The best Oneworld lounges at Singapore Changi Terminal 1
With four lounges to choose from, and limited time on your hands, which is the best place to be?
By David Flynn, August 23 2024
Flying to or through Singapore on a Oneworld member airline? Then you’ll have as many as four lounges to choose from – and the best lounge to visit may not the one your airline sends you to.
Singapore’s Changi Terminal 1 is the de facto home for almost all Oneworld airlines, and there are four Oneworld lounges at T1:
- British Airways Singapore Lounge
- Qantas Singapore Business Lounge
- Qantas Singapore First Lounge
- Qatar Airways Singapore Premium Lounge
But thanks to the Oneworld alliance’s reciprocal lounge access rule you can choose which lounge you visit, or even visit several lounges before your flight.
I’m always amazed at how few travellers realise this. For example, just because you’re flying British Airways doesn’t mean you can’t visit the Qantas lounge instead.
And while Finnair directs its business class passengers and high-status frequent flyers to the independent Marhaba Lounge, they can instead make a beeline for the Oneworld lounges, which all savvy Finnair flyers do.
Plus, under the rules of the Qantas-Emirates partnership, eligible passengers on Qantas flights from Singapore to Australia can also visit the Emirates Singapore Lounge.
There are, of course, some caveats.
You don't always have to visit the lounge your airline sends you to...
Lounge access depends on your class of travel and frequent flyer status: being in business or first class will open the most doors, but even in premium economy or economy, top-tier status will largely achieve the same end.
Your flight will need to align with the lounge’s opening hours: that’s not an issue if you are using the lounge of the airline you’re flying with, as its operating hours will be shaped by its own schedule.
We rate Qatar Airways' Singapore Premium Lounge as a hidden gem for Oneworld first and business class flyers.
The following Oneworld airlines all use Singapore’s Changi Terminal 1:
- British Airways
- Finnair
- JAL
- Qantas
- Qatar Airways
Malaysian Airlines uses Terminal 2 and Sri Lankan is at Terminal 3 – both terminals are connected to T1 via the Skytrain if you fancy visiting a T1 Oneworld lounge, as long as you leave plenty of time to get back to your flight’s T2 or T3 departure gate before their flight.
Cathay Pacific uses Terminal 4, where the airline has its own dedicated lounge – but is it possible to visit a lush T1 lounge such as the Qatar Airways or Qantas Singapore First Lounge ahead of your Cathay Pacific flight out of T4?
Yes, thanks to the airside shuttle busses running between T4 and T1 – but you’d need to get to T1 very early for your Cathay flight in order to enjoy a decent stay at any of the T1 Oneworld lounges, and we honestly question if all this is worth the trouble.
With that in mind, here’s the Executive Traveller cheat-sheet for the best Oneworld lounges at Singapore’s Changi Terminal 3.
Note that each lounge’s opening hours can change slightly as airlines revise their flight timings to a Northern Winter schedule in late October.
1. Qatar Airways Singapore Premium Lounge
Access: First class and business class passengers
Hours: 7.30am to 10.30am, then 3.45pm to 2.45am
Qatar Airways’ excellent boutique lounge should be the go-to for any first class or business class traveller on British Airways, Finnair, Japan Airlines, Malaysian Airlines and Qantas.
Yes, that list excludes frequent flyers: Qatar Airways prefers to keep its Premium Lounges for ‘premium’ travellers in the business and first cabins.
The Qatar Airways Singapore Premium Lounge.
It’s not the easiest lounge to find, being tucked away at the top of the Terminal’s C Gates wing: but make a point of spotting the Transfer Desk C area, and hop the escalators up to the lounge precinct shared by Plaza Premium, Emirates and Qatar Airways.
The compact footprint and elegant design of Qatar Airways’ Singapore Premium Lounge makes for a relaxing pre-flight stop, the highlight of which is the excellent à la carte menu which you can view and download here.
The Qatar Airways Singapore Premium Lounge.
There’s sushi, satay and chilli king prawns for staters, with a mouth-watering array of mains including beef tenderloin, Thai red curry chicken, grilled rack of lamb and pan-seared salmon.
Add a selection of Champagne and a tended bar, and this is more a cosy upmarket private club than an airport lounge.
The Qatar Airways Singapore Premium Lounge.
Qatar Airways’ Singapore Premium Lounge is also highly recommended if you’re in transit on BA15/BA16 or QF1/QF2 and your flights are at a C gate, because its handy location makes the most of your limited stopover time.
