WHEN her flight home to Beijing was delayed, Ms Amigo Weng popped into Perfumes & Cosmetics at Terminal 3 (T3). There, the 23-year-old, who was travelling alone and departing from Changi's newest terminal for the first time, decided to pick up a whitening cream for a friend.
She said: "I always prefer shopping at the airport than at Orchard Road. This cream usually costs about $140 in town, but is available here for only $129, which is quite a substantial amount of savings."
T3's combined shopping and dining space of 20,000 sqm is 10 per cent more than that of T1 and T2 combined. The Departure/Transit Mall, which houses 55 retail and 20 F&B outlets, occupies 11,400 sqm. Meanwhile, the remaining 8,600 sqm of 45 retail and 20 F&B outlets are spread throughout T3's public area.
Travellers who love to shop will appreciate that the Departure/Transit Mall boasts of the first airport stores for brands such as Sony Style, FIFA Official Store and Apple i-Store, as well as the first outside-Europe airport outlets of names like Ferrari and Marc O'Polo.
Those into skincare and cosmetics can also drop by Perfumes & Cosmetics for exclusive collections from beauty brands ranging from Becca to Victoria's Secret. Luxury lovers will feel at home here, especially as brands such as Gucci and Hermes are sited in the same area - a stone's throw from SIA's First Class Lounge.
Among the cluster of shops is local footwear label Charles & Keith, which has also garnered a strong international following. Its fans include Kate Everitt, a 39-year-old medical sales manager, who was in T3 for the first time.
"I love buying shoes here. The designs are inspired by catwalk trends but very wearable and versatile. Plus, the price is very affordable. I once bought five pairs of shoes for only $300. I used to buy them at T2, and am quite pleased that there's an outlet here as well," said the Shanghai-bound Brisbane resident.
Complementing T3's exclusive shopping brands is a mix of new dining concepts. Hard Rock Cafe makes its first appearance at an international airport, as does II Lido Wine & Tapas Lounge. Meanwhile, the Guylian Belgium Chocolate Cafe here is its first outside Belgium, and local microbrewery restaurant Brewerkz provides fresh tipple treats for thirsty types.
Over at Tiger Champions Bar, Mr Robert Rowe was guzzling a beer. He had arrived from Leicester, UK, and was catching a flight to Melbourne several hours later.
He said: "I'd been catching up on sleep on one of the armchairs because it was so peaceful here. Now, however, it's time for a beer, especially since I get to enjoy the view of the runway from here. There's absolutely nothing I can criticise about being at T3, except that the beer costs a little more than back home."
Even Singaporeans like Enna Tan, who landed at the terminal after returning from a holiday in Hong Kong and China, lingered for an hour or two at the public-access area, instead of rushing home. She ended up at Secret Recipe at B2 Mall, sharing a cake and tea set with her husband Sunny Ng.
Just across from the cafe is Candy Empire, where their one-and-half-year-old daughter Happy was exploring the selection of candies and chocolates.
"We not only have a few heavy pieces of luggage, but also have to take care of our young daughter, so we needed a trolley. We wanted to go to the staff canteen at T1 initially but it didn't allow trolleys. So we decided to check out the B2 Mall since it allows trolleys," said the 31-year-old procurement manager, who is expecting her second child.
For those who are not travelling, T3 is an ideal location for get-togethers. Just ask students Chin Mei Mei and Sarah
Cai, both 20, and their friend Ray Ho, 21, a national serviceman. The trio were digging gleefully into Popeye's chicken, fries and mashed potato.
"I come here quite often because I like the spacious and clean environment. Actually, Sarah is working part-time at T2, and we decided to have lunch with her today. And since Ray has never tried the food here, it's a good opportunity to introduce him to Popeye's," said Ms Chin.
Never mind that the food here is comparatively more expensive than fast-food restaurants in town - all three not only feel the food tastes better, but they also agree that the quiet setting is more conducive for them to catch up with one another.
This article was first published in Special Projects Unit, The Straits Times on July 24, 2008.
