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-   -   Jetquay CIP Terminal – an unnecessary luxury? (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/singapore/1843663-jetquay-cip-terminal-unnecessary-luxury.html)

SQTraveller May 20, 2017 6:40 pm

Jetquay CIP Terminal – an unnecessary luxury?
 
I recently completed a trip report It's awfully nice in Nice, BA SIN-LHR-NCE in Y+ and C in which I talk about the JetQuay at Changi Airport.

Below is a more comprehensive report on the JetQuay experience and my thoughts on the value.


Ever wanted to be treated like a VIP? Want to have your own private terminal? Keep the paparazzi away? Yes? Well JetQuay is the service for you.

I start by warning readers that this is an amalgamation of different experiences as I have been here twice

Jetquay is an interesting offering in Singapore. I had read about this from several other blogs and seen videos of it on YouTube, but never really thought I would want to use it. It’s seems a bit unnecessary in an airport as efficient as Singapore Changi.

The actual JetQuay Terminal is located next to Terminal 2 of Singapore Changi Airport. Not entirely dissimilar to the Lufthansa First Class Terminal offering at Frankfurt airport, the main difference is that it is open to any passenger travelling in any class or any carrier (with a few exceptions (Some airlines, due to security restrictions, required passengers to check in at the main terminal – at time of writing these included United Airlines, Delta Airlines and the low cost carriers (LCCs)).

Basically there are three levels of service:

GATEWAY

Meet & Greet service in main Airport terminal (Escort only, no electric buggy)

Arrival : S$90 per event (up to 3 persons on the same flight)

Departure : S$90 per event (up to 3 persons on the same flight)

QUAYSIDE

Meet & Greet service with the use of electric buggy, In-house immigrations and customs clearance, dedicated check-in counters, baggage assistance and usage of Jet Quay Private Airport facility.

Arrival : S$400 per event (up to 3 persons on the same flight)

Departure : S$400 per event (up to 3 persons on the same flight)

JETSIDE

Meet & Greet service with limousine transfer on the tarmac with In-house immigrations and customs clearance, dedicated check-in counters, baggage assistance and usage of Jet Quay Private Airport facility.

Complimentary usage of the suite with en-suite bathroom, bottle of champagne, light refreshment, free Wi-Fi and personal butler

Arrival : S$1500 per event (up to 2 persons on the same flight)

Departure : S$1500 per event (up to 2 persons on the same flight)

They advertise their services as

Complimentary Wi-Fi
Day rooms and private meeting rooms
Business centre and boardroom
Suite Room
Showers
Complimentary light refreshments
I would love to go all out and get the JetSide Service, which would have a car drive me to the aircraft. However, since I don’t get paid for this blog and I don’t get paid enough in general, it would be too much for me to do, even though I love you guys so much!

Actually the truth is that I recently signed up for the Citi Prestige card which gave me access to this for free

Want to know why I use the Citi Prestige? You can read all about it here: Which Reward Card do I use?

Let me start by showing you some photos of the inside of the JetQuay terminal.

I didn’t take photos or videos of the arrival into the JetQuay terminal.

At the entrance, there is a barrier, and a guard post. The guard comes out and asks you for your flight, checking it off the list of passengers that have booked the service.

There is a little driveway that winds around to the entrance of the terminal. Once there, the guard has already radioed through and there are a number of people waiting for you.

A few to carry your luggage, one to take your hand luggage, and another to guide you through. On my second time through (Singapore to Bangkok in April 2017), they actually welcomed me back which was a nice touch. When you luggage is taken from you, that will be the last you see of it, until you get to the end of your journey.

Instead of going to check in, they take you to the lounge area immediately (the picture below). Once you have sat down, a member of staff takes your passport and that’s more or less the last you see of it until it’s time to board.

They conduct all the check in formalities away from you, while another member of staff offers you a drink. Both times, I turned them down to take photos of the lounge.

They approached me about 10 minutes later and asked when I’d like to leave for the gate. Because terminal 2 is on one side of the airport, if you need to get to Terminal 3, it will take a good 15 minutes as they have to drive through Terminal 2, 1 and then 3 to get there.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4156/3...94a435ae85.jpgIMG_2602 by Globe Trekka, on Flickr

Nice seating area for the bears ��

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/266/32...0b4bb115c2.jpgIMG_9859 by Globe Trekka, on Flickr

Lots and lots of seating

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/523/32...cb3a849d80.jpgIMG_9860 by Globe Trekka, on Flickr

And yet more seating

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/597/32...80d9711778.jpgIMG_9861 by Globe Trekka, on Flickr

