The Qatar Airways Premium Lounge is the latest addition to oneworld’s excellent family of lounges at Singapore Changi Airport. Opened in February 2020, the Singapore lounge joins the Bangkok lounge as the second Asian outstation operated by the airline. Designed with Arabic elements in mind, the lounge is practically a morsel of Qatar Airways’ excellent Al Mourjan lounges in Doha.

Lounge Access Rules

First Class and Business Class passengers flying on same-day Qatar Airways and oneworld flights are eligible for access. Passengers connecting to a oneworld flight from an international oneworld First Class and Business Class flight are also eligible for entry. Unlike other oneworld Lounges, however, the Qatar Airways Premium Lounge is open neither to Qatar Airways Privilege Club Platinum or Gold members, nor their oneworld Emerald and Sapphire equivalents. Likewise, guests are not permitted in the lounge.

Location

Unlike the other three oneworld Lounges in Terminal 1, the Qatar Airways Premium Lounge is located in Concourse C. If you just cleared departure immigration in Singapore, turn left and walk to the end towards Gate C1. You’ll find a pair of escalators next to Transfer C that leads to Level 3. Once up, make a left turn. You’ll find the Qatar Airways Premium Lounge down the corridor next to the Emirates Lounge.

Qatar Airways Premium Lounge

I was greeted warmly by the host at the reception as soon I made my way into the Qatar Airways Premium Lounge. Upon presenting my Malaysia Airlines Business Class boarding pass, he promptly invited me in to enjoy the lounge.

Past the reception, you’d find yourself walking through a narrow corridor with literature racks, which opens up to the lounge’s main sitting area. There were a couple of staff members hovering around the area, who approached me to offer drinks as I made my way in.

Lounge Seating

The main sitting area consists of two distinct seating options separated between each side of the room. Despite the space’s low ceilings, it was clear that the designers had intended the space to resemble the feel of the airline’s sophisticated Doha lounges. With its leather chairs, chrome light fixtures, and sandstone walls, the atmosphere is surely nothing short of refined.

On one side, you’ll find a row of elegant semi-private cubicles designed to mimic the look of the airline’s exceptional QSuites Business Class. Each cloth-lined cubicle is furnished with a swivelling leather chair, along with a personal reading lamp, power outlets, and a small cocktail table on the side. Given the lack of work surfaces, these seats are most suitable for relaxing and napping more than anything.

Across the cubicles is a more traditional seating area, with two handfuls of seats arranged in a living room-like setting. Impressively, every seat is complemented with a wireless charging port built into the side tables next to each leather armchair. In addition, there is also a traditional universal power outlet in the hollowed out underside of each console table.

Across the chairs is also a substantially large coffee table, with a QR code that opens the webpage for food and beverage orders. Of course, there is also the luxury of a refreshments station at the centre with a choice of soft drinks and light snacks should you want to get things yourself. 😉

Finally, I’ll add that there is a small business centre setup outfitted at one end of the room. Each of the two workstations features both a printer and a desktop computer.

Dining

Further inside, you’ll find yourself at the dining facility, which makes up just over half of the lounge’s real estate. The facility is divided into three dining zones, each with its distinct atmosphere. Of the three, the most prominent is the centre section, crowned with a beautiful circular bar as its centrepiece. Along the interior-facing windows of this section, you’ll find a row of high top dining tables, suitable for a light meal and an aperitif.

Towards the left of the bar area is a dining alcove with just six tables. Of the six tables, four feature cosier seating, thanks to the long sofa bench that runs along the green wall towards the back. There is also a coffee and tea-making facility on the adjacent wall, complete with Singapore’s own TWG Tea.

Finally, to the right of the bar is the most intimate dining area of the three. Set up in a much darker setting, you’ll find eight dining tables decently spaced from each other. Much like the other tables in the dining facility, each of these tables seats only two patrons, ensuring a very cosy dinner ambience. To further effect the sheltered feeling, each side of this section is covered with dark-tinted glass walls, leaving it to be very intimate.