2. Qantas Singapore First Lounge
Access: First class passengers and Oneworld Emerald-grade frequent flyers
Hours: 3.30pm to 11pm
The Qantas Singapore First Lounge is the obvious choice for any frequent flyers holding Oneworld Emerald status – a roster which includes Qantas Platinum or Platinum One, British Airways Gold, Finnair Platinum or Platinum Lumo, Malaysia Airlines Platinum and Qatar Airways Platinum.
And it’s also a worthy stop for first class flyers, especially if you enjoy that familiar Qantas vibe of superb service (the staff are more like ‘family’ to regular guests) and the restaurant-grade Rockpool menu.
The Qantas Singapore First Lounge.
An expansive dining room dominates the lounge, which quickly fills during the busy evening peak, but there’s ample seating and variety of seating for everyone.
And while it wouldn’t be a Qantas First Lounge without salt and pepper squid, served with aioli and a green chilli dipping sauce, another highlight of the menu is a distinctly Singaporean laksa served with crayfish.
The Qantas Singapore First Lounge.
If you’ve enough time and want to freshen up before your flight, the ten shower suites are not only spacious but superbly designed, with room to rummage around in your cabin bag for that change of clothes.
Being located towards the D Gates wing makes this a little more convenient for time-pressed transit travellers if their flight pulls in at a D gate.
3. Qantas Singapore Business Lounge
Access: First and business class passengers, and Oneworld Emerald and Sapphire frequent flyers
Hours:
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday: 1.50pm to midnight
- Tuesday and Sunday: 7.40am to 10am, then 1.50pm to midnight
- Thursday: 7.40am to midnight
This is our pick of Singapore’s T1 Oneworld business class lounges, which means it’s also the best place for Sapphire-tier frequent flyers (such as BA Silver and the massed Golds of Qantas, Finnair, Malaysia Airlines and Qatar Airways).
The Qantas Singapore Business Lounge.
Although a well-stocked buffet dominates the dining area, the open kitchen offers a rotating choice of two freshly-prepared dishes with Asian flair.
That’s complemented by a large tended bar and a score of showers, if you’ve the time and the lounge isn’t too busy.
4. British Airways Singapore Lounge
Access: First and business class passengers, and Oneworld Emerald and Sapphire frequent flyers
Hours: 4pm to 11pm
Just a stone’s throw away from the Qantas Singapore Business Lounge, the BA lounge is a reliable Plan B should the Qantas lounge be too busy for your liking.
The British Airways Singapore Lounge.
In addition to a buffet spread of hot and cold dishes, a QR-code menu delivers food and drinks to your table.
The former lists Joseph Perrier Champagne and a variety of cocktails, while the later can include pasta, butter chicken and at least one vegetarian dish.
With the Qantas and British Airways lounges almost side by side, there’s little harm in visiting both to see which you fancy, or sampling the best each lounge has to offer.
QFF
12 Apr 2013
Total posts 1562
Never new about Qatar lounge, but been in QF First, QF Business and BA just few days ago. IMHO QF First has nothing to offer except of dining that is exceptional. Very few places to seat, you need to go to bar and line in the queue to grep buzz etc. IMHO BA Business is better QF, but on very small margin. I would eat in QF First and go to BA to relax.
QFF
12 Apr 2013
Total posts 1562
Going to be in Singapore in few weeks time and looking forward to check out Qatar lounge. In fact I will be checking all of them including Cathay because I have veeeeeery loooooong layover :-)))))
Turkish Airlines - Miles & Smiles
08 Jun 2014
Total posts 261
Much better to leave the Changi, store your luggage at Jewel and head into the city to eat, relax and enjoy before returning, showering, eating and onto your next flight.
QFF
12 Apr 2013
Total posts 1562
I would agree, but that trip was special - I like to say good bye to someone and came to airport much earlier than I need to.
17 Nov 2023
Total posts 38
Best airport in the world to have a long layover. My daughter and I had nearly 24 hours there last year (I am Star Alliance Gold, so it was all in the SQ lounges etc.) but we sure found plenty to entertain ourselves :)
QFF
12 Apr 2013
Total posts 1562
Few months back I was in Singapore and checked all OneWorld lounges including Cathay one. Cathay does not worth the trouble if you departing from T1 - one would be severely disappointed if (s)he visited any Cathay lounge in HKG. Heck, it does not even have a shower! Qantas First is huge restaurant albeit top notch one with very good showers to compliment. Emirathes has excellent view on take off/landing strip and this is about it - shower rooms located in toilets and very poorly appointed. Qatar has excellent dining options for Business pax and good nooks where you can relax or to do some works, but again shower rooms is very weak point. QF Business is OK, but tend to be overcrowded and BA is very quite and tend to be much less populated than other ones.
