QANTAS’S NEW FIRST LOUNGE AT CHANGI

QANTAS’S new first class lounge in Terminal 1 of Singapore’s Changi Airport marks the Australian flag carrier’s first ever first class lounge in Asia. The airline has three other first class lounges across its network: two in Australia in Sydney and Melbourne, and one overseas in Los Angeles.

The airline first announced plans to build this new 240-seat lounge back in October 2018, and opened the 1,000 sqm-plus facility on November 18 last year. Qantas flies non-stop to Singapore from Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. Many of those passengers will be taking onward f lights with Qantas or its codeshare partners to other destinations, so a new lounge offering will be much appreciated by them.

Australian designer David Coan collaborated with Kelvin Ho of architecture and design firm Akin Atelie to create the lounge, which incorporates Singaporean influences into both its design and the F&B offerings created by Australian celebrity chef Neil Perry.

Features include colonial-style furnishings and large potted plants, which the design team said were added to infuse Singapore’s lush landscape into the lounge and create a sense of calm for travellers about to embark on long-haul flights.

One of the key high-tech features of this lounge is a series of artificial skylights fitted into the ceiling. These attempt to mimic natural sunlight and help reset guests’ circadian rhythms as they travel through multiple time zones.

For business travellers transiting through Changi, there is a variety of laptopfriendly seating to curl up in and get some work done before a connecting flight. The individual sofas, office-style seats along a long table, as well as the couches ensure that there is the right type of seating whether you want to relax or really buckle down and get some work done.

The airline currently does not offer massage or spa treatments in the new facility, but the elegant shower cabins with synthetic skylights are a wonderful place to refresh yourself before a long-haul flight. qantas.com