Buffet spread

Contained within the bar area of the dining facility is a relatively small buffet spread with a selection of cold items. Specifically, the spread is garnished with an array of cut and fresh fruits, alongside a selection of small cakes, cheeses, charcuterie, and Arabic mezze. There is also a salad bar, as well as a small selection of bread rolls and breadsticks on the side.

While I am not one to be so keen on buffet spreads, I was very impressed by how fresh and inviting the items looked. From the appealing presentation to the myriad of natural colours, the spread just looked so chic! Perhaps this is not a surprise given how much emphasis Qatar Airways puts on being elegant. For what its worth, I’ll allow the pictures to speak for themselves.

À la carte dining

On top of the excellent-looking buffet spread, meals in the lounge chiefly consist of Qatar Airways’ signature à la carte dining. The menu changes seasonally, which you can see through this regularly updated link. While I have had a substantial meal at the Qantas First Class Lounge, earlier, my curiosity ultimately led me to order a couple of dishes off the menu.

Once seated, I soon ordered a serving of the chicken satay and the truffled mushroom soup. Being appetisers, both dishes were served concurrently, which made me realise how much food I’d ordered. Still, I found both dishes were delicious and of great quality.

Owing to my sweet tooth, I later also succumb to plating myself a fruit place with a chocolate tart from the buffet spread. As expected based on their looks, both the fruits and chocolate tart were devilishly good.

Additional Seating

Finally, to the rear of the dining facility is an additional sitting area with a couple dozen seats. The section is further subdivided into two seating styles, the first of which is reminiscent of a typical airline lounge setup. In particular, there are four rows of leather and fabric sofa chairs, with each two rows arranged facing each other. Like the main sitting area, wireless charging and power outlets built into the console tables.

Along the windows are eight fabric-lined swivelling chairs, a newer iteration of the similar seats you would find a the original Al Mourjan Lounge in Doha. Of course, like every other seat in the lounge, wireless chargers and power outlets are provided on the adjacent console tables.

Toilets

Located behind the rear sitting area are the washrooms, which are gender segregated. However, instead of a regular public toilet facility, the airline had uniquely opted for individual toilet rooms within the space. As such, you’ll find yourself in another door-lined corridor as you enter the washrooms.

Apart from the wash closet, each toilet room has a sink with a large marble sink top, along with a full-sized vanity mirror. Impressively, provided was also a set of toiletries – including a toothbrush, a comb, a shaving kit, and a hand towel – alongside the usual hand soap and lotion offering. Expectedly, the handheld bidets are also available in association with the wash closet.

Shower

Located within each gender-segregated washroom are two shower rooms, which doubles as a toilet room when not in use. Each shower features both an ensuite toilet and a marble sink, in addition to a shower stall with both handheld and rain showers. Being Qatar Airways, excellent Diptyque bath amenities were in full show to complement the already excellent showering facilities.

Amenities

Prayer Room

With Qatar Airways being a Middle Eastern airline, it is no surprise that a Muslim prayer room is available within the confines of the lounge. Like the showers, the prayer room is located within the washroom area, complete with a wudu (ablution) facility outside it.

Lockers

Located next to the reception area are the lockers, numbering to 18. While they don’t seem to have a locking mechanism, I wouldn’t be too worried when leaving my belongings here as the area is tightly monitored by the reception agents.

WiFi

Unlike the Al Mourjan Lounges in Doha, ironically, the Qatar Airways Premium Lounge Singapore maintains its own WiFi network – as any proper airport lounge should. The speeds are great, on par if not better than that offered by Changi Airport’s similarly excellent network. However, note that the WiFi password is comically long, so you’re better off asking someone to help if you wish to get connected.

Overall

Owing to its strict entry requirements, the Qatar Airways Premium lounge appropriately offers a haven of solace away from the busyness of the many intercontinental departures of the terminal. With its comfortable seating and sophisticated facilities, there is much to love about the lounge. Furthermore, with its elegant setting and exceptional à la carte dining facility, I’d contend this lounge to even rival the Qantas First Class Lounge as the best of oneworld at Changi Airport. Truly, Qatar Airways has done a brilliant job with its Singapore lounge, making it a place I would arrive early for. 

Read more from An Emerald Farewell here!