Have a little bubbly to start with.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/733/31...68d99856d5.jpgIMG_9865 by Globe Trekka, on Flickr

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/376/32...d4ff5ecb66.jpgIMG_9853 by Globe Trekka, on Flickr

And now onto the food

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/495/32...bbfd6ffb42.jpgIMG_9854 by Globe Trekka, on Flickr

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/572/32...8223e8c990.jpgIMG_9862 by Globe Trekka, on Flickr

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/260/32...58733fb1dc.jpgIMG_9864 by Globe Trekka, on Flickr

And to finish with

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/430/32...68af3c37b4.jpgIMG_9858 by Globe Trekka, on Flickr

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/505/31...474fbf82de.jpgIMG_9855 by Globe Trekka, on Flickr

There’s a number of tvs around. The one below was showing tennis highlights.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4171/3...e406be0acf.jpgIMG_2603 by Globe Trekka, on Flickr

Fan Bing Bing sitting seductively on a massage chair. There are two chairs for guests to use. It’s just marketing. OSIM, are hoping that after using it here, you can’t live without one.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4194/3...c1d54928d3.jpgIMG_2599 by Globe Trekka, on Flickr

When the it’s time to leave, a JetQuay representative will come and collect you. You walk out into the entrance hallway of the JetQuay terminal and this is when the staff hands back your passport.

As someone who normally takes the e gates through Singapore immigration, this is actually slower. The scariest part here is the immigration officer smiles at you. Shock! Horror! And the words that came out of his mouth after doing the necessary checks …”have a nice trip sir”…. what?! you are wishing me a nice trip? Have you put a comment in my passport that I should be aware of? This traveller is a PITA? What did you say?!

The JetQuay employee will also come through with you and you take a lift up one floor (frankly we could have just taken the stairs), and to what looked like a parking lot for buggies. There were at least 10 buggies and at first, there was no indication which one I should … mount (?). Until another JetQuay staff appeared and pointed to one. I was to sit in the second row passenger seat until I requested to be at the front. And then we were off.

As mentioned earlier, the JetQuay Terminal is located next to Terminal 2 so the buggy emerges in terminal 2 and if you want to get to the other terminals (1 and 3) you basically have to round the whole U shape of the building.

Once you get to the gate, you’re own your own to get through security and then board your flight.

Some observations
  • The food was average. When you compare it to the offerings of business class lounges, I think they need to put more effort into this.
  • The lounge was cold. Given this is Singapore, I turned up twice, in a short sleeved shirt and both times regretted it. The staff told me the temperature is centrally controlled.
  • Immigration is no faster than e gates. If I were to go through the e gates at Changi, it would have been faster than clearing immigration here.
  • No expedited gate security. When you get to the gate, if there is a queue, you have to wait with the rest of the masses. This really lowers the tone of the experience.

Overall, I did enjoy being here, because sometimes it is nice to be away from the masses. This is great for a quiet retreat. The two times I’ve been to use Jet Quay, for at least an hour each time, I was the only person in the lounge!

I will still use it if I get the chance, but it seems a bit superfluous given the high quality of the existing facilities at Changi Airport. Also, I can’t use it for LCC flights.

That being said, if you are a well known personalities, and don’t want to be inundated with people staring at you or taking photos, this may well be a really great option.

You can see the report in its original form here Jetquay CIP Terminal Review - an unnecessary luxury?

1readyset2go May 26, 2017 8:19 pm

Thanks for your review. I was interested in this company as well other similar greeting/escort services. I wonder how this compares to say SATS or Allways. I have never been and was wondering about the how much easier/quicker this makes things. Is the immigration pretty easy or are SIN lines long? We will be flying into SIN on CX in J if that matters.

https://www.allwaysvip.com/

https://www.satsaffinity.com/singaporeair/Home.aspx

SQTraveller Jun 3, 2017 7:58 pm


Originally Posted by 1readyset2go (Post 28364613)
Thanks for your review. I was interested in this company as well other similar greeting/escort services. I wonder how this compares to say SATS or Allways. I have never been and was wondering about the how much easier/quicker this makes things. Is the immigration pretty easy or are SIN lines long? We will be flying into SIN on CX in J if that matters.

https://www.allwaysvip.com/

https://www.satsaffinity.com/singaporeair/Home.aspx

Actually, I don't think it's worth paying for this service unless you are looking for privacy. Immigration at Singapore Changi is generally pretty quick. Having said that, I've noticed over the last few years that Terminal 1 immigration can have long queues late at night.

This is partly because of the closure of the Budget Terminal and the directing of most of those flights to Terminal 1.

