The dnata Lounge, located in Singapore Changi Airport’s Terminal 1, is a comfortable, tranquil oasis in the midst of the hustle and bustle of one of the world’s busiest airports. With an 860 square meter footprint to cater to over 200 passengers at any given time, this spacious location offers all travelers pre-flight peace and quiet, along with an extensive selection of excellent amenities, in a relaxing environment. Having opened relatively recently in November 2015, this pan-Asian, Singapore-influenced space pays tribute to Singapore’s history and culture. In addition to modern Peranakan-styled wall tiles, wallpaper, and glass, guests will have the opportunity to savor and enjoy a rich selection of Singaporean and pan-Asian food offerings.
Introduction to dnata
The lounge’s operator is Dubai-based dnata, one of the world’s leading suppliers of combined air services. Established in 1959, dnata’s 27,000+ employees provide aircraft ground handling, cargo, travel, and flight catering services across 38 countries, 75 airports, and 5 continents. At the moment, the Dubai National Air Travel Agency (owned by the Emirates Group), operates lounges in Singapore, Zurich, Geneva, Manila, and Dubai.
Here’s a list of their locations:
Dubai (DXB) - Marhaba Lounge (Terminal 1, Concourse D)
Dubai (DXB) - Marhaba Lounge (Terminal 2)
Dubai (DXB) - Marhaba Lounge (Terminal 3, Concourse A)
Dubai (DXB) - Marhaba Lounge (Terminal 3, Concourse B)
Dubai (DXB) - Marhaba Lounge (Terminal 3, Concourse C)
Dubai-Al Maktoum (DWC) - Marhaba Lounge (Main Terminal)
Geneva (GVA) - dnata Skyview Lounge (International Terminal)
Zurich (ZRH) - dnata Skyview Lounge (Airside Center)
Manila (MNL) - Skyview Lounge (Terminal 3)
Singapore (SIN) - dnata Lounge (Terminal 1)
Singapore (SIN) - dnata Lounge (Terminal 3)
As carriers continue their work on creating a more pleasant air travel experience for travelers, great strides have been made on the ground experience side of things, as well. Nowhere is this more apparent than the world of airport lounges. These days, carriers are increasingly looking for new ways to differentiate themselves from competitors in an era of peak travel, and transitional customer touchpoints such as airport lounges are becoming an increasingly important part of this differentiation process.
To provide a premium experience across the board and meet rising expectations from increasingly sophisticated travelers, dnata has welcomed traveler feedback and incorporated their suggestions into the dnata Lounge’s design. Some of the more popular requests include increased ease of access, a revamped selection of food and drinks, and a favorite for millennials, charging points for electronic devices. Additionally, to reduce ambient noise and create a more quiet and restful atmosphere, the designers have also chosen to implement a mixture of carpets and hardwood floors. It’ll certainly be interesting to see how much guest satisfaction improves as lounge operators continue to proactively ask for feedback and incorporate said feedback into their designs.
How to Access the dnata Lounge
The easiest way to get access to this lounge is to reserve your pass through the LoungeBuddy platform here. Alternatively, you can also download the LoungeBuddy App and make your booking through the App, as well. Bookings can be made up to 21 days before your visit.
If you’re an elite frequent flier, or if you have a business/first class ticket departing out of Changi Airport on one of the following carriers, you may be able to access this lounge for free: Cathay Pacific Airways (CX), Air France (AF), KLM (KL), Delta Air Lines (DL), Finnair (AY), AirAsia (AK), Air Mauritius (MK), Bangkok Airways (PG), Druk Air (KB), and Myanmar Airways International (8M). Furthermore, provided that capacity is available, members of the following lounge programs have access, as well: Lounge Club, Lounge Key, Priority Pass, Diners Club, DragonPass.
In front of the lounge, you’ll find a flat screen monitor displaying all of the different methods, including LoungeBuddy.
Lounge Overview
Located on the mezzanine level near the D Gates, the dnata Lounge’s front desk is open to the terminal. Simply walk up to the front desk to get checked in, and seconds later, turn right to enter the lounge. Inside, you’ll find a clean, comfortable space where you can relax, work, or enjoy a tasty meal before your flight. The front seating area has several armchairs with lime green and red pillows, along with some beautiful works of art on the wall.
