Preview: A Look Inside the New Terminal at Singapore Changi Airport
There aren't many airports in the world travelers actually look forward to arriving in, but Singapore's Changi Airport (SIN) is definitely one of them. Recently, the World's Best Airport unveiled its soon-to-be-opened Terminal 4, set to officially open to the public at the end of this year — and it looks stunning.
Back in 2012, the folks at Changi decided to repurpose the former Budget terminal and turn it into a full-service terminal to help the airport cope with its increase in passenger traffic. After two years of design and planning, the airport operator, Changi Airport Group, released a video in 2014, providing a sneak peek into the space before construction had started. Check out the video below for a closer look.
Fast forward three years and the terminal is almost ready to welcome its first travelers. Situated on southern end of the airport, the 2.4-million-square-foot terminal is the smallest of four, but also the most advanced, offering an end-to-end Fast and Seamless Travel (FAST) experience aimed at improving operational efficiency and reducing wait times for passengers.
The difference between other airports and Changi is obvious upon entering the departure hall area. There's a sense of having more space thanks to the high ceilings, a common theme that runs across all of SIN's terminals. Similar to Terminal 3's design philosophy, the use of skylights and glass walls allows natural light to flow in, providing a naturally ambient daytime experience for passengers in eco-friendly fashion.
The departure hall houses seven check-in rows, four of which are dedicated FAST lanes. There, passengers can use one of the do-it-yourself check-in kiosks to obtain boarding passes and baggage tags.
At the automated bag-drop stations, a photo of the passenger is captured and matched against the photo in the passport before it'll accept the luggage.
Local and international works of art and sculptures are featured prominently, all depicting the common themes of travel and aviation. Look out for Hey Ah Chek!, a sculpture by local Cultural Medallion winner Chong Fah Cheong, which depicts a mother and her son hailing a trishaw ride after a visit to the market in the 1950s.
Three large bird sculptures greet passengers in both the arrival and departure halls as part of Les Oiseaux (The Birds) by French artist, Cedric Le Borgne.
As passengers transit from the departure hall to airside, things look a little different. Unlike its other terminals, Changi is implementing centralized security screening in Terminal 4 — nothing too unfamiliar for the average US traveler. While in line, passengers can view a 50-minute long, custom-created montage of scenes from around the region on a 230-foot-long immersive LED wall — a far cry from the usual TV screens reminding people to take out their liquids and electronics. Here's a preview, below:
Once you're past security, look up to see Petalclouds, a specially commissioned kinetic sculpture that moves to a classical score, similar to the Kinetic Rain you'll see in Terminal 1.
Passengers can also find more traditional elements in the transit area, which showcases Singapore's local culture and flavor. The Heritage Zone gives a glimpse into the evolution of shophouse architecture from the 1880s to the 1950s, which can still be seen today in the city's Joo Chiat and Katong neighborhoods.
More art sculptures line the walkway that leads you toward the boarding gates.
Colorful seating dots the waiting areas, serving as a reminder of the fun the airport designers had in mind for this terminal.
Known as The Garden City, it's no surprise to find trees along the corridors here, made possible thanks to Changi's in-house horticulture team of 11.
Similar to check-in, facial recognition technology is also present at the automated boarding gates.
Starting from the arrival hall, which houses both manned and FAST immigration counters, the effort is being made to impress arriving passengers.
And you can forget the gloomy basements where most airports situate their baggage carousels. At Changi, travelers will be surrounded by lush foliage and natural light while they wait for their bags.
This terminal and the upcoming Jewel Changi Airport expansion is Changi's way of redefining the airport experience, and is a true testament to the operator's continual push for innovation and design. While there is no official opening date as of this writing — the terminal is currently undergoing the final stages of its operational trials — we know nine airlines will operate out of this new space as of late 2017: AirAsia Group (four airlines), Cathay Pacific, Cebu Pacific, Korean Air, Spring Airlines and Vietnam Airlines. The terminal has 17 stands available for narrow-body aircraft and four stands for wide-body aircraft. Once opened, it will serve up to 16 million passengers a year, raising Changi's total handling capacity to 82 million passengers per annum.
Images courtesy of the Changi Airport Group.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.