Hi everyone! perhaps is a silly question..
Do you know if it’s possible to use a lounge on arrival (meaning before exiting the airport)? I know they can be used in transit (I’ve used them) but never on arrival.
I arrive in Singapore (terminal 1) at midnight, and the metro only opens at 5am, so I’d get to my sitting around 7am.
Has anyone had experience using an arrival lounge?
I’d really appreciate hearing from those who have more travel experience.
Yes it’s possible to use a lounge pass upon arrival with the following considerations:
It must be the policy of the specific lounge to allow entry to those without a connecting same day flight and the lounge must be located within the same arrival gate, as the individual seeking access will be unable to pass through security to a different gate without a valid boarding pass.
Hi @jime 
Not a silly question at all - airport lounges on arrival are one of those “sometimes yes, sometimes absolutely not” travel quirks that aren’t always obvious.
For Singapore specifically, the good news is that yes, you can stay airside after arrival for a while before going through immigration, provided you don’t need to collect checked luggage immediately. Changi is actually one of the easier airports for this.
A few practical things though:
Most standard airline lounges are intended for departing or transit passengers, so access on arrival depends on the lounge rules and whether your boarding pass still scans.
Some Priority Pass / DragonPass lounges in Changi do allow arrival access, but policies can change and staff discretion sometimes comes into play at odd hours.
If you have checked luggage, it will eventually be removed from the carousel, so staying airside for 5+ hours can become awkward.
Changi itself is very overnight-friendly even outside lounges - lots of seating, rest areas, food options, charging points and decent air conditioning.
Honestly, if your goal is simply to bridge midnight to first MRT, I’d probably look at these options in order:
Stay airside and try a lounge if your pass permits it
Use Changi public rest areas / 24-hour food courts
Book a cheap transit hotel block if you want proper sleep/shower
Take a Grab/taxi into the city immediately if the sit location is accessible late night
One other thing worth checking - depending where your sit is, the cost difference between 5 hours of lounge hopping + coffee + fatigue versus simply taking a Grab at midnight may be smaller than expected.
A lot of experienced travellers underestimate how wrecked they feel arriving at a new sit at 7am after effectively “airport camping” all night 
Hopefully someone with very recent Changi lounge experience can chime in with which specific lounges are still accepting arrivals.
Ohh!! Thanks @anon30676025 and @WeRPAWsome for your replies. They were really helpful.
Beyond this specific situation (I may end up taking a taxi like you suggested), I’ve always had that question about lounges, so now it’s finally resolved! Super informative.
Thanks again! This community rocks!
If you’re flying into Changi, there are other options to consider:
Changi has lots of amenities to check out and has a 24-hour free movie theater to hang out in, if you like.
Plus, whether at Changi or various other airports, if you like, there are hotels within the security area (before you leave) where you can rent hotel rooms by the hour. They’re meant for travelers with long layovers or people like you, who might otherwise have time to kill. They’re great if you want to sleep, take a shower, etc., before the rest of your day.
You can make a reservation or just walk in, depending on availability.
@jime there is an arrival lounge at Changi T1, called the Changi Lounge located in the Jewel but that doesn’t appear to be part of the Lounge Pass network ( the one used by THS). Also that Lounge is only open 6 am to 10 pm. You can still use that lounge if you pay for it, or if it comes as a benefit on your credit card.
Arrival lounges are relatively rare, but they will be clearly designated as Arrival lounges and you will still need to show your arrival boarding pass. I have used this one in Sydney T1.
I’ve used the THS lounge passes in Changi twice, in 2 different lounges, both were terrible. I suggest considering alternative options that have been suggested.
You may like to check out this site … lots of info
thank you so much to all who help me with this issue! you are great!
see you around.. and great sittssssss
