The Singapore Changi International Airport recently opened The Jewel. The Jewel is a large shopping mall immediately attached to the Singapore Changi International Airport that is anchored by a large waterfall in a central atrium. The Jewel is publicly accessible and you do not need to be a ticketed traveller in order to visit. Along with new retail space, The Jewel offers the Changi Lounge. The Changi Lounge located in the public mall area and is ideally set up to accommodate early check-in travellers for those that have exhausted shopping around the mall. We briefly stopped by for a quick visit prior to our departing flight..

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This post is one chapter on a trip with my 82 yr old mom from Canada to Singapore. For informaton on how this trip was booked, please see our trip introduction. This trip was enhanced through Marriott Bonvoy Elite Status, Air Canada Aeroplan and Hertz Gold Plus Rewards. For parts of the trip, please see this index.

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Review: The Jewel Lounge, Singapore Changi International Airport, Singapore

During our visit to Singapore, we had a side trip to Ko Samui Thailand. Since I hadn’t yet visited the Jewel at Changi International airport, I thought that I would take a look prior to our Bangkok Airways Singapore – Ko Samui flight.

The Jewel at Changi International Airport represents a new concept of having a mall directly attached to an airport. The Jewel is especially known for its centrepiece waterfall that provides an excellent focal point in attracting travellers to the commercial space.

About the Jewel Lounge at Changi International Airport:

The Jewel Lounge at Changi International Airport is a bit unusual. It’s the only departure lounge that is not located on the secure, or international side, of the airport.

Travellers can check in using the early check in feature at the check in desks near The Jewel Lounge entrance, or alternately, they can bring a boarding pass from their respective Changi Airport terminal and use the lounge while they visit The Jewel.

About Early Check In:

Changi Early Check is in perfect for travellers that have left their hotel, and are looking to check their baggage and wander around The Jewel mall and fountain, prior to getting on a long overseas flight. They are also travellers that would benefit from visiting The Changi Lounge.

At the time of our visit, Early Check In was offered by the following airlines at The Jewel at Changi International Airport:

From 3 to 24 hours before Flight Departure Time

• AirAsia
• Singapore Airlines (EXCLUDING United States of America)
• Turkish Airlines (only from 02:00PM to 08:30PM, only applicable to TK55 and TK169)

From 3 to 18 hours before Flight Departure Time

• Scoot (EXCLUDING Jeddah)

From 3 to 12 hours before Flight Departure Time

• Japan Airlines
• Jetstar
• Qatar Airways  

On the same day, at least 3 hours before Flight Departure Time

• Air France (only from 12:00PM to 10:00PM)
• Air India (only from 12:00PM to 04:00PM)

• Emirates (only from 12:00PM to 10:00PM. Passengers on EK353 (STD 0030H) can check-in the day before)
• Fiji Airways (only from 08:00AM to 10:30AM on Thursday; only from 12:00PM to 06:00PM on Saturday)
• Finnair (only from 12:00PM to 06:30PM)
• Juneyao Air (only from 09:30AM to 12:30AM and 04:15PM to 07:15PM)
• KLM (only from 12:00PM to 10:00PM. Passengers on KL836 (STD 0140H) can check-in the day before)
• Malaysia Airlines
• Philippine Airlines (only from 08:00AM to 09:30PM. Passengers on PR510 (STD 0020H) can check-in the day before)
• Qantas
• Thai Airways (only from 08:00AM to 06:00PM)

If you’re were not using Early Check In (like us), you’re not likely to be through this area unless you make a point of doing so. In our case, we checked in with Bangkok Airways in Changi Terminal One. With boarding card in hand, we walked over and set out to check out The Jewel and the Changi Lounge.

On arrival we checked out The Jewel fountain, which was impressive. Unfortunately it seemed that most of Singapore had the same idea of visiting the jewel. The area was absolutely packed.

Navigating through throngs of crowds taking selfies, with people walking all sorts of directions, while carrying your rolling luggage isn’t my idea of a super relaxing start to any journey. Nevertheless, it was great to see The Jewel fountain at Changi International Airport. However, I doubt I will be in a rush to return, unless I happen to have a long layover in Singapore that happens to be at the airport.

Locating the Jewel Lounge:

The Jewel Lounge is located a short walk from the arrival area of Singapore Changi Terminal One. The international arrivals zone in Changi Terminal One is just steps from the fountain at The Jewel.

If you are walking towards the fountain, if you take a left you’ll be facing this signed mall passageway.

After a few more steps, you’ll find the Changi Lounge at The Jewel on the right. It has a very wide storefront because it shares the reception area with another promotional attraction that is not directly related to the Changi Lounge.

Initially, this was a little confusing, as the people lined up did not appear to be travellers. Instead the Changi Lounge at The Jewel lounge reception was actually located just inside and on the right of the entranceway. I bypassed all of the crowds and headed inside towards reception.

Overall, it was not hard to locate The Changi Lounge at The Jewel. The only confusing part was getting to the lounge reception, as it was blocked by shoppers and other mall goers.

