Velocity Platinum Bad deal KrisFlyer Gold lounge

[awkwardpaws]

I can second what MattG said (just missed him!).
Was there tonight as well, massively underwhelming. crowded and small, food and drinks selection weren't great.. and I'm an SQ KF Gold :/

 

[grubbidok]

Thanks!

So no alacarte dining or bar service? busy too I assume? In any case, surely a step up from Krisflyer

No a la carte when flying VA and the lounge is just too small to be able to handle the number of VA elites for multiple flights. The whole lounge is built around the a la carte feature too, with dining tables making up around half the area, so there are not a lot of comfortable places to sit if the lounge is more than half full. There is bar service.

I've used the EY lounge when flying EY and it *is* great. I've used it when flying VA and it is *not* great. The key is the lounge as it's set up for VA flights is not the same lounge that gets those great reviews. A big step down from the SQ and NZ lounges IMO. So much so I now avoid VA metal to the US when I can help it.

 

[Pleb Status]

On offer as of 17:50 tonight in the KFG T3 lounge -

1) Chicken Tikka and steamed rice
2) Cauliflower curry and steamed rice
3) Braised chicken with steamed vegetables and roasted potato wedges
4) Scones and jam (most likely left over from afternoon tea)
5) Peach bread pudding

Not the most gourmet selection I have ever had but satisfied the hunger....

 

[SydneySwan]

On offer as of 17:50 tonight in the KFG T3 lounge -

1) Chicken Tikka and steamed rice
2) Cauliflower curry and steamed rice
3) Braised chicken with steamed vegetables and roasted potato wedges
4) Scones and jam (most likely left over from afternoon tea)
5) Peach bread pudding

Not the most gourmet selection I have ever had but satisfied the hunger....

When I was there in March peach bread pudding was served. It was actually pretty good - so much so I went back for seconds.

 

[Muppet501st]

Currently in the KFG T2 lounge ( first time ) and it's fine. A lot more hot food selection than any VA or DL lounge. Was busy when we first came in, but soon emptied.
Also popped into the T3 lounge and found it perfectly acceptable.

 

[CPMaverick]

Currently in the KFG T2 lounge ( first time ) and it's fine. A lot more hot food selection than any VA or DL lounge. Was busy when we first came in, but soon emptied.
Also popped into the T3 lounge and found it perfectly acceptable.

The problem is showers and toilets mainly.

So many flyers through SIN are doing longhaul. To deprive them of a lounge with showers or even a toilet to freshen up in is very poor and not competitive with really any other similar airport. The fact that SIN is such a nice hub otherwise really amplifies the disappointment.

 

[Milboo]

What's the big issue with the no toilet. Seriously it is mere metres down from the lounge entrance and it's pretty much only used by the lounge guests anyway given its location.

Its quicker to walk to than to walk all from one corner of the Silver Kris to the bathrooms inside it!

And I don't know about others but I generally don't spend much time in a bathroom nor use it overly frequently for it to be such a big gripe.

 

[CPMaverick]

Two issues with the toilet, one is that you have to identify yourself to the attendant each time you leave and return (usually just a quick nod but it is annoying). Once the attendant was different when I returned and I had to wait in line to get back in. Any inconvenience is detrimental to the lounge experience. Secondly you are using facilities that are not exclusive which is part of the lounge experience too. I'm not saying that is majorly important to me, but it does matter to some. Neither of these are huge issues but they fail to meet expectations.

But my complaints are 95% shower related and only 5% toilet... Showers are basically standard equipment for an international lounge and a shocking omission for an airport with so many long haul flights.

 

[davidj]

What's the big issue with the no toilet. Seriously it is mere metres down from the lounge entrance and it's pretty much only used by the lounge guests anyway given its location.

Totally agree. Sounds precious to be honest.

Also interesting people seem to bag KFG lounge in Singapore, but don't bat an eyelid on Virgin lounges in Australia. You have much more hot food options in KFGL, and generally more food selection. Virgin lounge maybe has better drink selection, including fresh espresso coffee.

 

[CPMaverick]

Totally agree. Sounds precious to be honest.

Also interesting people seem to bag KFG lounge in Singapore, but don't bat an eyelid on Virgin lounges in Australia. You have much more hot food options in KFGL, and generally more food selection. Virgin lounge maybe has better drink selection, including fresh espresso coffee.

How can I be any more clear. There is one main complaint.

IT'S THE LACK OF A SHOWER

I don't complain about VA lounges because they have showers.

