Qantas Singapore Lounge Catering Quality [Enhanced!]

[DavidFlynn]

Re: QF Singapore lounge 'enhanced'

Have never rated the SIN lounge - the food offerings were enhanced within 6 months of opening and the outlook is dreary.

Compared to the view from the BA lounge..? Well, I'd admit that neither lounge wins in the "sprawling scenic vista and huge tracts of land" stakes, but then one doesn't visit either of those lounges for the view. The new QF SIN lounge is certainly better and brighter than the old business class bunker, and the nosh is still pretty good in my book.

 

[yohy?!]

Re: QF Singapore lounge 'enhanced'

Better than the BA lounge outlook though.
I still think the catering is better than MEL/SYD J lounges, although think HKG>SIN

How can you tell the difference between HKG and SIN?

Basically the same game of spot-the-meat amongst the mountains of vegetables and refined sugar on the buffet ( I don't count the bootstrap of pork hanging behind the bar ).

 

[yohy?!]

Re: QF Singapore lounge 'enhanced'

Compared to the view from the BA lounge..? Well, I'd admit that neither lounge wins in the "sprawling scenic vista and huge tracts of land" stakes, but then one doesn't visit either of those lounges for the view. The new QF SIN lounge is certainly better and brighter than the old business class bunker, and the nosh is still pretty good in my book.

ideally runway views at an airport lounge would be best but you take what you can get at an outport.

 

[JohnK]

Re: QF Singapore lounge 'enhanced'

How can you tell the difference between HKG and SIN?

Basically the same game of spot-the-meat amongst the mountains of vegetables and refined sugar on the buffet ( I don't count the bootstrap of pork hanging behind the bar ).

I think HKG has a better variety of meat options for someone who prefers western style food.

 

[TonyHancock]

Re: QF Singapore lounge 'enhanced'

I'm out of the loop on the QF front but don't we, the "Thongs, Singlet and Bintang*" brigade, also have access to the EK lounge when flying QF. I always remember there were some odd rules for entry some time ago, but that may be when the lounge refurbishment was underway?

*I am throwing myself at being a qantas Platinum Type now.

 

[blackcat20]

Re: QF Singapore lounge 'enhanced'

First visit to the SIN QF lounge last week...it really didnt impress. Dull, closed in, and packed to the brim. Food looked ok but didnt eat anything. coughtail special was ok. HKG lounge is miles ahead.
Retreated to BA lounge for the quiet even though the food there didnt look that fab either.

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

Re: QF Singapore lounge 'enhanced'

Have not been to this lounge for about 6 months. Went to order a singapore sling which i have done numerous times in the past and was told no more coughtails anymore apart from a daily coughtail of the day. Grhhh...

Maybe it's time for QF to revisit the contract and award running of the lounge to someone else who can afford to put their hands in their pocket and allow patrons to enjoy the classic Singaporean favourite in the lounge.

 

[dajop]

Re: QF Singapore lounge 'enhanced'

I usually get a Margarita in the QF lounge in SIN, when I was last there in October they were still serving them. I hope that is still the case.

But when we last asked for a Singapore Sling we were told that they couldn't serve them any more because it was the signature drink of their competitor. Not sure if this was just a"make up an reason" response that you get from time to time in Singapore, or whether it was genuine. Later that same evening, when I switched to the EK lounge, I noticed EK also no longer stocked Singapore Sling pre-mix in their lounge. Maybe there is some truth to the bar tenders comment...

 

[DavidFlynn]

Re: QF Singapore lounge 'enhanced'

But when we last asked for a Singapore Sling we were told that they couldn't serve them any more because it was the signature drink of their competitor. Not sure if this was just a"make up an reason" response that you get from time to time in Singapore, or whether it was genuine.

As far as I know – and as silly as it sounds – that's the reason.

(My QF SIN lounge tipple of choice remains an espresso martini from rockstar barkeep Ronald, although in the city itself I'm given over to lychee martinis.)

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

Re: QF Singapore lounge 'enhanced'

I usually get a Margarita in the QF lounge in SIN, when I was last there in October they were still serving them. I hope that is still the case.

But when we last asked for a Singapore Sling we were told that they couldn't serve them any more because it was the signature drink of their competitor. Not sure if this was just a"make up an reason" response that you get from time to time in Singapore, or whether it was genuine. Later that same evening, when I switched to the EK lounge, I noticed EK also no longer stocked Singapore Sling pre-mix in their lounge. Maybe there is some truth to the bar tenders comment...

