The SilverKris Lounge is Singapore Airlines’ equivalent to a Business Class lounge. Given the airline’s four daily widebody flights to and from Manila, it is reasonable for them to operate a lounge in an otherwise lacklustre terminal. As such, the SilverKris Lounge Manila joins the nine other lounges operated by the airline in outstation airports outside Singapore.

Lounge Access Rules

The Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge Manila is a standard Star Alliance Business Class lounge. As such, First and Business Class passengers departing on Singapore Airlines and other Star Alliance carriers are eligible for access. Sadly, Star Alliance does not have a lounge access provision for connecting passengers. As such, Singapore Airlines and Star Alliance passengers from First and Business Class flights are not eligible for access.

When accessing by status, Singapore Airlines permits Solitaire PPS Club, PPS Club, and KrisFlyer Elite Gold members to access this lounge, when departing on a Singapore Airlines or Star Alliance flight. In addition, frequent flyers with Star Alliance Gold status (ANA Diamond and Platinum Service, Lufthansa Senator, etc.) departing on Singapore Airlines and Star Alliance flights are also eligible for entry. You can refer to this document on the Singapore Airlines website for further information.

Location

The Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge Manila is located in the lounge cluster at Ninoy Aquino International Aiport Terminal 3. After clearing departure security, follow the signs pointing to the airline lounges. This will take you to a lift lobby-cum-stairway near Gate 114. Head up to Level 4 and turn right to the corridor upon exiting the lift lobby. The Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge is the second lounge in this corridor, just past the Cathay Pacific Lounge.

SilverKris Lounge Manila

At the entrance to the lounge is a reception desk, where the uninterested lounge agent took a scan of my boarding pass and advised me that there would be no boarding calls for ANA. Due to the Star Alliance lounge policy, I had access by virtue of my ANA Business Class ticket departing Manila. Do note that this lounge is open only between 04.30 – 09.00 and 11.00 – 18.00.

Lounge Seating and Amenities

The SilverKris Lounge Manila consists of a single large room, divided virtually into smaller sections. The lounge features Singapore Airlines’s ‘Home Away From Home’ lounge design ethos, which first debuted in Sydney in 2013. Conceived by the Singaporean architectural firm ONG&ONG, the style – as its name suggests – was designed and modelled after elements of a home. This is the same design language that you’ll find in other SilverKris Lounges worldwide.

Living Room

Located immediately to the right of the reception is a small nook, featuring seats arranged like a living room. Specifically, there are three pairs of love seats facing each other in this space, along with a pair of armchairs on one side. Given the warm lighting and the relative seclusion compared to the open feeling of the main seating area, this is perhaps the cosiest and most intimate seating option in the lounge.

Bar and Dining Area

Across from the small living room-like area is the dining area, which features a few choices of seating. First is a set of four tables, each complemented by a dining chair and a single sofa that runs along the length of the wall. Compared to the other types of seats offered in the dining area, this is likely to be the most comfortable.

Next to the dining table area is a large communal table which seats a total of ten people at maximum. The seats here are a bit higher than those at the table, which combined with the low seat backs might be cumbersome to certain people. Conveniently, however, there are a few power outlets embedded into the table, which makes this a good alternative work surface.

Finally, right past the food spread are 12 bar seats separated into two parts. The first seats is part of a long bar marble bar counter that views into the main lounge space. This is supplemented by a slightly more intimate bar counter seating two, facing the wall. For one, I find it puzzling how poorly this space was utilised by the designers, as it could easily fit a good number of much nicer table seats. Instead, there is a large empty space between the bar seats and the buffet. Oh well.

Window Nook

On the window-side corner opposite the living room nook is another nook with just seven seats. Three of those seats consist of high-backed wing chairs – a characteristic piece of furniture found in many Singapore Airlines lounges. This is accompanied by four red leather-clad sofa chairs tightly arranged next to each other. Despite the small number of seats, this nook opens to the rest of the lounge, rendering it less cosy than the first nook.

Lounge Area

Most seats in the SilverKris Lounge can be found in the expansive main lounge area, which has three rows of sofa chairs lined along the length of the room. Each seat is accompanied by a lighted console table, all of which feature a pair of power outlets. Along the windows, there are also pairs of sofa chairs arranged facing each other. Power outlets are also thoughtfully available for these seats, located on the wall under the windows.

