Why Jewel Changi Airport is the best in the world

Singaporeans love to hang out at the airport.”

I was told this by a number of staff members at Changi Airport, when they explained that they cater to locals as much as they do transient guests. They claim that Singaporeans enjoy the airport because of the air-conditioning, the shops and the restaurants. In fact, I was so dubious that I confirmed this with a Singaporean friend when we had dinner that same day. Was it true, or simply a clever marketing strategy?

“Oh, yes,” my friend says before biting into her chicken satay. “Singaporeans really do that. I know people who go to the airport just to people- and plane-watch.”

A pay-per-use lounge is available at Jewel Changi Airport for air and sea passengers.

You see, as someone who has grown familiar with the inner workings of our own NAIA, I find it incredible — borderline ridiculous — to imagine myself putting on pants, getting in my car, and spending the day at the airport. Quite frankly, it wouldn’t be a pleasant journey or even stay.

But Singapore’s airport culture can easily explained by how seamless the experience can be, whether coming in, leaving, or simply dropping by for a quick jaunt. Changi Airport has been named by Skytrax as the best airport in the world for the past seven years. And when news of Jewel Changi, the airport’s premier mall destination and architectural attraction, came out, hundreds of thousands (approximately half a million) local Singaporeans queued up with tickets they had scored weeks in advance.

Passengers can make use of early check-in counters before making their way around Jewel Changi Airport.

Once it did come it out, Jewel Changi Airport did not disappoint. Nestled at the core of Terminals 1-3, Jewel is a sprawling retail, dining and entertainment complex with a gross floor area of over 135,000 square meters. With 10 stories in total (five aboveground, and five basement levels), Jewel features hundreds of shopping brands, a hotel, a cinema, and a massive indoor garden — among many others. (Pro tip: they’ve got a Potato Corner branch at the food court, in case you have any particular cravings in transit.)

During the evenings, Jewel’s RainVortex becomes a light and sound show.

Of course, totally unmissable is the Jewel’s own crowning jewel: the tallest indoor waterfall in the world. The water falls through the building’s oculus, and at the lower levels, the falls drop into a rumbling glass conduit of sorts — a visual spectacle, for sure.

London’s Burger and Lobster is one of the exciting dining concepts to come to Jewel Changi Airport.

It’s definitely a brand-new destination for local visitors, but ultimately Jewel caters to the millions of passengers that come to Changi Airport each year. Part of Changi’s many features are early check-in counters, for visitors who wish to spend time at Jewel before airport boarding gates open; baggage storage for those who’d like to stow away their bags but would like to re-pack before checking in (after all that shopping, of course); and even a Changi Lounge — not just for airport passengers, but also for seafaring passengers who will dock or transit in Singapore.

Love that signature scent? The Changi Airport gift shop at Jewel sells reed diffusers and candles with the Changi Scent.

All these trappings stay truly on-brand, proving that Changi is more about creating beautiful spaces, but also about creating a seamless experience, as soon as travelers set foot in Singapore. And there is no doubt that Jewel has met, and perhaps exceeded, the standards of Singapore’s already world-famous service and hospitality.

Rich and Good Cake Shop is a Singaporean favorite

“I think Jewel is unique because of the various things we brought together in one place,” says Jewel Changi Airport CEO Jean Hung. “We have the gardens, we have brought in this big waterfall, so we are almost in nature. At the same time, in terms of the retail offerings, we have been very conscious to provide you with a retail experience that tells the brand’s stories.”

The Pokemon Center at Jewel is the only one of its kind outside of Japan.

Hung is referring to how they have worked closely with brands that not only add value to Jewel, but also add a heritage that Jewel can highlight in its spaces. Apart from their global selections — with brands like London’s Burger and Lobster, and world-famous Shake Shack, among others, and exclusive offerings — Jewel has the only Pokémon Center outside of Japan. There are also many local Singaporean brands that have prime space in the complex. Rich and Good Cake Shop is a Singaporean favorite, and their shop was one of many stores with a long queue during Jewel’s preview last April.

Visiting the airport is a fond pastime for many Singaporeans.

“It’s not just about transacting — because these days, you can transact anywhere,” Hung explains further. “You will see our duplex levels where the stores are much, much larger, and this allows the brand an opportunity to tell their stories. In these duplexes, special places can also allow customization for the products they provide.”

Beyond shopping, Jewel has many offerings that families can enjoy. There are ticketed attractions on the top floor that both kids and adults can try, a number of which will be available by June 2019. There are the huge SkyNets for avid climbers, a hedge maze, and amazing topiary exhibits that make use of different plants and flowers.

Sky nets

It’s certainly an experience to visit Jewel, and it has so much to offer that Jewel feels less like a transit area — it’s practically a destination all on its own. And now I finally understand why Singaporeans choose to spend time at the airport. Why wouldn’t you, when you get to be in a place like this?

Flower topiary at the top floor of Jewel

I’m not gonna lie, it makes me feel a little cheated that we’re such a far cry from being airport-loving people. Airport-tolerating, maybe? Soon — I’m always hopeful. During our visit, we got to meet with the lovely folks of Changi Airports International — a part of the Changi group that consults for and manages airports all over the world. Right now, they maintain and manage airports in countries like Brazil, China, India and Japan. And they are already preparing to manage the new terminal Clark International Airport, once construction finishes. So yes, that signature Changi experience may be coming to Manila soon — just on a slightly smaller scale, for now. And knowing all this, I may actually spend time at the airport. Just for fun.