Im intrigued, but still not convinced that a " Competitor" ( ie SQ) owns the naming rights to the coughtail.
As far as I'm aware the Raffles Hotel invented the Singapore Sling, so unless their has been some licensing agreement come into play recently, the cynic in me says it's still cost cutting.

Singapore sling history:
Singapore Sling History - Raffles Singapore

 

[Pushka]

Re: QF Singapore lounge 'enhanced'

We were there Monday evening. Very busy and a family of kids running amok. Dish of the day was prawns and I don't eat seafood so much. The other dish was lemon chicken with skin on so it looked a bit rubbery. Vegetables were huge chunks of carrot. Not enjoyable. Went to the self service bar to get a sparkling and bottle was lukewarm and served by an attendant who poured a glass of froth that settled to about half a glass of drink that she promptly gave me. WT? Waited until she trundled off then poured a decent size. Not chilled enough though. I hadn't planned to eat onboard and kept to that so was a tad hungry by breakfast time.

It's not a landmark lounge.

 

[blackcat20]

Re: QF Singapore lounge 'enhanced'

Was also suprised that the wines appear to be the same as served domestically (eg the Fleur sparkling). At least the HKG lounge had some decent wine.

 

[dajop]

Re: QF Singapore lounge 'enhanced'

Im intrigued, but still not convinced that a " Competitor" ( ie SQ) owns the naming rights to the coughtail.

Oh I don't assume anything legalistic around naming rights. I just thought it was more a branding/commercial thing - not giving a free kick to the competitor sort of thing. What intrigued me was the EK withdrew it from their lounges too.

Still lots of spirits on offer - so can't understand how it would cost that much more (if at all) than the rest of the bar on offer.

 

[whughes3]

Re: QF Singapore lounge 'enhanced'

The SIN QF lounge has always struck me as having the ambience of a crowded noisy pub: even when it is not particularly full. In my book, it is just one of many good reasons to fly SQ to SIN instead!

 

[OzEire]

Re: QF Singapore lounge 'enhanced'

But when we last asked for a Singapore Sling we were told that they couldn't serve them any more because it was the signature drink of their competitor.

As mentioned up thread the Sling is a Raffles signature (premix!!).

Are international QF lounges still run by Sofitel / Accor ... and didn't Accor just acquire Raffles?

 

[Canny man]

Re: QF Singapore lounge 'enhanced'

The wine on offer in the SIN lounge is very disappointing. In the early days, you could request proper champagne. I visited a few weeks ago and was told that the only available bubbles were the regular sparkly.
If I have time I use the SQ Emirates lounge where the wine and food are a step above.

Do BA still have an F section, and is this accessible by OWE's

 

[DavidFlynn]

Re: QF Singapore lounge 'enhanced'

The wine on offer in the SQ lounge is very disappointing. In the early days, you could request proper champagne. I visited a few weeks ago and was told that the only available bubbles were the regular sparkly.

Authentic fizz still available but restricted to the CL/P1/VIP set.

If I have time I use the SQ Emirates lounge where the wine and food are a step above.

A popular option, alas the EK SIN lounge will close in April 2017 for a make-over.

Do BA still have an F section, and is this accessible by OWE's

BA has its own lounge in the footprint of the old QF/BA F lounge, with an attached 'Concorde Bar' for BA F and BAEC Concorde Room Card / Premier Card flyers, but not Oneworld Emerald.

 

[dajop]

Re: QF Singapore lounge 'enhanced'

If I have time I use the SQ Emirates lounge where the wine and food are a step above.

Pray tell, where can one find the SQ Emirates lounge ?

 

[blackcat20]

Re: QF Singapore lounge 'enhanced'

Pray tell, where can one find the SQ Emirates lounge ?

I assume they meant the SIN Emirates lounge.

 

[TonyHancock]

Re: QF Singapore lounge 'enhanced'

Do BA still have an F section, and is this accessible by OWE's

The Concorde Bar is a smallish room to the right as you enter the BA Lounge. Entry is gained via a keypad requiring a four digit code. This code changes twice a month. As mentioned access is for BA F customers and Premier/CCR Card Holders. There is some anecdotal evidence that the the latter may use the lounge when flying on other OW flights but on my visits (16 in 2016) I was on BA flight numbers)

The Concorde Bar is actually quite dark with no windows to the outside world. These days it has a limited menu as well as a buffet and a member of staff is mostly there to assist with food/drinks.







The major advantage, apart from drinks selection, is the relative calm and tranquility. I have rarely seen the lounge overflowing. (I think there were more than a dozen pax in there on one occasion.)

Even as a P1, with a reserved table and "special" service I never liked the QF SIN Lounge, it has always appeared overcrowded and very noisy.