays and Thursdays.
For oneworld Business Class passengers that’s less of a problem, with the Qatar Airways Premium Lounge now open every morning in the same terminal.
For Sapphire and Emerald members flying Economy, though, it’s a step backwards, with no Qantas lounge access before 10.40am on four days of the week, and none before 2.30pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
At least the later 1am close helps those on the early-hours Emirates and Cathay Pacific departures, while the First Lounge now opens 45 minutes earlier, at 3.45pm daily.
(Cover Photo: MainlyMiles)