Although the arrangement of the chairs and seats in this lounge isn’t very creative, I do appreciate how functional and pragmatic the design is. The design and placement of chairs definitely maximise the number of seats in this lounge, which is a valuable aspect given how premium-heavy Singapore Airlines planes tend to be.

In any case, I’d say that I quite like the look and style of this area. The combination of the nicely patterned carpets and the warm lighting permeating the space definitely gave the SilverKris Lounge a premium look. Although not as comfortable or cosy as the neighbouring Cathay Pacific Lounge, this relatively opulent style is certainly the sort of first impression that Singapore Airlines wishes to cultivate.

Productivity Pods

Located along the width of both ends of the space are the ‘Productivity Pods’, which may just be the SilverKris Lounge’s X-factor. These semi-private and high-walled pods feature a built-in lamp, power supply, and a table surface. I’ll admit that I love the design of these pods, which appears to take its inspiration from the First Class seats on the Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-300ER.

The Productivity Pods have been a mainstay of any refurbished SilverKris Lounge since they were introduced as part of the ‘Home Away From Home’ lounge design. When in use, these pods function either as a solo dining space or an informal work desk, reminding me a lot of the excellent Solo chairs and Solus chairs at the Cathay Pacific Lounges.

Lounge WiFi

The SilverKris Lounge maintains its own WiFi network, which is separate from the network offered in the terminal. The SilverKris Lounge WiFi network is password-protected and has decent internet speeds suitable for work or browsing. In any case, it’s better than anything offered in the terminal!

Dining

Food buffet

The food at the SilverKris Lounges consists only of a single buffet tucked into an interior corner just past the reception area. During my visit, only four hot dishes and a soup were catered, alongside a variety of cold snacks. For one, I was deeply unimpressed by the barebones selection of Filipino dishes and the lack of anything remotely Singaporean.

It is perhaps no surprise that the SilverKris Lounge is catered by the PAGSS Lounge. I managed to sample a bit of the food and thought the selection and taste to be bland, uninspiring, and frankly disappointing. For one, I think the Cathay Pacific Lounge next door is leagues ahead. Regardless, I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves.

Drinks

In addition to the basic selection of food, there was also a marginally better selection of drinks (which isn’t saying much). For soft drinks, there was a choice of canned soda, beer, soymilk, and bottled water in the chiller. In addition to that, there was also a questionable choice of ‘Four Seasons Juice’ and ‘Calamansi Juice’. Hmm…

Next to the chiller is a selection of Twinings Tea, complemented by a hot water dispenser. Meanwhile, coffee and espresso-based drinks are dispensed from a coffee machine which curiously has a screen playing Singapore Airlines’ latest ad campaign, ‘Welcome to World Class’. Now, whilst that is a definitely fitting description for the airline’s inflight service, there is nothing world-class about this lounge.

Finally, in terms of alcoholic drinks, there was a choice of three liquors and one wine in addition to the San Miguel beer in the chiller. During my visit, these included Bombay Sapphire Gin, Johnny Walker Black Label Whisky, Absolut Vodka and Table Mountain Chardonnay. Again, a very basic selection if you ask me!

Toilet

Located behind the food buffet and at the far interior end of the lounge are the toilets, which are gender segregated. During my visit, I found the men’s toilet to be bright, clean, and well-kept. Apart from that there was nothing special about it, as it is pretty much barebones for a premium airline lounge. As expected, showers are not available at this lounge.

Overall

All in all, I thought of the SilverKris Lounge Manila to be a mediocre outstation lounge for Singapore Airlines. Although I’ve had limited experience with SilverKris lounges outside Changi Airport, I’ve always found them to be nothing special. Frankly speaking, I’ve found the Manila lounge to be no exception to this rule. Between the lacklustre food and drinks and basic facilities, there’s much to be improved – especially compared to the exceptional Cathay Pacific Lounge next door. Regardless I still appreciate the nicely-designed and comfortable seating area offered by Singapore Airlines, especially when compared to the depressing PAGSS Lounge!

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