Lounge Review: Cathay Pacific Lounge (Terminal 4) - Singapore Changi Airport (SIN)
Terminal 4 in Singapore Changi Airport is home to two airport lounges and on my previous visit, I checked out Blossom – SATS & Plaza Premium Lounge and fell in love with it (there are so many ways to access this airport lounge for free with the right credit cards). While I flew on Vietnam Airlines in Business Class the last time, I was back in Terminal 4 this time as I was flying out of Singapore on Cathay Pacific.
Click HERE to compare flight prices and get the best deals worldwide!
As I was traveling in Business Class, I had access to the Cathay Pacific Lounge in Terminal 4 of Singapore Changi Airport which is located directly opposite Blossom – SATS & Plaza Premium Lounge. Cathay Pacific has published a very detailed page of information which outlines the rules of lounge admittance (including the possibility of using the Cathay Pacific Lounge as an Arrival Lounge) so there is no reason to rewrite all of that - if you are traveling in Business Class and First Class, this is the lounge to check out.
Located on the mezzanine level of the departure transit hall, the Cathay Pacific Lounge is open from 4AM to 1AM daily (essentially it is only closed between 1-3AM). I have only visited a handful of Cathay Pacific Lounges over the years - while the one located in Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) is terrible, the Cathay Pacific Lounge located in Haneda Airport (HND) is one of my favourite airport lounges in the world from a design perspective.
The Cathay Pacific Lounge here in Terminal 4 of Singapore Changi Airport is made up of different areas and it is beautifully-designed. As you walk through the main entrance of the lounge, you will find yourself in the dining room with various seating areas. The ever-iconic Noodle Bar sits at the end of this room and travellers will be able to order made-to-order dishes (more on this later!) from a menu which sits on the bar. There are also bar stools here if you wish to see the chefs in action but I grabbed a self-service buzzer instead.
Travellers who wish to enjoy a more private dining experience can opt for one of the booth seats located on the other end of the dining room - booth seats are configured for two or four adults depending on which one you pick. Alternatively, there is also a larger communal dining table (which is become quite popular in airport lounges) in the middle of this sitting area. You might notice that the lounge is relatively quiet and apparently it does get quite busy towards the afternoon. As my scheduled flight from Singapore to Bangkok on CX712 was scheduled to depart at 1:25PM, I actually got in slightly ahead of schedule to make sure I could get a few clean shots before going on my vacation.
It goes without saying that ordering a bowl of Wanton Noodles is a must whenever you are in a Cathay Pacific Lounge and when you see it on offer at The Noodle Bar. The relatively-small portions of these dishes are great since that will allow you to sample more dishes (and also save your stomach for alcohol) while you are there. I really enjoyed the bowl of Wanton Noodles and the texture of that noodles (which was personally the star of the dish for me) was perfect. There were also some dimsum items that you could choose from but they were pretty ordinary (though relatively decent if you were to compare them to an average airport lounge's standard).
The menu also changes a little as it approaches lunch time - Laksa was served in the Cathay Pacific Lounge while I was there and it was delicious (even though still not as good as the one that I have had in The Qantas Singapore Lounge). In addition to the items served at The Noodle Bar, travellers will also be able to select from a range of hot and cold items from the buffet spread in the middle of the lounge.
Most parts of the Cathay Pacific Lounge looks out to Terminal 4 only so you will not get to enjoy a view of the tarmac here. As mentioned earlier, Blossom – SATS & Plaza Premium Lounge is located directly opposite on the mezzanine level so if you do hold a Priority Pass card which gives you unlimited access, you may wish to check it out (but why would you?!). There really isn't much to do in Terminal 4 and getting to the three main terminals require a bit of effort (especially after you have gotten through immigration) so I would not recommend for you to come by the airport too early if your flight is departing from Terminal 4.
Once you get past the dining area of the Cathay Pacific Lounge, you will find a self-serve area with a small selection of hot and cold dishes. There are also plenty of seats available in this area if you wish to enjoy a slightly more open dining area - the bar stools are quite comfortable and USB Charging Ports can be found under the table for you to keep your mobile devices juiced as you fill up on food (and drinks).
Alternatively, there are also communal dining tables (which got quite busy towards early afternoon) if you have issues sitting alone.
The middle section of the Cathay Pacific Lounge is made up of a self-serve bar area (but more on this below), refrigerators where you will be able to pick out beverages of your choice, as well as hot and cold food stations. If you are the type that prefer a light meal before the flight, skip The Noodle Bar and head right here because this is where you will find salads.
Towards the rightmost end of the area is where you will find teabags provided by JING Tea - I really like these personally and it is quite uncommon to find them in Singapore (unless you order them online, of course).
Unlike the Blossom – SATS & Plaza Premium Lounge, the Cathay Pacific Lounge here in Terminal 4 offers a comparatively premium selection and range of alcohol (as you would expect) - Grey Goose Vodka and VSOP Cognac just to name a few. Unfortunately, the wine on offer were pretty disappointing and they are nothing to get excited over.
Towards the furthest end of the Cathay Pacific Lounge is where you will find an actual lounging area that is not exactly suitable for eating (unless your diet consists mainly of alcohol). What you get on the other hand, is a warm and inviting space to hang out before heading to the boarding gate for your flight. The space reminds me a little bit of the Cathay Pacific Lounge in Haneda Airport (which I love!) but it is a relatively small area so it fills up rather quickly.
Champagne is offered in the Cathay Pacific Lounge but unfortunately, they only provide the Moet & Chandon Brut Imperial NV which may not be great but I guess it beats having no Champagne at all. It goes without saying that the Cathay Pacific Lounge here in Terminal 4 offers an fantastic pre-boarding experience - the space is beautiful, the quality of food is decent and the variety of drinks are commendable. While I do not foresee myself traveling on Cathay Pacific much from Singapore, this airport lounge is definitely amongst my favourites in Changi Airport.
Get instant American Airlines AAdvantage Platinum Pro (Oneworld Emerald) Status for four months if you are a World of Hyatt Globalist member - register by 5 September 2024.