FOOL’SGOLD

I read with interest the Star Letter in the June issue of Business Traveller Asia-Pacific, where a KrisFlyer Gold member was deeply dissatisfied with the standard of the Singapore Airlines (SQ) lounge in T2 of Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Jakarta. Singapore Airlines replied, stating that there was no SilverKris Lounge in Jakarta, and they will look to improve the lounge experience at the airport in Jakarta.

Yet, right in SQ’s backyard, in Singapore’s Changi Airport T3, there is a SilverKris Lounge that Star Alliance Gold members cannot use. Surely this cannot be due to traffic during peak hours. Lufthansa and United allow Star Alliance Gold members to use their business lounges in Frankfurt and Chicago respectively, both of which manage a large number of passengers as well. The same can be said for Oneworld Diamond members, who may even use the First Class Cathay Pacific lounge in Hong Kong.

Instead, Star Alliance Gold members must use SQ’s Gold Lounge, which sorely falls short of the gold standard. There are no showers or even toilets in the lounge, and travellers have to use public toilets outside. Food and drink are basic and minimal and the lounge furnishing is old and run-down.

It is ironic that SQ’s lounge in its own backyard is of such sub-par quality, and runs contrary to the premium brand that the airline is trying to portray. Transiting through Singapore on a Star Alliance flight is a much less comfortable journey as a result.

Bryan Yong, Singapore