Qantas First Class Singapore Lounge
Qantas new Singapore First Lounge is the airline's first ever first class lounge in Asia.
It has great dining, and indeed that is the mainstay of the lounge, with seats for 240 First Class passengers, or those with the right frequent flyer card.
The design is impressive, with chic white marble, muted gold accents, blonde wood and warm lighting certainly don't say Singapore.
NEWS: The Qantas First Class Lounge in Singapore has opened. And it's a good one, with a design edge that mixes chic boutique hotel mixed with a Michelin-starred restaurant.
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Singapore Qantas First Class lounge review
The bright light new and shiny Qantas First Class Singapore Lounge is a must see stop on the tour of the now five oneworld lounges at Singapore Changi airport, even if it is hard to access, and is really more of a giant dining room than a totally relaxing lounge.
The new 240-seat 1,000 sqm lounge is in an easy to miss spot, being right after security, rather than the usual left, up a rather hidden escalator to what was once OLeary's bar, and right again, and you'll see white glass doors that look decidedly first, with the Qantas logo blinged up in gold.
The brand new Singapore Changi Qantas First Class lounge is a pleasant mix of a fresh contemporary design with local influences. More than half the lounge is restaurant space, while the other areas comprise of two bars: there is only a small seating area as you enter the lounge.
As is clear, the expectation is that passengers coming in, or going to London will stop off, have a shower, and want something to eat before getting back on board, and it's clearly focused on the peak 90 minutes when incoming flights from and to London on QF1 and QF2 create a brief rush of passengers. And for that, this lounge works perfectly.
A long, thin, lounge, with a corridor up the middle, the new Qantas First lounge lacks any natural light, but in compensation there is plenty of light wood and white marble, created by Qantas' latest resident designer David Caon.
As you walk in there are a couple of ticket service podiums, and then there is a small seating area on the left, with an LED skylight in the middle of the main seating area of the lounge, creating an artificial daylight effect.
And it really does work too: check it out over the long bench at the head of the long seating area. Alas, this is the only place where you can lie down and sleep, so perhaps it isn't too well located.
Then, on the left of this area is a small office space, while on the right is a row of Qantas' 'solo' seats with a high back and a small cocktail table, if you want some privacy when you are on your phone. These are similar to those offered by Cathay Pacific, but lack the power socket and flip down table.
Next up is the main seating area, with just about every possible type of chair imaginable, from armchairs to high upright ones, and there is even a long bench with power sockets if you want to plug in your laptop while sitting with a few snacks.
Then comes the main cocktail bar on the left, while the vast dining area is on the right, with plenty of two plus two seats: indeed, it seems the lounge is designed for couples, with few areas for solo travellers or families.
The new lounge has a very different style compare to the older Marc Newson designed First Lounges in Sydney and Melbourne, from nearly two decades back.
A bit of trivia for you about this lounge: it opened in late 2019, and almost immediately shut again due to the pandemic. When it reopened in 2013 it was already nearly four years old, but looks so new because it has only had any real traffic for a couple of months.
Food
The dining area has a seasonal rotation of dishes from Qantas' Neil Perry Rockpool menu, which are served at your table. However, with only about 60 minutes in the lounge (if you hurry) between flights en route to London, it can be very much a rush to be served.
There are also some delightful main courses inspired by Singapore. If you are puzzled by the inclusion of the Club Sandwich, you clearly haven't been a backpacker up the peninsular.
However there are plenty of dishes to choose from: half a dozen or so seriously good creations. If you have time you can turn it into a three course, or even five course dinner with dessert and cheese and biscuits.
Some regulars like to order 2 or 3 starters in a row, so as not to be too full before getting on a long haul flight - which may of course involve more dining.
Don't miss the part of the menu with the special cocktail selections this season.
Bar
The lounge features two bars, one traditional cocktail bar, and another bar in the dining zone. The cocktail bar serves champagne, seasonal spritzes, and unique cocktails inspired by Singapore, like a Calamansi Mojito - made from the Calamansi fruit, which grows around the peninsular. The Qantas First Singapore lounge also has its own Singapore Sling style cocktail, the Merlion Blush, with vodka, cranberry and grapefruit.
Both bars naturally serve Singaporean & Australian beer, plus Australian wine.
Business Facilities
Instead of a business area, there is a small communal work table with twelve chairs at the end of the lounge: each of these seats has USB and mains (international socket) power available.There is also a small 'office' area with a printer. This used to have two PCs, but Covid forced their removal.
Bathrooms
There are also ten shower suites, in white marble with brass fittings, LED lights, and with amenities by Australian skincare collection, LaGaia Unedited.
Access
First Class Qantas, Qantas Platinum, British Airways Gold members of Executive Club oneworld Emerald frequent flyers.
Singapore Qantas First Class lounge opening hours are daily 2.30pm to midnight (or until the last flight departs, if the QF1 to London is delayed).
The First Lounge is at the far end of Singapore Changi Terminal1, by the D gates, as opposed to the business lounge which is closer to the C gates.
There is access to the Qantas First Singapore lounge to First class passengers of Qantas, British Airways and Emirates. Qantas Platinum, Platinum One and British Airways Gold Frequent Flyers, and other Oneworld Emerald frequent flyers prior to Qantas and Oneworld flights, such as on Japan Airlines, and Malaysia Airlines. There is absolutely no access to Cathay Pacific passengers, whose flights now depart from Terminal 4.
Video: Qantas First Class
Great dining
Fantastic wines
No seats at bar
No daylight