My personal verdict - if QF First is an option then go there, take shower, eat and go to relax in BA. If you have business class ticket (AFAIK they do not allow any status guests with economy/PE tickets) go to QF or BA for shower and then go to Qatar to eat and relax. IMHO Emirathes would appeal only for aviation geeks with binoculars.
23 Feb 2015
Total posts 260
While perhaps not technically a Oneworld lounge, does the Emirates lounge still provide an option to Qantas fliers?
Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer
12 Apr 2017
Total posts 207
Yes. I am Gold with Qantas and always head to the Emirates lounge. They have Moët while Qantas only have sparkling wine.
Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer
12 Apr 2017
Total posts 207
I always go into the Emirates lounge when flying Qantas through Changi. It is much quieter, the food is a little better and they have Moet not just sparkling wine.
28 Dec 2018
Total posts 8
What about Cathay Marco Polo Silver, I am flying through Singapore by BA from London to Sydney in Late December but only economy this trip, what lounges are available?
20 Nov 2015
Total posts 465
I don't believe CX Silver are entitled to lounge access unless they are flying on Cathay Pacific, but you would be best contacting CX MPC to ask them.
10 Dec 2010
Total posts 6
Is there a lounge for MH business class passengers if travelling in the morning please
20 Nov 2015
Total posts 465
None of the Changi T1 Oneworld lounges are open in the morning, but if you are on MH business class there will be a lounge they direct you to, but it'll probably be the SATS Lounge which is pretty crummy.
28 Mar 2018
Total posts 35
Yes.
The inferior Marhaba Lounge.
Appropriate status flying Economy with MH will also have access to this lounge.
I didn't see anything worth eating when I visited in August 2032 and just lived on peanut type snacks with beer and some average wine.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
07 Sep 2022
Total posts 5
So...if you're flying Business Class with Air France that was booked via the Qantas web site using QFF points, (Qantas/AF Alliiance) can you use the Qantas Business Lounge in Singapore?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Oct 2011
Total posts 464
No, because you are not flying on Qantas or a oneworld airline. Whilst you bought your ticket through Qantas, in this instance, they were simply a travel agent, selling a flight on another airline.
British Airways - Executive Club
17 Feb 2015
Total posts 9
Just a reminder that Malaysia Airlines moved to Terminal 2 earlier in 2023, and is normally in the F gates, which is about as far from the Qatar, BA and QF J lounges as you can get - a solid 30 minute schlep
Also, First, BA Prem and GGL can access the Concorde Bar in the BA lounge. Any review of that?
Cathay Pacific - The Marco Polo Club
28 Oct 2015
Total posts 10
About to travel to Singapore by Cathay Pacific, departing Singapore to Hong Kong by CX716 on Business Class, traveling with 1 Emerald and 1 Sapphire. Should we:
1. Visit the Qantas and British Airways lounges
2. Visit the Cathay Pacific lounge
Depending on Check-In time ?
QFF
12 Apr 2013
Total posts 1562
IMHO QF and especially BA is much better then CX that is quite inferior to marvelous CX lounges in HKG like The Pier. Saying that it is quite a bit of time to travel to T1 and back (bus only, no trains), so if you have enough time then go ahead to QF and BA. Otherwise stay in CX - there is still plenty of foods there though no showers. Another thing to note - you may be not allowed take a bus to T1 by stuff based on your departure time.
Cathay Pacific - The Marco Polo Club
28 Oct 2015
Total posts 10
Can we go through the security in T1 using Cathay Pacific boarding pass, after checking in at T4 ?
QFF
12 Apr 2013
Total posts 1562
I think so, though it would not give you any advantage because you still need to go to T1 by bus albeit one that out of transit zone. Why not check it and drop your bags at Jevel Earlier Check-In Facility that located in front of T1? Get you boarding pass, visit any lounge and catch a bus to T4. Just check now much time in advance you can check in at Jevel.
Cathay Pacific - The Marco Polo Club
28 Oct 2015
Total posts 10
is Cathay Pacific still qualify for using Jewel's Early Check in facility after COVID ?
05 Mar 2015
Total posts 410
Cathay hasn't resumed early check-in at Jewel, according to the Changi website at https://www.changiairport.com/en/airport-guide/departing/early-checkin-online.html
20 Nov 2015
Total posts 465
"Can we go through the security in T1 using Cathay Pacific boarding pass, after checking in at T4 ?" that's a bit of back and forth, do you have bags to check in? If so, I agree with Serg below, look into the T1 Jewel early check-in desks. But can you enter T1 using a boarding pass for T4? I recall some people having issues with this years ago, but then again, most people flying from T4 would be entering Changi at T4 so maybe the immigration border guards aren't familiar with the rules? If I was you I would do more research into this, check the Changi Airport website, if you can't see anything there then try contacting them on Twitter or Facebook.
