The SIN QF/BA "First" Lounge slips to new lows

[ashleyn]

Might it be the case that after years of lounging around the world, some of you may have your expectations set a bit high ? Try a few hours out with the plebs once in a while and that might serve as a reality check and make the lounge seem not that bad after all. Just a thought.

 

[penegal]

I haven't flown QF ex-SIN for a few months, but the lounge wasn't that good to begin with. I do look forward to the new lounge, whenever it is ready... but there are alternatives in the mean time.

As mentioned, Skyview is okay.

And the T1 SATS lounge is average, but usually rather quiet by comparison. I have never waited to shower there. Free access for PP and DC holders.

 

[penegal]

I guess the only real disadvantage (if you can call it one) of the SQ J SKL at T3 is that you need to be flying SQ Business to get access.

Any other Star Alliance Business class, Star Alliance Gold (without SQ Business) or Virgin elite status must use the KrisFlyer Gold Lounge, which is nowhere near as good as the SKL and arguably inferior to the QF/BA Lounges.

PPS get access to the SKL...

 

[simongr]

I could also try flying in economy if I wanted the full experience. I think the point is that the lounge has gotten worse - in fact it is less likely that I will try to use the lounge in transit at SIN on my upcoming trip.

 

[anat0l]

Might it be the case that after years of lounging around the world, some of you may have your expectations set a bit high ? Try a few hours out with the plebs once in a while and that might serve as a reality check and make the lounge seem not that bad after all. Just a thought.

Like I said, the F lounge (putting aside the constructions now) - and even the J lounge - was pleasant enough for most. It is better than the SIN terminal proper - especially the aged SIN T1 where QF/BA operations are situated.

You could go in, usually find a seat (on an unlucky day it was standing room only or leaning up against the bar tables; seems to be getting worse), pour yourself a drink (with ice, thankfully) and get a light snack.

I suppose QF/BA, in their "wisdom", never thought too much about this lounge because it was simply a mid-point lounge. Notwithstanding QF using it as a springboard for most of its Asian operations (via Jetstar), most people were only expected to fleet through the lounge, not necessarily use it as a solid lounge base, unlike "endpoint" lounges at SYD, MEL or LHR (but suffice to say these are also major home hubs for said airlines).

Nevertheless, with QF/BA concentrating much more JSA traffic through SIN now, I think it's good that these upgrade works are being undertaken.


Back to your point, however, it's not that expectations are necessarily "too high". Yes there is a lounge, and it is better than being out in the terminal. But compared to what it could be (looking at some other lounges in QF's or even BA's network), there just wasn't the shine to QF/BA's SIN lounge.

Now that I think about it, I do complain that the old F Lounge was not "First Class" standard, but then I'm struggling to think of a very good First designated lounge of another airline which is not situated at their home base. So maybe I'm eating my own words here....... (It is a bit unfair to compare these lounges against SQ's SKL, because the latter is in SQ's home base - suffice to say if something were to rival SQ's effort at SIN, we may conclude that SQ isn't doing a good job!)


Also on your point, let's remember that although there is a subthread of this lounge not being up to what we perceive as an appropriate standard (probably a segue that's my fault), the main focus that started this thread is a service failure. This could happen for any lounge (first or seventh rate or whatever), but it's not a good thing to happen.

PPS get access to the SKL...

Sounds great, though that does mean spending at least SGD 25,000 on SQ J or F per year to access that particular elite level. :shock:

 

[zachary.august]

Might it be the case that after years of lounging around the world, some of you may have your expectations set a bit high ? Try a few hours out with the plebs once in a while and that might serve as a reality check and make the lounge seem not that bad after all. Just a thought.

I think that is a bit of a silly argument. If I have paid for a First ticket you should have a great airport experience not a lounge that only has standing room. The "plebs" elect to buy economy tickets and First and Business travellers purchase their fare. Now a days average travellers are spoilt. They pay $200 for a ticket and expect the world. A lounge that seems to lack hot water is not acceptable! Perhaps people in economy should set their expectations lower and stop b#tching when they they pay $300 for a ticket and expect the world. Just a though.

 

[simongr]

Now that I think about it, I do complain that the old F Lounge was not "First Class" standard, but then I'm struggling to think of a very good First designated lounge of another airline which is not situated at their home base. So maybe I'm eating my own words here....... (It is a bit unfair to compare these lounges against SQ's SKL, because the latter is in SQ's home base - suffice to say if something were to rival SQ's effort at SIN, we may conclude that SQ isn't doing a good job!)

I have made this point elsewhere as well. It will be interesting to see what happens at SIN and HKG as they will be the first lounges I expect to be close to home base standard.

The only lounges that I think outshine the home base lounges are:

AA at NRT - the AC there I think outstrips any AC in Domestic US and is in fact a good as the JFk and LAX F lounges and better than ORD.
AA at LHR - I think the F lounge matches the LAX/JFK F lounges

However the above is only correct because of the poor quality of the home lounges in the US.

 

[Austman]

Like I said, the F lounge (putting aside the constructions now) - and even the J lounge - was pleasant enough for most. It is better than the SIN terminal proper - especially the aged SIN T1 where QF/BA operations are situated.

I found the "old" F lounge in SIN to be OK. It got crowded at times and had poor food offerings (although the plated offerings that came out via a walk-around service in the evenings could be quite good). And the showers were OK when I used them. But my Singapore/Malaysian travelling companions have in the past begged me not to take them to these lounges because they thought the food was so diabolically bad (by local standards) and much better was available in airport food outlets. They usually couldn't care less about the drinks.

