Rejuvenating. Calming. Entertaining. These words do not typically come to a passenger’s mind during an airport layover. For most, the short few hours they have at the airport would mostly be used for a quick freshen up, grabbing a bite to eat, and perhaps some shopping. From there, it is on to their boarding gate, and off to their next destination.

With transit passengers making up a third of Changi’s passengers annually, a big part of the Changi experience is focused on making their short stay in the airport as comfortable and memorable as possible. Depending on how long they are in Changi, these passengers would likely have different needs. With this in mind, Changi has introduced a wide range of facilities and services for the various profiles.

Rejuvenation 

Off the back of a long flight, passengers may instinctively head to the washrooms for a quick freshen up. For those that prefer a more refreshing option, Changi has showers located across its terminals in the transit and public areas. There are hotel-like rooms at the transit lounges across the different terminal. There are also economical-yet-comprehensive facilities at Hub & Spoke located in the Terminal 2 public area.

Showers at Hub & Spoke cost just $5 per entry, and include hot water, soap, shampoo, and hair dryers, with towels being sold separately.

Apart from that, weary passengers hoping to catch some shut eye in a seat more comfortable than their plane’s can also head to the snooze lounges for a power nap. Conveniently located in each terminal, the lounges are a short walk away from the boarding gates, with seats popular with passengers across the day. For added utility, each lounge also has power sockets available, allowing passengers to charge their devices at the same time.

Besides providing comfortable seats, Changi’s snooze lounges often incorporate elements of nature to imbue passengers with a sense of rest and tranquillity. 

Calmness

For travellers with a bit more time and want to have an even more relaxing experience at the airport, the Changi team looked into creating the right environment to facilitate this.

Situated away from the main thoroughfares, Changi’s pay-per-use lounges serve as one-stop locations where passengers can rest and relax in a private setting. Unlike dedicated airline lounges that require a membership, these lounge facilities are available to all passengers in transit for a fee, with packages available depending on the amount of time preferred.

Lounges are typically positioned away from the main transit thoroughfare to help keep distractions to a minimum.

Passengers can take a break or catch up on some work in the comforts of their seat, all while enjoying excellent views of the runway.

In addition to this, after being on a plane for the past few hours, it is not uncommon for passengers to want to get some fresh air. Unfortunately, not all transiting passengers are able to leave the airport to do so, for example because of visa reasons. To better accommodate this group, the Changi team looked at how the few open-air spots available across the terminals could be better used. As nature is known to have a calming effect, the ideal solution appeared in the form of open-air gardens. Changi now has a number of these, featuring unique plants not found locally, as well as a world’s first butterfly garden. Changi takes the outdoor experience to the next level by providing a swimming pool for that ultimate layover experience.

Passengers at Terminal 1 can take a leisurely stroll through the Cactus Garden, which features over 100 species of plants from three different continents.

Housing over 1,000 butterflies from 40 different species, the Butterfly Garden also features a wide range of flowering plants and a 6-metre waterfall.

Those needing to cool off in the hot weather can take a dip at Terminal 1’s rooftop pool.

Entertainment

Some passengers on long layovers often have to contend with one other issue: boredom. The idea of a layover may conjure up images of passengers sitting around their boarding gates, simply waiting for time to pass by. This was a pain point that the Changi team understood, and providing passengers with attractive entertainment options would be key to solving it.

Within the comforts of the airport, many facilities are available around the clock for passengers looking to keep themselves entertained. These include family-friendly options like the Terminal 3 movie theatre, which screens films for free around-the-clock, as well as TV lounges broadcasting the news, documentaries, and even sports games.

The Terminal 2 movie theatre operates throughout the day, allowing film buffs and families alike to catch a quick show. 

Just outside the airport grounds, more activities await fitness enthusiasts. These include the private gym pods located at Hub & Spoke outside of Terminal 2, as well as the bicycle rental services that allow passengers to tap on the nearby Changi Airport Connector to explore other attractions in the Changi precinct.

Bicycles offer an affordable and convenient way to move around the Changi neighbourhood, allowing visitors to access nearby attractions like the Jurassic Mile.

Those with longer stayover times (above 5.5 hours) and who meet the eligibility requirements can also consider signing up for a Free Singapore Tour, which takes visitors on a free guided tour into the city to soak up the sights and sounds. With three different itineraries catering to a range of interests, passengers who have yet to visit Singapore can consider this a “free preview” for their future trip, complete with transport and expert commentary. 

Sign-ups for the Free Singapore Tour are subject to availabilities, with different tours running at different times of the day.

With all these and so much more, it is little wonder why many passengers consider Changi Airport as not just a destination, but an attraction in itself. However, beyond just their shiny exteriors, a deeper and more intentional thought process underlies the design and choices of the facilities and services, with passengers at the heart of it all. It is this guiding principle that shapes the Changi Experience, and is what ultimately keeps passengers happy and returning for more.