The BLOSSOM Lounge at Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 4 is the only private pay-per-use lounge available at the terminal. Terminal 4 is the newest terminal at Singapore Changi Airport designed mostly designed for a number of budget airlines and other carriers that have minimal transit with passengers from other Changi terminals. As the only Priority Pass and Loungekey lounge at the terminal, the lounge can be quite packed during peak hours.
The lounge is situated opposite the fantastic Cathay Pacific Lounge on the upper floor, and is adjacent to a 7-Eleven convenience store. It's not easy to find given that there aren't many lounges at Terminal 4, and the terminal building itself is not as large as other terminals.
Lounge Seating
As you can see from the above, despite there being plenty of seats available, don't be too surprised to see part of the lounge blocked off by the staff. On various visits, I was disappointed to see a significant portion of the lounge blocked off despite there being a full house in the lounge.
Despite my own complaints to the staff, nothing was done to alleviate the congestion at the seating area that was available. I suspect this is likely due to the lack of staff for cleaning purposes. Likewise, if you're travelling alone, I highly recommend the individual cubicles that are situated to the right of the reception area. These seats offer plenty of privacy for calls, doing work or simply munching away on the lounge offerings.
Dining Area
As with most Plaza Premium lounges, the food selection at the buffet was excellent (in terms of quality not quantity). Most of my visits to the lounge always had different varieties of food being served, ranging from local favourites like Hainanese Chicken Rice to Nasi Lemak. I've visited the lounge several times within the span of two months and I don't think I've ever seen the same dishes served twice on a different day!
As the BLOSSOM lounge is a collaborative space between Plaza Premium and SATS, you'll also get to enjoy SATS Signature Laksa made-to-order. As always, the laksa remains a fan-favourite at SATS lounges across Singapore Changi Airport and I'm glad that they're also serving it at BLOSSOM.
The drinks selection was also decent. While there are varieties of alcohol offerings available for consumption, most of the bottles were of cheap liquor and were of poor quality. If you're getting something other than a gin and tonic, I'd recommend just getting some infused water instead.
Washrooms and Shower Suites
Now, I'm usually a huge fan of airport lounge toilets (except those in Western countries). If you're a frequent traveller like myself, you'll probably notice that airport lounge toilets especially in Asian countries are some of the cleanest you'll find. This is especially true for airline lounges, but in most cases, even private lounges across the Plaza Premium network have excellent washrooms, clean and tidy. However, this is not the case for the BLOSSOM lounge.
Of course, the pictures don't necessarily paint the whole picture, but the cleanliness of the Men's on every occassion during my visit was definitely not up-to-par with the level of hygiene you'd expect from the Plaza Premium network of lounges. The toilet stalls were particularly worse, and I couldn't do you the disfavor of sharing those images here, but just know that cleanliness was not well sought out.
Showers are ever present and available at the BLOSSOM Lounge. In order to gain access to the showers, you'll need to register your name and your flight at the reception area. Once your shower is ready, you will be pinged over the PA, letting everyone in the lounge know that you're up for a shower. Seriously BLOSSOM? Why can't they utilize a QR code system to inform travellers when its time for their shower instead?
And now we've come to the worst part of my review: The Shower Suites. I was in utter shock that my shower suite was left uncleaned after the previous use despite my name being called and I was given the keys to the shower at the reception. This was simply unacceptable and is a terrible addition to the dirty toilets that were at the Men's as written earlier. The best part? I walked out of the shower suites after discovering that it was not cleaned, and headed to the reception to make a complaint. To my surprise, the managers on duty did absolutely nothing to rectify the situation.
Other Amenities
Final Thoughts
The BLOSSOM Lounge at Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 4 stands as the sole private pay-per-use lounge in the terminal, often bustling during peak hours due to its unique position as the only Priority Pass and Loungekey lounge available. While its location might require a bit of searching within the relatively smaller Terminal 4, its proximity to the Cathay Pacific Lounge and a 7-Eleven store is notable.
The lounge, although spacious, frequently blocks off certain seating areas, making it feel congested. Solo travelers might find solace in the private cubicles available. On the culinary front, the lounge impresses with its varied and quality food offerings, ranging from local delicacies to international cuisines. Notably, the SATS Signature Laksa remains a crowd favorite. However, while the drink options are diverse, the quality of alcoholic beverages is somewhat lacking.
A disappointing aspect is the lounge's hygiene standards, especially in the washrooms and shower suites. Despite the reputation of lounges in the region for pristine amenities, the BLOSSOM Lounge does not meet those expectations. The mismanagement of the shower facilities and the oversight in cleaning were particularly unsettling.
In conclusion, while the BLOSSOM Lounge offers commendable dining options and seating, there's a pressing need to address hygiene and cleanliness concerns to enhance the overall experience for travelers.
