Opened in 2019, the Qantas First Class Lounge is the newest addition to the steady collection of oneworld lounges at Singapore Changi Airport. The David Caon-designed lounge is the only First Class facility at the airport, outside Singapore Airlines’ three First Class lounges. It is also one of the two lounges operated by Qantas at the airport, the other being the Qantas International Business Class Lounge.

Lounge Access Rules

Passengers with a same-day reservation on Qantas and oneworld First Class flights are eligible for access. Passengers connecting to a oneworld flight from an international oneworld First Class flight are also eligible for entry. When accessing by status, passengers holding Qantas Platinum or Platinum One status are eligible for access with one guest. This benefit also extends to Emerald status holders with oneworld carriers, such as Cathay Pacific Diamond, JAL Global Club Diamond and Premier, AAdvantage Executive Platinum, or BA Executive Club Gold. Refer to the Qantas website for specific details.

Location

Along with the majority of oneworld Lounges, the Qantas First Class Lounge is located in Terminal 1. If you’re coming from Singapore, turn right after clearing immigration and walk straight past a few duty-free shops to find an escalator, with signage pointing to the Marhaba Lounge and the Qantas First Class Lounge. After going up the escalators the lounge will be a short walk to the right, where you’ll find the lounge across from the Marhaba Lounge.

Qantas First Class Lounge

I left the Cathay Pacific Lounge in Terminal 4 at 15.00, in anticipation of the Qantas First Class Lounge’s 15.30 opening time. After waiting at the entrance for ten minutes, alongside a couple of other frequent flyers, I was welcomed warmly by the two reception agents. On this occasion, I was admitted based on my oneworld Emerald status while flying Business Class on Malaysia Airlines. Having told me that there would be no boarding calls for Malaysia Airlines flights, I was invited inside. 

As you’d find at the Qantas International Business Lounge in Hong Kong, this lounge consists of one very long room segmented into different areas. A corridor runs from the entrance to the very back of the lounge, allowing an unobstructed view of the entire space.

The Qantas First Class Lounge Singapore also showcases the airline’s latest lounge style. As you’d also find in their Perth, London, and Hong Kong Lounges, the space employs many light wooden and stone elements and brass fixtures.

Lounge Area

Immediately behind the reception is the lounge’s relatively small sitting room, which features a handful of sofa chairs arranged in the style of a living room. Having opened in 2019, the furniture still looks very new and trendy, featuring many organic curves and brass fixtures. While I can’t attest to their timelessness, the look is a nice change to the dull style of Qantas’s older lounges.

Along the wall on one side is a row of semi-private chairs arranged in a herringbone configuration. Given its high sides and green upholstery, the chair reminds me a lot of the Studio Ilse Solo Chairs you’d find at Cathay Pacific Lounges, only with a Qantas twist. While they are each complimented by a table, they sadly do not have power outlets embedded. 

In addition to the ‘solo’ chairs, there are also several work areas, including two proper desk seats with a printer and a communal work table. As expected, each seat has access to a power outlet. I did find it ironic that this casual lounge design features more workstations than the previous corporate style you’ll find at the Los Angeles First Lounge.

What’s likely the most special feature of the seating area is the wellness area, which features a faux skylight tailored to help passengers transition through time zones. I neither know which timezone they use nor whether this works, but it certainly looks like a cool feature to have.

Dining

Behind the seating area is the expansive dining area, which makes up about two-thirds of the lounge’s real estate. Unlike the eclectic design of the seating area, the soft-lit, cream-hued dining room feels uniform yet relaxed – like the restaurant of a tropical country club. This ambience is only further emphasised by the wooden plantation-style shutters the interior-facing windows and the tropical plants scattered around.

The majority of tables feature seating for two, with padded leather dining chairs alternating to a sofa on the side adjacent to the corridor. There are also a dozen or so high-top bar seats scattered around the dining area and the bar.

