Review: Singapore Airlines SilverKris business class lounge, Sydney
We rate this SQ lounge as the go-to for business class passengers and Gold-grade frequent flyers on any Star Alliance airline.
By David Flynn, July 27 2022
Country
Australia
City
Sydney
Airport
Sydney - Kingsford Smith
Alliance
Star Alliance
Airline
Singapore Airlines
Cabin-class
Business
Notes
The Good
- Good selection of food throughout the day
- Productivity pods offer privacy and room to work
- Fast WiFi
The Bad
- SQ-aligned opening hours don’t suit evening Star Alliance flights
X-Factor
- Sydney Airport’s best Star Alliance lounge
Introduction
Singapore Airlines’ SilverKris Lounge at Sydney Airport is one of two Star Alliance lounges at the T1 international terminal – with the other, run by Air New Zealand, conveniently located right next door.
While lounge-worthy passengers on any Star Alliance members can visit either lounge, the SilverKris Lounge is the obvious choice if you’re jetting out on Singapore Airlines… and it might just be the go-to lounge for business class travellers and Gold-grade frequent flyers on other Star Alliance airlines.
Location & Impressions
Singapore Airlines’ Sydney SilverKris Lounge is located on the upper level of what Sydney Airport calls Pier C of its international terminal.
Few people know this part of the terminal by that name: it’s simply the T1 wing for gates 50-63, from which most Star Alliance airlines depart, along with Emirates and Etihad Airways.
Once through immigration and security you’ll be in for a ten minute stroll to the far end of this pier – when you spy the Starbucks kiosk, the Singapore Airlines and Air New Zealand lounges are perched just above.
The batik-patterned screen at the entry provides an immediate and highly-recognisable nod to Singapore Airlines’ heritage.
Sydney’s SilverKris lounge was the first to be remodelled in SQ’s fresh 'home away from home' theme in December 2013, and it’s a tribute to the contemporary design that it still looks, well, contemporary – it’s aged exceptionally well over the past near-decade, with the benefit of a minor refresh during the pandemic shut-down period.
The Sydney SilverKris lounge is actually two lounges: the business class lounge is to the left of the reception desk, with a smaller and more exclusive first class lounge behind a frosted door to the right.
As you wander around the SilverKris business class lounge you can appreciate how the ‘home' theme comes together with soft furnishings, table lamps, decorative touches and a generally relaxed feel.
Different spaces within the lounge are modelled on elements such as a living room, kitchen and dining room.
Directly off the reception area is a quiet but generally little-used zone where you can sit with a cuppa.
However, most travellers will make their way straight through to the ‘living room’. This is the main part of the SilverKris business lounge, with comfortable chairs, conveniently-placed side tables and handy AC powerpoints.
Adjacent to this is a small but well-stocked buffet and drinks area.
The far end of the lounge affords wide open views to the gates and the tarmac, while a high bench off to the right is a perfect place to perch with a meal, a drink and/or your laptop as you look forward to the journey ahead.
If you need to really focus on knocking over some urgent work before your trip, make a beeline for one of the ten ‘productivity pods’ opposite the buffet.
(You can still stay connected above the clouds thanks to Singapore Airlines’ in-flight WiFi, available on all flights departing from Sydney and indeed Australia.)
Finally, shower suites let you freshen up before your flight.
Access
The list of travellers who enjoy access to Singapore Airlines’ Sydney SilverKris business class lounge is pleasingly broad:
- business class passengers on Singapore Airlines or Star Alliance flights
- premium economy or economy passengers on Singapore Airlines or Star Alliance flights holding KrisFlyer Elite Gold or equivalent Star Alliance Gold status, or Singapore Airlines’ PPS Club membership
- premium economy or economy passengers on Singapore Airlines flights holding Virgin Australia Velocity Gold or Platinum status
As to opening hours, Singapore Airlines’ SilverKris Sydney lounges are nominally open three hours prior to the departure of each SQ flight – a period which covers from early morning until early evening, although without a night-time flight on the schedule, the lounge closes around 6pm.
Of course, if you’re jetting off in first class with Singapore Airlines or another Star Alliance airline, or hold SQ’s lofty PPS Solitaire status, you can waltz straight through to the adjacent first class lounge.
