Singapore Airlines' lounges reopen at Changi Airport after $50 million upgrade

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Singapore Airlines' lounges reopen at Changi Airport after $50 million upgrade

By Craig Platt
Updated
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Take a look inside Singapore Airlines' upgraded lounges in the photo gallery above.

Most airlines have their own distinctive look, apparent in their plane livery, their flight attendant uniforms and their marketing, but how many offer their own smell?

Guests at Singapore Airlines' refurbished lounges at Changi Airport can experience a feast for all senses, including smell, following a $S50 million ($A51 million), three-year upgrade that's just been completed.

The business class lounge has been upgraded and expanded.

The business class lounge has been upgraded and expanded.

Passengers arriving at the SilverKris lounge at Changi's Terminal 3 will be met by a giant 12-metre, 8K Sony screen depicting a moving display of the airlines' batik motif, while the carrier's signature scent, "Batik Flora", fills the air and the relaxing sounds of instrumental tracks by composer Rohan De Livera play in the background (also heard on board during boarding and disembarkation).

The SilverKris lounge is split into three sections: business class, first class and the new "Private Room" - the latter a new, exclusive space limited to those flying in first class or in the airline's private suites on the Airbus A380 superjumbo (the larger first class lounge can be also accessed by members of the airlines Solataire PPS club, regardless of the class they are flying in).

The Private Room's lobby features a light dome of 107 crystal flowers, designed by French glassmaker Laliqu, providing an entree to the decadance that lies within. Inside, passengers can enjoy a glass of Taittinger Comtes De Champagne (which will set you back about $400 a bottle in Australia) and a la carte dining, while relaxing in seats designed for privacy, peace and quiet.

A bathroom and shower at the first class lounge.

A bathroom and shower at the first class lounge.

In the first class lounge, guests can relax in sofa seating or work in "productivity pods" - comfortable cubicles with reading lights and charging facilities. For those seeking serious rest, day rooms are available featuring either a recliner or a full bed for those seeking to fit in a nap before their next flight.

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Meanwhile, the business class lounge and Krisflyer Gold lounges have both been expanded, increasing the total space across all lounges by 30 per cent, with room for 1150 passengers.

Food and beverage options have also been expanded, with all the favourites one would expect from lounges in one of the most food-obsessed cities on the planet. Nasi goreng, dumplings, soups and various other international options are available across the lounges.

While COVID-19 and the accompanying downturn in air travel provided an opportunity to close the lounges for refurbishment while few passenger were travelling, the refurbishment plans were already underway before the pandemic hit.

"Having opened the lounges back in 2008, we thought it was time not only to refurbish it but also to expand to meet our growth plans as our network grew," said Marvin Tan. Senior Vice President Customer Services & Operations.

"To have this lounge ready and open now, as travel picks up, particularly ahead of the (northern) summer, it's a very opportune thing for us."

Throughout the pandemic we weren't really sure how the recovery would pan out, but in the last couple of months we've seen it rebound very strongly."

Singapore relaxed its entry requirements in April, dropping pre-departure COVID-19 testing for arrivals. Masks are still required indoors.

Changi Airport is regularly rated the best in the world, having won the World's Best Airport award from Skytrax eight years in a row, though last year it slipped to third, largely due to the effects of COVID-19, behind Doha's Hamad International and Tokyo Haneda. Changi still won best airport in the 10-15 million passenger category and World's Best Airport Staff. This year's awards will be announced later this month.

The writer travelled as a guest of Singapore Airlines.

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