Changi SIN rating Best Airport is Poppycock

[SYD]

I have never seen any priority line at any gate dep SIN - once past security SQ always have priority line then - other carriers I do not know

Pretty sure there was a J line passing through (both ways) on SQ this time last year and later departing on QF on J. Granted, they were letting others use the same scanner but a J BP was acting as a Q jumper pass.

Last entry into SIN a person was still eyeballing passports upon entry.

As above, Oz passports now have access to the new e-Gates arriving in SIN (no preregistration required).

 

[Forg]

Pretty sure there was a J line passing through (both ways) on SQ this time last year and later departing on QF on J. Granted, they were letting others use the same scanner but a J BP was acting as a Q jumper pass.

As above, Oz passports now have access to the new e-Gates arriving in SIN (no preregistration required).

Two new things since 2017 when I was last there! My better-half had QF Platinum at the time & we were returning on QF (which worked well - can't remember what the problem was but a few QF flights had been canned so I have no doubt that her status was the only reason we got on the next flight & didn't have to wait 'til the next day) ... and the queue getting out of the airport was hectic.

Both these changes would have worked in our favour!

 

[dajop]

I have never seen any priority line at any gate dep SIN - once past security SQ always have priority line then - other carriers I do not know

I have experienced one or two carriers that do have priority security for status/business class pax, but I can't remember which airline(s). But all it really means (unless reaching security after boarding has started) is you get to sit or stand in the gate area earlier, instead of standing in the queue. Has no net effect on boarding earlier.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Pretty sure there was a J line passing through (both ways) on SQ this time last year and later departing on QF on J. Granted, they were letting others use the same scanner but a J BP was acting as a Q jumper pass.

I have experienced one or two carriers that do have priority security for status/business class pax, but I can't remember which airline(s).

I will be there Sat I will check to try to clarify

 

[dajop]

Getting away from airport security, one of the things I like about Changi as an originating passengers - and this is not necessarily unique - is that even though it essentially a u shape that goes from T3 to T1 to T2, each terminal has its own access road. The U has enough space to accommodate this. Which means you are not on a common loop road that means you have to go past T3 and T1 to get to T2. Works really well in managing congestion. A contrast to chaos at drop off at some of the single terminal airports out their with the same amount of pax, krub.

 

[Quickstatus]

Krisflyer Gold lounge a flagship

While it is down the pecking order, many passengers still think it must be better as Gold is better than Silver

KUL has to be the worst I've ever experienced unless you have express path

Except if arriving on the 4am MH140
The exit out of KUL (departing KUL) is super long though.

 

[gaz0303]

Transited in SIN last week, connecting from DXB to SYD on QF1. 4 hour connection time that included 1hr pre oneworld lounge openings. Much prefer SIN terminal compared to DXB. SIN with it various quiet places to sit that are not rows of chairs at boarding gates, carpet floors, mixed shops and general more relaxed pace. DXB reminded me of trying to walk down lanes at the Ekka due to the amount of people in the terminals.

QF1 pre-departure security had a priority lane but it was poorly signposted (D gate). I only saw it because I walked past my gate to get a better photo of the plane (either PB lane or I jumped a well established queue ). Yes the corral was overcrowded, but for about 10minutes. A passenger collapsing at the security point didn’t help.

 

[daft009]

I love SIN and no qualms with security at the gate. Prefer it this way

I'm rested and recovered after my transit.

Unlike DXB where you get off the plane and line up again for security with huge crowds.. urgh then find a toilet in a terminal which reminds me of a fancy bus terminal.

 

[VPS]

I did a recent transit in SIN and didn't like it at all. I was on QF2 - it was a good 10 minute walk to the lounge which I did because I wanted a quick freshen up and by the time I was back at the gate they were boarding. Security was chaotic and no priority line that I can remember

 

[justinbrett]

I was watching a travel vlog yesterday of two Americans in Singapore and they were running late for their flight (originated in Singapore) - they bought two large Starbucks drinks and didn't realise they couldn't take it through security so had to chug them and then felt sick.

I do like to bring a large bottle of water on with me to long haul flights (even in J).

