Singapore - Overnighting in Changi

Hey, I have a VN flight SGN-SIN, arriving into Changi at 7:25p, and then the next morning I'm flying SQ biz class SIN-MLE, departing at 9:45am.

Rather than deal with a hotel in Singapore, or even those airport transit hotels, I'm thinking of just sleeping somewhere in a lounge. So a few questions that I'm hoping someone can answer:

1. I'm guessing that as an SQ biz flyer I'll be able to get into some SQ lounge. (There are also some Priority Pass lounges that are open 24 hours that I'll have access to: the Skyview Lounge in T1 and the Ambassador Transit Lounges in T2 and T3.) Are any of these good for sleeping?

2. Are there lockers or some other place I can ditch not only my suitcase but my carry-on backpack? I would be ok leaving my suitcase w immigration to claim the next morning, but definitely need to have the backpack (w/computer) and would need it to be secure that while I'm sleeping. Perhaps in a lounge?

Thank you very very much,
Eric

Sky view in1 no good for sleeping. If I were you the transit hotel is a great option as it is airside and also allows access to a pool.
Just used crowne plaza for 8 hour stay but I had kids with me. It was expensive and noisy and i wished I had used the transit hotel.

Sky view in1 no good for sleeping. If I were you the transit hotel is a great option as it is airside and also allows access to a pool.
Just used crowne plaza for 8 hour stay but I had kids with me. It was expensive and noisy and i wished I had used the transit hotel.

Thanks for the reply. The Crowne Plaza is coming up at like $269/night or something-- way too much for such a short layover. The transit hotel looks promising but if I can sleep in lounges then why pay for it at all? But yeah, the transit hotel (with its odd 6-hour block pricing, then by-the-hour after the first 6 hours) is my fallback.

thanks,
E

Anyone else have any thoughts on lounge sleeping at Changi... in the SQ lounges? Or Ambassador Transit Lounges?

With a midnight arrival and 7Am departure I've caught some Zzzzz in the T3 lounge in back. Staff will give you a blanket and pillow if you like. There are some benches that aren't bad but it's not a great option and I'd recommend, for the amount of time you have, to go to the transit hotel if you don't want to leave the airport.

The other option is hit the lounge and drink all night. :D

Reserve the transit hotel for a block that will let you get the sleep you need, for example nine hours if you want to sleep for eight hours. There is a transit hotel in each terminal, although I've only used the one in T3, which is the newest. One of the other transit hotels was recently closed for renovation, so it's had some modernization and upgrades. At least one offers budget rooms without private/ensuite toilet and shower facilities.

The T1 SkyView lounge is pretty decent and certainly is open all night, but IIRC it limits visits to several hours, although I don't know how they enforce this. There's a large and quiet area about a half level above the main area. You access it by hidden stairs at the far left wall, near the toilets and showers. I don't recall seeing any seating on while one could comfortably stretch out and recline.

I haven't seen the T2 SQ lounge since it was renovated, but the biz side of their T3 lounge impresses me as always busy at all hours. When you can book (do make an advance reservation as they get full most nights) the transit hotel for $80 or less, IMO it's not worth sleeping in the lounge and worrying about your belongings.

I do both C lounges weekly T-2 & T-3

Personally I would not plan on sleeping there. The chairs are not all that comfortable. T-3 lounge is packed most of the time. T-2 has some other pay lounges down the hall. I know one of them has small single beds. The transit hotel would probably be your best option.

Anyone else have any thoughts on lounge sleeping at Changi... in the SQ lounges? Or Ambassador Transit Lounges?

1. I'm guessing that as an SQ biz flyer I'll be able to get into some SQ lounge. (There are also some Priority Pass lounges that are open 24 hours that I'll have access to: the Skyview Lounge in T1 and the Ambassador Transit Lounges in T2 and T3.) Are any of these good for sleeping?



I was using a Priority Pass lounge next to the Ambassador Transit hotel during a long MR layover last year. A lady attendant showed me the sleeping area in the back: a few basic small rooms with drawn curtains that you could rent for a small fee.

Thank you all. Hmm. So many options ;-) I'm leaning towards the transit hotel (to just be sure it's done and okay), though the Priority Pass sleeping option might be worth investigating.

Recently, I had roughly the same arrival/departure times that you had in Singapore. I wandered around parts of the city until the last train left for Changi, and then somehow killed time in T3 and its basement floors. I was denied access to any *A lounge because MI flights apparently don't allow one to reap the benefits of *G, alas you will have a more tolerable experience (I hope/reckon) with your onwards SQ biz ticket.

Recently, I had roughly the same arrival/departure times that you had in Singapore. I wandered around parts of the city until the last train left for Changi, and then somehow killed time in T3 and its basement floors. I was denied access to any *A lounge because MI flights apparently don't allow one to reap the benefits of *G, alas you will have a more tolerable experience (I hope/reckon) with your onwards SQ biz ticket.

Thanks... I think I'm definitely going with the travel hotel, but I'll be working it hard with the lounge access, too. :-) BTW great travel blog! Looks like you have really covered everywhere in Asia!


Reserve the transit hotel for a block that will let you get the sleep you need, for example nine hours if you want to sleep for eight hours. There is a transit hotel in each terminal, although I've only used the one in T3, which is the newest. One of the other transit hotels was recently closed for renovation, so it's had some modernization and upgrades. At least one offers budget rooms without private/ensuite toilet and shower facilities.

