Hello everyone, and welcome to another of my reviews. In this article, I’ll review my experience at the Ambassador Transit Lounge in Changi Airport Terminal 3.
Like the previously reviewed Marhaba Lounge, Ambassador Transit Lounge is one of the three Priority Pass lounge options in Changi Airport Terminal 3. Let’s see if it’s any good.
Ambassador Transit Lounge – Video
If you’re interested in seeing some hands-on footage of my experience at Ambassador Transit Lounge, do watch the YouTube video below:
Ambassador Transit Lounge – Review
Ambassador Transit Lounge is located next to Ambassador Transit Hotel and Movie Theatre, on level three of the terminal.
I used my Priority Pass privilege to gain entry, but if you don’t have lounge access, these are the prices – it’s steep, to say the least.
The lounge area is relatively small and is probably the smallest amongst the three Priority Pass lounges (Marhaba and SATS Premier) in Terminal 3. I would say that the decor looks dated as well, and has undoubtedly seen better days.
Still, I would say there’s adequate seating area – the lounge wasn’t too crowded when I visited, and there were plenty of seats to go around.
In terms of food options, the lounge has a decent salad bar (with fresh fruits).
However, the selection quickly goes downhill from there – there was only a handful of hot food to choose from, such as sausage, ham, scrambled egg, baked beans and potatoes, as well as curry and prata.
The silver lining is that there’s a live cooking station, but…
…they only served eggs during my morning visit. Guests can choose from eggs done four ways – sunny side up, hard-boiled, over easy, or omelette. Given that the lounge already serves scrambled eggs as part of its buffet offering, I found this a curious choice. Surely there would be more value in a live cooking station serving fresh pancakes or waffles instead?
Instead, the only waffles available are these small, clearly frozen ones. Spoiler alert: they taste like cardboard, even with the honey.
The lounge does have a few bakes, but again, the taste is wholly generic.
Ironically, my favourite station was the nacho chip (with cheese!) dip, as well as the old-school gem biscuits. I’ve not seen another lounge offering nachos with cheese before, and it reminded me of nostalgic cinema outings.
I also found the drink options to be lacking, with just generic Nescafé coffee machines and Twinings tea available.
More egregiously, there are no free-flow alcoholic drinks available. Guests are entitled to up to four drinks, but this means having to approach the bar station every time to request, which can sometimes mean waiting as the staff are busy with the live station cooking. The selection is also more limited and of lower quality, which is a shame. Note that alcoholic drinks are not available from midnight to 6am, so if you’re looking for a nightcap then you’ll be out of luck.
The dessert section is equally pathetic, with a selection that reminded me of NS camps. For comparison, Blossom Lounge in the “budget” Terminal 4 serves Udders ice cream, so there’s really no excuse here.
I noticed that the reading materials were also limited, with several being placed on the top shelf. I’m not the shortest guy, and I had to tiptoe just to peek at the covers – clearly not the most ideal display.
Perhaps the only saving grace of the lounge is that it has a spacious shower room, with both a rain shower and a handheld showerhead being available.
As compared to SATS Premier Lounge in Terminal 3 (which also has shower facilities), Ambassador Transit Lounge goes a step further by also offering towels for guests. The towels are heavy and fluffy, and perhaps the only premium feeling offering that I’ve experienced in the lounge.
Overall, Ambassador Transit Lounge was markedly disappointing, and clearly the worst option out of the three Priority Pass lounges in Changi Terminal 3. The decor is dated, the food tastes like a generic buffet spread, and having to approach the “bar” every time for an alcoholic drink was inconvenient. Its only saving grace is its shower facility, where towels are provided. If you’re transiting in Singapore and are in dire need of a shower (and don’t have a towel with you), then Ambassador Transit Lounge can be a viable option. Otherwise, my advice is don’t bother – head to SATS Premier Lounge instead.
Ambassador Transit Lounge in Terminal 3 is open 24 Hours daily.
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