But what's now happened, with the re-arrangements, is that it's actually got worse! I think Qantas/BA should quickly adjust the temporary lounge admission rules to better balance the number of people in the two lounges. Maybe only allow QF/BA pax in the temporary F and all others in the temporary J? And for goodness sakes get the showers clean and working better. And have some audible announcements in that area.

I look forward to the new lounges. SIN seems to have these very peaky times (late afternoon/evenings). I've been there many times in the mornings/afternoons and it has been fine - almost empty sometimes in the old F lounge.

 

[tuapekastar]

May I ask what lounge? Or all? What underwhelmed you?


Sent from my Telstra iPhone using the Australian Frequent Flyer application.

The Wing and The Pier - J in each instance. TBH it was more the 'hard' product - eating (a pretty average) breakfast in one of them (Pier I think), it was like being at a trestle table and the lounge was so dark and dim (as was the other one) I could barely see what I was eating. I will add the the old BA/QF J lounge at HKG was nothing to write home about either.

My next visit(s) to CX lounges at HKG may be far more pleasing to me. People can only report their impressions and these were mine. I understand that is the also the case with the SIN lounges (pre the current refurb) - and I cannot argue with peoples' impressions and experiences, they are what they are. I can however take some issue with peoples' expectations - and in this case it would seem in some instances that people expect something akin to the MEL/SYD F lounges which I think is unrealistic for a 'foreign' port (perhaps the current refurb will deliver something like that and change my own expectations - let's hope so ).

 

[dajop]

and in this case it would seem in some instances that people expect something akin to the MEL/SYD F lounges which I think is unrealistic for a 'foreign' port (perhaps the current refurb will deliver something like that and change my own expectations - let's hope so ).

SIN may well be a 'foreign' port, but on a daily basis it has more QF metal departures and a lot more departing seats than MEL international. (MEL has 7 departures daily - including 4 737s, whilst SIN has 9-10 departure and also supports 3 BA departures). Excluding of course Jetstar.

 

[jetlagger]

Might it be the case that after years of lounging around the world, some of you may have your expectations set a bit high ? Try a few hours out with the plebs once in a while and that might serve as a reality check and make the lounge seem not that bad after all. Just a thought.

This comment may be appropriate if you happen to purchase a Y ticket & expect the appropriate associated 'trimmings" with such a low fare.. However as the op presented this is supposed to be a premium lounge catering for a 'higher" tiered passenger/s so I find the 'gripe" presenting the current situation of the lounge in question to be most valid. If & when i fly in Y which is also very often, I lower the bar with expectations all round. However if i'm in J paying at times 3-4 times the Y ticket, I do for one, expect at the very least a hot shower, pleasant lounge experience & priority boarding in at least SIN, with as mentioned is a both a major hub for both QF/BA. The current temporary situation is IMHO a less than adequate facility for any premium &/or tier level.

 

[penegal]

If the new "F" lounge is of MEL/SYD standard, I can smell F Lounge runs to KUL next year (at least for SIN based and/or regular SIN-travelling WPs)... Just Sayin'

 

[Awesom Andy]

SIN may well be a 'foreign' port, but on a daily basis it has more QF metal departures and a lot more departing seats than MEL international. (MEL has 7 departures daily - including 4 737s, whilst SIN has 9-10 departure and also supports 3 BA departures). Excluding of course Jetstar.

Not sure on how many international Jetstar services there are from MEL, but I suspect that there are more international Jetstar (both JQ and 3K) flights from SIN than MEL.

 

[Canny man]

If the new "F" lounge is of MEL/SYD standard, I can smell F Lounge runs to KUL next year (at least for SIN based and/or regular SIN-travelling WPs)... Just Sayin'

Used to do that run all the time to the SJ Flounge when I was a solitaire pps member living in KL (early 90's).

A weekend in Singapore, then 3 hours feasting on Krug and fois gras canapes - happy memories.

 

[dajop]

Not sure on how many international Jetstar services there are from MEL, but I suspect that there are more international Jetstar (both JQ and 3K) flights from SIN than MEL.

Without doubt. I was being generous. JQ itself have approximately the same number of flights out of SIN as out of MEL. Then SIN has a plethora of 3K flights. And then of course there are a range of QF codeshares on the likes of JL, AF, 9W and IIRC MU that give QF status members access. I guess this large number of flights is a reason why QF are indeed renewing the lounges.

 

[penegal]

Used to do that run all the time to the SJ Flounge when I was a solitaire pps member living in KL (early 90's).

A weekend in Singapore, then 3 hours feasting on Krug and fois gras canapes - happy memories.

There is a small group of SIN-based Australian expatriates who or may not make regular shopping trips to Malaysia / Thailand

Also, if gone >48hrs the SIN duty free allowance kicks in...

 

[Bundy Bear]

I am currently in the QF Business lounge, which is being used as the First lounge, there really isn't any differences that I can tell, both have beer and other assorted drinks. Place is a bit empty especially as my inbound flight was over an hour late.


Sent from a cool Apple product using Aust Freq Fly app

 

[boylero]

In SIN Flounge right now, nowhere to sit decent no chargers available, what a shame I can't enjoy the relaxing surrounds of the first lounge without bumping shoulders with every TDAH

 

[Austman]

Was there again last night. August 23rd. So what's wrong with this picture?


Note to self: Stick to alcohol! (Actually, the lounge this time was not too bad, crowded, but OK)

 

[TonyHancock]

Was there again last night. August 23rd. So what's wrong with this picture?

You are not drinking a G&T?