Qatar Airways Premium Lounge, Singapore

If you’re flying through Changi Airport on a oneworld airline, it really pays to know the rules – and to know your options. For instance, a Business Class ticket on Qantas can get you into five lounges here or six if you also have Platinum status. But even without that top-tier card, one of Singapore’s best choices is the Qatar Airways Premium Lounge.

Open to oneworld Business Class and First Class passengers, the offerings here mirror what you might otherwise expect of a First Class lounge. This includes à la carte dining, premium Champagne and a quieter atmosphere than many of the airport’s other oneworld lounges. Here’s a look inside.

Location, layout and seating

Qatar Airways’ lounge sits in familiar territory for many Aussie travellers. You’ll find Qatar’s Premium Lounge airside in Terminal 1 of Singapore Changi Airport. Venture towards the ‘C’ gates and take the escalator upstairs. It’s located next door to Singapore’s Emirates Lounge and across from the Plaza Premium Lounge.

You’re welcomed into an inviting space that’s less ‘reception desk’ and more ‘private area’. The lobby is adorned with orchids to incorporate a twist of Singapore. Moving through the lounge finds an array of seats in a variety of styles. Keep your eyes peeled for wireless charging symbols throughout. It’s always handy not having to dig a cable out of your bag for a quick power-up.

The Qatar Airways lounge is near the lounges of Emirates and Plaza Premium.

Access is granted to oneworld Business Class and First Class passengers.

This isn’t your typical ‘airport lounge’ entrance.

It’s a quiet, premium space for those flying up front.

Notice the logos on the cocktail tables. This means wireless charging is available here.

The lounge fills up a little during this visit, but it never feels ‘full’.

These pods are great for some quiet pre-flight work.

Settle by the windows for some natural light, or take a more comfortable table in the main dining area.

This lounge currently opens for two periods each day. In the mornings, doors are open from 7:45 am to 10:45 am. Then, at night, the lounge resumes service at 6 pm, running until 2:30 am. That evening window suits some of Qantas’ flights to Australia, as well as its late evening flagship QF1 service to London.

For those flying Down Under, QF72 to Perth departs just a tad too early to make full use of this lounge. The same can be said of QF2 to Sydney. That’s because both flights depart around 7:35 pm – with boarding beginning close to an hour before that. The later flights – QF292 to Sydney, QF36 and QF38 to Melbourne and QF52 to Brisbane – allow more time to relax here.

Naturally, this lounge is always open before Qatar Airways’ own flights to Doha.

Food and beverage in the Qatar Airways Premium Lounge, Singapore

If you’re flying Business Class from Singapore on a oneworld Alliance airline, the Qatar Airways Premium Lounge is arguably your best option. That’s because the overall experience really mirrors that of a First Class lounge. There’s à la carte dining with a choice of Champagne – and the lounge itself is rather tranquil, too.

I settle into the dining room and I’m promptly offered a non-alcoholic lime and mint welcome drink. I’m not in a rush, so I enjoy that before continuing with a glass of Taittinger Prestige Rosé. It’s a refreshing pairing with the smoked salmon starter. Normally, I’d match a white Champagne with a seafood starter, but it’s nice for something different.

The salmon is fresh and beautifully presented. I continue with the grilled beef tenderloin. It’s plated as a trio of main elements – the beef, a roasted turned potato and a pouring jug of cracked pepper sauce. The meal sits on a base of carrot purée, and it’s simply delicious. Dessert brings an Earl Grey bread pudding, and I’m all set to skip dinner on my Qantas/Finnair flight to Sydney to maximise my rest.

Qatar Airways may be a Middle Eastern carrier, but alcohol is plentiful in its lounges.

An off-the-menu mocktail gets dinner started.

Who am I to turn down a glass of Taittinger?

The salmon starter is beautifully presented.

In fact, all of the dishes here are plated with care.

The dessert menu isn’t broad, but the option that is listed is worth arriving early for.

One thing I love about travelling in the Middle East is the prevalence of non-alcoholic options beyond the usual soft drinks. It’s nice to see that carry through to the lounge here.

Help yourself to fruit and nibbles.

Cheese and charcuterie are kept well stocked.

Spot the oryx in the background!

Before moving on from the dining area, I give the Berry Twist mocktail a try. It’s a blend of fresh blueberry, strawberries, raspberry, lime and syrup – highly recommended. If you’re pushed for time or just want a lighter nibble, peruse the generously stocked buffet. A stroll finds salad, fruit, cheese and charcuterie.

