Why did I choose to fly indirect when there was a direct flight available?

Published in the Sunday Gujarat Samachar Ravipurti on 17 December, 2023

It was only a few weeks ago, that I was on my way back from Phuket in Thailand. But instead of taking the direct flight from Phuket to Mumbai which would have been a short 4-hour flight, I decided to take the rather unconventional route to Mumbai via Singapore on Singapore Airlines! Now, why did I decide to do that? There are a few reasons for this. But one of the main reasons for that was that I would get to fly through one of the best airports in the world: Changi Airport.

But do you really know why this airport in Singapore is so famous? Let me start by telling you ten things that are cool about Changi Airport.

1. World's Best Airport: Changi Airport has consistently been ranked as the world's best airport by numerous organizations, including Skytrax World Airport Awards. It has received this prestigious title for multiple years, thanks to its outstanding passenger experiences and services.
2. Free Movie Theaters: Changi Airport provides travelers with free movie theaters in multiple terminals. Passengers can relax and enjoy the latest blockbuster films while waiting for their flights. Generally, whenever we have to transit at an airport, we are always complaining, but imagine if you have a movie theatre inside the airport, you will never be complaining about how to pass time when the layover is long.
3. Butterfly Garden: Changi Airports Terminal 3 boasts a beautifully landscaped Butterfly Garden with hundreds of free-flying butterflies. It provides a serene and natural environment for travellers to unwind. And one of the coolest things is that it’s open 24x7.
4. Transit Mall Shopping: Changi Airport offers a wide range of duty-free shops, boutiques, and renowned brands in its transit malls. It's a shopping haven for travellers looking to purchase luxury goods, electronics, fashion, and souvenirs. My personal favourite there is the Bacha Coffee store, which you should definitely check out, even if you may not be into coffee. It’s really amazing!
5. Snooze Lounges: Passengers can rest in comfortable snooze lounges in various terminals, equipped with cozy loungers and a peaceful atmosphere, making it an ideal place to catch up on sleep.
6. Cactus Garden: Along with the Butterfly garden, there is also a Cactus Garden at Terminal 1 which features over 100 species of cacti and succulents. It provides a unique and tranquil spot for relaxation.
7. Entertainment Deck: For all of you gamers out there, There are Xbox stations too! Terminal 2 offers an Entertainment Deck with Xbox and Kinect stations, providing travellers, especially families, with a fun and engaging experience.
8. Jewel Changi Airport: In addition to all of this that is inside the terminal, there is also Jewel. Jewel is an iconic entertainment and retail complex situated at the heart of the airport. It features the world's tallest indoor waterfall, known as the Rain Vortex, surrounded by lush gardens, restaurants, shops, and a variety of attractions. Visitors can explore the lush Canopy Park and the stunning Shiseido Forest Valley.
9. Orchid Garden: There is also an Orchid Garden showcasing Singapore's national flower, the orchid. This serene garden offers a respite from the bustling airport environment.
10. Efficient Immigration and Security: And finally, Changi Airport is renowned for its quick and efficient immigration and security procedures, ensuring passengers experience minimal waiting times. And that’s not only for the locals, even travellers like you and me, who have an Indian passport have an easy immigration process both when you arrive and also when you are departing from Singapore.

There are 10 reasons, why Changi of course is one of the best airports in the world! But there’s weren’t the only reasons why I decided to fly indirect to Mumbai. There were three more reasons too:

• It had been a while since I had flown the mighty Airbus A380 aircraft type and one of the Singapore Airlines flights daily to Mumbai is the mighty A380. So for a plane enthusiast like me, it was a must-do thing.
• Another reason is that when I was checking the flight fares, both the direct and the one-stop fares were more or less the same, so I was like why not stopover in Singapore and enjoy a nice Singaporean meal in the process. I really love my Asian food, and this was just another reason for that!
• And finally, one more reason is that I wanted to check out the newly opened Terminal 2 at Singapore’s Changi Airport ✈️️ which has a massive LED waterfall, and as you may have realised, when I did go to check it out, it just felt like everyone was there for the #instagram photo! The waterfall indeed reminded me of how it is when tourists, travellers, and locals alike, go check out the world-famous Mona Lisa 🖼️ at the Louvre Museum in Paris, France🇫🇷. It’s just photos photos photos everywhere.

So yes, these are many of the reasons why I decided to take the indirect flight Phuket to Mumbai instead of the easy direct option. And this short trip just made me realise, that sometimes, taking the longer route can make you celebrate life way way more! So yup, if you find yourself at Changi any time, these are just some of the things you should do. And finally, there’s one more thing. You know how there are those annoying immigration queues every time we land into a new country, queues don’t exist at Singapore Airport anymore! Just ensure that you fill your SG arrival card only before you fly, and immigration is a breeze for you! Just stand at one of the automated desks, scan your passport, move to step two and scan your face, and you are ready to go! The first time I experienced it, I was like wow! You just have to see it to believe it! So that’s it from me today, see you next week, but until then, keep Celebrating Life!