T3 one year on. Thoughts ?

[hsf]

i always get my hand baggage checked before passport control and for some strange anal reason, everytime they always insist on passing my lugguage through the x-ray after baggage claim.

oh, did i forget, the guard before passport control once insisted that cathay cannot have issued a boarding pass from hkg to cmb, through sin and then says asians are not supposed to transit in sin. And even with airline escort, the guard could not be bothered to apologise even though he was told he was wrong to deny me entry by both the passport control supervisor as well as cathay airport manager.

And when taking Ek to Dubai at the insane hour of 3 am, the guard had the audacity to try to scold me outside the gate that its impossible for young asian guys to afford business class travel.

Sounds quite incredible!

I wonder how they pick who to screen before passport control. Ethnicity, nationality, destination, ? appearance ....

I don't think that many people get directed to screening before passport control anyway. Most people just seem to go straight through.

[jjpb3]

I really like T3: my overall favorite in the world. There's something vaguely disappointing about the duty-free shopping, though: maybe I shop too much now in the city itself. I like the dutyfree shopping experience in T2 better.

Echoing what the others have said, the least impressive aspects have been:

(1) The security lane experience -- the glaring chokepoint in Changi's usually world-class passenger flow
(2) The (*G) lounge experience -- better than in the other SIN terminals, but still seriously short of what it should be

[Gunnar Smithsen]

Having experienced all 3 terminals at Changi, I'm most impressed with T3 and prefer it to T1 and T2..

The inter-terminal shuttle is a great touch especially after flying JFK-FRA-SIN arriving at concourse B and then taking a flight to SYD from concourse A... I think BKK could learn a lot from Changi (IMO) I dread having to transit through BKK because of the distance between concourses

[kras]

T3 is great, environmental wise... just the walking between A and B gates can get rather tiring if you're dragging along handcarry bags

I use the left luggage facility a lot, and usually pop out to town in between flights (get in early, fly out on late flights - that sort of thing). At times, I wish the left luggage place was located in a more "centralised" area of T3, as opposed to it being where it is right now... that wind tunnel of a place!

Same goes for the location of SKL... second set of escalators of the west wing. I find myself enjoying my rest at the KFG Lounge more, being actually closer to passport control.

All up, T3 is indeed more welcoming - but my prefs for T2 still stands, being the more well-designed terminal of the two.

[viraj735]

I find the atmosphere in terminal 3 to be very empty despite the fact that there are many flights at night. One more whine is that the lighting at night in my opion should be a little darker and a more subtle yellowish colour then the big while floodlights currently in place. Just a personal opinion.

[warpspeed]

I've been through T3 a few times since January 2008. The first time was only a week after it opened. The most recent was at the end of November, when I did a city hop from KUL to ADL via SIN.

I think it's the best airport terminal I've been through so far.

The only annoyances I've experienced are:

• No nice place to go see aircraft in the central area. Would have been nice if there was a roof deck or if the restaurants on the second level were up against the windows.
• The main multi-gate area from 11pm onward with a multitude of big flights departing to Australia and Europe. It seems that all the flights to Australia and the flights to Europe depart from the A1-A12 (I think that's the number) area, all within one hour or so of each other. There's one point where there's 3 or 4 flights boarding within about 10-15 minutes of each other. It gets insanely busy at the security check.

Things I really like:

• It's open and airy, well laid out, not cramped, and very aesthetically pleasing.
• There's lots of 'quiet areas' to hide in a corner, it's not a noisy terminal either.
• Free Internet to pass the time.
• Plenty of food outlets to choose from.
• Immigration/customs is nicely laid out and very not intrusive; check-in counters are nice and big and roomy.
• Plenty of long travelators.
• Nice balance of security check points, etc. - Some airports are overbearing with security. In one airport I had to clear 3 security checkpoints. At T2 and T3, the only security I've hit is the passport/boarding pass check going into immigration and the check at the gate. I really like how they do all that checking at the gate lounge instead of first up.

[9V-SIA]

Welcome to SQTalk warpspeed

I always enjoy newbie perspectives on Changi

Using the airport year-in year-out one takes a lot of things about Changi for granted

Thanks for sharing

[milehighj]

My little quibble...

I much prefer Times, the bookshop/magazine concessionaire in T2 than the group they have in T3. I just don't like their selection and smaller, cramped store layout. The Times in T2 immediately after immigration is automatic stop on the way to the SKL or gate.

[sqdazz]

I like T3, but I still like T2 too. More aircraft viewing would be nice, from the lounges in particular. I enjoy looking out over the airfield and seeing whats going on and you just don't get that at Changi lounges full stop. The *G lounge in T3 has a bit more open-ness about it with some obstructed views out to the runway which is kinda nice.

The T3 First SKL is a disappointment, compared to the TG Royal First lounge at BKK it is downright embarassing.

[warpspeed]

I like T3, but I still like T2 too. More aircraft viewing would be nice, from the lounges in particular. I enjoy looking out over the airfield and seeing whats going on and you just don't get that at Changi lounges full stop. The *G lounge in T3 has a bit more open-ness about it with some obstructed views out to the runway which is kinda nice.

The T3 First SKL is a disappointment, compared to the TG Royal First lounge at BKK it is downright embarassing.

I haven't been in any of the lounges at Changi, and I generally don't get in any of the lounges anywhere these days (not special enough).

But in the past when I did have lounge access (Lifetime Ansett GoldenWing ) the best one I came across was the Cathay lounge at Kai Tak (top floor of the terminal, big glass windows, see the runway, see the aircraft on the tarmac and right above the aerobridges). I spent almost an entire day in that lounge several years back (arrived early in the morning, departed late at night), the views made it far more interesting.

More recently, I did manage to score a pass into the Qantas Club at Sydney Domestic (courtesy of a Business class redemption). That isn't too bad either, again big glass windows over the top of the aerobridges.

[cscs1956]

Although not a regular traveller through T3 I think it is nice. My only black marks against it are the lack of priority lanes for security screening and the design of the carpet (sorry JJPB3 we are just going to have agree to disagree on this one).

I have to say I still think T2 is one of the nicest terminals around.

I do not like the capet. it make walking very tired

[-F-]

I do not like the capet. it make walking very tired

i like the carpet

[SQflyergirl]

The T3 First SKL is a disappointment

That, IMHO, was a golden opportunity wantonly squandered.

[Kiwi]

hmmm wantons hmmmm

[inkoherent]

I like T3, but outside the evening peak period, it really feels pretty empty especially compared to T1. I understand the "build ahead of capacity" argument and all, but I feel T3 could do with a few more airlines and a wee bit more activity.