On Arriving Back In Singapore…

As those who know me are very well aware my work involves frequent travel, both around Asia and often to Europe and the United States.

Over the years I have begun to mentally rank and rate the level of service and efficiency of airports, I’ve learned which ones I like to fly into and ones that might be worth avoiding if the chance arises.

Singapore’s Changi airport is a unique case for me, and I really don’t know how to calibrate the experience against every other airport that I use globally.

As an example – today I arrived back aboard SIA’s wonderful new Airbus A380 from Sydney… the timeline between touchdown and being in a taxi on the way home was startling, but in no way unique.

14:27 – we pulled into gate A4 at Changi’s Terminal 3.

14:34 – no queue at the automated immigration, inserted my smart-card, presented my thumb print and was electronically welcomed home.

14:37 – it took me a couple of minutes to walk to carousel 43, when I got there the experience was a familiar one.

Baggage services is one of the most spectacular parts of this repetitive story. It is rare that I make it to the carousel before my bag, regardless of how slick and efficient immigration is on that particular day.

Today was no exception, my bag was sat there on the belt at just over 10 minutes since we parked at the gate.

14:40 – hopped straight in a taxi and was on my way back to District 10.

So there you have it, 13 minutes after pulling into the gate on the worlds largest and most modern aircraft at one of  Asia’s busiest airports and I’m in a taxi on my way home. There is nothing special about the new Terminal 3 in this story, the same experience can be enjoyed at the other two terminals as well.

At just about any other major airport in the world you are not looking at a 13 minute timeline, but usually around 75 to 90 minutes from gate to taxi, especially when there is a bag to collect…

For anybody who flies frequently Changi is close to heaven.