 

[Milboo]

Many lounges don't have showers - at least in SIN there is the Ambassador Transit Lounge that you can pay for shower access! If I feel like a shower I normally head there first and then park up in the lounge.

 

[CPMaverick]

Many lounges don't have showers - at least in SIN there is the Ambassador Transit Lounge that you can pay for shower access! If I feel like a shower I normally head there first and then park up in the lounge.

Oh right, no complaints then I can just pay for another lounge to get a shower. When a cheap ratty public access lounge like the Ambassador has showers it just makes KFG even more sad.

Would you mind naming which other international transit lounges meant for top status members lack showers?

 

[SydneySwan]

Would you mind naming which other international transit lounges meant for top status members lack showers?

I do love these sort of challenges. How about the lounges at Nadi Airport in Fiji? I don't remember any of those having showers.

 

[Mattg]

I do love these sort of challenges. How about the lounges at Nadi Airport in Fiji? I don't remember any of those having showers.

According to this review from 2016, even the Fiji Airways lounge in NAN has showers

Review: Fiji Airways Lounge Nadi Airport - One Mile at a Time

Even so, SIN is supposed to be one of the top airports in the world, and it's the hub airport for one of the world's best long-haul airlines. Many of the passengers passing through there will be travelling for up to 24 hours straight (e.g. anyone flying from Australia to Europe). The lounge really ought to have showers IMHO.

 

[CPMaverick]

I can confirm NAN has showers. I'm sure you can find one without showers if you look hard enough! But even at remote airport like NAN (hardly a major hub) they provide the basics.

 

[JohnK]

Oh right, no complaints then I can just pay for another lounge to get a shower. When a cheap ratty public access lounge like the Ambassador has showers it just makes KFG even more sad.

Would you mind naming which other international transit lounges meant for top status members lack showers?

PER KrisFlyer lounge? MNL QF lounge? BKK KrisFlyer lounge?

Is a shower during a transit that important? I don't know which is why I'm asking. From my simple observation the majority of passengers stay near the gate in transit and don't rush off to have a shower.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Is a shower during a transit that important?

Yes, 100% a must

 

[CPMaverick]

PER KrisFlyer lounge? MNL QF lounge? BKK KrisFlyer lounge?

Is a shower during a transit that important? I don't know which is why I'm asking. From my simple observation the majority of passengers stay near the gate in transit and don't rush off to have a shower.

PER Krisflyer wouldn't be considered an international transit lounge IMO. If you are transferring to a partner VA domestic flight you can shower there. Similarly with QF at MNL. I'm not sure about the options at BKK. That is an international hub for sure but not really for SQ.

I don't always shower but there's nothing worse than needing a shower and there isn't one. Especially if you have to go straight to work at your destination.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

I have some work colleagues that will be heading over to SIN for work for a few years and making regular trips back to Oz.

They have a choice of who to fly with, either QF or Virgin. Most (if not all) of them are either Gold or Platinum with QF or VA.

Some have already started to shift their DOM sectors to QF in anticipation of the upcoming work in SIN so they will have status on QF by the time the SIN gig starts. They will drop VA all together. VA's loss.

The SQ Lounge is cough. QF SIN lounge is superior. If there are delays, which one would you rather be in?

VA doesn't care. People do have a choice...

 

[andyhui01]

Some have already started to shift their DOM sectors to QF in anticipation of the upcoming work in SIN so they will have status on QF by the time the SIN gig starts. They will drop VA all together. VA's loss.

The SQ Lounge is cough. QF SIN lounge is superior. If there are delays, which one would you rather be in?

VA doesn't care. People do have a choice...

What can VA do? SQ is the best possible partner for VA for Asia (Geographically and also the network), this is one of the best partnerships for me and allows me to move away from oneworld/CX/QF. CX, apart from being in oneworld won't serve SE Asia well and the other SE Asian carriers don't have the same network SQ does (inc frequency of flights in and out of Asia)

Does the no showers bother me, yes. Sometimes especially if I am travelling out of Singapore and not going straight to the airport from the hotel, but I would be even more bothered if I had less transit options if VA partnered with TG or MH.

What you have to remember is VA isn't getting the shorter end of the stick. All *A Gold (No platinum/emerald in *A) members are in the same lounge. The amount of miles/sector a VA Plat flies would only land them in *A Gold anyway (Unless they actually spend enough to get PPS. If they did spend enough, they wouldn't be a VA FF anyway)

It isn't a problem unless someone has a solution for VA.