20 Nov 2015
Total posts 465
Looking at CX716's 6pm departure time, and given that the two of you will be restricted to business class lounges, I would honestly just go straight to T4 and enjoy the CX lounge there. It's closer to HKG's The Deck than The Pier but still quite nice, and saves you the time and hassle and potential stress going back and forth between T4 and T1 and T4. If this was me, I would rather spend more time in Singapore or even wandering around the Jewel and then go straight to T4.
BUT, if you have a lot of time on your hands and are travelling light and are keen to try the T1 lounges, well why not? Just get to the airport extra early. The QF business lounge is pretty good actually and has plenty of showers, which is also something missing from the CX lounge, so you might want to have a nice bite to eat at the QF lounge and then grab a shower before making your way to T4. Drop into the BA lounge by all means too, and even consider the Emerald member in your group doing a Qantas first class lounge visit.
11 Mar 2012
Total posts 314
In a few months my dear wife and I will be landing at Terminal 4 around 3:45pm. We'll be departing Terminal 1 around 10:25pm. I look forward to trying a few of these out.
20 Nov 2015
Total posts 465
Landing T4 at 3:45pm and departing T1 at 10:25pm, excellent, that's plenty of time to visit all the lounges depending on your class of travel or frequent flyer status. Should be fun, but am sure it will be a bit boring by the end of it, there's only so much 'lounging' anybody can handle.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 Sep 2012
Total posts 38
For what it's worth I'm at Changi right now flying First Class on Emirates and am Platinum with Qantas..was denied at Qatar lounge. They said that specific lounge ONLY takes First/Business class passengers on Qatar Airways flights..no OneWorld/Codeshare etc irrespective of affiliation or your OneWorld status. They were very polite about that was the policy of that specific lounge. I'm using the Emirates lounge which is 'fine' but from what I've heard, I would have liked to have had the chance to try the Qatar lounge! (p.s this was for a morning flight so the Qantas First etc aren't open until the afternoon otherwise that would have been my first choice!)
03 Nov 2023
Total posts 8
Emirates isn't a OneWorld airline, and Qatar and Emirates aren't partners, so why would they allow an Emirates passenger into a Qatar Lounge irrespective of cabin or status? Qatar Premium Lounge only accepts passengers in First or Business, but from any OneWorld airline, not just those on Qatar Airways flights.
QFF
12 Apr 2013
Total posts 1562
IMHO BA business is a tad better than QF business and QF First is definitely better than Qatar one when it came to dining and shower so if it accessible I would dine and shower there and go to BA to relax. This I personally will order them little bit differently.
QFF
12 Apr 2013
Total posts 1562
I cannot get why Qatar with shocking showers is above QF First. And I would put BA Business above QF Business though at very small margin mainly because it is quieter and darker.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 May 2019
Total posts 10
I have visited both QF lounges and found that both had their strengths as to do most of the others but I found the great staff at both lounges set them apart
04 Sep 2022
Total posts 7
We are transiting through Changi this December and our flight arrives at about 9pm but our connecting flight to Penang doest leave until 10am the next day. Can we use these lounges on arrival and stay until closing time? We are Emerald One World flying business?
20 Nov 2015
Total posts 465
You can't use any of these lounges as 'on arrival' lounges, you can only visit them if you are departing on a flight and that includes being in transit, but with that gap between flights you are not really a 'transit' passenger. And anyway unless you are staying at the Aerotel hotel which is inside T1, when your flight arrives at 9pm you may as well go straight to your hotel to get as much sleep as you can. If you have a business class flight to Penang leaving 10am then you can go to the QR lounge for breakfast. BTW, I presume you are flying MH from T2 to KL and then through to Penang? There's no OneWorld airline which flights direct from Singapore to Penang. If you are on Jetstar then that's not OneWorld, you will be able to visit the QF Singapore T1 lounge but the breakfast spread is pretty limited and anyway you will have to catch the shutt;e bus from T1 to T4 because Jetstar uses T4, in which case you may as well have a proper breakfast at your hotel and head straight to T4 to get there around 8.30am.
17 Nov 2023
Total posts 38
Pretty sure that Star Alliance inbound passengers in F and J can access the SQ lounges ...
20 Nov 2015
Total posts 465
Inbound SQ First passengers can visit The Private Room on arrival, don't think that applies to business class, but anyway this article is about the OneWorld lounges at Changi.
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