Stopover in SIN. Transit between terminals

[sidnaicker]

Lastest two stopovers I had were for 2.5 and 3 hours. Travelling alone in the first one, I managed to clear immigration, convert currency, catch cab to East Coast Hawker centre, eat chilli crab, drink fresh coconut, catch cab back to airport and cleared immigration again in under an hour.

Second stopover there were 5 of us and we managed to do the above with two cabs in about 1.5 hours. Pepper crab as well this time! If you can do it as its well worth it.

By the way, there is no cab rank at the Hawker centre yet still managed to hail from road. If you get worried, just walk 500 m up the road to the Seafood Centre where they have a rank. Food is much cheaper and tastier at the Hawker Centre.

 

[Simo]

Heaps of time and with how good SIN transport is you could get to Raffles have a sling and still get back in time for the flight

 

[wandering_fred]

assuming that the incoming flight is on time, by all means go through immigration. Both ways are painless.
And the train between terminals (landside) are quick and convenient.

On a budget the staff cafeterias are worth a trip.
For more of a splurge, if not wanting to trust taxis, the restaurant in the airport hotel is quite useful. Typically they have a buffet of some sort. Interesting wine list by the glass but big city prices.

Happy wandering

Fred

 

[Awesom Andy]

Lastest two stopovers I had were for 2.5 and 3 hours. Travelling alone in the first one, I managed to clear immigration, convert currency, catch cab to East Coast Hawker centre, eat chilli crab, drink fresh coconut, catch cab back to airport and cleared immigration again in under an hour.

How dare you not take the time to enjoy and savour the chilli crab experience properly! :evil:
If you prefer a Chinese restaurant, Jumbo has 2 branches on the east. They'll take a bit more time though.

Also, you can actually call up a taxi in Singapore, and once the booking is accepted, 99.9% of them will turn up (unlike some other countries). Booking fees is just a few dollars, and you won't need to queue up with everyone else. Web bookings and apps for phones (with GPS looking up your current address) are also available. An advance booking can also be made for a few more dollars, and you'll have a taxi waiting for you at the specified time.

I should also add that I'm based in SIN, so would be happy to take any questions via PM as well for anyone transiting/visiting SIN.

 

[Cynicor]

T3 is also worth a look - it really is a stunning terminal. Also Terminal 1 is now home to the world's largest 3D kinetic ball sculpture - looks amazing
Terminal 1 - Changi Airport

So that is what they were installing. A set of escalators were closed, leading to the departure hall. From looking at the video, to see there balls you would have to exit immigration and head upstairs to the departure check in area. It is also possible that the Sin QP- now J/F lounge has a view but it would be from a distance. I could be completely wrong, I've just gone by the background in the video.

 

[Awesom Andy]

It is also possible that the Sin QP- now J/F lounge has a view but it would be from a distance.

Didn't quite notice it a few days ago, but they certainly wouldn't look like the world's biggest from that far away.

 

[machamag]

Definitely my favourite "lounge" by far, despite that all drinks need to be paid for.


For an even more local experience, look for the staff canteen in T1 and T2. These are low-end, simple food courts designed for staff, with absolutely zero glamour. It's very interesting to see a workers class area hidden from the glamour and bling of the terminals. The food court in T3 is not too bad, costs slightly more, but obviously looks a lot nicer.

Hi Awesom Andy

I am keen to find out how to locate these staff canteens in T1 and T2. I hear that they can be quite difficult to locate. Can you provide some instructions to make it more accessible? Also is either one better / have more variety than the other? Many thanks in advance.

 

[moa999]

Think T2 is bigger than T1. They are hidden but not that hard to find.

T2.

Walk towards the left side of Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf at the Departure Hall [left side i.e. when you're standing at the check in counters, look at coffee bean]
There's an escalator somewhere there, move UP the escalator and you'll come to a door which leads to a car park. Get through the door, turn left and you'll see another door which leads to some stairs. Move up those stairs and you'll find the staff canteen.

T1
go to the rear side of Burger King..there’s an exit..u go out, down the stairway to the left..and u’ll see the signboard of canteen..
OR via lifts 8, 9, 13.

Notes from: ​

Changi Airport food - SgForums.com

 

[Awesom Andy]

Think T2 is bigger than T1. They are hidden but not that hard to find.

T2.

Walk towards the left side of Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf at the Departure Hall [left side i.e. when you're standing at the check in counters, look at coffee bean]
There's an escalator somewhere there, move UP the escalator and you'll come to a door which leads to a car park. Get through the door, turn left and you'll see another door which leads to some stairs. Move up those stairs and you'll find the staff canteen.