However, with the opening of the Terminal 4 in the coming months (Q3/Q4 2017), I imagine immigration will be improve.

This all assumes you are fully mobile. If you aren't fully mobile, you might find it takes a bit longer to walk, and you might find a buggy really useful.

1readyset2go Jun 3, 2017 10:43 pm

Thanks for the info. I am a little nervous about navigating my way around since I have never set foot anywhere in Asia.

tingadingling Jun 11, 2017 9:30 pm

Only good for privacy
 
I'm a fairly regular user of Jetquay, on about half my trips out of Singapore. My conclusion is that for $400 a trip, it's not worth it, but if you're paying $90 or comped eg. on the Prestige card or on business travel, then heck why not. Business travelers keen to just get on with it will prefer the regular biz check in for speed.

The service is decent from arrival to departure, with a high staff to customer ratio. However the food selection in the lounge is abysmal - think the *Gold lounge at Changi, and nowhere near as good as SilverKris (which imv is slightly better than average vs say Heathrow BA). I tried the Jetside service once and they serve some additionals in a private suite eg macarons, strawberries etc but again nothing to shout about.

On weekday mornings though, the lounge is nearly completely empty and you'll be unlucky to have more than 2 or 3 groups scattered throughout the lounge. So one to try if you value privacy and personalised service.

As an aside, I did have one poor experience departing when the immigration officer looked at me sour faced, nary a word throughout the process. Made us both very uncomfortable and tarnished the Jetquay experience.

HawaiiO Jun 12, 2017 11:32 am

Citi Prestige offers free jetquay services??
Is that only for the certain versions of Citi Prestige like the Singapore version?

tks!

tingadingling Jun 12, 2017 9:14 pm


Originally Posted by HawaiiO (Post 28433217)
Citi Prestige offers free jetquay services??
Is that only for the certain versions of Citi Prestige like the Singapore version?

tks!

Yes, we get it in SG. US Prestige still gets better benefits overall thanks to the stiff competition over there.

rosensfole Sep 30, 2017 5:30 am

As I'm flying AF La Première I was given access to JetQuay for departure. I'm here now and it's not all that impressive.

The food is terrible, tasteless and cold. AF supply extra canapés, which is nice, but the very nice assistant insisted on giving me my main meal at the same time.

At least it's comfortable and away from the busy terminal but I prefer a normal first class lounge.

Going to turn this down next time.

SQTraveller Oct 4, 2017 6:15 am


Originally Posted by rosensfole (Post 28876827)
As I'm flying AF La Première I was given access to JetQuay for departure. I'm here now and it's not all that impressive.

The food is terrible, tasteless and cold. AF supply extra canapés, which is nice, but the very nice assistant insisted on giving me my main meal at the same time.

At least it's comfortable and away from the busy terminal but I prefer a normal first class lounge.

Going to turn this down next time.


I only use this option as it's part of my credit card deal. Otherwise I find Priority Pass lounges very convenient and much better food options.

rosensfole Oct 4, 2017 10:21 am


Originally Posted by SQTraveller (Post 28892205)
I only use this option as it's part of my credit card deal. Otherwise I find Priority Pass lounges very convenient and much better food options.

While I can't prove the link I was violently sick on the flight a few hours after eating at the CIP. I had the baked fish which was nothing short of awful, no idea how long it had been sitting in the warmer.

http://soto.me.uk/wp-content/gallery...6768849569.jpg

invisible Oct 4, 2017 10:21 pm

I have HSBC Premier which offers this JetQuay service. Want too book it for my wife, but as a trip to drop her at T3. Did anyone use it and know if such thing is possible?

SQTraveller Oct 5, 2017 5:24 am


Originally Posted by invisible (Post 28895452)
I have HSBC Premier which offers this JetQuay service. Want too book it for my wife, but as a trip to drop her at T3. Did anyone use it and know if such thing is possible?

I'm not sure what you mean by "as a trip" ... do you mean as a trick?

invisible Oct 5, 2017 7:56 am


Originally Posted by SQTraveller (Post 28896184)
I'm not sure what you mean by "as a trip" ... do you mean as a trick?

I don't want them to take her at JetQuay, I want them to take her at T3 and drop off there.

CX30616 Oct 24, 2017 2:30 pm

Looks like my UOB Krisflyer debit card which is a world MasterCard can allow me to use the CIP terminal for free, but I will travel on business by JAL on morning, will it be better for me to use CIP or just stick on normal one?

tingadingling Jan 8, 2018 7:37 am

Used the lounge again recently and still unimpeded - other airside lounges are better unless you value privacy.


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