This is really what's tipped me over. It looks like flights from Vietnam and departing to the Maldives both go in and out of terminal 2. Can I get from T2 to T3 without going through any checkpoints (immigration, customs, security)? Or do I have to go through those before I'm able to do this? Sorry, I'm very confused about how all this works! My flight is arriving from SGN at night and leaving early to MLE the next morning. So technically I never need to enter the country of Singapore, I just need to use their airport overnight :-)

2. Can I get from T2 to T3 without going through any checkpoints (immigration, customs, security)? Or do I have to go through those before I'm able to do this? Sorry, I'm very confused about how all this works! My flight is arriving from SGN at night and leaving early to MLE the next morning. So technically I never need to enter the country of Singapore, I just need to use their airport overnight :-)

Yes, you can freely move about. No checkpoints in between...

- Ambassador lounge had a 5 hour stay limit and they make you wear a sticker with the expiry time

- Skyview has no lounge chairs

- Rainforest has day beds with semi-private partitions but they cost extra. A 6 hour stay costs more than the transit hotel min. stay of 6 hrs. But if you intend to stay less than 6 hrs, Rainforest is cheaper.

- Green Market is really just a restaurant and doesn't open overnight

- sleeping in the cinema is free

- you can move between T1-T2-T3 air side without going thru immigration.

Yes, you can freely move about. No checkpoints in between...

Thanks! That's what I needed to know.

- Ambassador lounge had a 5 hour stay limit and they make you wear a sticker with the expiry time

- Skyview has no lounge chairs

- Rainforest has day beds with semi-private partitions but they cost extra. A 6 hour stay costs more than the transit hotel min. stay of 6 hrs. But if you intend to stay less than 6 hrs, Rainforest is cheaper.

- Green Market is really just a restaurant and doesn't open overnight

- sleeping in the cinema is free

- you can move between T1-T2-T3 air side without going thru immigration.

Perfect, thank you.

I'm booking my stay at the Ambassador Transit Hotel (probably T3) now...

Arriving in Changi T-1 at 00:20 (DL). Will be staying in Singapore for 3-days before returning home. Thinking of using the transit hotel for a good 5 hours of sleep before heading out into town when the sun rises. (Didn't want to book a hotel room for the previous day).

Questions:

(a) Since I am not a transit passenger, will I have access and be allowed to stay at the transit hotel? The reason I ask is I am arriving passenger and the location of the transit hotel in T-1 is in the departure transit area.

(b) Any problems clearing customs and immigration 6 hours after the plane lands?

Only carry-on - no checked.

Thanks

Arriving in Changi T-1 at 00:20 (DL). Will be staying in Singapore for 3-days before returning home. Thinking of using the transit hotel for a good 5 hours of sleep before heading out into town when the sun rises. (Didn't want to book a hotel room for the previous day).

Questions:

(a) Since I am not a transit passenger, will I have access and be allowed to stay at the transit hotel? The reason I ask is I am arriving passenger and the location of the transit hotel in T-1 is in the departure transit area.

(b) Any problems clearing customs and immigration 6 hours after the plane lands?

Only carry-on - no checked.

Thanks

(a) Yes. I have done this several times. At Changi, arriving pax and departing pax are not separated.

(b) No.

Thank you very much for the quick response. Less stress now. :)

Arriving in Changi T-1 at 00:20 (DL). Will be staying in Singapore for 3-days before returning home. Thinking of using the transit hotel for a good 5 hours of sleep before heading out into town when the sun rises. (Didn't want to book a hotel room for the previous day).

Questions:

(a) Since I am not a transit passenger, will I have access and be allowed to stay at the transit hotel? The reason I ask is I am arriving passenger and the location of the transit hotel in T-1 is in the departure transit area.

(b) Any problems clearing customs and immigration 6 hours after the plane lands?

Only carry-on - no checked.

Thanks

a) SIN arrival and departure are the same area. SIN does not have domestic flights.

b) NO it is always the smile, welcome to S'pore and have a free candy.

Staying at transit hotel until daybreak and then enter S'pore is my standard DL arrival procedure at SIN.

Questions:


(b) Any problems clearing customs and immigration 6 hours after the plane lands?



I was once told, in a very concerned manner, that I was entering Singapore from T2 and my bags would be at T3. As everything was carryon from the flight she just stamped me in and i was on my way.

I have the same situation but with checked bags and the connecting flight is out of the new budget terminal and I have to manually transfer the bags. So can I stay air side till morning in T3 and go through immigration and pickup the dag in the morning (DL flight to tiger airways)

Problem I am now having is that the Transit Hotel kicked back my reservation request telling me they were fully booked (all three terminals) and I should check with them when I land.

I am arriving on DL around midnight and then departing to PEN on Silk Air around 1pm, as I know I will need some rest and a shower. I have booked the Crowne Plaza to do this, but will I need to claim my bags and recheck them for my flight to PEN or can they be checked through?
Thanks!

I am arriving on DL around midnight and then departing to PEN on Silk Air around 1pm, as I know I will need some rest and a shower. I have booked the Crowne Plaza to do this, but will I need to claim my bags and recheck them for my flight to PEN or can they be checked through?
Thanks!

You'll probably need to claim them and then re-check them in the morning.

The baggage at SIN is speedy. They will probably beat you there and your hotel is walkable from T3 easily. Maybe a bit further if DL lands in T2.