T1
go to the rear side of Burger King..there’s an exit..u go out, down the stairway to the left..and u’ll see the signboard of canteen..
OR via lifts 8, 9, 13.

Notes from:
​

Changi Airport food - SgForums.com

That's pretty much it.

And basically, if you head towards the eastern end of T1, and the southern end of T2, there will be some "staff canteen" signs. The signs aren't the best, but following them and exploring a little will definitely get you there.

 

[ermen]

T2: I think its at level 3M - accessed from the lifts IN the carpark area (so follow the signs into the carpark and look for some lifts)
T1: yes burger king is the general landmark on the arrivals level. Im actually going to be at t1 tomorrow so if i have some time i will take some photos to serve as a general guide.

Backup option - just ask the staff - they should be happy to oblige

 

[machamag]

Thanks moa999, Awesom Andy and ermen.

 

[ermen]

Ok as promised - how to go to SIN T1 staff canteen

Step #1: Locate Burger King on the arrivals level (beside belt 23)




Step 2: With Burger King on your left and the escalators on your right, you will see some glass doors to go outside down at the end




Step 3: Walk and exit the glass doors and turn left



Step 4: After exiting left, walk all the way down the walkway- you will see the sign "Staff Canteen" all the way at the end

 

[ermen]

Step 5: So under the "Staff Canteen" sign is a small flight of stairs (not sure where the lifts are - never really had to find them!)




Step 6: Enjoy!

 

[penegal]

ahahahaha, nice one ermen.

Did you get any weird looks?

 

[ermen]

haha yes i did. the man in the picture under step 4 gave me the evils for a while!

 

[Rebecca Young]

Could anyone advise me on how long I need to allocate to change planes if I am arriving in SIN on Scoot and departing for KL on another low cost carrier (probably Tiger or Air Asia)? Do I have to clear customs and then re-enter for the KL leg?

Thanks for any advice.

 

[Awesom Andy]

It's very hard to say how long you need, given it's an unprotected transfer. Generally, I would allow for a minimum of 3 hours, but there's also every chance that it can be delayed by a lot more than that. Personally, I would say don't do it.

Scoot uses T2, while Tiger uses the budget terminal. For this transfer, you'll need to clear customs at both terminals. Transport between these 2 terminals is via a free shuttle bus, leaving from the basement of T2 at the northern end, near the MRT entrance. However, the BT is closing in a couple of months time, and Tiger will move to T2. I don't know if they will set up a transfer desk (probably not), but if they do, then you won't need to clear customs.

AirAsia uses T1, but (correct me if I'm wrong) I believe they do not have any transfer facilities which means you'll need to clear customs. There is a free "skytrain" between the two terminals, one each land side and air side. The journey takes approx 30 seconds.

 

[dajop]

It's very hard to say how long you need, given it's an unprotected transfer. Generally, I would allow for a minimum of 3 hours, but there's also every chance that it can be delayed by a lot more than that. Personally, I would say don't do it.

Depends on risk tolerance of the individual. KL is probably the one destination where it may be worth the risk, depending on the time of week (if it was Friday or Sunday, or either side of public holiday - maybe not). Often last minute fares to KL are fairly cheap so if the connection is missed (and it is not around a weekend or public holiday), there's every chance that paying for an entirely new fare may cost $150 AUD or less. For example, I don't know if airport sells for what is on their website, but Air Asia seems to be offering fares leaving in 2 hours time for <$40 AUD. And Plan B (all though a little painful) could be a 4-5 hour bus ride, if worse comes to worst (again as long as not weekend/public holiday).

 

[moa999]

Am doing a SYD-SIN-KUL transfer from Scoot - Air Asia in a few weeks.
Have left 2hr20min which I am comfortable with although a later Air Asia flight which I will book in SYD if flight delayed.

Chose Air Asia over Tiger as it is in the main terminal at SIN (as is Jetstar and Lion), rather than the Budget (Cebu, Firefly and Tiger in the Budget Terminal)

Edit: added brackets to clarify what I meant

 

[JessicaTam]

Am doing a SYD-SIN-KUL transfer from Scoot - Air Asia in a few weeks.
Have left 2hr20min which I am comfortable with although a later Air Asia flight which I will book in SYD if flight delayed.

Chose Air Asia over Tiger as it is in the main terminal at SIN, rather than the LCCT (as is Jetstar and Lion, Cebu, Firefly and Tiger in the Budget Terminal)

Unless there has been a recent change JQ and 3K both use the main terminal, not the budget terminal.