Tourists camping out at Singapore Changi Airport overnight to escape skyrocketing hotel prices during the F1 weekend sparked public criticism among locals for tarnishing the airport’s image.
A woman from the United States using the handle @sheridan.tate8 posted on October 5 that she and her husband slept at Changi Airport before their morning flight because the hotel prices were “astronomical” due to the Formula One race, held from October 3 to 5.
They stated that hotels nearby cost US$400 a night at the time, while the average weekend hotel price near the airport is normally less than US$200.
The couple initially had “a rough time” finding a place to rest their heads.
Eventually, they found Terminal 1’s Arrival Garden, where they saw “at least 30 other people” sleeping in what they referred to as “the sleeper village”.
They laid their blankets on the garden floor and rested on their inflatable neck cushions. The woman mentioned that they survived the night with their luggage kept safely near them.
She managed to sleep for only four to five hours, while her husband woke up every hour. “It was not the best night’s sleep, but we did not have to pay for a hotel,” she celebrated their success.
The woman’s video received some harsh comments from locals, who said they were tarnishing the airport’s image.
“Soon Changi Airport will not be No 1 any more because there are many people treating it like their bedroom,” one commenter noted.
The airport has been ranked as the best airport for 13 consecutive years by the United Kingdom-based airline and airport review website Skytrax.
It boasts many facilities that are not commonly found at other airports, such as an extensive shopping centre, two cinemas, and an indoor rock-climbing wall.
Another commenter pointed out that they travelled to Singapore during one of the most expensive times, regardless of the F1 race: “Not wise to transit or even visit this place during this period.”
A third suggested that the couple went to the wrong terminal: “You should have gone to Terminal 3, which has quieter spots.”
Some locals recommended that they use the free napping lounges provided by the airport instead of the Arrival Garden.
While the airport does not explicitly ban sleeping overnight, some people noted that security might wake them up. However, others mentioned that security tends to be lenient after ensuring they have a flight ticket.
On social media, many posts share tips on how to spend the night at various airports.
In China, budget travel has become trendy among young people, which has helped boost the popularity of such posts.
Some have claimed that Changi Airport is the world’s best airport for sleeping.
A Chinese student in Singapore even joked that she could just buy a sleeping bag and a pillow and live at Changi Airport for two years.
