Singapore Changi

Changi always has been one of my favorites. Of course, it’s one of the world’s favorite airports. It recently took the number two spot in all of Asia, just behind South Korea’s Inchon airport. One of the reasons given for the rise up from the number three spot is the new Terminal 3, opened about a year ago. I gave myself some extra time at the airport just so I could have a good look around.

The grand departure hall of Changi’s Terminal 3

It’s easy to see why Terminal 3 has garnered Changi even more fans. Although thoroughly ultra modern in design, the building, and the departure hall in particular, recalls that golden age of travel, when a plane or train journey was truly an event, and the buildings really made one feel they were embarking on some grand adventure. Although the terminal building is considerably smaller than Bangkok’s new airport, it feels bigger and more spacious. Feelings of nostalgia became particularly strong as I crossed the huge open space to approach the doors to immigration, with the large circular balcony overhead emblazoned with "DEPARTURES" in simple lighted letters. It was all very reminiscent of the grand railroad stations of America.

Once you pass through immigration, Terminal 3 is a little more like the Changi that many people love: a shopper’s paradise. Some people have compared Bangkok’s new airport to a shopping mall with an airport inside, but really, Suvarnabhumi is an ugly suburban strip mall compared to Changi. Wide carpeted aisles are lined with shops selling the latest gadgets, designer goods, and the usual duty free goods. Changi is famous for its many unique attractions. The main one at Terminal 3 is a butterfly garden, which is in addition to new versions of old favorites, such as a free movie theater and a paid lounge with gym, showers, massage and nap rooms. There is of course a full service transit hotel.

But, speaking of hotels, Changi also now has a proper airport hotel. Sitting between Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 is the new, and very distinctive, Crowne Plaza hotel. I’m afraid I just can’t describe the hotel. I took a quick look inside, and both the public areas as well as the exterior are very unlike any other building I’ve been in. You’ll just have to see this place for yourself.

Even though I’ve been talking almost exclusively about Terminal 3, my Thai flight actually departs from Terminal 1. Things are more or less the same here, although parts of the building are getting their own radical makeover in the wake of the success of Terminal 3.

See the photo gallery for more pictures of Terminal 3.