#redcarpettrip: Singapore Airlines Private Room

#redcarpettrip: Trip Index


Perhaps one of the most talked about exclusive First Class lounge is the Singapore Airlines Private Room. There are multiple lounges at Singapore Changi Airport, given that it is a busy hub and so many Star Alliance flights originate and terminate there.

While there are separate lounges for all the Star Alliance Gold Passengers passengers, Singapore Airlines’ and other Star Alliance Airlines’ Business Class Flyers and the First Class lounge is for Singapore Airlines’ top-tier members and other Star Alliance Airlines First Class passengers, for SQ’s own First Class passengers, they get to go to the Private Room.

Singapore Airlines’ Private Room is their most exclusive lounge, which only operates at Terminal 3 in Changi. It is essentially, a lounge within a lounge within a lounge, it is that exclusive! On arrival from Mumbai, after finishing our Duty Free Shopping, we arrived at the Singapore Airlines’ Lounge Area in Terminal 3, which was brimming with people and handed out our boarding passes to the reception crew to check us in at the Lounge. We were handed over to another staff member who walked us through the Business Class Lounge, then inside the First Class Lounge to bring us to the entrance to The Private Room which is at towards the back of the First Class Lounge.

Entrance: The Private Room

Entrance: The Private Room

The whole of Singapore Airport was decorated for Christmas, and there was a nice Christmas tree at the entrance of The Private Room as well. Too bad there were no 100,000 mile promo codes to power our passion for flying going forward under the tree.

Christmas Decoration, The Private Room

Christmas Decoration, The Private Room

The lounge had a lot of throne-like couches in the usual Singapore Airlines colours of tan, beige and dark brown, and overlooked the tarmac with plenty of seating to hold at least 60 people.

Seating, The Private Room

Seating, The Private Room

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Windowside Seating , The Private Room

Seating, The Private Room

Seating, The Private Room

We were even able to keep an eye on the plane which would take us from Singapore to Los Angeles, from the lounge itself.

Tarmac View from The Private Room

Tarmac View from The Private Room

There was a big television wall inside the wall, with a lot of seating space for an entire family of 6 to watch television.

TV Wall, The Private Room

TV Wall, The Private Room

Since we did not have a lot of time to spend in the lounge today (our overall connection was 1:50 hours, and we had only about 45 minutes here), we decided to get some breakfast first. The host who walked us inside the lounge checked if we wanted to eat in the restaurant or in the lounge area. We decided to dine in the restaurant.

Restaurant Area, The Private Room

Restaurant Area, The Private Room

It is interesting to see note the lounge is triangular in design, something that beats me. Was form dictating design or vice versa is something I am still scratching my head on here.

Restaurant Area, The Private Room

Restaurant Area, The Private Room

We took a seat in one corner of the restaurant area, and it came with a massive chair for one along the wall.

Restaurant Area Seating, The Private Room

Restaurant Area Seating, The Private Room

We were promptly brought along the menu cards, which had an elaborate menu for breakfast standards.

Breakfast Menu, The Private Room

Breakfast Menu, The Private Room

We ordered some Roti Prata and some Dim Sums, and I ordered a strong cappuccino to wake me up while we were awaiting our breakfast. The cappuccino came double quick and had an extra shot of espresso, and the food arrived in a reasonable amount of time as well.

Cappucino, The Private Room

Cappucino, The Private Room

While I waited for the breakfast, I hopped over to inspect the buffet counter, which had some cereal and sandwiches, apart from chips and dips. Colour me confused, but who eats chips and dips at 8 in the morning?

Limited Buffet, The Private Room

Limited Buffet, The Private Room

Limited Buffet, The Private Room

Limited Buffet, The Private Room

The Roti Prata was pretty spicy, and delivered the goods pretty nicely.

Roti Prata served at The Private Room

Roti Prata served at The Private Room

The dim sums were good as well, but we needed something more to round of breakfast. So we ordered Eggs Benedict as well.

Dim Sum Platter Served at The Private Room

Dim Sum Platter Served at The Private Room

Eggs Benedict served at The Private Room

Eggs Benedict served at The Private Room

After breakfast, we were on our way to the gate which was right below the lounges, to board our flight.

While the Singapore Airlines Private Room was a nice lounge and pretty exclusive as well, given that the airline makes a big deal about inviting you with a Golden Ticket as well, is this a place I would spend a few hours at? No. While the leather adds to the richness of the lounge, it is also boring.

While the service was extra-attentive as compared to other parts of the Singapore Airlines lounge network here, perhaps an hour or two here at best for me, because all you can do here is either dine or look out of the window. Perhaps when SQ designed the lounge, they only thought of it as a destination for originating passengers who can come and wait here for an hour or two, and not for transiting passengers who may line up to spend more than a few hours at the airport sometimes.

What do you think about the Singapore Airlines Private Room? Would you plan a long layover to experience this lounge more fully?

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Pros

+ Exclusive Lounge for Singapore Airlines' First Class Passengers
+ Exhaustive Dining Menu
+ Proactive service

Cons

- Limited activities
- Perhaps a bit too formal and uptight

Rating

About Ajay

Ajay Awtaney is the Founder and Editor of Live From A Lounge (LFAL), a pioneering digital platform renowned for publishing news and views about aviation, hotels, passenger experience, loyalty programs, travel trends and frequent travel tips for the Global Indian. He is considered the Indian authority on business travel, luxury travel, frequent flyer miles, loyalty credit cards and travel for Indians around the globe. Ajay is a frequent contributor and commentator on the media as well, including ET Now, BBC, CNBC TV18, NDTV, Conde Nast Traveller and many other outlets.

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Comments

  1. Any idea on arriving in Singapore suites class but connecting on different airline in regards to access? I have heard it varies….any insight would be beneficial thanks!!

  2. The ones who eat roti prata and dim sum in the morning are likely the ones to eat chips and dips in the morning 🙂 – Just kidding. Looks like a good trip

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