Singapore Changi Airport

Two transits through Changi in Dec 08 and Jan 09 - an exceptional airport. It is huge but easy to get around with the transit system and travelators (all of which worked). On a 6-hour layover I spent 1.5 hours at the rooftop pool (for A$15) had a one hour massage went around the butterfly garden watched a film and took a shower - all great for a long layover. Highly recommended airport.

Terminal 1. I normally have high praises for Changi but my last couple of flights have been a disappointment. In the check-in area there is little place to sit and no place to stay for transit/waiting passengers. (After passing the immigration situation gets a lot better though) My check-in counter was supposed to be counter 2 but it was transferred to another one without any announcement or warning. Security check to enter the boarding area was very tedious which is quite unlike Changi. The line started to pile up and the wait amounted to almost half an hour. On the plus side transportation to and fro is convenient facilities are fantastic and generally above average. Despite some misgivings I still regard Changi as one of the better airports in the region tied with KLIA and Hong Kong.

Changi seems to have lost the plot with Terminal III. Whilst Terminal I and II have individual security screening at each of the gates the same cannot be said about T3. Plus the shops and eateries are in the middle and too far away from the distant A15+ gates. Disappointed.

Terminal one excellent throughout. I can see why this is a five-star airport. It only took me 7 minutes to get from the plane door to duty free make one purchase clear passport control get luggage and clear customs. Excellent speed and efficiency all over. Staff are multilingual. Singapore has four official languages. Outside customs plenty of payphones food / convenience store / tourism center. Taxi rank is very good and prompt. They charge exactly by the meter. Also available are Mercedes for rent (minimum 50 Sing Dollars). Toilets were clean! Plenty of food choices - more than I could list. Extensive duty free / shopping. Independent security check for each gate which increases efficiency.

For an airport of its size you cant beat Changi for ease and speed in getting from plane to taxi with baggage and also the ease of movement due to the combined and departure concourses. There is no other competition. This same route takes longer in HK and Incheon with their light rail and single terminal concept.

Arrived from Bangkok to Singapore on a early morning flight. This airport is a city within itself you really do not really need to leave the airport to go shopping watch a movie or go for a swim its all there! Stayed in the Transit Hotel which I found to be excellent and got on my flight back to Melbourne with no problems.