Dining
Whether it’s a hearty breakfast or lunch, or a light morning or afternoon snack, you won’t go hungry at Singapore Airlines’ Sydney SilverKris Lounge.
The buffet is fairly compact and gets crowded at peak times, but the quality and variety of dishes means there's something for everybody.
In the morning you can expect to see a familiar Western spread of hot and cold breakfast dishes alongside the likes of chicken congee or chicken and corn soup, salads, antipasto dishes, cheeses and sweet treats.
The all-day selection can include laksa, mee siam noodles, Moroccan-style roasted chicken, beef stroganoff, lentil and chickpea curry, beef pies and pastizzi, even dim sum – plus a wider range of antipasto with smoked salmon, cheese, fruit and sweet slices.
Fancy a sparkling tipple before take-off? When we visited, Singapore Airlines’ Sydney SilverKris business lounge was serving Mumm Marlborough Brut Prestige, which is a drop above what you’ll find in many Australian business class lounges.
If you prefer a hot drink, choose from the range of TWG teas or have the barista at the coffee cart pour you a shot (or two).
Work
As we noted earlier, ten ‘productivity pods’ offer a slice of privacy where you can get down to work on your laptop or tablet.
These roomy workstation-style pods contain a wide and comfortable ‘corner’ seat wrapped in a curved partition.
The generously-sized table is flanked by twin AC/USB power outlets, and the WiFi is lighting fast – during our morning visit we were clocking download speeds around the 260Mbps mark.
Summary
Singapore Airlines’ Sydney SilverKris Lounge has pretty much everything the business class traveller or frequent flyer could reasonably expect from a lounge, and on the whole we’d say this is the lounge of choice for Star Alliance passengers flying out of Sydney.
03 Sep 2018
Total posts 1
Will I get access to this lounge via Virgin International Business to Nadi? Thanks
03 Sep 2014
Total posts 3
Looks like the answer is yes
28 Jan 2019
Total posts 6
no,Lounge access is available when the flight you are travelling on is a Singapore Airlines or Silk Air operated flight and the lounge is owned and operated by Singapore Airlines.
06 Jun 2017
Total posts 52
You can also now access this as VA Plat/Gold when flying out of Sydney on UA.
11 Sep 2015
Total posts 223
I don't believe that is the case, didn't UA say that Velocity members only have access to United lounges ahead of United flights, not partner airline lounges?
QF
11 Jul 2014
Total posts 991
So hard to fault Singapore Airlines with all their offerings including the business lounge and drink selection. I was in Athens last week and went into the Aegean lounge (Star Alliance) to be told no room, have 2 $10.00 vouchers and you can't enter another lounge in the airport. Went next door to the Lufthansa lounge (Star Alliance) and got straight in.
18 Sep 2015
Total posts 135
I'm not sure that NZ sparkling is really 'a drop above' unless other business lounge offerings are truly woeful...
11 Sep 2015
Total posts 223
The sparklings served at some of the other SYD business lounges are very second rate!
Here's a thought for ET, how about an article ranking the top wines in each category, red whites and sparklings, maybe also the best spirits, across the airport lounges? Some lounges are really a budget affair in f&b especially post-COVID!
BA Gold
01 Apr 2012
Total posts 196
I visited this lounge for the first time on 26DEC 21. Wasn't impressed. The lounge is nice but the staff were just awful. I mean I get it - Boxing Day morning isn't ideal for a working day but that's all part of working in Aviation. The lounge manager seemed to be playing barista and his attitude was just awful. He seemed to hate every minute of being there. Brusque, no pleasantaries.
Before leaving the lounge I asked if I could have a coffee in a takeaway cup and he literally barked at me 'food and beverage is for consumption in the lounge only!'. errrm ok. In fact, the only moment where he sounded ABSOLUTELY delighted was when making the announcement that the lounge was closing. There were a selection of hot items such as eggs, sausages etc. But no bread. NONE. I mean there were pastries like croissant and danish but if you wanted toast with your eggs - forget it. Wifi wasn't working.
Air Canada - Aeroplan
28 Feb 2015
Total posts 116
The lack of bread is sad, but please remember you were in the lounge on a public holiday the day after a public holiday. Not many bakers open.
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