The Qantas Singapore Lounge

[bdruce]

I have had the pleasure to visit the SIN QF lounge a few times in the last month and I was very impressed by the ambiance, food and amenities. The staff are superb - very friendly and always looking for ways to make your stay comfortable. I had the seafood noodles and the Asian Chicken (can't remember the exact name). Great tasting food. I also enjoyed the creme brule, lamingtons and carrot cake. Unfortunately its difficult not to over-eat when in this lounge. The shower was fabulous and the seating areas are extremely comfortable. A fantastic lounge in my opinion, however I don't have a lot of experience with lounges.

 

[will2rob]

I have had the pleasure to visit the SIN QF lounge a few times in the last month and I was very impressed by the ambiance, food and amenities. The staff are superb - very friendly and always looking for ways to make your stay comfortable. I had the seafood noodles and the Asian Chicken (can't remember the exact name). Great tasting food. I also enjoyed the creme brule, lamingtons and carrot cake. Unfortunately its difficult not to over-eat when in this lounge. The shower was fabulous and the seating areas are extremely comfortable. A fantastic lounge in my opinion, however I don't have a lot of experience with lounges.

I fully agree. I think the Singapore Lounge is great. Had the seafood Hokkien Mee there on Sunday cooked to order with loads of Chilli washed down with icy cold Tiger beer on tap. I got into the lounge early to give myself time to check out the Emirates Lounge. Very ordinary by comparison. I tried a couple of their offerings - a cold prawn dish, salmon cakes, chicken and beef satay. All were nothing to write home about. Canned beer only (I don't drink wine) dated decor and the atmosphere of a morgue. I stayed about 15 minutes and went back to the Qantas Lounge which is much better in my opinion. Also, I wasn't too fussed with the Emirates reception staff only allowing me in after taking my Qantas card and boarding pass for photocopying. WTF?

 

[serfty]

I fully agree. I think the Singapore Lounge is great. Had the seafood Hokkien Mee there on Sunday cooked to order with loads of Chilli washed down with icy cold Tiger beer on tap. I got into the lounge early to give myself time to check out the Emirates Lounge. Very ordinary by comparison. I tried a couple of their offerings - a cold prawn dish, salmon cakes, chicken and beef satay. All were nothing to write home about. Canned beer only (I don't drink wine) dated decor and the atmosphere of a morgue. I stayed about 15 minutes and went back to the Qantas Lounge which is much better in my opinion. Also, I wasn't too fussed with the Emirates reception staff only allowing me in after taking my Qantas card and boarding pass for photocopying. WTF?

Everyone has different tastes ... I personlly prefer the EK decor ... and the catering ... over the QF SIN lounge.

Is it that much of an issue if they retain your BP etc. while there?

 

[anat0l]

...dated decor and the atmosphere of a morgue.

I think it's more meant to be like Arabic sophisticated (not the tent and blanket stereotypical thing); probably describing it as a morgue atmosphere or quality of a funeral home is a tad harsh!

 

[will2rob]

Everyone has different tastes ... I personlly prefer the EK decor ... and the catering ... over the QF SIN lounge.

Is it that much of an issue if they retain your BP etc. while there?

I agree that everyone has different tastes, I was just recounting my experience and opinion. Doubtless others will disagree.

As for the BP and Qantas card. Yeah actually it is. I have not heard of anyone visiting the Qantas Lounge having their card and BP retained and photocopied. Perhaps they think visitors travelling Qantas might steal the silver, but I cannot see any earthly reason why the would need to retain and copy those items instead of merely sighting them. Is that usual in the EK lounge?

 

[serfty]

... Is that usual in the EK lounge?

In my two visits they have retained the BP until I departed, not the QFF card however.

What time were you there - the last time for me around 7:30pm they had loin lamb chops with some other accompaniments which were very nice and the cheese selection is ~10[SUP]∞[/SUP]+ times better than that available at the QF venue.

 

[anat0l]

I agree that everyone has different tastes, I was just recounting my experience and opinion. Doubtless others will disagree.

As for the BP and Qantas card. Yeah actually it is. I have not heard of anyone visiting the Qantas Lounge having their card and BP retained and photocopied. Perhaps they think visitors travelling Qantas might steal the silver, but I cannot see any earthly reason why the would need to retain and copy those items instead of merely sighting them. Is that usual in the EK lounge?

I've heard of some lounges (not necessarily Qantas or Emirates or what not brands) which do retain boarding passes at the front desk. Sometimes they do this as you enter, sometimes they do this when you use certain services, e.g. showers. Rationale often I get is that "at least they know you are here" just in case you're being hunted down at boarding time (not that I expect it, as many lounges rarely call boarding and it's semi-dangerous to rely on them, too!).

I've seen examples of lounges which photocopy your details - membership card, boarding pass - or at least jot down all that detail which they then retain. I assume this is to pass onto your FFP's carrier (or compile a report which is then similarly handed on), along with the bill (as it were).

 

[will2rob]

I think it's more meant to be like Arabic sophisticated (not the tent and blanket stereotypical thing); probably describing it as a morgue atmosphere or quality of a funeral home is a tad harsh!

I didn't actually say the decor was the quality of a funeral home, but I found the place deathly quiet and lifeless, not that the Qantas Lounge was raucous or loud, but I found the QL had a much better vibe. I qualify my comments by making it clear my impression was based on one visit on one day for 15 minutes or so, the lounge might have a totally different feel on another day. The decor, however, was not fresh and contemporary like the Qantas Lounge in my view.

i was quite disappointed with the EK lounge because I had read good things about it on this forum, but it's no biggie to me, I'll happily slum in it the QL on my next trip to Singapore. That's the beauty of having access to both, you can choose which one suits you better on any given day.

