At the beginning of August, Singapore Airlines started its much-anticipated lounge refurbishments at its home base of Singapore Changi Airport. While the Singapore Airlines lounges are being refurbished, the airline has opened a temporary, alternative KrisFlyer Gold lounge.
The entire lounge renovation project at Changi Airport is expected to be completed by mid-2021. Work has already begun on the refurbishment of the Singapore Airlines Business Class Lounge, and will then move to the First Class Lounge, The Private Room and finally the KrisFlyer Gold Lounge – which will be completed last. This means that if you have Velocity Gold or Platinum status, or a Star Alliance Gold card, you’ll be relegated to the alternative KrisFlyer Gold Lounge when flying with Singapore Airlines in Economy class for the next two years or so.
The temporary KrisFlyer Gold lounge is actually a part of the existing Marhaba Lounge. There is a separate entrance for Singapore Airlines customers, but the physical lounge space is shared.
Several AFF members have tested the temporary KrisFlyer Gold Lounge while travelling through Singapore in recent weeks. The good news is that it’s not worse than the previous KrisFlyer Gold Lounge. But that’s not saying much, given the previous lounge space did not even have toilets.
Here’s what cgichard had to say about the KrisFlyer Gold alternative lounge…
I was in the ‘new’ space yesterday for several hours. Seems to be shared with Dnata and Marambai(?) each with their own lounge dragon. Approx. 80% full most of the time I was there. The ‘lounging’ chairs were all down the far end, with a very noisy children’s playground of some kind just on the far side of a partition wall. By 7.30 pm no fresh fruit left except apples. A very long walk to the T3 A14 gates for my SQ227 flight. Altogether a down-market experience compared with the LHR T2 equivalent.
And AFF member Ausbt wrote…
I was in the SQ Gold lounge last week. It’s shared with the Mahraba lounge – well, it basically IS the Mahraba lounge with an additional entrance really. I think it’s pretty good hold-over until the new lounge, certainly many times better than the old SQ Gold which was dire. Reasonable bain-marie selections, beer fridge and some spirits, seating with power points etc. I wouldn’t want to spend 3 hours there but I think it’s ok.
One new experience: getting a buzzer unit to advise you of when a toilet becomes available. Yes, toilet space is limited.
If you’re planning a visit to the alternative KrisFlyer Gold lounge anytime soon, keep your expectations low to avoid being disappointed.
We’re looking forward to seeing the new lounges in Singapore once they’re open.
Meanwhile, Qantas is on track to open its new First Class lounge at Singapore Airport by Christmas.
Join the discussion on the Australian Frequent Flyer forum: SQ refurbishing KrisFlyer Gold lounge in Singapore (SIN)