For a lounge that welcomes Business Class passengers, it’s fair to say this is one of oneworld’s best ‘outstation’ lounges. It’s well worthy of an early arrival.

Amenities in the Qatar Airways Premium Lounge in Singapore

Qatar Airways’ Premium Lounge offers a relaxing environment in Singapore. This means there aren’t frequent boarding calls as every flight approaches departure. Qatar may still call its own flights, but if you’re on a partner airline, use the screens to keep tabs on your timing. Don’t forget, security takes place at the gate – so leave in plenty of time.

Those who’ve been flying Qatar Airways for years will notice that the purple seats in the lounge largely mirror the design of the carrier’s inflight Business Class seats on the Airbus A380. But for a more obvious connection to the brand, you may also spot a tasteful number of model aircraft throughout.

I do appreciate Qatar Airways displaying departure information for other oneworld airlines here – not just for Qatar Airways.

See if you can count how many model planes you see in this lounge. It’s a tasteful number, not a huge collection.

The lounge offers shower suites as well as a prayer room.

Wi-Fi speeds are adequate here. During this stay, my tests show downloads averaging 34Mbps with uploads around 13Mbps. That’s fast enough for video streaming – just be patient with any large backups to the cloud. The lounge also offers private shower suites as well as a prayer room.

How to access Singapore’s Qatar Airways Premium Lounge

There’s a reason that Qatar Airways is able to offer such an elevated experience for Business Class travellers, who’d otherwise typically use an airline’s mid-tier lounge. Here in Singapore, the Qatar Airways Premium Lounge is only open to travellers booked in a premium cabin, as below.

• Business Class passengers departing on Qatar Airways or a oneworld airline (no guests). However, this excludes travellers who’ve purchased a Business Class Lite fare from Qatar. It may also exclude those who’ve upgraded to Business Class on Qatar. The airline is vague on this, but in my experience, Qatar Airways denies access to lounges reserved for premium cabin flyers when you’ve upgraded from Economy with Avios.
• First Class passengers of oneworld airlines. Normally, oneworld First Class passengers are entitled to bring a guest who is departing in any cabin, but this doesn’t apply here as Qatar Airways has secured an exception from oneworld. First Class flyers wishing to bring a guest would need to visit one of Singapore’s other oneworld lounges.

There’s no access for frequent flyers to this lounge, except when travelling in oneworld Business Class or First Class. In that case, it’s the ticket that’s providing access – not the status itself. Sapphire and Emerald frequent flyers booked in Economy on Qatar Airways can visit the SATS lounge here in Singapore. Alternatively, oneworld frequent flyers can access these other lounges in Singapore, too.

• Qantas International Business Lounge (Sapphire and Emerald).
• Qantas International First Lounge (Emerald only).
• British Airways Lounge (Sapphire and Emerald).
• Cathay Pacific Lounge (Sapphire and Emerald, but located in T4).
• Emirates Lounge (not a oneworld lounge and not open to most Sapphire and Emerald members, but it does welcome Qantas Gold members and above flying Qantas or Emirates only).
• Dnata Lounge (Sapphire and Emerald, flying SriLankan Airlines only).
• Marhaba Lounge (Sapphire and Emerald, flying Finnair and Japan Airlines only).
• SATS Premier Lounge (Sapphire and Emerald, available when flying Qatar Airways or Malaysia Airlines only).

The verdict

Qatar Airways’ Premium Lounge in Singapore lives up to its name. It’s a space that equally suits Business Class and First Class passengers given the elevated dining experience and upscale ambience. Of course, Qatar Airways doesn’t currently offer First Class from Singapore. Even so, Business Class flyers can enjoy service on the ground that’s closer to First Class.

Naturally, some top-tier frequent flyers will be miffed that they don’t qualify for this space unless flying Business Class or above. This comes from an exception granted by oneworld, because this is defined as a ‘class of service’ lounge only. It’s the same way that British Airways’ Concorde Room isn’t open to most frequent flyers in a lower cabin.

When departing Singapore in oneworld First Class, it could be a tough call between Qatar’s Premium Lounge and the Qantas International First Lounge. It’s the same conundrum if you’re flying in a premium cabin with oneworld Emerald status, as you’d have the same two choices. If you have time, why not try them both and see which you prefer?

If you’re flying Business Class without a oneworld Emerald card, personally, I’d pick this Changi Airport lounge. You really can’t go wrong.

Also reviewed: Qatar Airways Airbus A380 First Class

All photography by Chris Chamberlin, who travelled at his own expense.