Singapore Airlines has long been known for its innovative customer experience. It was the first airline to offer WiFi on an A380 and on-demand seatback entertainment. Now their lounges have had a long-awaited makeover too.
The launch follows a cool S$50 million redesign and expansion of all lounges. Work began three years ago in collaboration with luxury hospitality design company Hirsch Bedner Associates (HBA), the designers behind hotels such as the Ritz-Carlton Bacara Santa Barbara.
HBA is not traditionally known for airport lounge design, and that’s the point – this innovative company has really evolved what’s on offer for SIA customers. The plan was to open them in 2021 but Covid-19 curtailed that. However, as of the end of May, all lounges have now been opened to much fanfare.
Experiencing them on a quick stop-over, what shines through is SIA’s timeless elegance in The Private Room and the SilverKris First Class lounge. All this, plus comfort in abundance with a nod to luxury hotel style. Innovative features such as showers in all lounges and wireless charging points everywhere were long overdue.
Collectively, the four lounges accommodate 1,150 customers in 6100 square meters, over 30% more space than previously.
Eight to 10 hot culinary choices are now offered in the top tier with Taittinger in first and Piper- Heidsieck in business. And the new spacious and natural light-filled KrisFlyer Gold lounge deserves a look-in too.
Singapore Airlines chief executive Goh Choon Phong said extensive customer engagement and research have gone into the design of the new SilverKris and KrisFlyer Gold lounges. “Customers will enjoy thoughtfully curated product offerings and experience the signature Singapore Airlines hospitality,” he said.
Here’s a guide to which lounge offers what, whether Private, SilverKris or Gold.
The Private Room
The ethos of The Private Room is simple – privacy. A must, as this is the top tier of lounges, reserved only for the Suites and First-Class passengers.
This sparkling new lounge encompasses sweeping white marble floors, contrasting bronze walls and copper details warmed with wood panelling. Colour comes from the ocean-blue wash carpet and turquoise lamps. However, the lavish Lalique light is the pièce de resistance. The crystals were inspired by the Aquatic Ginger Flower, one of the 10 native flowers in SIA’s signature batik.
But it is what passengers are offered that matters. The highlight of The Private Room is the a la carte dining room, with full table service. The previous design was more ‘gentlemen’s club’, whereas the new dining room is chic and uncluttered.
For cuisine there is everything from sauteed lobster with, not just any satay, this is wagyu satay. Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs 2007 flows – what else? And for quick bites there’s a ham slicing machine and barista station.
The Private Room has four day-rooms, offering full lay-down beds or recliner bed chairs – the quiet sanctuary many hanker for. Four shower suites are wall-to-wall marble luxury. For those travelling with children there’s a small playroom, with TV, sofa and beanbags. Budding artists are given colouring pencils and drawing books.
The low down: Capacity for 78 passengers; restaurant-style dining; four shower suites; children’s playroom and baby changing room; four private day rooms, two with bed and recliner, two recliner only.
SilverKris First Class Lounge
Following on from the Private Room, the design themes continue to the First-Class for Singapore Airlines Solitaire PPS Club members and passengers booked in on a Star Alliance partner airline.
It might be one tier lower, but the redesign is just as luxurious. Indeed, the wow factor comes from the flagship bar, with its curved wall dripping Lalique crystals. It’s one of those bars you want to hang out at. For cocktails there’s everything from the obligatory Singapore Sling to Margaritas.
And for F&B? The dining area hosts 50, up from the previous 25. Live cooking stations have, amongst others, steamed barrumdi, satay, bak chor mee, and wagu burger . Near this buffet is an area of lighter bites, self-serve drinks, coffee machines plus an electronic wine dispenser and self-pouring beer. Self-pour champagne appears too, in the form of a Piper-Heidsieck Rare Brut Millesime 2007.
For work, there are six soundproofed pods with WI-FI speeds of up to 25 Mbps.
A good sleep can be had in the four private sound-proofed day rooms. Two have adjustable recliners, two have Tempur supreme mattress beds. Each is like a mini hotel room, complete with desk and charging outlets.
What was expected by SIA customers according to the airline, comes from the six new shower suites. Like The Private Room, these are marble clad with hand shower, rain shower and Grohe bidet toilet. The restrooms come with Dyson hand-dryers, hairdryers and over-large mirrors.
The low down: Capacity for 134 guests; buffet dining and live cooking stations; fully tended bar; six shower suites (one accessible); children’s playroom and baby changing room; meeting room for up to 12 with printing facilities; four private day rooms with beds or recliners.
SilverKris Lounge
Moving through the tiers, the new SliverKris Lounge is designed for business passengers, plus first-class passengers on Star Alliance and Singapore Airlines’ PPS Club.
The lounge had a soft opening in November 2021, however a large section was closed off. Now this section blocks the noise of the lounge to host the long-awaited 14 screened-off sleeping pods.
F&B features include a long sweeping buffet area with many culinary options. Hosting up to 570 passengers, well-run Singapore style has kicked in with everything from laksa and biryani to full English breakfasts on offer. Piper-Heidsieck is the pour with an area for light bites and fully-stocked fridges of soft drinks. There’s self-serve and staffed bars too. Overall the look is premium and the 15 marble-clad showers rectify the previous bug bear of when there was none.
The low down: Capacity for 570 guests, up from 488; buffet dining and live cooking stations; self-serve champagne, full-service bar barista; 15 shower suites; 14 sleeper pods; 9 productivity pods.
