Okay, this trip I wanna talk is rather a new experience. Last October, I went to Bangkok with some of my friends. My friends were already there, meanwhile I went alone from Jakarta. I took three different airlines in this trip, that's the first new thing. From Jakarta to Singapore, I took Jetstar. From Singapore to Bangkok, I took Tiger Airways. And from Bangkok to Jakarta I took Air Asia. So, I've tried all budget airlines :) It was night flight from Jakarta to Singapore. I arrived at Changi at about 12.00 AM. This was the first time I landed at Changi though I'd been to Singapore before. My previous visit was through harbor from Batam. Changi has everything to spoil its visitors. Free internet everywhere, shops opening up to 24 hours, rest areas, even charging booth. You could find yourself a comfy seat for sleeping. Since my flight was early morning flight, I needed to do early morning check in. Here's how the mayhem happened.
Firstly, this was my first transit/ transfer flight experience and moreover my first time in Changi. Once arrived I went straight to Terminal 2 where my morning flight was located. I spent the night hanging around the terminal. I was so hungry but I could not find any food stall opened. Only some coffee shops there and I had no appetite for coffee or bread. I tried to sleep but I could not really sleep well since it was all very noisy (of course it is). In the early morning I went to pray Subuh in Multi Faith Prayer Room. Then I headed straight to gate F41. Before that, I bought a breakfast first. I bought Kaya Toast and Tea O at Killiney. The seller was kinda friendly. He asked me where was I going, I answered to Bangkok. Then he wished me a safe flight. Pretty friendly for a Singaporean I guessed. Then I headed to Gate F41. Something was wrong. What I imagined was there would be a Tiger Airways booth near the Gate. But there was nothing. Only metal scanning. I gasped in panic. Oh My God, where should I check in and get the boarding pass? Then I walked back to the information. If you know how huge Changi is, you'll know how exhausted I was. I ran in panic and asked an officer. He said I should go to Transit/ Transfer Section, which was on the first floor, then I should go to the second floor again to check in at Tiger Airways booth. It turned out that the airline booth is on the outer side of the terminal. I was so panicked I kept looking at my watch. It was 5.30 and my flight was at 6.00. I thought of the worst idea if I missed the flight. May be I took land route to Bangkok. But it would take TWO days! Otherwise, I should buy a ticket again, but it would be very costly. No, I could make it, I won't miss the flight! I screamed in my heart. I passed the immigration and got the stamp. Luckily, I had filled in the arrival card. Then I moved to the second floor where Tiger Airways booth located. And, yeah, there was a long queue. I went into Web Check In booth there. It was not ended yet. I asked two Singaporeans in front of me, if it was right to check in here since it was my first time taking Tiger Airways. They said I had a wrong place. I was supposed to check in through web in the other booth. I was so shocked I ran in panic to the other booth. But I could not find the booth they meant. So I went back to the previous booth and asked the officer and she confirmed I was right and asked me to queue. I walked to those two Singaporeans and said "it is the right booth", almost losing my temper. The officer asked me to queue, but I just sneaked after those two Singaporeans pretending I was their friend. Haha, Indonesian's habit was sometimes useful :) Then I got my boarding pass and hurried myself toward Gate F41 again. It was like a life and death experience. I threw myself in the boarding room while examining what had happened to me. I could only say, Thanks God I don't miss the flight..........
My flight was TR 2102
Changi Terminal One
