SIN Singapore Airlines The Private Room
Changi airport is incredible, even at 7 in the morning. The colors, the lights, the shops. It could have been mid-day. But it was morning and I was in need of a shower.
Unlike in Frankfurt when a Singapore Airlines agent met us at the gate, no such amenity was afforded in Singapore. Maybe if I was on a Singapore connecting flight there might have been. But I don't recall the couple next to me being escorted to the lounge. I could have missed it. Changi is also so nice because you are let out in the terminal and don't have to pass immigration or security immediately like most airports. So I was off to the lounge, which happened to be next to the gate.
Offering my boarding passes the agent immediately asked me to follow her. She escorted me through the first class lounge and handed me off to the attendant in The Private Room. Incidentally, my connecting flight was on Thai in business class, so anyone who is wondering if you have access to The Private Room on arrivals after flying SQ first class, the answer is yes. There was no hesitation on behalf of the SilverKris Lounge agent.
The room looks like a country club clubhouse, with big oversized leather chairs being the preferred seating.
Surprisingly it was empty. With so many international flights arriving from their overnight treks to Singapore I expected the place to be jumping. It wasn't. I found a cozy chair to park my belongings. Instantly a waiter approached and asked if I wanted to have anything to drink or eat. I simply asked for a glass of water then had a look around.
Outside 9V-SKM was taking a breather after it's long flight from Frankfurt. The awnings got in the way of the only chance I had to get a decent photo of my aircraft.
The Private Room in The Private Room.
A very large TV provided the only entertainment.
I asked the attendant if I could take a shower. She said to take an empty room, which they all were.
I wouldn't call the shower room large, but it certainly was adequate. A fresh towel was wrapped in plastic for your use.
Taking a shower after 12 hours on an airplane is a genuine delight.
Outside the shower stalls is the main toilet area. After I used a hand-towel an attendant replaced it.
New it was time to check out the dining room.
My waiter seated me and handed me the menu. I asked for some coffee.
When he returned I asked if was one or two "Egg Benedict" as the description seemed to indicate it was a solo. I only wanted one, you can get as many as you want. I also wanted to try the "Waffles" but wanted one of those as well.
Here are the beverages offered.
So while my Egg Benedict and Waffle were being prepared, I had a look at the buffet.
First was the solo egg. It was okay, the hollandaise sauce was a little lackluster.
Whoa, toaster waffle. And overdone as well.
Fortunately I wasn't famished as the delicious farro and avocado salad with red lentil soufflé was still with me.
Once issue with The Private Room is there aren't many power ports. There were a flew standard Singapore outlets on the walls but no USB ports. I didn't feel like rummaging through my suitcase to get my adapter so I asked the attendant if there was a USB port. In the back was an Apple computer in their "business center". So I spend my time there and surfed the web.
Bored I left early to take the train over to T1 for Thai. I said goodbye to the couple traveling to Hong Kong. They asked if was going to Hong Kong. I explained my original plan was to HKG but I'd changed to Bangkok. Turns out Hong Kong was experiencing a typhoon and their flight was delayed. (My original flight to HKG was canceled.) I wished them good luck and left. Later on I looked up their flight, it was delayed to evening. They didn't get to Hong Kong until close to midnight. I'd left them at 10AM. I felt bad for them.
On the way out I snapped some photos of the First Class lounge. This lounge was empty as well.
I wasn't struck in awe by The Private Room. Maybe it was the toaster waffle, but it wasn't really comfortable, had few power outlets, no view and no rest area other than a lounge chair in a room you could close the door to. None of which would stop me from revisiting it again sometime soon, maybe for dinner.
