Singapore, Changi - Returning to the Airport

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After close to more than two and a half years of hiatus of air travel, I finally got to return to the airport to take my first flight in May 2022.

Even though it was a short regional flight from Singapore to Cambodia's Siem Reap, finding myself back at the airport to take a flight had been a wonderful experience. Sure, there were things that were not the same as back then in November 2019 when I last took a flight. But there were also things that were still the same. 

Let's start with things that were no longer similar. Firstly were the additional travel documentation to prepare before one is allowed to get one's boarding pass issued at the airport. These additional documentations include vaccinations records, permissions to travel (for some destinations), travel insurance (again, only required by certain destination countries and regions) and so on. For those who are usually well-prepared when it comes to dealing with paperwork, these requirements shouldn't present too much challenges. Other areas that were new include many favourite retail and F&B outlets at the airports that were no longer in operations, airport lounges that were closed or only partially re-opened as well as longer queues for almost everything from check-in to immigration clearances.

Then, there were the stuff that stayed the same. The good and happy airport vibes for travellers eager to restart their travel adventures, the retail and F&B outlets that are personal favourites and thankfully are still in business, the experience of pulling along one's carry-on luggage as one walked to the boarding gates and seeing planes in-person again for the first time in many months!

For me, I simply enjoyed being able to return to airports as my travel dreams took flight once again.

Terminal 3, Changi International Airport, Changi, Singapore (2022)

Singapore Airline's new lounge for their KrisFlyer Elite Gold and Star Alliance Gold Members in Terminal 3, Changi International Airport, Changi, Singapore (2022)


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