 

[dajop]

I do like to bring a large bottle of water on with me to long haul flights (even in J).

If you don’t mind drinking tap water you can do this at SIN, by taking empty bottle through security and filling it once in the holding pen. I know many travellers live by the rule “don’t drink the (tap) water in Asia” but there are two countries where it is generally considered safe to drink - Singapore one and Japan the other.

 

[justinbrett]

If you don’t mind drinking tap water.

I mind! I'm sure it's safe but I'm a bit fussy (I use a Brita filter at home). In some countries I won't even drink the local bottled water - I'll seek out Evian or Fiji.

 

[RooFlyer]

FWIW my own strategy at SIN is to leave the lounge and go to the gate area just before boarding time (having checked that the plane is there, when arrived etc). At the gate, see what the situation is in the pen/queues to go through security.

As I like to have a good leg stretch before a long flight, I'll usually do a few laps nearby and when the security queue is just about gone, and boarding imminent, go through into the holding pen and walk up to close to the exit way to the plane (flying F or J and their being no seats by this time), then board as one of the first. Suits me

 

[Forg]

SIN is also good for bumping-off annoying people. You just reverse-pickpocket a piece of chewing-gum into their pocket before they disembark, then watch the Chewing Gum Detectors go off & the 20+ military security personnel emptying their clips into Annoying Person & shred 'em like Arnie with his favourite mini-gun in Predator & T2 (that's Terminator 2, not that infamous time he got angry while riding the Inner West & Leppington Line).

 

[Happy Trails]

BKK can be quite bad too but haven't seen it post-covid with the higher arrivals returning. It was good for a while with the little one in stroller. Another 11 years until 70 years old and fast track but really need to pursue some type of residency there thanks to Thai wife.

We left BKK on Friday (for SIN as it happens) and returned on Monday. It was very busy but they seemed to have plenty of staff and were actively managing the queues. We took about 20 mins departing in Y and just 5 mins returning with fast track. Bags were through already.

I'd suggest sticking with visa exempt entries until you actually do take up long term residence. The visa, extensions. 90 reporting and having to pay for re-entry permits are much more of a PITA.

FWIW, you can already use the Thai passport lanes if travelling with the wife.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

We flew on the QF36 a couple months ago, SIN-MEL. There were two lanes at the gate, one for business, one for economy. Once into the gate area there was a roped off section for ‘premium’. Not sure why there’s inconsistency between QF departures.

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

On QF1 screening at SIN there was no priority line for security, all passengers used the same 2 lines.

Immigration at LHR is super quick (fastest of any non Aussie airport for an Aussie), self serve via an egate if on a Aussie passport (no queue at all last year), you dont talk to anyone. Last entry into SIN a person was still eyeballing passports upon entry.

Depending on the gate and when you turn up to gate the priority security lane may be hard to see. The D gate on the bend has very narrow entrance but there are two lanes - priority and other.
The C gate at the end has more clearly visible priority lane.

Of course if arrive at gate 15-20 mins before departure it is moot - no or short queue.

 

[Forg]

Of course if arrive at gate 15-20 mins before departure it is moot - no or short queue.

I don't cope with that very well ... same reason I'm always at the airport 2 hours too early (and yeah I'm aware that there's more risk of a wait getting to the gate from the airport drop-off than getting to the gate from already-airside). This doesn't relate to whether or not there's at-the-gate security, it's just a strong dislike for the risk of being late in general.

Like at SIN, what if you fell down one of the toilets & there wasn't time for them to fish you out before your flight?!

 

[dajop]

I don't cope with that very well ... same reason I'm always at the airport 2 hours too early (and yeah I'm aware that there's more risk of a wait getting to the gate from the airport drop-off than getting to the gate from already-airside).

And that is a good thing for those of us who do get to the gate (or checkin) in the last few minutes, if everyone arrived late in the process it would be a disaster!

What I have seen some people do at SIN for whatever reason is sit outside the gate area and go through security once preboarding starts. I guess a good compromise for those who need to be early but don’t want to stand in queues or be stuck in a holding pen.

 

[justinbrett]

Sunrise will fix all!