I'm saving my big criticism is the thing that Qantas had the temerity to call Hainanese Chicken on the flight back, but I'll find a more appropriate thread to discuss that.

 

[will2rob]

In my two visits they have retained the BP until I departed, not the QFF card however.

What time were you there - the last time for me around 7:30pm they had loin lamb chops with some other accompaniments which were very nice and the cheese selection is ~10000 ... or more times better than that available at the QF venue.

Around 8pm. They had two different satay skewers which I tried, just to taste. Don't recall what the other hot dishes were. I wasn't really hungry so I was just having a small taste just to give it a try. Didn't look at the desserts for that reason.

 

[anat0l]

...I found the place deathly quiet and lifeless, not that the Qantas Lounge was raucous or loud, but I found the QL had a much better vibe.

I suppose the irony is the predominant opinion of this thread is that "quietness" (maybe not lifelessness, but I can hardly think a single person here would appreciate the concept of a "life" or "vibe") is exactly what separates the EK lounge from the QF lounge, which at peak can tend to get crowded (my last experience I was lucky as well - not too crowded at all). I suppose the conclusion most seem to draw is that EK may not have the traffic or what not, but at the same time QF should've made a bigger lounge, or one that doesn't rebound sound so readily (so to speak).

Everyone is different; not discrediting you but just explaining the other side of it. Interesting to hear your opinion of the EK lounge. Most would probably just say it was "quieter", and that's it.

The decor, however, was not fresh and contemporary like the Qantas Lounge in my view.

I do like the QF decor, though most don't like the timber seats in the "food court" (or that concept for dining), not to mention the "open ceiling" (someone likened this to a warehouse). The EK design is certainly very classic. TBH it hardly bothers me because I've seen enough of the "warehouse" or "street" concept in other places (it's like a modern version of the more classical "brick cafe" or "Euro hole-in-wall" or "trattoria" style) and I don't mind it. Some may argue that because of the name of the concept and the idea it embodies, it goes much against the whole idea that Qantas is a premium or sophisticated carrier.

I'm saving my big criticism is the thing that Qantas had the temerity to call Hainanese Chicken on the flight back, but I'll find a more appropriate thread to discuss that.

LOL I can clearly see QF not fulfilling the definition of Hainanese Chicken!

 

[will2rob]

. Interesting to hear your opinion of the EK lounge. Most would probably just say it was "quieter", and that's it.

It wasn't just quietness. The QL wasn't loud by any means but it just felt more relaxed to me. I don't want to labour the point.

LOL I can clearly see QF not fulfilling the definition of Hainanese Chicken!

it wasn't even close, it was the first Hainanese chicken I have had that was

a) hot
b) microwaved
c) covered with chicken gravy

Call it, I dunno, hot microwaved chicken topped with gravy on a bed of rice. Just don't call it Hainanese Chicken. It is only available online on select on Q on flights out of Singapore. They would have been better off ducking over to the 24 hour food court at Changi airport and grabbing a plate to take away for $5 SGD.

 

[Awesom Andy]

The EK lounge staff usually tries to return the card and bp as soon as they're done with photocopying, although they do give up trying to find you pretty quickly.

 

[medhead]

ISTR that all lounges visited during the SIN lounge crawl noted down passenger details from the BPs. I thought this was for billing purposes.

 

[erkpod]

I hear that you don't win friends with salad though some would disagree with you here depending on the salad. No, seriously I know what you're getting at.

*sings*

You don't win friends with salad...

*starts conga line*

I'm flying SQ in & out of SIN in February. Does the SQ lounge have hot dogs?

 

[anat0l]

Does the SQ lounge have hot dogs?

No. I can answer that one.

 

[medhead]

I'm flying SQ in & out of SIN in February. Does the SQ lounge have hot dogs?

Let me know if they're out of Waldorfs.

 

[JessicaTam]

*sings*

You don't win friends with salad...

*starts conga line*

I'm flying SQ in & out of SIN in February. Does the SQ lounge have hot dogs?

Depending on the lounge, it may not even have showers or toilets.

 

[MH_fan]

Experienced the QF Singapore Lounge for the first time last week (twice). I really liked it. The buffet spread was a bit limited but the made-to-order dishes were really quite good. The staff were excellent. Very friendly, helpful and attentive. The bar was my favourite part though. No champagne, which was disappointing, but it was more than made up for by having coughtails. They make a great cosmo and I downed quite a few few of those in my 2 visits. I didn't end up using the shower facilities but I will next time I'm back there.

 

[Ansett]

Now SQ has opened a new longe in Sydney and here is a small extract from the review of the lounge

For dining, a ‘taste of Singapore’ concept will be progressively introduced at all SilverKris Lounges, featuring iconic dishes from Singapore such as laksa and mee siam alongside meals from around the world.

Now why cant QF do same in Singapore and yes I mean the bit, alongside meals from around the world

 

[fresherbill]

Yesterday's made-to-order menu was:

Thai green curry chicken with fragrant rice

Grilled barramundi with lemon basil mash and tomato salsa

The barramundi was delicious. I've always enjoyed what they've had on offer, but it looks like they've responded to feedback about not having a western option.