Continue walking ahead to your left, where a special coffee station and cocktail bar are prominently situated. The Chivas cocktail bar serves up signature cocktails during evening hours. Made it to the lounge way too early? No problem. Those who arrive in the early morning will have the opportunity to try a cup of Melbourne, Australia and the Emirates Group’s very own Hudson’s Coffee. Here, baristas will be on hand to grind the coffee beans and brew fresh cups of coffee upon order.
Continue walking to the left past the cocktail bar and coffee station, and you’ll come to a long corridor leading to the main dining area. Along the way, one side of the corridor consists of a large rack displaying the latest selection of popular newspapers and magazines. The other side is the self-serve food station, where snacks, fruits, and entrees await guests with big appetites.
Given Singapore’s position as one of the world’s most prosperous tropical nations, a selection of tasty tropical fruits await at the left end of the food station, along with more familiar options for higher latitude inhabitants, like apples.
For breakfast, milk and cereals are available along with more filling, warmer options. This includes egg omelettes, sausages, beans, and steamed dim sum, namely har gow, a translucent shrimp dumpling, and siu mai, a dumpling filled with pork and mushrooms. A decent selection of pastries and sandwiches is also available.
Later in the day, guests will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in Singapore’s rich culinary heritage, with delicious options like laksa, satay, and chicken rice. Other Pan-Asian and Western options can also be found, catering to the high volumes of passengers from these regions.
Once you’re ready for a beverage to quench your thirst, the drinks station is located directly to the right. There’s a refrigetator holding all sorts of options, from water to juice to beer. On the countertop, a Coca Cola fountain serves up ubiquitous, timeless soft drinks like Sprite and Coke. (Note: A secondary drink station with similar options is also available on the far right side of the lounge) Looking for drinks with a bit more alcohol in them? Get ready to encounter a selection of spirits and wines, including Australian chardonnay and French Sauvignon blanc.
As stated earlier, the dedicated dining area is located at the end of the corridor on the far left side of the lounge. Enjoy your meal at one of several tables in a brightly lit area. There’s even a high communal table with high chairs and power outlets for charging your electronic devices. This is an excellent place to enjoy a meal and possibly catch up on some emails. Turn right, and you’ll find yourself going down another corridor with 5 shower rooms and toilets.
If you’ve decided to prioritize relaxation over enjoying a warm meal, head on over to the right side of the lounge, the location of the main relaxation area. This is where most of the seating is located.
As you head into this area, the lighting grows a bit dimmer, making this a great place to unwind or catch up on a couple z’s. It’ll seem like you’re under the canopy of a warm, relaxing rainforest, with plenty of greenery and foliage in the surroundings to get you into tranquil, stress-free mode. Floor to ceiling windows on either side will allow resting passengers to observe either more greenery or the passenger terminal outside, depending on where the guest chooses to sit.
Plenty of chairs are available in this area, dispersed in a groups of different seating arrangements to cater to the needs of diverse groups of travelers. These seats provide guests with comfort and privacy, not to mention universal power outlets and USB charging points for mobile phones, tablets, and laptops. As expected in a modern, premium lounge location, high speed Wi-Fi is available throughout the entirety of the lounge area. Heading towards the far right end of the lounge area, another communal table with high chairs and power plugs makes an appearance.
Finally, the right end of the lounge concludes with a second refreshments station, along with another rack of renowned newspapers and magazines. If you’re sitting at this end of the lounge, there’s no need to make the arduous round-trip trek all the way to the center of the lounge for some drinks. That’s because a coffee machine is available on the back counter, along with a selection of spirits and wines. As with the other beverage station described above, there’s beer, juice, and water in the fridge, along with a Coke-branded soda fountain up top.
If you’re looking for a quiet, modern, and spacious spot to relax, get some work done, or enjoy a warm, hearty meal in Singapore Changi Airport’s Terminal 1, look no further than the dnata Lounge.
Planning on visiting less than 21 days from now? Be sure to reserve your spot ahead of time today!
Singapore dnata Lounge Terminal 1 Recap
Capacity: 860 square meters, 200+ guests
Location: Terminal 1. After Immigration, turn right towards D Gates, proceed up to Mezzanine Level, next to Peach Garden Noodle House.
Operating Hours: 3:30 AM to 2:30 AM, 7 days a week
Special Features and Highlights: Hudson Coffee Station, Chivas Cocktail Bar, Singaporean Buffet
Amenities: Beer/Wine (free), Wi-Fi (free), Spirits & Liquor (free), Premium Food (free), Printers/Copiers (free), Showers (free), Complimentary Snacks, Newspapers/Magazines, TVs, Flight Monitors, Internet Terminals, TVs