Finally, along the interior side at the far end of the dining room is an alcove-like dining area. Featuring darker hues of army green and grey, this dining area feels a lot more intimate than the open plan of the rest of the dining room. This is also apparently utilised as a special dining area for visiting VIPs, as was the case for an Australian MP entourage during my visit.

Food

As the lounge only opens in the afternoon, there is only a single all-day dining menu available. Although I have nibbled on some food at the Cathay Pacific Lounge, I still elected to have a full meal – for research purposes of course. 😉 For reference, below is the menu on offer during my visit.

After we were seated, we were presented with a cold towel, pickled olives and a choice of drinks. I opted for a glass of the excellent Joseph Perrier Cuvée Royale Brut, which was also showcased at the JAL First Class Lounge Narita on my visit the month prior.

As our late lunch, we decided to sample a choice of Australian and local-inspired dishes. This included the Pan Seared Barramundi and Chef Linda’s Dry Prawn and Pork Har Mee. I also ordered Qantas’s signature Salt and Pepper Squid, without which a visit to a Qantas Lounge would not be complete. For a lounge so consciously designed around its dining offering, the food was expectedly great and easily restaurant quality. With a fully working kitchen, the dishes were customisable to a degree and tasted fresh.

Service

While I don’t usually write about service at a lounge, I found the Qantas First Class Lounge’s Sofitel-trained staff to be exceptionally friendly and charming. As I entered the lounge, I was approached the lounge’s hosts, who offered to explain the lounge’s features. Our attentive dining host, Kamal, was particularly outstanding and even offered us an off-menu item to complete our meal.

Bar

The Qantas Bar is located towards the middle of the lounge, across from the dining area. As with any international Qantas Lounge, the bar is manned by a knowledgeable bartender, who is friendly and charming.

There are eight relaxed seats by the bar area, which are convenient if you’re not dining. Furthermore, in addition to the drinks you can request at the bar, a handful of self-served beverages and bar snacks are also available on the side.

Amenities

Shower

You’ll find the nine shower suites located near the entrance, sharing the same general area as the toilets. As usual, you’ll have to request a shower at the dedicated reception in the shower area. Depending on the bank of departing Qantas flights, there might be a wait for a shower. In this case, you’ll be handed a buzzer.

Each shower is equipped with an ensuite toilet and a sink, in addition to the rain shower. Expectedly, the space feels like a private extension of the lounge, utilising the same organic curves, marble and terrazzo cladding, and brass fixtures. Cleverly, the toilet also doubles as the support for a luggage table, which you can unstow from the adjacent wall.

In addition, the featured toiletries are a collaboration between Qantas and LaGaia Unedited, an smaller Australian brand. I found the quality to be reasonably good and I quite liked it.

However, what makes the showers most special is the faux skylight feature. Similar to the wellness area, this feature intends to help passengers transition between timezones. With a press of the buttons on the wall near the door, you can customise the lighting according to your body clock. While a cool feature, I did feel that it is more of a gimmick than anything.

Toilet

Opposite the shower area is the common area for all-gender restrooms. Each of the self-contained restrooms feature individual sinks and toilets. Like the showers, the toilet rooms are clad in contemporary marble and terrazzo and feature LaGaia Unedited hand soap and body lotion.

WiFi

The Qantas First Class Lounge Singapore has a fast and reliable WiFi network, separate from Singapore Changi Airport’s otherwise excellent network. The network’s speed was excellent and I had no complaints about it.

Overall

Being able to visit the Singapore Qantas First Class Lounge is one of the primary reasons I took this trip. While not as extensive as their Sydney lounge, the Singapore lounge showcases Qantas’ latest generation lounge concept and aesthetics. While I can’t say I love the trendy design, it is surely a world away from the dull and corporate look you’d find at the Los Angeles First Lounge, which Marc Newsom designed. Coupled with the excellent food and service, I found the Singapore First Lounge to be a real treat for frequent flyers and oneworld First Class passengers flying from or through Changi Airport. 

Read more from An Emerald Farewell here!