MouthShut.com Would Like to Send You Push Notifications. Notification may includes alerts, activities & updates.

OTP Verification

Enter 4-digit code
For Business
MouthShut Logo
Upload Photo
Singapore, Singapore (SIN) - Changi Intl.  Image

MouthShut Score

95%
4.65 

Accessibility:

Security/Immigration:

Infrastructure/Facilities:

Taxi/Rent-a-Car:

×

Upload your product photo

Supported file formats : jpg, png, and jpeg

Address



Contact Number

Cancel

I feel this review is:

Fake
Genuine

To justify genuineness of your review kindly attach purchase proof
No File Selected

Singapore Changi Airport
Jun 29, 2006 01:17 PM 4333 Views

Accessibility:

Security/Immigration:

Infrastructure/Facilities:

Taxi/Rent-a-Car:

One airport that stands out for me, it is Singapore’s Changi Airport. I have now reached the stage that not only do I look forward to using this airport, but also I even plan it so I have time to enjoy the many features of this wonderful place.


A few Facts


Located on the Eastern Tip of Singapore about 20 minutes drive, traffic permitting, from the city centre. For those of you that are geographically minded: Latitude 01 21' 23" North, Longitude 103 59' 28" East.


The Airport covers 1,300 hectares, of which 870 were reclaimed from the sea. The two runways are 60Metres wide and run parallel for 4000Metres. Operations commenced in July 1981 with Terminal 1, Terminal 2 opened in November of the same year, and Terminal 3 is under construction and is due to open in 2006.


Facilities


Changi has some of the best services and facilities in the world: -


The business traveller can visit the Business Centres located in the Transit hotels.


For the general traveller there are lots of ways to relax and while away the hours until your next flight. Visit the Entertainment Centre, watch a movie / TV, listen to Piano concerts and if you have more than five hour try the free 2.5 hour city tour.


Also Available: Children’s play area, Baby Rooms, Shops, Explorer Lounge, Mini Supermarket, Cyber cafe, Restaurants, Transit hotel, Money Changers, Phones and Postal services, Shower, Swimming Pool, hair and beauty to name but a few.


To keep you amused during your ‘stay’ at Changi there are a number of events to entertain you: a Live game show you can take part in, cultural dancing from Australia, China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan and USA even a Jazz festival


Arrival


Disembarking from your inbound flight, you walk up the entry ramp and enter the well-lit transit corridor on Level 2 of the Terminal. The floors are carpeted and all facilities and services are clearly sign posted., either side are the glass fronted departure gates & lounges, more on these later. Be warned Changi airport is vast; it can take 20 minutes or more to walk from one end of a transit corridor to the main Transit Lounge and passport control.


Before you enter the main transit lounge, Singapore visitors will be directed down to Level 1 of the terminal via ramps, stairs and escalators. On Level 1 you will pass thru immigration, baggage reclaim, customs on your way to the exit. Additionally the lost luggage and Night-stop counters can be found on this level.


After ‘reclaiming’ my luggage I passed thru the Green customs channel and made my way to the taxi ramp.


A few arrival tips:


-Lost Luggage, if you are unable to find your luggage there are a number of Lost & Found Counters – the staff are very helpful.


-Duty Free: If you are over 18, have arrive from countries other than Malaysia and have been away from Singapore for more than 2 days you can bring 1 litre each sprits, wine or beer


-Make sure you have you departure ticket available are passport control


Departure (Check in)


The departure procedure probably has changed since September 11th, so I will not say too much except that if you have flown out of one major airport then the procedure is fairly universal. However in the case of Singapore Changi Airport the staff are always polite and efficient.


Departure tips


-Check with your airline for specific hand luggage specifications, only on item of hand luggage per traveller


-Ensure you have no sharp objects in your hand luggage, knives, forks, needles, hairpins etc


-Since September 11th a $6 Singapore security charge has been added to the $15 airport tax, you should be able to pay this when booking your flight


The Transit Lounge


The Transit lounge is large, occupying the whole of Level 2 and a fair amount of level 3 of both terminals 1 and 2. You can walk between these terminals within the Transit lounge. For the purpose of this opinion, Terminal 1 has similar facilities and structure.


Level 2 is pretty much given over to retail therapy with over 100 stores catering to all possible tastes at duty free prices. You will even see a familiar UK high street name – WH Smith’s.


All major credit cards are accepted, along with hard currencies such as US dollar, Singapore Dollar, Japanese Yen, British pounds, Hong Kong Dollars and Australian Dollars.


The Money changers are on Level 2, they always change into Singapore dollars before changing into any other currency. When we were there in December 2001 the rate was $2.5 Singapore to the UK pound.


Apart from shopping, Level 2 is well equipped with Mobile PC access points, an Internet café, many comfortable seats, a smoker’s room. Smoking in public placed is prohibited in Singapore, as is chewing gum! There are a number of tranquil spots – the Orchid Garden and Koi pond are my favourites,


As I have said before there is a free bus tour of Singapore for those spending more than 5 hours in transit, these operate between 10am and 7pm. All phones are International direct dial, Best of all, all calls to Singapore numbers are FREE.


Level 3 can be reached by escalator, however you have to use specific escalators to get to particular facilities on level 3, follow the signs on level 2.


The Business Centre can be reached from the escalator closest to gates F50-F59, also up this escalator you will find the open air area, Transit hotel – very useful for longer stays, the health and beauty center, the Entertainment center with lots of electronic games, the childrens playroom and movie theatre.


Two escalators in the central part of level 2 take to the mini super market & eateries around, The Escalator closest to Gates E20 to E28 takes you to the main First/Business class lounges.


Departure Gates


All departure gates are located either side of the transit corridors that ‘radiate’ from the main Transit Lounge on Level 2 of the terminals. Each lounge has large windows to the outside world, so you can watch your plane being prepared. A glass wall separates the gate lounge from the transit corridor. Transit corridors do have a limited amount of seating, lots of phones and refreshment ‘pit stops’.


Departure gates open approximately 45 min s before the aircrafts’ scheduled departure time. I find it is best to be outside the gate about an hour before departure time. Once the gate opens, your passport/ticket will be checked, all hand luggage x-rayed, this includes coats, belt bags etc.Sharp objects such as metal knives, forks, combs, nail files etc will be confiscated. Your boarding card / passport will be checked again before you are allowed into the seating area.


Conclusion


I am rather fond of this airport. It is clean, well laid out with superb facilities. Despite the size of the airport it is light and airy, with plenty of places to relax, seating is plentiful and comfortable. Despite all this; Changi has never been crowded in the same way as Heathrow or Gatwick.


I just hope that the designers of terminal 5 at Heathrow took a good hard look at Changi airport before putting pen to paper.


Upload Photo

Upload Photos


Upload photo files with .jpg, .png and .gif extensions. Image size per photo cannot exceed 10 MB


Comment on this review

Read All Reviews

YOUR RATING ON

Singapore, Singapore (SIN) - Changi Intl.
1
2
3
4
5
X