The next time you travel through Terminal 3 at Singapore Changi Airport with Singapore Airlines (or any Star Alliance member carrier), you’re in for a surprise. Singapore Airlines has opened a $36.5 million, four-lounge complex that is designed to match the ground experience to the superb in-flight standards for which the airline is known.

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer members stand to benefit the most at their main hub airport with new facilities for elite status passengers no matter what class they are flying.

Why this is good news for many flyers

It’s not just local passengers who can take advantage of these new facilities. Singapore’s KrisFlyer program has several sweet spots for frequent flyer members who want to redeem miles using Changi Airport as a gateway to other destinations.

KrisFlyer is a transfer partner of many credit card programs like American Express Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards®. These bank partnerships make KrisFlyer accessible to several points and miles collectors, including those that don't live in Asia.

This is advantageous for those flyers who aspire to redeem travel rewards for the highly-lauded Singapore Airlines first class experience.

About the new lounges

These newest lounges opened at the end of May just in time for summer travel, and we took a sneak peek at all four spaces ahead of the flying public. What you’ll find is more space to stretch out and relax (30% more than before, to be exact), more shower and napping areas, more variety in the food and beverage menus, and more play spaces for families. All four lounges can accommodate as many as 1,150 passengers.

Singapore Changi has its own set of Priority Pass lounges if you don’t have access to one of the Singapore Airlines lounge facilities or other lounges within Southeast Asia. And remember: Scoot, Singapore Airlines’ low-cost carrier, does not afford access to these lounges as part of the ticket.

If you do have access, the new digs are impressive, and it starts from the entrance where a curved 8K Sony Crystal LED display showcases an animation of the airline’s restyled batik motif (notable on the flight attendants' uniforms) and is quickly becoming a popular selfie spot, according to the lounge staff. Each of the flowers used in the design is native to Singapore. The floral theme continues with the signature Batik Flora scent (designed by a Singaporean perfumery) pumped into the lounges

A closer look

Here's a look at the new Private Room, SilverKris first and business class lounges and the KrisFlyer Gold lounge, each of which now has its own proper entrance. While the airline has other lounges in the airport (and about a dozen in total around the world), these four are the creme de la creme. Not everyone can access each lounge though. Read on to discover which one you can use and what it will offer.

The Private Room

Who can access it: This exclusive lounge is open to first class passengers traveling with Singapore Airlines and members of the highest elite tier only.

The most-exclusive facility offers space for 78 passengers and welcomes only the airline’s most elite, Solitaire PPS Club passengers, as well as first class passengers on Singapore Airlines. The interiors are chic, yet understated, with polished wood, and gray and tan leather seating.

The Lalique light dome at the entrance sets the tone leading you into a serene space with a turquoise glass sculpture in the center with matching lamps on the side tables. In this lounge, everything is delivered via table service including an a la carte dining menu with selections from lobster laksa to Wagyu burgers and satay.

Top-shelf liquor, wine and Champagne — like the 2007 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne — were available during my visit and were free-flowing. Servers offer a range of chef-prepared plates, which for those who want to rest on board, will appreciate. Others may want to restrain themselves so that they can enjoy the onboard service, too. That’s the strategy that I took, but let me just say that it can be tempting.

First Class SilverKris Lounge

Who can access it: Any Star Alliance first class passenger with a same-day boarding pass or Solitaire PPS Club members (the top tier in Singapore’s elite status similar to Delta 360, United Global Services or American Concierge Key).

Open to any Star Alliance carrier’s first class passengers, the First Class SilverKris Lounge is a real treat. While it lacks windows, there is a lot to steal your attention. For starters, the barista coffee and cocktail bar is one of the first things you see, and it is backed by Lalique crystal “aquatic ginger” flowers that are part of the airline’s signature batik motif. Self-serve wine, beer, cocktails and soft drinks are also an option, but don’t miss the 2006 Piper Heidsieck Rare Millesime they’re pouring in the lounge.

Live cooking stations and an impressive buffet offer a range of Singaporean and international dishes. According to the airline, the new lounge complex allows it to serve a wider variety of food and beverages than before. The kids play area is sure to be popular with families.

The lounge features new ensuite shower areas, napping rooms and bathrooms stocked with Lalique products. Business travelers will appreciate a dedicated meeting room, double-paned glass phone booths and the option to use one of four day rooms with either a Tempur Zero Gravity bed or Poltrona Frau leather chair. The day rooms come with blankets, yoga mats and Como Shambhala essential oils.

Business Class SilverKris Lounge

Who can access it: This lounge, which is open to business class flyers of Star Alliance only, has excellent airplane views and plenty of variety when it comes to seating and eating and drinking.

This lounge opened before the first class facilities, but was hosting all lounge-eligible passengers. Now that there are new lounges, this facility returns to the domain of business class flyers.

Now 20% larger than before and with beautiful views of the runway and action on the airport apron, the Business Class SilverKris Lounge has various seating zones designed for different purposes. One is dedicated to a dining hall with live cooking stations and a buffet with hot and cold Singaporean and international dishes. There’s also a barista coffee and cocktail bar (new for the business class lounge) as well as self-service wine, beer, soft drink and cocktail stations.

A living room area provides sofas, workstations and “productivity pods” with wireless charging stations and power outlets. A courtyard-style seating area allows plenty of natural light, but those who want some shuteye will be pleased to find another new addition to the lounge: a nap room. There, 14 cubicles feature reclining leather chairs, blankets and pillows in a quiet and cool-temperature environment.

Many of the lounge’s design elements are meant to evoke the feeling of flight like the gold columns that curve like lines on the airline’s route map.

KrisFlyer Gold Lounge

Who can access it: This lounge is open to Star Alliance Gold passengers traveling in any cabin on a same-day flight. This includes Premier Gold members and above with United Mileage Plus and Aeroplan 50K members and above.

Open to Star Alliance Gold members (and those on a Star Alliance Connecting Partner eligible itinerary) traveling in economy, this lounge has seen quite an improvement. For example, it didn't previously have dedicated bathrooms and showers for passengers. Now, it has both.

There are also buffets with a variety of Singaporean and international cuisine plus beverages. On the menu are numerous traditional options like laksa and dim sum. Now double the size from before, there are numerous seating options available including sofas, armchairs and workstations with wireless charging stations and ports in place. This is a great option for those traveling in economy, since it is larger than before giving more space to stretch out and relax between or before flights.

Pay a visit to Star Alliance’s newest lounges

This quartet of flagship lounges for Singapore Airlines ushers in a new era for the Star Alliance carrier’s lounge program. It’s the start of a reboot for the airline’s lounges around the world, some of which remain closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The goal is to reopen them and take feedback on how to improve the design.

With over 10 of its own branded lounges around the world, including in airports like Bangkok, Brisbane, London Heathrow, Manila, Seoul Incheon and Sydney, this is a refresh that Singapore Airlines passengers (and those from Star Alliance partners) are sure to appreciate.

All photos courtesy of Singapore Airlines.