Accessing The Changi Lounge:

The Changi Lounge at The Jewel is a pay per use lounge with a tiered pricing system. During the time of our visit the lounge offer the following price points for entry:

Enjoy 3 hours of lounge access catered to your different needs. 

Lite Package:

Adult: S$28++  |   Child: S$20++ 

• 3-hour lounge access
• Free flow snack bar

Classic Package:

Adult: S$39++  |   Child: S$27++ 

• 3hour lounge access
• Free flow snack bar
• One hot meal
• One beer

Premium Package:

Adult: S$50++  |   Child: S$39++ 

• 3-hour lounge access
• Free flow snack bar
• One hot meal
• One beer
• One shower

Shower only (includes linen and toiletries):

• 20-minute shower slot: S$20++ (last shower slot at 09:25 PM)

The lounge also happens to be a member of Dragon Pass and Priority Pass lounge membership programs. We gained access today courtesy of Priority Pass select membership with an American Express Platinum Card as part of the American Express Global Lounge membership program.

Upon presentation of our digital Priority Pass membership card we were granted premium level access; the highest tier possible. There was no wait at the membership desk and our access was confirmed immediately. We were provided with two coupons so that lounge staff could keep track of who had purchased which corresponding tier.

Inside The Changi Lounge:

With the Jewel at Singapore’s Changi Airport being such a wonderful global attraction, it wouldn’t be to hard to think that The Changi Lounge at The Jewel would incorporate some viewing of the fountain in some manner. Perhaps a window, an outdoor viewing deck like the Star Alliance Lounge Los Angeles, or perhaps even a plasma video screen of The Jewel waterfall.

Unfortunately, the lounge doesn’t capitalize on the fountain being close by. There is no view of the fountain, nor any observation platform from the lounge where you can view the atrium. Sadly, the lounge is completely enclosed, and offers no windows or viewing to The Jewel itself. As a result, The Jewel Lounge is a bit of an uninspiring physical space.

Immediately after entering the lounge there was a concierge desk on the right hand side. It was unmanned during the time of our visit.

Entering into the main part of the lounge, The Changi Lounge at The Jewel lounge seating area was set up in a large rectangle shape. On the left from the entrance, there were couches and lounge chairs set up in a variety of seating configurations.

I got the impression based on how people were seating, that most lounge visitors had been waiting around this lounge for a long time. Travellers were stretched out on couches, lying down, half asleep, likely killing off layovers.

Generally, the place seemed to be quite static and unexciting. We had no difficulties finding a seat, and opted for a table and chairs near the back.

While Mrs.WT73 connected to some complementary Wi-Fi, I want to go check out the food options.

Food and Beverage:

Armed with my “premium” level experience, I went over to the bar. Although there was a full bar set up, the bar was stripped of almost all alcohol. When I asked the counter what was available, I was told beer was the only thing being offered. Unfortunately this meant that I couldn’t get my wife a glass of wine that she had requested from her man servant.

Instead, I went over to the food counter. There was a very minor amount of food available. There were some baked snacks including doughnuts, along with some salty crunchy snacks.

There were also a few cereal cylinders consisting of unnamed cereal and cocoa puffs. These were accompanied by water, orange juice and apple juice.

Off the bar, in terms of beverages, the lounge offered two coffee machines. They were also tinned soft drinks available, although with a selection of Coca Cola, A&W Root Beer and Sprite, it wasn’t a very broad or exciting selection. Most interestingly, the lounge offered Yakult yoghurt drinks that I enjoyed in Singapore growing up.

Wondering where the rest of the food was, I returned to our table and scanned the QR Code on our “Premium” coupon. I was able to get a menu of a-la carte items that were made to order. The menu consisted of many Singaporean items including dim sum laska, vegetable samosas, and Tom Yum soup.

In the end, we didn’t end up ordering any food. Despite the nice surroundings, we ended up heading off in search of a bit of a better lounge experience on the secure side of Changi International Airport Terminal One. It wasn’t that the Changi Lounge was terrible in anyway, but rather it didn’t seem to be all too exciting under the circumstances.

After calling in on the better and more exciting Plaza Premium Lounge Singapore Changi Terminal One, we would end up departing on Bangkok Airways Singapore – Ko Samui.

My Thoughts on the Changi Lounge at The Jewel:

I had the opportunity to visit the Changi Lounge at The Jewel as a result of the lounge being a member of Priority Pass.

The Changi Lounge at The Jewel contained a comfortable waiting room that could be used to stretch out and kill off a long layover. Unfortunately the Changi Lounge didn’t incorporate anything to do with the Jewel fountain, which I think was a large missed opportunity.

While there was food available it was quite limited, along with the drinks. While this lounge may be of use to you if you have a long layover, you’ll likely find better lounges on the secure side of the Changi International Airport from which your plane departs from.

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If you’ve visited the Changi Lounge at The Jewel, how long did you end up staying ?

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