I am back with another SKL review! Besides the flagship lounge in Singapore Changi Airport, SQ operates a couple of other SKLs around the world, they are usually at destinations where Singapore Airlines have a substantial footprint like London, Bangkok and in this case Sydney. There are a total of 10 SKL out of Singapore. I am keen to visit them all. So far I have reviewed the Bangkok, Hong Kong, Manila and Seoul lounges. Some of these visits are pretty old and I have not had a chance to get an update after recent renovations. I visit this lounge while flying back to Singapore onboard Singapore Airlines after my vacation in Australia. This particular lounge comes with a First Class section as well.

Access Requirements

The Sydney SilverKris Lounge is open daily from 6.30am to 7pm. Currently, all Star Alliance premium cabin customers, KrisFlyer Elite Gold, PPS Club and Star Alliance Status holders are allowed access to the lounge. Typical access rules for guests follow. In contrast to the rules for lounges in Singapore, KrisFlyer Elite Gold and Star Alliance Gold members are accorded access even when flying in Economy Class. You are also only allowed to guest in guests on the same flight as yours.

Arrival & Location

The lounge is quite some walk away as it is on the other side of the terminal. It takes about 10 minutes after clearing immigration. The lounge is located near the gate where that Singapore Airlines flight is departing. It is located on level 3, one level above the main terminal. Right beside the SKL is the Air New Zealand Lounge, another facility that you can get access to if you are departing on a Star Alliance or Singapore Airlines flight. The lounge is slightly dated and one of the older styles. It is showing its age since the lounge was opened almost a decade ago. I was warmly welcomed in by the staff after presenting my boarding pass and pointed towards the business class section of the lounge. The staff here are polished and polite. Much better than those at the check-in counters.

Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge Sydney 

The lounge was busy and this is probably when the lounge sees the most traffic with the upcoming departure of an A380. There are 78 business class seats and once you add in those PPS Club, KrisFlyer Gold and Star Alliance Gold members. It is undoubtedly busy. I am not even counting those passengers who are flying on other Star Alliance partner flights. The main space of the lounge consists of one main room with lounge couches arranged in groups. They left generous space in between the rows.

You can also find cubicle seatings which are much more private and great for solo travellers. These are great for both dining and getting some work done. They come with a comfy couch as well as a side table with power outlets. Wi-fi is readily available in the lounge and the connection is stable.

The lounge comes with plenty of natural light and a great view of the surrounding tarmac view. This is something that I appreciate.

By the side of the lounge is the refreshments area. I will come back to the food and drinks later on. In this area, you can find dining tables that will be much more suitable if you want to dine first before retreating to the couches to lounge.

Toilets and Showers

The toilets are nothing memorable. You can still find Lalique amenities stocked inside. They are well maintained. The lounge comes with shower suites which are available on a first come first serve basis. This will come in handy after a long day out in the city or coming to the airport straight after work to catch a flight. I appreciate having a clean and spacious shower facility at the airport. The shower room comes with a spacious vanity area and a standing shower. It comes with a handheld shower head and a rainforest shower head.

Food and Drinks

I was rather impressed by this aspect of the lounge. First up barista made coffee! How amazing is this! I have a huge caffeine deficit and certainly make full use of this and have a couple of brews. It is so good. You can order your drinks from the Ipad and the barista will then make it on the spot for you. I had a couple of piccolo. I still can’t get my head around the fact that we can’t have this all day long at the flagship lounge in Singapore. This should be straightforward.

You also have a huge array of drinks available to choose from. Non-alcoholic drinks consist of juices, soft drinks and tea. Alcoholic options include spirits, sparkling wine, red wine, white wine, various beers and ciders. All that is lacking here is Champagne.

The food selections consist of a small salad station, cheese, fresh fruits, miso soup, hot dishes and cakes. The bee hoon and stir-fried beef are quite good.

Conclusion

Certainly, this lounge can’t compete with some of the newly renovated ones out there in the network. The place is well maintained but they do need a renovated or touch-up soon. The staff are very friendly and readily go around the area to clear plates and cups. It is a comfortable environment to relax and wait for your flight. I am very impressed by the generous selections of food and drinks. The barista coffee is very much appreciated. This is also available all day long. I still can’t understand why the flagship lounge in the Singapore hub can’t do this. All that is lacking from this lounge is a Champagne option. Sydney is the main primary Australian market for the airline and it makes sense for them to invest in their facility. Besides this, you can also access the Air New Zealand lounge that is located next door. I will be sharing about that very soon. There are still several SKLs out there that I have not visited. Very soon, I will be sharing my review of the Bangkok facility. I would love to revisit the Hong Kong and Taiwan Lounge after the recent renovations.